Tuesday, 04 June 2024 12:52

Fieldays 'focus'

Written by The Hound

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: The annual Fieldays at Mystery Creek next week should inject some much-needed energy into the agricultural sector, however, a mate of the Hound questions whether the organisers truly understand that most of the exhibitors are hoping to see farmers – not just all-and-sundry – coming through the turnstiles.

One of the many recent press releases from Fieldays focused on the heartwarming memories a few regular visitors had of coming back every year.

Not a single working farmer was included in the story.

Instead we had: a former Aucklander now living in Wellington; and a retired farmer from South Africa.

No disrespect to the thousands of townies and school kids that attend, they no doubt add a lot of tin to the gate takings, but the event should surely be focused on connecting farmers with those providing the products and services they need to farm.

More like this

Fieldays hold out the begging bowl

OPINION: When someone says “we don’t want a handout, we need a hand up” it usually means they have both palms out and they want your money.

Wrong focus

OPINION: Your old mate reckons townie Brooke van Velden, the Minister of Workplace (or is it Woke Place) Relations is now showing how underemployed she is as a minister by initiating an investigation into whether young children should be banned from collecting eggs on farms and feeding animals.

Burn the village

OPINION: There's an infamous term coined by a US general during the Vietnam war, specifically in reference to the battle of Ben Tre: "We had to burn the village to save it."

Purist problem

OPINION: The sudden departure of Jim Ward, manager of Molesworth Station for 24 years, highlighted some major dysfunction in the way conservation estate is managed in this country - the biggest problem, as the Hound sees it, being idealogues who harp on about "taonga" and use all means possible to block sensible commercial operations on conservation land.

Drill baby, drill!

OPINION: While the destruction of NZ's oil and gas industry by Jacinda Ardern's band of merry vandals was virtue signalling on a heroic scale - producing no environmental benefit whatsoever - the politician vowing to make that industry whole again, Shane Jones, is not above a bit of virtue signalling of his own.

Featured

Big day at Clash of the Colleges

Craighead Diocesan, Darfield High School and Christchurch Boys' High School took out the three age groups at the Canterbury Clash of the Colleges, which was held at the recent Ashburton A&P Show.

New Zealand Merino Company expands TextileGenesis traceability

The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) is expanding its collaboration with TextileGenesis to deliver full traceability for 100% of ZQ certified wool and ZQRX regenerative wool.

Waituna Lagoon consent puts farms at risk, Federated Farmers Say

According to Federated Farmers, Environment Southland has mishandled the consent process for Waituna Lagoon, leaving the community with numerous bad outcomes.

Metallica, Kiwi farmers, and community leaders unite for food relief in NZ

Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), teamed up with Meet the Need this week for a food packing event held at the New Zealand Food Network warehouse in Auckland.

Alliance Group returns to profit after two years with $93m turnaround

After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.

Zespri Forecasts Record Returns for 2025/26 Kiwifruit Season

According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.