Junket?
OPINION: The Hound notes that the Taxpayers’ Union recently revealed that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) spent more than $125,000 for its presence at this year’s Mystery Creek Fieldays.
Fieldays is once again living up to its reputation as an amazing meeting place for those in the agri sector and those who are just curious to see what’s happening on the land.
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.
Farmer-led charity, Meat the Need is calling for donations to enable it to supply more meals to families in need.
Weaker pricing and demand from China continue to impact New Zealand red meat export earnings.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.