FEBRUARY 27-28, 2024
SASKATOON, SK


February 27-28, 2024
Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SK

The latest research and insights for
productive, profitable crops
from leading experts

SAVE YOUR SEAT

ELEVATE YOUR BUSINESS

Top Crop Summit 2024

ATTEND
farm
Farmers and agronomists will unlock the latest advancements in research and trends at the Top Crop Summit, along with insights to deepen their expertise and prepare for a successful 2024 growing season. Discover a unique and diverse program that will help you gain insights into the critical aspects of crop production. The summit provides exclusive access into the latest industry research, trends and expert advice that allows for more informed decisions, optimized crop management strategies and, ultimately, improved productivity. Attendees will leave the event armed with the knowledge and ideas to keep crops healthy and profitable. Bring your questions – and connect with the experts.
Presented by
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A TRUSTED SOURCE

For more than 50 years, Top Crop Manager has been a trusted source in agriculture and is proud to present its ninth annual summit this year in Saskatoon, dedicated to sharing credible and relevant information for Canadian farmers and agronomists.

RENTAL MART

The Canadian Rental Mart is Canada’s trade event for the equipment and event rental industry.

WHAT
Exhibits of rental-ready equipment and supplies from Canada’s top suppliers. Exclusive expert sessions with critical information to drive your business. A chance to get together with friends at social networking events.

Over 50 equipment categories on display covering everything needed for your general tool or light construction fleet.

  • Compaction
  • Construction heat
  • Generators
  • Compressors
  • Skid steers and track loaders
  • Excavators
  • Pumps
  • Lighting
  • Scissors, booms and mast climbers
  • Mowers and brush cutters
  • Store management software
  • More…much, much more

Check out the Rental Mart’s all-star Centre Stage presentations here.

  • ARA Happy Hour Sept. 11 following show
  • CRA Lunch and Learn Sept. 12
WHERE
The Rental Mart comes to Calgary for the first time in its 35-year history!

We can’t be more excited about bringing Canada’s biggest event for the rental industry to western Canada’s dynamic and growing rental community! Why should Toronto have all the fun? The BMO Centre, located on the grounds of the legendary Calgary Stampede, will be a great host for the show with state-of-the-art amenities in Alberta’s commercial capital. We hope stores from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and beyond will be extra excited to attend this major rental event right in their back yards.

WHEN
Sept. 11 – 12, 2024

The Rental Mart’s fall date gets our event out of the busy spring show season and into prime buying time for a variety of top fleet needs including construction heat, snow removal, lighting and store software. Plus there’s a chance for an advance look at models coming out the next year!

WHO
Owners and managers of equipment and event rental stores across Canada.

The Rental Mart welcomes over 200 owners, managers, counter staff, drivers, mechanics and dispatchers. Sales representatives and product experts from Canada’s top industry suppliers staff the booths. Leaders from the American Rental Association and Canadian Rental Association are on hand to answer your questions. Also, say hi to Canadian Rental Mart staff including brand manager, Navneet Mathru and editor Patrick Flannery.

WHY
The Rental Mart offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to make the connections your business needs.

Browse top equipment suppliers with a demonstrated commitment to the Canadian rental industry

Listen to experts share their insights and knowledge

Talk to leaders and friends that you’ll rely on for years to come

Take a day to work on the business, not in the business!

HOW
Online registration is free and easy. Book your stay at a reduced rate at the official Rental Mart show hotel. Major Canadian airports offer direct flights to Calgary.
Thank you to our Gold sponsors​
Top Crop Summit 2024
Speakers
Top Crop Summit 2024
2024 Conference Schedule

Day 1

Feb 27

8:30AM

Registration and exhibits open

9:00AM

Day one opening remarks

Speaker: Derek Clouthier, Top Crop Manager

9:05AM

Keynote Presentation: Nuffield Scholar travels and learnings

Speaker: Ken Coles

Canada lacks a functioning farmer-focused innovation system. Ken Coles believes that effective non-profit organizations can play a pivotal role to make the system work again. With recent visits to Europe, Africa and New Zealand, Coles will share his perspectives on what needs to happen to help boost practical, regionally specific and farmer-relevant innovation.

9:50AM

Quadcopters, fixed wing UAV’s and satellites in crop imaging

Speaker: Steve Shirtliffe

Crop imagery from drones and satellites can now provide farmers and agronomists useful information to assist in crop management. This presentation will review some of the recent research at the Crop Imaging Lab at the University of Saskatchewan, including remotely sensed satellite information, scouting crop emergence, mapping kochia infestations and more.

10:35AM

Nutrition and networking break

11:00AM

The adoption of physical impact mills

Speaker: Dr. Breanne Tidemann

Impact mills are likely to be the best fit of the harvest weed seed control strategies for most western Canadian farms. With an estimated 30 mills in use on the Canadian Prairies, Dr. Breanne Tidemann will share some key feedback from those producers using the mills in their day-to-day harvest, showcasing farm types, associated costs, benefits, challenges and strategies implemented.

11:45AM

Improving soil water status and crop yields with stubble and residue management practices

Speaker: Phillip Harder

The extreme climate of the Canadian Prairies means crop growth is generally water-limited in dryland situations. This presentation, from the perspective of hydrology, will describe the dynamics of crop water use, where that water comes from and the importance of both summer and winter hydrological processes in understanding ag-water interactions. The ability and potential opportunities to improve soil water status and yields with stubble and residue management practices will be highlighted.

12:30PM

Lunch

1:15PM

Chickpea’s mystery health issue in Saskatchewan

Speaker: Dr. Michelle Hubbard

In July 2019, chickpea producers in southwestern Saskatchewan noticed a severe health issue in their fields. While the cause(s) of this issue were, and remain, a mystery, theories such as herbicides, disease, nematodes, drought and nutrient stress will be discussed in this presentation. Hubbard will share results from a 2023 survey of commercial chickpea fields. She will discuss past or on-going trials that study the impacts of the herbicide metribuzin and drought, interactions of drought, chickpea variety and Ascochyta blight, interactions between soils in which symptomatic or asymptomatic chickpea have grown and the impact of drought on chickpea health and metabolites.

2:00PM

Breakout room – Why use biological products? and what can they do for agronomy?

Speaker: Ryan Bonnett

Helping growers and industry partners understand the whys behind biological products and how to use them most effectively. Ryan will showcase success stories from around the world in using these products for maximum benefits and share some new ideas and solutions these products may bring to Canadian agriculture in the future.

Main Hall - Crop rotation's impact on Fusarium Head Blight

Speaker: Maria Alejandra Oviedo-Ludena

Crop diversification has many benefits that have been studied at the agronomic level; yet such effects on disease management is not fully documented, especially for Fusarium head blight. This session will showcase the results of a recent study aimed at determining the effect of multiple host and non-host crops in a planned sequence on FHB severity of bread or durum wheat and barley. Hear about how a one-year break with certain crops can increase yield and quality in cereals, while others do not show any diminished frequency of Fusarium spp. and FHB severity on wheat.

2:25PM

Main Hall - Bacterial leaf streak - research updates and what's to come

Speaker: Valentina Anastasini

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is an emerging foliar disease reported worldwide that has become prevalent in the Canadian Prairies within the last decade. The pathogen has a wide range of hosts, and the disease is caused by a seed-borne bacterium and has a direct impact on yield, grain quality and reduces seedling emergence. Management of BLS is difficult since there are no effective chemical treatments that entirely control the pathogen. This session will showcase a project that evaluates currently registered wheat varieties and exotic accessions of Triticum spp. for resistance to BLS under field and controlled conditions. Anastasini will also reveal the development of a seed testing protocol using qPCR to detect and quantify the bacteria on wheat seed.

2:25PM

Breakout Room - Biologicals Vs Biostimulants

Speaker: Mike Dolinski M. Sc., M.P.M

With the rapid growth of products in the industry that use these technologies, it’s crucial to delve into the differences between biologicals and biostimulants. Understanding the unique strengths and applications of each can empower farmers to make informed decisions about integrating these products into their farming strategies. This exploration will not only highlight how each technology functions within agricultural systems but also demonstrate their individual contributions to enhancing crop health and productivity. The focus is on enabling farmers to discern which product, or combination thereof, best suits their specific agricultural needs, ultimately leading to more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

2:45PM

Nutrition and networking break

3:10PM

Preparing for and managing after a drought

Speaker: Lyle Cowell

In Western Canada, we farm soils that are rich in nutrients but are faced with variable yields, and drought is often part of the weather patterns. Soil tests, nutrient balances, farm history and common sense need to come together to effectively manage soil and available nutrients. Cowell’s presentation will share how to adapt management practices to best mitigate the downside of dry conditions and will address what agronomic steps can be taken to protect farm profitability during a drought.

3:55PM

Day one closing remarks

4:00PM

Happy Hour sponsored by BASF Canada

Day 2

Feb 28

7:30AM

Buffet breakfast and exhibits open

8:00AM

Day two opening remarks

Speaker: Derek Clouthier, Top Crop Manager

8:05AM

Keynote: AI and spot sprays

Speaker: Tom Wolf

The sprayer has emerged as the most-used implement on Canadian farms. Not only does it apply crop protection agents, but it is also at the forefront of the artificial intelligence and autonomy revolution, delivering precision services. We explore 30 years of sprayer development, identifying the key lessons learned about coverage and efficacy, uniformity, productivity, resistance and spray drift that are relevant as we take sprayer technology to the next development generation. We look to Europe as the source not only of relevant technology, but also regulatory initiatives to reduce pesticides and improve environmental protection. How does spraying need to change to meet these new demands?

9:00AM

Herbicide resistant weeds in the prairies

Speaker: Dr. Charles M. Geddes

Herbicide-resistant weeds are a growing concern for farmers across the Canadian prairies and elsewhere. This session will cover the discovery, occurrence, distribution and impact of herbicide-resistant weeds across the Canadian Prairies and provide insight into new issues that may be coming down the pike as well as information on where certain issues occur across the Prairie region.

9:45AM

Nutrition and networking break

10:10AM

Aster Yellows: 2012 vs. 2023

Speaker: Dr. Tyler Wist

Aster yellows is a phytoplasma disease vectored by leafhoppers, primarily the aster leafhopper, Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Cicadellidae). These small insects migrate into Canada most years but cannot handle our cold winters but can spread aster yellows to many crops, with oilseeds like canola, flax and camelina particularly vulnerable to the disfiguring effect that infection with the aster yellows phytoplasma can cause. Cereals, preferred by aster leafhoppers, do not react the same way as oilseeds, but can be affected by phytoplasma infection. Dr. Tyler Wist and his team have been designing tools for detection of the phytoplasma and working to determine the migratory origins of these leafhoppers.

10:55AM

Drone spraying in Canada, existing aerial systems and the future of drone spray applicators

Speaker: Jason Deveau (on-demand) with Tom Wolf as live moderator

The use of Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS) for spraying crop protection products has captured the imagination of growers all over the world. We discuss how this industry is evolving, the status of drone spraying in Canada, how it’s different from existing aerial systems and why the industry will require more than just drone pilots – it will require drone spray applicators.

11:40AM

The last 1,000 years of Prairie climate and where we may be going

Speaker: David Sauchyn

In his Tree-Ring Lab, David Sauchyn has built a 1,000-year record of the water balance on the northern plains by analyzing the growth of trees at 224 sites. This record of pre-industrial hydroclimate provides a unique perspective on current climate changes. While the numerical climate models can replicate historical temperature trends, they perform less well with the simulation of precipitation and related variables. Our understanding of how climate change is affecting soil and surface hydrology depends on the model, assumptions about the human influence and especially how well the models can simulate the natural variability captured by the tree rings. Future scenarios from climate models should be used with a knowledge of these sources of uncertainty, and Sauchyn’s presentation will focus on how these climate models may point to where Prairie climate may be headed in the future.

12:25PM

Day two closing remarks

This event qualifies for CEUs towards CCSC certification but sign in sheets are not required to be filled in.  Certified Crop Science Consultants wishing to collect CEUs for Top Crop Summit sessions may submit a CEU request through the CCSC Program self-reporting database at ccsctracking.ca.

This event has been approved for CEUs toward CCA credits in the following categories:

  • Integrated Pest Management: 4
  • Crop Management: 2
  • Nutrient Management: 1
  • Soil & Water Management: 0.5
  • Professional Development: 0.5
Top Crop Summit 2024
Venue & Accommodations

VENUE

Prairieland Park
503 Ruth St. W, Saskatoon, SK
S7K 4E4

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Sandman Signature Saskatoon South Hotel

2815 Lorne Ave, Saskatoon SK, S7J 0S5

Direct: 306 518 1855 | Hotel: 306 518 7263


Start Date: Monday, February 26, 2024
End Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Last Day to Book: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Special Group Rate: $159 CAD per night

Please book your room calling the hotel directly or calling 1-800-SANDMAN mentioning Top Crop Summit and using the booking code: 2402ANNEXB


Other Hotel(s) offering 15% off using booking code: D4021

Delta Hotels Saskatoon Downtown
405 20th Street East

Delta Hotels Bessborough
601 Spadina Crescent East

Top Crop Summit 2024
Sponsors
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Breakfast/Keynote
Registration & Delegate bag sponsor
Qualified Farmer Program Partner
Happy Hour Sponsor
PRESENTED BY

400

ATTENDEES

Last year show was a huge success!

56

NEW TECHNOLOGIES

RasTech features latest technologies.

14

COUNTRIES

Meet people from all over the world.

77

CONNECTIONS

Network and connect with the industry.

TESTIMONIALS
#RASTECH24
Supporting Partners
Exhibitors

Interested in exhibiting?

Apply to exhibit
FEBRUARY 27-28, 2024
PRAIRIELAND PARK TRADE AND CONVENTION CENTRE, SASKATOON, SK
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