A positive Fieldays, says Langford
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
Federated Farmers Gisborne/Wairoa president Charlie Reynolds says farmers are in need of emotional support after rain, wind and flooding hit the region this week.
He says that, just a year and a half after Cyclone Gabrielle hit, this week’s storm will be an emotional “trigger point” for many of the region’s farmers and growers.
“We’ve had reports of some farms who’ve just finished replacing the fences along waterways and stuff and they’ve all just disappeared again. You kind of think ‘God they’ve gone out, had to borrow the money and what do they do now?’,” Reynolds told Rural News.
“We won’t really know the full impact for at least three or four days until we can get access,” he says, adding that there are several roads which are still impassable.
“All in all, it’s just a bit of wait and see.”
Reynolds says the region is emotionally tired as it grapples with the deaths of three fishermen who went missing on Monday, “at the same time as we’re getting our teeth kicked in by Mother Nature”.
“The support for the emotional side is really the key and knowing that people and friends are there.
“There will be a time where we’ll say, ‘we do need support in this area and we do need support in that area’… but we don’t want to go out and say, ‘we need this’ now, it’s just far too early.”
Chinese textile company Saibosi has partnered with Wools of New Zealand to put the 'farm to floor' story of New Zealand wool rugs on screen for its customers.
Showcasing the huge range of new technologies and science that is now available was one of the highlights at last week's National Fieldays.
Coby Warmington, 29, a farm manager at Waima Topu Beef near Hokianga was named at the winner of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award for sheep and beef.
Northlanders scooped the pool at this year's prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards - winning both the main competition and the young Maori farmer award.
Red meat farmers are urging the Government to act on the growing number of whole sheep and beef farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming.
The days of rising on-farm inflation and subdued farmgate prices are coming to an end for farmers, helping lift confidence.
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