Walking the talk at Fieldays

Networking at all levels is evident. The seminars and functions are well attended and at sites people stop for serious conversations with sales staff or just to catch up with friends who make the annual pilgrimage to what has become one of the top ten agricultural events in the world.

Many companies use the fieldays to release new information and at the top of the list is KPMG’s agri business Agenda and MPI’s Situation and Outlook Report – both great reading.

Politicians are busy rushing between meetings and functions but forever stopping to press the flesh with potential voters. What is impressive is the number of overseas visitors and exhibitors are looking for niches for their products in NZ.

While the animals are grazing happily we hope at home, their owners are also grazing trying some of the new and old delicacies that are one offer. This year sheep milk is the trendy food on offer. Massey University and AgResearch who’s sites are close to each other in the main pavilion have cheese, sheep milk, including flavoured milk and fritters on offer. Nearby Zespri staff are constantly wheeling more and more trays of kiwifruit for tasting by the public.

There are of course the show stopping hot dogs liberally coated with tomato sauce for those with discerning tastes.

This year many exhibitors have lifted their game and many sites are bigger and better than they have been for a long time. They seem to have a 6th sense that sales may lift this year and by all accounts they are right. Our product and machinery editor says the sales staff he’s spoken to report that they are taking a steady stream of orders and even at this stage are having a good Fieldays.

Mystery Creek is a Mecca for the agri adherents of NZ. A pilgrimage that can’t be missed regardless of the frost, the fog, politicians and even the pay-out.