A big crowd of 28,058 turned up to the first day of the NZ National Agricultural Fieldays' 48th year yesterday.

Alpine Buildings, Timaru, claims to be New Zealand's first company to make complete kitset buildings and is well known for developing a bird-proof rafter called Zero-Bird-Perch.

The 2016 National Fieldays is underway with organisers hoping to bring town and country together in the advancement of agriculture.

A new programme celebrating and promoting careers in the primary sector has been launched by Prime Minister John Key, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and senior Ministers at National Fieldays.

New Zealand agriculture faces a period of unprecedented opportunity and change," says Mark Hiddleston, managing director ANZ Commercial & Agri.

The latest offerings from some of Europe's leading farm machinery manufacturers will be on show at the New Zealand National Fieldays.

New Holland has expanded its tractor offering with two new models, the T7.290 and T7.315.

Calving cows means late nights and early mornings, with statistics showing around 18% of heifers need help and 7% of calves die at birth.

Track systems have many advantages over conventional wheel and tyre systems, not least more grip and reduced ground compaction.

This Fieldays will see the arrival of a much awaited tractor from Case IH -- the new Puma 4B series.