The 49th Annual Manitoba Ag Days, Canada’s largest indoor farm show, convened at the Keystone Centre in Brandon from January 20–22, 2026. The three-day event drew thousands of producers from across Manitoba and beyond, offering attendees a chance to see new technology and learn about government programs intended to improve farm resilience and reduce costs.
The governments of Canada and Manitoba earlier announced the Forage Advantage pilot (Nov. 13, 2025), which starts in the 2026 crop year and provides a 15% discount on Forage Establishment Insurance for farmers who plant perennial forage crops on marginal land. Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said the pilot is intended to support sustainable practices and help producers manage costs heading into the next planting season.
Manitoba Ag Days’ Innovation Showcase highlighted a slate of new products and services — Ag Days’ own materials listed 27 Innovation Showcase contenders — including tools and sessions on drone-based LiDAR and photogrammetry mapping aimed at improving drainage analysis on wet or marginal land. Organizers and industry observers said such technologies could help producers identify field problems more accurately and reduce some on-farm costs.
“Farmers, we are the biggest gamblers out there because we put so much in and we don’t know what we’re going to be dealt, but Ag Days is always full of optimism because the excitement of the possibility is there!” said Kristen Phillips, general manager of Manitoba Ag Days. This year’s theme, “Produced on the Prairies,” emphasized local products and services to strengthen Manitoba’s agricultural economy.
Show materials and previews indicated the event featured over 580 exhibitors across multiple buildings and display areas at the Keystone Centre. Exhibitors ranged from manufacturers of advanced and autonomous-capable agricultural equipment to vendors promoting new market opportunities. Organizers and government officials framed those tools as part of broader efforts to help producers stay competitive amid changing weather patterns and volatile global markets.
