Air of optimism at Winners’ field day

The cars, in a plume of high country dust, were a visual highlight of the South Island Farmer of the Year winners' field day on Monday.

But for the more than 250 attendees, the real meat in the day was the challenges and opportunities put to them by a variety of speakers.

Hosted by the Lincoln University Foundation and title winners Richard and Annabelle Subtil and their team, the field day was a popular attraction with visitors from throughout New Zealand.

Foundation chair Ben Todhunter says the day had a strong theme of looking forward and new opportunities.

Advances in farm technology, soil science, pasture trial successes in demanding high country soils, stock genetics, data collection and application, and innovative thinking were featured, Todhunter says.

"The day had an air of optimism for New Zealand high country farming, highlighted by end users such as Silver Fern Farms (red meats) and Icebreaker (fine wools) looking at the growing benefits to New Zealand of farmers working directly with their companies to produce what the consumer wants."

Todhunter says the diverse audience was actively interested with sharp and testing questions being put to presenters.