One of the oldest and largest agricultural events in the South Island is back for another year, and promising to be spectacular.
With a focus on opportunities to view machines in their working state, and reinforcing the relationship between farmers, service providers, scientists and technical experts, the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) brings the rural sector together.
New Zealand’s biggest agricultural machinery demonstrative event, kicking off at Kirwee, near Christchurch, on March 29, provides the opportunity to see, touch and operate the latest in agricultural equipment.
The three-day event, culminating on March 31, is held biennially and this year the volunteer organisers are reporting stronger-than-ever exhibitor interest. All sites have sold out, including the additional laneway sites added for this year’s event.
Committee chair Hayden Dorman said despite the tough times machinery distributors have had in the past two years in sourcing equipment and parts due to shipping and covid delays, all brands have stepped up with their best and latest equipment.
“The field days provide an opportunity to really do your homework on what the best purchase decision may be, after some of the challenges in the past couple of years,” Dorman said.
The event is one of the few Field Days to allocate sites based on the industry involved, making it easy for visitors to find like products in one place to view and compare.
Demonstration co-ordinator Andrew Stewart said all the respected brands of tractors, machines and cultivation equipment will be on display. He expects up to 50 different pieces of equipment will be in active demonstration.
“We have doubled the area put into maize this year for demonstrating drilling methods and harvesters in response to a lot of farmer interest in the crop as an option to importing more expensive supplements as costs have risen in the past year,” Stewart said.
With climate change, maize is becoming a more viable option in Canterbury, with maize silage – a high value feed crop more commonly grown in the North Island – holding strong appeal for southern farmers.
The planted crop on the Kirwee site showcases different outcomes using three different drill types, including a strip till drill and a later planted variety of maize.
But it will not only be machinery nuts who will get something out of the event.
Organisers have made an effort to keep SIAFD’s appeal broad across the rural community.
This includes supporting a growing number of agritech exhibitors keen to showcase their latest developments, incorporating agri-innovation and smart farming.
With one eye on recent weather events in the North Island, organisers have also welcomed an offer by ACE Homes to put a movable home up for auction, with proceeds going to the Rural Support Trust.
All proceeds from the SIAFD, a non-profit organisation, are ploughed back into further developing the site and running future events as well as scholarships and community donations.
The event traditionally attracts 25,000-30,000 visitors, with this year expected to be no exception.
“The heart of the South Island Field Days are the rural communities who our exhibitors rely so much upon,” Dorman said.
“It is an event to celebrate not only the latest and greatest in equipment and machinery, but also the innovation and inspiration that our rural communities generate.”
