110,000 visitors!
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The 'ute tax has exposed the rank ignorance of some proponents of the wokeness, encapsulated in a recent RNZ interview with environmentalist and 'liberate the lane' cyclist Kirsty Wild.
She argued nobody should have a ute if it isn't used as a work vehicle - the 'legitimate use' angle used by PM Ardern.
If they needed more space, "they should get a minivan", Wild claimed.
But, as some listeners kept pointing out, utes only used as much fuel as the average minivan - an inconvenient fact Wild tried to skip past.
But they are right: modern diesel utes are efficient, especially relative to their high 'utility' value. A 2.0l Ford Ranger averages 7.4l/100km; a Honda minivan, 10.6l/100km.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
The 2026 Red Dairy Cow conference will be hosted by New Zealand in March.
While global dairy commodity prices continue to climb in most key exporting countries, the second half of the year is expected to bring increased downside risks.
In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group has dumped its chair Toby Williams.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.