Canada’s Biggest Plowing Match Comes to Niagara in 2025

Mar 20, 2025
By Farms.com

It has been nearly 100 years since Niagara Region hosted the International Plowing Match

For the first time since 1926, Niagara Region will host the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) 2025, a major agricultural event bringing together farmers, exhibitors, and visitors from across Canada. This five-day event will run from September 16 to September 20 at the West Niagara Fairgrounds, offering a mix of agriculture, heritage, and modern farm technology.

The Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) established the IPM in 1913 to celebrate farming and rural life. Over the years, it has grown into Canada’s largest rural expo, attracting tens of thousands of attendees. The highlight remains the plowing competitions, where participants use horse-drawn plows and advanced tractors to showcase their skills.

In addition to the competitions, visitors can explore interactive farm exhibits, rural goods and services, animal showcases, and daily entertainment. The event will also feature a rodeo, live demonstrations, and a tented city showcasing innovations in agriculture and farming technology.

Local organizers, including co-chair Renate McGillivray, are thrilled to welcome guests to the region. “We have a lot to offer in this part of the province and we couldn’t be happier to be hosting this year’s event,” said McGillivray.

Planning is in full swing, and organizers encourage people to get involved as sponsors, exhibitors, or volunteers. Those interested can visit www.plowingmatch.org/IPM2025 or follow updates on Facebook (2025 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo).

Photo Credit: Milton Young

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.