South Island Agricultural Field Days March 25 – 27

Friday, 20 March 2009

South Island Agricultural Field Days March 25 – 27

Next week’s South Island Agricultural Field Days will be a measure of the health of the South Island economy.

Field Days is a three-day event that attracts between 20,000 and 25,000 people keen to see the latest equipment, machinery and services on offer. This year a record 326 exhibitors are attending, and every day between 80 and 100 comparative demonstrations will be held.

Field Days organising committee chairman, David James, says the main aim of Field Days is to give farmers the opportunity to see the latest machinery, equipment and technology in action. “The demonstrations are hands-on, helping farmers decide which product works best for them before they buy it,” he says.

David James says this year’s Field Days will be particularly interesting given the world-wide credit crisis. “As 64 percent of New Zealand’s merchandise exports come from the primary sector, Field Days is a barometer as to how our economy is fairing. We have a record number of exhibitors and we’re hopeful of a record crowd, however that will be dictated by the weather.”

In a bid to lift standards and highlight advances Field Days hosts the Agri Innovation Awards, which in turn provides rural based companies an opportunity to launch their new products. The award winners will be announced on the afternoon of Wednesday 25 March. The Field Days organising committee also runs awards for best large and small exhibitor sites, they will be announced on Thursday 26 March.

This year the Field Days committee is highlighting the essential work done by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew in rural areas. They will be on site and several exhibitors have organised fundraisers.

Everyone who attends Field Days has a chance to win a Yamaha AG 100 motorcycle valued at $4,000. This year the event will host a number of international visitors, including 300 delegates from the World Potato Congress, being held in Christchurch.

South Island Agricultural Field Days is run by an incorporated society, tickets cost $10 and all proceeds go towards young farmer’s groups and an educational scholarship. This year’s scholarship winners are all agriculture students at Lincoln University. Morgan Bowles of South Canterbury was awarded $2,500. Two students, Hamish Holland from the MacKenzie Country and Olivia Ross from Middlemarch, were placed runner-up receiving $1,250 each.

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