One last word …

After having to stay home last June due to covid, National Fieldays was held at the end of November instead, which meant many farmers who were busy down on the farm could not make their regular pilgrimage.

The event, which usually attracts more than 100,000 visitors and more than 1000 exhibitors and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in sales revenue for New Zealand firms, was back this June and by all accounts was another successful event. Several people have told me it is good to have Fieldays back in its regular slot on the calendar.

With this being the first winter event with the international borders open since 2020, Fieldays brought together individuals, business leaders and decision-makers from various corners of the globe to create invaluable relationships and partnerships that will facilitate knowledgesharing and champion New

Zealand-led innovation.

“It’s been a truly wonderful four days,” New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation said.

“When the gates opened on Wednesday morning under a blanket of fog and sun and positivity on the horizon, the buzz was great, and you could feel the positivity and excitement within hours of opening.

“In the face of economic and regulatory changes ahead for the primary sector, there was a profound spirit of camaraderie and buoyancy.”

Congratulations to Tangaroa Walker, pictured. He’s a dairy farmer, industry leader and farming advocate from Southland and the winner of the Ravensdown Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award.

Many of you may remember him on the cover of Dairy Farmer in September 2019, when he had not long started his Farm4Life Facebook group. This has now grown to more than 144,000 members. He has written a book and regularly posts informative and inspiring videos showing all aspects of dairy farming and life on the farm.

Keep up the fantastic work, Tangaroa.

July marks the five-year anniversary of AgriHQ and in August Dairy Farmer will celebrate its fifth anniversary of publishing. In the past five years, we have redesigned the cover and pages, introduced new sections in the magazine and brought you hundreds of stories about farmers who have been willing to share what they are doing in the hope it may help others or, at the very least, give other farmers ideas.

Dairy Farmer has gone from strength to strength as has AgriHQ, which started out with just Farmers Weekly –the country’s most respected, trusted and reliable source of agricultural news and information, delivered to more than 77,000 rural mailboxes every week. Along with Dairy Farmer, our family includes livestock reports, industry reports, saleyard previews and reports, On Farm Story

– telling the New Zealand story, one farmer at a time –WeatherWatch with weather insights from Phil Duncan, Ag&Ed, podcasts and more.

Winter has definitely arrived with storms, snow and even more rain in parts of the country. This is usually a good time to wrap up in front of the fire with a good read but, unfortunately, the farm work never stops, with maintenance and cleaning as well as feeding out and shifting stock.

And of course, calving is just around the corner, so many are preparing for the season ahead. I have yet to hear of any early calves so cows appear to be holding on – but as farmers know, cows love to drop their calves when the weather is at its absolute worst.

Good luck for the new season.

Sonita

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