Let the games begin!
New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.
Jam-packed with action, fizzing with giveaways: that's the promise of the Northland Field Days organisers.
"Exhibitors are pulling out all the stops to have plenty of things to win and do," says president Lew Duggan.
Anybody attending the event, on March 3-5, has a good chance of walking away with something special.
Northland Toyota is building a new, improved 4WD track – next to its site – to show off its new Toyota Hiluxs in 'real-world' conditions.
Sales consultant Nigel Gilmour
says people trying out a new model Toyota Hilux, FJ Land Cruiser or Toyota Fortuna on the 4WD course should expect a bumpier ride than last year.
"Drivers will experience challenging approach and departure angles right from the seat."
Toyota's new range of Hiluxs ranges from 2WD work trucks to high-spec 4WD Hiluxs.
"We've been working on the new range for five years, so it will be exciting to let people see them live. We are most excited by our new 2WD Hiluxs, which have the same ground clearance as our 4WD models."
Field day attendees will also get one chance each day to win their weight in meat via a competition organised by NZME and farm electronics manufacturer Tru-Test. Scales will be set up at the Tru-Test site to weigh visitors for the contest.
Tru-Test and the field days committee will auction off items on site, giving farmers an opportunity for great deals on fencing and other animal handling gear.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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