Hose runner saves time and effort
Rakaia-based equipment manufacturer Pluck’s Engineering will soon start production of a new machine designed to simplify the deployment and retrieval of temporary water troughs used in winter break feeding.
The 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) chairman, Rangiora farmer Andrew Stewart, is predicting a successful event on the back of good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.
"The first half of the 2024-25 farming year was tough.
"But since Christmas there has been considerably more good news about commodity values, and we are picking many farmers will be keen to bring forward plans they may have had for upgrading or replacing equipment they have held back on."
The biennial event, held in rotation with the Southern Field Days at Waimumu in Southland, will be back at its dedicated site at Kirwee from March 26-28.
"The South Island Agricultural Field Days is certainly the place to come to for weighing up your options," says Stewart.
A big new attraction for this year is the Cowboy Challenge, a competition for horse and rider negotiating a series of obstacles over a timed course, judged on performance and horsemanship.
There will also be an Ag Kids agriculture skills event for youngsters, the popular fencing competition, and the Tractor Shootout, testing competitors' abilities in operating a telehandler.
Some events that have previously been only one day will run on all three this year.
Stewart says there are over 600 exhibitors booked.
The covered marquee will be a lot bigger this year and another marquee is going in for indoor lifestyle sites.
"We've had a bit of interest over the past few years and with the way the Christchurch Show ended up this year we thought it was a good chance to get a few for those people."
The second marquee was already "well sold," he says.
![]() |
---|
The Cowboy Challenge comes to the South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee for the first time this year. |
Stewart is taking his turn chairing the event after running the machinery demonstrations in previous years.
He could not yet say how many machines will be put through their paces but the usual machinery suppliers were "still as keen as ever. I'd say we will have 40-plus machines".
While previous years have used crops including fodder beet or maize, this year they are keeping it simple with one paddock of grass pasture and one of triticale for the harvesting and cultivation machinery demonstrations.
"The field days are an essential event for anyone engaged in agribusiness and farming, and we are more excited than ever to bring together such a diverse range of exhibitors to highlight the innovation and expertise in the sector," he says.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…