Planning for 2019 field days gathering speed

Planning is well under way for the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days. Organising committee chairman Rodney Hadfield (left), secretary Tineka Johnstone and vice-chairwoman Michaela McLeod survey the Kirwee site. Photos: Supplied
Planning is well under way for the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days. Organising committee chairman Rodney Hadfield (left), secretary Tineka Johnstone and vice-chairwoman Michaela McLeod survey the Kirwee site. Photos: Supplied
The South Island Agricultural Field Days organising committee is laying gravel to the site's laneways to ensure wet weather will not disrupt the 2019 event.
The South Island Agricultural Field Days organising committee is laying gravel to the site's laneways to ensure wet weather will not disrupt the 2019 event.

The next South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) are less than a year away and exhibitors can now register online to reserve a site.

The organising committee is making changes for the two-yearly event, , which will be held from March 27 to 29. A new secretary/events co-ordinator has been appointed and is redeveloping its website and online registrations are being taken now.

New secretary and events co-ordinator Tineka Johnstone said an online application form was available on the field days website, along with a prospectus with event information, exhibitors' requirements and details of awards.

''We want potential exhibitors to start thinking about their options and register early,'' she said.

''We are upgrading the website so at present it looks a bit bare-bones, but the all necessary information is there.

''The new-look website will be up and running by the end of June.''

Ms Johnstone said the event was well-known for its machinery demonstrations and next year's would be no exception, with exhibitors being encouraged to put their latest machines through their paces.

Normally the organising committee chairman changed for each field days, but Southbridge farmer Rodney Hadfield was staying on for a second term to assist Ms Johnstone in her new role.

Michaela McLeod has been elected vice-chairwoman and Rangiora's Andrew Stewart would be responsible for organising the crops which will be used for the machinery demonstrations.

Media liaison person Daniel Schat said several working bees had already been held to prepare the site for next year.

''This will be the third field days we have had at our Kirwee site and we are gradually upgrading the facilities.

''Rain in the lead-up to the last field days in 2017 left the laneways muddy, which meant extra work to get them ready for the public.

''This year we are using hard fill from the Central Plains Water irrigation scheme to gravel the lanes so we will be ready if we do get wet weather.''

He said Nathan Stewart and the Cresslands Contracting team, Downers, Porter Equipment, Digout Services and Rooneys had all pitched in to help with gravelling the laneways.

A new addition in 2019 will be the ''Smart Farming Award'', which recognised a new technology that farmers could use to gather data, make better decisions, operate their businesses more efficiently and communicate with their advisers and suppliers.

Farm consultant Agri Magic is sponsoring the new award, which will be announced before the event.

-By David Hill

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