Source: NCDA&CS, 1/7/16

The Southern Farm Show is considered a must-attend event for farmers and others from the Carolinas and Virginia. 2016 promises to be the best show yet. Set for Feb. 3-5 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, the show spreads over dozens of acres with both indoor and outdoor exhibits, offering a wide array of agricultural products and services. Representatives from

several N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services divisions will be in the Jim Graham building to answer questions and explain services. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. More than 400 exhibiting companies make the Southern Farm Show the largest agricultural exposition in the Carolinas and Virginia.

“We promise a show that will provide farmers the information and knowledge they need to produce bountiful crops
this year,” said show manager David Zimmerman. “Commodity prices certainly aren’t where we want them to be,
which means farmers will have to be more efficient than ever before. The Southern Farm Show is designed to help
farmers be efficient and learn the most up-to-date and cutting edge production information.”

Zimmerman said a record number of exhibitors will be at the show. To meet the demand, a fourth exhibit tent is
being added. “A lot of new equipment will be introduced at the show and we are excited about that,” he added.

A highlight of the show will be the Ag Development Forum hosted by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. The
forum is set for Thursday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Holshouser Building. The forum focuses on
economics and agriculture policy issues of interest to North Carolina farmers. Commissioner Troxler also will
present his annual State of Agriculture address. Admission is free.