Mystery Creek Upgrade: 15-Year Infrastructure Plan Unveiled for National Fieldays Venue
The venue for National Fieldays, the Southern Hemisphere's largest agribusiness show, is getting a major infrastructure upgrade.
Eight finalists have been named for the Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year contest.
This year, two Australian and six Kiwi bachelors will battle to win the Golden Gumboot.
The finalists are Brandon Sayliss (Taupo), Gus Thomas (Rakaia), Kaleb Foote (Tuakau), Oscar Smits (Reporoa), Paul Olsen (Manawatu), Peter Damen (Kindred, Australia), Jamie Havill (Ahaura) and Rob Ewing (Cape Paterson, Australia).
During a whirlwind week they will leave their comfort zone and challenge themselves, says Lee Picken, Fieldays head of events.
"We have a lot of talent in the young agri sector in New Zealand and Australia and this is an opportunity to showcase the future of the industry. These guys are passionate self-starters looking to upskill and progress their careers in an industry they're extremely proud of."
The competition starts with a road trip on June 13-14 from Auckland to Fieldays, completing challenges by NZ Young Farmers and Rural Women NZ and spending the night on a farm with a difference at Lavalla Estate in rural Tuakau.
Arriving at Fieldays, the Bachelors will have their skills, attitude and all-round charisma tested in competitive challenges such as speed fencing, blind dating, log splitting and building. A few fun twists will test the character of these rural men.
From Wednesday to Friday there will be four challenges a day, and a winner announced at the official prize giving on the Village Green on Saturday at 12pm.
Two titles are in contest: Rural Bachelor of the Year and People's Choice, and a prize pool of $20,000.
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region prepares for Cyclone Vaianu to hit the area.
Farmers will get an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in sheep genetics at the Sheep Breeder Forum this May.
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
A group of old Otago uni mates with a love of South Island back-country have gone the lengths of Waiau Toa Clarence from source to sea. Tim Fulton, who joined the group in the final fun to the river mouth, tells their story.
Operating with a completely different format from conventional tractors and combine harvesters, the NEXAT prime mover combines all steps of crop production in one modular carrier vehicle, from tillage, through seeding to harvesting.
Reports of severe weather forecast to move over the vast majority of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards this weekend will be very concerning for a significant number of growers.
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