Fieldays hold out the begging bowl
OPINION: When someone says “we don’t want a handout, we need a hand up” it usually means they have both palms out and they want your money.
New Zealand’s largest agriculture event has been postponed.
Last night, New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation sent an email to exhibitors and stakeholders advising that National Fieldays, scheduled for 10-13 June 2020 at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton, will be postponed.
The decision follows Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement last night that gatherings of more than 500 people must be cancelled.
Schools and universities are exempt from the ban.
Only eight patients have tested positive for Covid-19 in New Zealand and no deaths have occurred.
The decision to postpone the event will impact the economy further: National Fieldays has contributed over $18.5 billion to New Zealand’s economy over its 51 years.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

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