DairyNZ Resilient Pastures Trial Expands Across North Island
Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
BOOK NOW for exhibit space at the 2015 Northland Field Days, says event coordinator Meagan Edmonds.
Early site registration is 50% higher than last year and only 10% of the available sites are not already spoken for.
“Businesses have got in contact with me to pick out sites much faster this year,” says Edmonds. “Anybody still on the fence on whether to attend the event next year will need to move fast if they want to come along.”
She adds the strong interest doesn’t surprise the organisers. Last year’s bumper event and good economic conditions in Northland are suggesting a strong exhibitor presence next time.
Northland’s economy has grown 6.9% in the last 12 months, according to a recent ANZ Regional Trend survey, with Northland businesses growing 2% faster than their Auckland and Canterbury counterparts.
Northland Field Days president Lew Duggan says the is a showcase farmers, forestry gang operators and farm and forestry workers attend to get the supplies and services for the next 12 months.
“It’s Northland’s biggest business event of the year, worth tens of millions in new business to the region,” says Duggan. “About 27,000 people attended the event this year, a figure we hope to top next year.”
Higher levels of comfort and convenience are planned.
“The events ground has slowly been improved and added to over the past 10 years,” says Duggan. “While a toilet block and better pedestrian access will be the most ambitious changes to date they will pale into insignificance at the improvements we have planned in the very near future.”
The event will run from February 26-28 next year.
Tel. 09 439 8998.
www.northlandfielddays.co.nz
Massey University vice chancellor Pierre Venter says his institute is moving from a period of austerity into a growth phase, based on their new strategy.
With the red meat sector going through a boom time with high prices, the time is right for the industry to step up its investment into developing new food products.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby says there’s now much closer cooperation between meat processing companies than there was many years ago.
A new fruit quality research laboratory has been opened in Auckland by agritech company Hectre to develop pioneering hyperspectral technology.
Farmer lobby Groundswell believes that farmers are worried about the implications of a potential centre-left government.
With less than a week to go before voters choose the next government, Federated Farmers has a simple message to its members - get out and vote.