The Southern Farm Show set for the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh is the place to be Feb. 1-3 for farmers and others who want to see the latest in farm equipment, supplies and services.

With more than 400 exhibiting companies, the Southern Farm Show is the largest agricultural exposition in the Carolinas and Virginia. Admission and parking is free. Show hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1 – Friday, Feb. 3.

 “Farmers are coming off a very difficult 2016 due to the impact of Hurricane Matthew and low commodity prices. Efficiency will be all the more important in 2017. The Southern Farm Show is designed to give farmers the tools they need to navigate the year ahead,” said David Zimmerman, president and show manager.

 Many new products will be introduced at the 2017 Southern Farm Show. The show occupies all seven buildings on the fairgrounds with additional heated temporary structures and outdoor exhibits as well. “The Southern Farm Show is where farmers from across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia come to get new ideas. The chance to learn, compare notes and talk shop with others is what the show is all about,” Zimmerman says.

 “There is something of interest to everyone,” Zimmerman adds. “Large row crop producers, hog producers, part-time small farmers, forest landowners and even landscapers will benefit from attending the show. It doesn’t matter if you produce tobacco, cotton, corn, hogs or watermelons, if you farm or raise livestock, the Southern Farm Show is the place to be.”

 The show kicks off with the Wake County Agribusiness Breakfast Meeting at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Hunt Horse Arena. Dr. Rody Hawkins, president and chief executive officer of Improved Nature LLC, will be the featured speaker. He will address trends in the food industry and offer predictions for the future of food.

A highlight of the show will be Ag Development Forum set for Thursday, Feb. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Holshouser Building. North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will deliver his annual “State of Agriculture” address. Invited speakers will focus on the latest trends in North Carolina agriculture and an agricultural economic outlook will be presented. Admission is free.

 On Friday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 a.m., the Tobacco Farm Life Museum will hold the 12^th annual Breakfast with the Commissioner. At the breakfast, Commissioner Troxler will present the “Excellence in Agriculture” ward to Jimmy Gentry, president of the North Carolina State Grange.

 On Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 9:30 a.m., farmers and others with pesticide licenses from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) will have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits through two presentations. The first, “spray nozzle technology and droplet size management for effective coverage and drift control” at the Holshouser Building. Then at 10:45 a.m., the topic will be “preventive pesticide strategies for cool and warm season turf pests.” There is no charge for the seminars and no preregistration is required

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the FFA Truck and Tractor Driving Competition will be held at the James Hunt Horse Arena.

 The Farm Credit Show returns with the popular Brothers ‘n’ Bluegrass performing. During each show, AgCarolina Financial Credit will provide the latest information on agricultural financing. The shows are held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Jim Graham Building all three days of the Southern Farm Show.

The Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina will once again hold its annual meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at the Holshouser Building. In addition, the North Carolina Department of Labor will hold luncheons honoring Gold Star Growers on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, Feb. 2. The luncheons are open to Gold Star Growers and their guests.

 New for the 2017 show are lumberjack and chainsaw exhibitions sponsored by Stihl, and held each day of the show.

In addition, for the first time, the North Carolina Agribusiness Council will hold a meeting at the show. The meeting is slated for Wednesday, February 1 at noon in the Holshouser Building

For more information, contact Southern Farm Shows Inc. at (800) 849-0248 or visit the show website at http://www.SouthernFarmShow.com.