Friday, 09 April 2021 09:55

SIAFD wins punters' plaudits

Written by  Mark Daniel
A highlight for the 32,000 visitors at this year’s SIAFD were the working demonstrations held on each day of the event. A highlight for the 32,000 visitors at this year’s SIAFD were the working demonstrations held on each day of the event.

After celebrating its 70th year last month, it looks like the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) has hit its heights - with most exhibitors spoken to considering it to now be the 'best' field day of any sort in the country.

 

Exhibitors spoke of the ease of getting things done at SIAFD, with the event organisers taking a 'what can we do to help' attitude and nothing being too much trouble.

Blessed with good weather, this year's three-day event saw over 600 exhibitors, the majority with direct links to the rural sector, focusing on engagement with farmers or rural dwellers - rather than focusing on numbers through the gate.

Getting to the event, located at its permanent home at Kirwee, west of Christchurch, was made easy with a good traffic plan and easy parking. Entry was swift using a recently launched online ticketing system, leading to 32,000-plus visitors passing throuhg the turnstiles over the three days.

During the show, a highlight for many farmers or contractors, were the working demonstrations. These covered around 11ha and are said to be the largest display of working machinery of any field day in the country. Visitors were able to see the latest tractors and implements tackling stubble cultivation, mowing, raking, baling - in round or square formats - wrapping and harvesting.

"This part of the event just keeps getting better and better," Class Harvest Centre's Roger Nehoff told Rural News.

"It is organised by a committee of farmers and nothing is too much trouble.

"Even to the point of being asked way before the event what crops we wanted planted and in what direction. It certainly gives us a great shop window to display our products, making SIAFD a standout for us in the annual round of field days."

Exhibitors also reported that visitors were in a buoyant mood, with deals being done and on-farm demos being organised.

The only 'fly in the ointment' appeared to be a longer lead time for overseas products to arrive, due to severely disrupted worldwide shipping, and reduced production caused by disrupted component supply and social distancing rules.

The message to buyers from most exhibitors is: "If you need spring delivery, get your orders in now!"

It is expected that things are likely to get worse before they get better, with Europe in particular seemingly entering a third wave of Covid-19 infections.

More like this

Foliar feeding 'lifts N efficiency'

Research findings published in Europe support the concept of foliar fertilisation or foliar feeding in improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) while maintaining pasture productivity.

SIAFD knocks it out of the park!

While the temperature was struggling to reach about 5 degrees and the horizontal hail had enough grunt to slice cheese, the SIAFD committee knocked it out of the park by delivering another great event.

It's all about the gear

A couple of the machines that will be on show at the 2023 SIAFD have effectively already done their live demonstration.

Small beginnings

SIAFD started in the 1950s as machinery demonstrations on a leased site at Lincoln.

A family affair

The South Island Agricultural Field Days is a family affair for brothers Andrew and Nathan Stewart.

Featured

Every vote will count - Alliance chair

An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.

John Deere technician's record hat trick

Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter