'Good bugger' calls it a day
Much of the rural industry is made up of an army of characters who tend to be “good buggers” or rogues, while a small number might fall into the “you need to count your fingers after a handshake” category.
Unlike most other regions, the Kaipara and Whangarei regions had good rainfall in November-December and good soil moisture levels in December, placing farmers well for strong production as the season advances. This contrasts starkly with the previous three years when most of Northland was gripped by severe drought.
Field days visitor numbers rallied as a result, despite poor Fonterra payout predictions. Many farmers came to the event with specific goals in mind.
Well over 20,000 visitors and a record 550 exhibitors enjoyed three days of deal making, or at least lining up deals, says Northland Field Days President, Lew Duggan. “People often came up to me and told me how good this year was.”
Sales were good for cattle handling equipment maker Farmquip, its lower North Island territory manager Brendon Carr calling the field days “the best so far”. He puts this down to the strong beef schedule giving his key customers, drystock farmers, the money they need to order gear they have put off buying.
“We tripled sales on the previous years and got lots of very good inquiries,” Carr says.
At least 20,000 people visited over the three days, Saturday being the busiest. “They knew what they wanted the previous times they spoke to us, so this year it just happened.”
Isuzu, the winner of the best new site award, did well, says Stephen Moore, dealer principal of Moore Cars, the Whangarei dealership for Isuzu and Kia. He sold a truck just as the event closed and saw his staff making sales on all three days.
“The feeling was generally positive and visitors were more comfortable about spending money and making a decision on the day in contrast to previous years.
“Even though the payout was down the production was way up on last year. I talked to one guy who was well ahead of the previous season.”
Lew Duggan says the sun had taken a toll of organisers and exhibitors but they were excited about such a positive event.
“It was thrilling and we’re looking forward to 2016. We have huge plans to make the event and the grounds even better than this year.”
