The January event at Prairieland in Saskatoon is a must-attend trade show for grain, oilseed and pulse crop producers.

The numbers contained in the economic impact report come from a survey of 352 people attending this year’s show which was held January 13th to the 15th. The interviews were conducted by students from the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan.

The independent survey asked several questions to the farmers. It determined that 30 per cent of the 16,114 attendees came from a 50-kilometre radius of Saskatoon, 63 per cent from the rest of Saskatchewan and nine per cent from other provinces or countries.

Eighty-nine per cent stated the show directly influenced their purchase decisions

The report estimates direct on-site transactions made during the Western Canadian Crop Production Show were $182.9 million. Another $30.2 million in total grain volume was executed directly on the show floor—-$3.8 million immediate and $26.4 million in forward contracts.  The biggest number comes from planned capital expenditures for the upcoming growing season, including equipment, inputs and services. The estimate is $895.8 million for a grand total of $1.1 billion.

Prairieland Agriculture Manager Leigh Hurlburt is especially pleased with the 99.5 per cent of those surveyed who said attending the Western Crop Production Show was an essential, proven, return on investment destination.

Businesses—like hotels, restaurants and gas stations— also benefit from the Western Canadian Crop Production Show.  The estimated economic impact was more than $3.5 million.