Every summer we look forward to Ag in Motion – Canada’s largest outdoor farm show. Our team preps and plans to ensure our booth has everything we need and thanks to our Dealer Network, we are always able to showcase our Duck Foot® paddle tines on a full header. This year, we were able to launch our newest model, DF5AC, on the brand new AGCO Dynaflex header. We also showcased our DF3PT model on a John Deere HDR header.
Not only is this farm show a great place to meet farmers, but it’s also the perfect time to catch up with our dealers, visit OEM booths, and chat with other people in the ag industry. But the expansiveness of Ag in Motion reaches far beyond the borders of Saskatchewan, and even Canada.
Kansas Secretary of Agriculture
This year we were honored to have Mike Beam, Secretary of Agriculture from Kansas, visit our booth. Kansas is the 10th largest soybean producer in the USA with around 4 million to 4.6 million harvested acres. We chatted with Mr. Beam about the benefits of Duck Foot® paddle tines, specifically in soybeans. With an average of 2 bu/acre in header loss – at $9.95/bu on an average 804-acre farm, that’s up to $16,000 in losses. Our testing has consistently shown our patented slip-over paddle tines improve header loss by up to 75%, meaning Duck Foot® paddle tines could be putting up to $12,000 back into the pockets of farmers. When we shared these numbers with Mr. Beam, he was impressed by the impact a simple solution like Duck Foot® tines could have on a single farm, let alone an entire state’s ag economy. Knowing Mr. Beam had limited time at Ag in Motion, we were pleased to have him choose to stop by and learn more about our product.
International Connections
We were incredibly excited to see the NEXAT Agriculture team at AIM this year as well. We’ve had the opportunity to work with them and see this machine in action over the last couple of years. We are always happy to see Duck Foot® paddle tines on their machines. Their booth was definitely a must-see at this year’s show, and it was always busy with people wanting to learn more about their unique innovation.
As we’ve recently expanded into South Africa, it was a pleasure to have a member of High Commission of Canada’s Trade Office in Johannesburg bring South African delegates by our booth to meet our team and discuss the South African ag industry. Introductions and connections like this are incredibly impactful and show the importance of large tradeshows like Ag in Motion for global agriculture.
Primary Sales CEO, Peter Broley also made the trip from Australia to Ag in Motion. We were able to give him a tour at DFP Manufacturing Inc. in Saskatoon where our paddle tines are made. He also spent some time in our booth to chat with our team and explain more about the Australia ag industry. We also got to discuss the plans for Steve’s November visit to Australia, where he will join the Primary Sales team for field demos and renewed training. Primary Sales has been part of the Duck Foot Dealer Network for over 4 years and is a valued sales partner helping bring Duck Foot® tines to farmers across Australia.
After Hours Events
This marked the 5th year that we have been a part of the Field of Stars Auction in support of STARS Air Ambulance. Each year that we attend this event, we are amazed at how our community shows up to support such an important cause. The event raised over $725,000 this year. We are always proud to have our logo showcased alongside the other sponsors and donors who make an incredible impact in our province.
As members of STEP, we know the value of shows like Ag in Motion from both sides. For tradeshows in Saskatchewan, we meet many international companies coming to see what our province has to offer, but we also often travel to tradeshows in other countries to network and learn. Each year during Ag in Motion, STEP hosts an International Reception where local exporters, international buyers, government representatives and organizations can connect. It is a truly special event where Saskatchewan’s export and trade initiatives can be shared and celebrated.
Not only did we spend the week showcasing Duck Foot® paddle tines, we also had the opportunity to share more about DFP Manufacturing. We hosted an incoming trade mission to Ag in Motion, with members of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce for a tour of our facility. Many in the group are ag innovators or related businesses and were eager to learn more about the Duck Foot story and how we manufacture our products in-house.