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Northland Field Days president John Phillips is hoping for better weather and more people at the three-day event.
Organisers of the Northland Field Days are banking on better weather and a better turnout this year.
This time last year, the region was inundated with flooding triggered by Cyclone Gabrielle. In the weeks leading up to the event, many residents and businesses in the area were busy cleaning up their properties.
Northland Field Days Inc president John Phillips says last year's event was a challenge. It was the first one in three years, thanks to Covid lockdowns.
The flood forced some exhibitors to pull out and impacted turnout.
"The main reason people didn't turn up was because they were busy cleaning up after the floods," Phillips told Rural News.
"We even had some residents who lost their houses and businesses that were flooded out."
While last year's rain boosted grass growth, dry weather this year has left many farmers facing feed shortage and buying extra feed like palm kernel expeller.
Dry weather also impacts water supply and organisers have had to cart in water by trucks for the three-day event. However, Phillips says there aren't any water restrictions in place yet.
"We are keeping our fingers crossed," he adds.
Northland is renowned for its dry and hot summers.
Phillips, a dairy farmer milking 400 cows, says bores and water on his farm are drying up.
"While we had too much rain last year, grass growth was good; this year grass growth is weak which is normal for the region."
For dairy farmers, the forecast milk price is rising but still lags the $8.22/kgMS plus 50c dividend/share paid by Fonterra last season.
Phillips says the drop in the payout is costing farmers, as most of them have overdrafts and are paying higher interest.
"If Fonterra gave us a true price and keep it there, that would be great," he says.
"If you talk to the businesses here, it's quite tough as farmers are not spending."
Despite the downturn, Phillips is hoping for a successful show.
"All we can do is put on a great show and try and get people through the gates.
"We are grateful to our sponsors - Ravensdown, Gallagher and Hansens and all the exhibitors.
"We won't be in business if we don't have support of exhibitors and the patrons."
If there was a silver lining in the tragedy that was Cyclone Gabrielle, for New Zealand Young Grower of the Year, Grace Fulford, it was the tremendous sense of community and seeing first-hand what good leadership looks like.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The road between Napier and Wairoa is on the mend.
The Good Carbon Farm has partnered with Tolaga Bay Heritage Charitable Trust to deliver its first project in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.
A large Māori-owned kiwifruit business that was badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle has bounced back with a vengeance.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
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