The rapidly changing conditions related to the Covid-19 pandemic have forced the organisers to cancel this year’s editions of the Farm Progress show and the Husker Harvest days.
Show management had confirmed earlier that the two events, which were planned to take place in September, would be operated differently with physical distancing a requirement, along with other health and safety changes. “Within days of our commitment to hold both farm shows, more than half the US saw a significant spike in new cases of Covid-19,” said Farm Progress events manager Matt Jungmann.
“We have a multi-generational audience that travels from all across the country and around the world to attend the shows and based on that we felt it better to reconsider the traditional shows for 2020 to prioritise the safety of all.”
A virtual experience was already being planned as an extension to the live events. These will not provide the true ‘tyre kicking’ experience of being at the shows, but the events team plans to deliver a dynamic virtual experience.
“We have nearly 400 acres (162ha) of maize grain at two sites in Iowa and Nebraska that have to be harvested and land that must be drained,” added Mr Jungmann. We’re looking at all of our options.”
The next Farm Progress show will take place at Decatur in Illinois from August 31 to September 2, 2021. This will be followed by the Husker Harvest days at Grand Island, Nebraska, from September 14-16, 2021.
