Longest running ag field days all go
The South Island Agricultural Field Days, held in Kirwee on the outskirts of Christchurch, will celebrate its 70th year in March 2021 with a bigger demonstration area.
With an enforced absence of two years, brought about by its cancellation in 2020, the Central District Field Days at Feilding heralded the first event of its type for 2021.
With everyone breathing a big sigh of relief, following the cancellation of the Northland Field Days and The Horse of the Year Show a couple of weeks earlier due to Covid, the CD event was certainly upbeat.
Visitors ranged from those looking for a bargain, to others doing some research for a future purchase, to those just after an excuse for a little socialising - with plenty of hand sanitiser, of course.
Exhibitors spoken to by Dairy News were very buoyant about the state of the industry, citing good weather, plentiful harvests and a healthy dairy payout for the season.
As expected, some were complaining about having to live a little hand to mouth with stock, due to the world's heavily disrupted shipping schedules. Indeed, one UTV importer noted astronomical increases in freight charges, citing a 40-foot container that cost around US$750 from China to Auckland in January 2020, now costing US$3500.
Kyle Baxter, Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) president and tractor and machinery lead at Norwood says feedback from sales teams has been very positive, with some saying that they had received serious enquiries from faces they hadn't seen in many years.
"Interestingly, we did see the crowds thin out a little mid-afternoon, obviously some going home to milk cows or others getting back to harvesting the maize crop that appears to be a couple of weeks behind the Waikato region."
Henry McLemrnon, sponsorship and events director at Stuff Events says early indications are that they've had the best ticket sales in recent years, from a predominantly trade day on Thursday through to family groups on Saturday.
"Exhibitors told us they had experienced strong revenue, some even said they sold more on the first day than they did across three days at other field days.
"They also said they recognised the advantage of a regional show, not only direct sales, but delivering good leads in their own region for follow up. So much so, that a significant number of exhibitors have re-booked for 2022, which will be the event's 29th year."
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.