Optimism follows Northland Field Days

 

 hitch beneath a sweltering sun last week, while the most recent fixtures have had at least one day of ferocious winds or torrential rains.

Field Days staff and volunteers who were kept busy answering questions, giving directions and fielding enquiries were always pleasant and obliging despite the heat.

Full car parks indicated farmers and townies alike are still keen to keep abreast of rural technology and while the dairy payout will be significantly down on last years record, the optimism of a bounce-back was still evident.

All sectors of farming and horticulture showed a lot of interest in machinery and technology aimed at increased profitability.

An estimated 25,000 through the gate, while slightly down on last year, was still considered a satisfactory result and many were lucky enough to snaffle the gate prizes or one of the many freebies on offer.

Novelty spectator events such as the sheep racing, dog trials and the tractor pull attracted large crowds and many took the easy way around the site on the Chelsea-sponsored covered wagon drawn by the ever-willing Clydesdale draught horses.

It’s Northland’s largest ‘garage sale’ and there’s virtually nothing that can’t be purchased on site and usually at a special Field Days price, from farm machinery right down to household goods, fabrics and furniture. Even the farm – and the kitchen sink – can be purchased at the three day event.

Generally the larger machinery and farm related implement sites reported average to good sales. It was noted that with beef being buoyant, farmers were purchasing who had made enquiries over plant a year or so ago. On the other hand dairy farmers, in anticipation of a much lower payout, were only buying strategically.

Almost 20 per cent of the 560 site-holders were first time exhibitors, some from south of Auckland, showing how strategic marketing had changed markedly over the years with many now finding they need to take their products out to the people.

Many prospective purchasers will further their interest at the National Field Days at Hamilton in June but Northland can be assured that this annual event, now 30-years-old, forms an important cog in the mechanism of New Zealand agriculture.

By Rob Pooley

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