20,000 attend South Island Agricultural Field Days

Just under 20,000 people attended the 2007 South Island Agricultural Field Days, the largest purely agricultural machinery exhibition in New Zealand.

The figure was down slightly from the 24,000 who attended in 2005, partly due to the weather which affected the first two days and partly due to the strength of the New Zealand dollar, says Errol Costello, secretary of the Field Days.

The event took place last week at Lincoln University Farm and attracted a record 294 exhibitors. The Hynds Rural site was judged best exhibit while runner-up awards went to Fonterra and Goldpine.

This year the theme Farming for the Future saw a special competition to recognise Kiwi inventions that make agriculture more productive and profitable.

Mr Costello says award winners were recognised for making something that appears complicated, simpler and cheaper.

“Agri Innovation Awards were presented to Ashburton company Fuel Storage Systems for their plastic diesel
tank and bund, and to Swannanoa farmer Geoff Pearce for his quad bike attachment that shifts irrigators,” Mr Costello says.

Merit awards were presented to Dunsandel company Permbrand for its portable stock handling systems and to Mt Somers contractor Dougal Forbes for creating a device that allows farmers to cut stakes for fences more safely – “I'm sure OSH will love it,” Mr Costello says.

“Other merit awards were made to Fencewright NZ Ltd, Thames for their utility fence winder and to Grant Sullivan from Christchurch for his Field Mate area meter.”

Mr Costello says the event stands out from other shows because of the range of side-by-side demonstrations taking place each day, and this year was no exception. “This was the biggest display of cropping farm equipment in the country, and much of it was being demonstrated right there in front of you. They are monstrous machines, but it was amazing to see how skilfully they could be moved around a field,” he says..

“There were also demonstrations of exceptional interest for dairy and sheep farmers. The Varivac dairy pump energy management system and the Highlander upright shearing cradle have the potential to save the respective industries literally millions of dollars in energy costs and accident compensation respectively.”

The South Island Agricultural Field Days is run by an incorporated society and all funds generated are used for educational scholarships for young farmers plus a donation to Young Farmers national office.

The next South Island Agricultural Field Days will be held from March 25-27 2009. -

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