Fieldays goes urban
OPINION: Once upon a time the Fieldays were for real farmers, salt of the earth people who thrived on hard yakka.
Some early rain on the opening day meant less of a crowd poured into the Mystery Creek site last week.
Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation claims it is proof of success of holding the event even though final numbers would not be known till after Saturday. However, Nation reckons having 1000 exhibitors on site is a good result. On Wednesday morning there were some heavy showers, but gumboots and umbrellas were the simple answer. And there were plenty of indoor sites to visit as well.
Nation told Rural News that organisers of similar events world-wide are facing challenges with supply chain disruptions forcing exhibitors to pull out or downsize. “It’s hard if you don’t have product,” he says.
But Nation adds that there has been an excellent response from overseas visitors.
“One company flew in 200 delegates to the event and many others flew in smaller numbers.”
He’s hopeful that more freedoms around travel will see future numbers increase.
As for the somewhat controversial decision to stage the event at this time of the year, Nation claims that farmers are still coming along as are key exhibitors – such as Fonterra and DairyNZ. He says Fieldays is mindful that it’s a busy time of the year.
“But as one farmer put it to me – this is the secondbest date you could have chosen.”
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?