Anyone looking for tickets for the SouthWest Agriculture Conference better get them quick because according to a co-chair they are selling at record rates.
The conference is in its 26th year and will be held on Jan. 3 and 4 at the University of Guelph's Ridgetown Campus.
Peter Johnson, co-chair of the conference, said last year it sold out at a record pace and this year tickets are selling even faster.
"Ticket sales have just been going gangbusters," said Johnson. "It has actually become a conference where people have learned if they don't register immediately when that first opportunity comes, chances are they won't be able to get a spot."
Johnson called it the premier agricultural conference in the Great Lakes Basin and said it is the first of the big winter meetings for the industry. According to Johnson, the conference aims at bringing forward the latest and best information from the industry to help progress it as far as possible.
He said there will be growers talking about their successes and failures along with researchers and extension people.
"It is really trying to move the bar forward in terms of higher yields, if that is possible, less environmental impact or the same yield with less environmental impact," Johnson said. "Anything to move agriculture forward, we're all over it."
Johnson said there are a total of 45 sessions delivered by top experts for growers to learn about a variety of agriculture-related topics. Those in attendance can participate in up to 14 sessions if they go both days. The conference will also include a traditional trade show.
Last year's guest speakers featured Canadian Olympian and Amazing Race Canada host Jon Montgomery and retired Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire.
This year Johnson himself will be a featured guest speaker along with a couple of students from Lambton College to talk about the One Seed Project.
Johnson said there is room for roughly 1,400 people to attend each day of the conference. He added there are no plans on expanding unless the campus adds another lecture hall.
"That would be great if they could afford to do that," Johnson said. "We really like being in Ridgetown because it is an agricultural research and education facility. We could maybe look at bigger venues if we had to, but if we can we would prefer to stay in Ridgetown just because it is part of the agriculture community."
Johnson added those who can't attend can live stream certain sessions from their homes. A link on their web page has all the full schedule.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday the first day was 40 per cent sold out and day two was 35 per cent full.
