CO-OPERATIVE NEWS
South Island Agricultural Field Days With more than 2,000 shareholders visiting the Farmlands tent in late March, the team of experts, field and retail staff and supplier representatives were kept busy offering advice and recommendations on the latest innovative products.
Taking time off their 206ha dairy farm
For Canterbury dairy farmers and Farmlands shareholders Rob and Janet Mangin, getting out and about to events around the country is an integral part of their farm management.
the A&P shows and smaller events or
in Ashburton to visit events such as the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) in Kirwee has been part of Rob’s calendar for many years. “We try to get to all of the big events around Canterbury, as well as attending seminars put on within the industry,” Rob says. “The Field Days are really good because they’re always topical and have everything there in one place.” With the environment, health and safety and compliance being front of mind for many farmers, the easy access to expert advice and inventive products is a big drawcard for attendees. “When we’ve got projects going an opportunity to seek out specific
| Stacey Cosnett, NRM Nutritionist, Farmlands shareholder Rob Mangin and Sophie Green, Trainee Technical Field Officer, catch up on the latest news at SIAFD.
technical advice. That advice and
needed to get around and see all that the
support is the main reason I’ll walk into
industry has to offer.
a tent like Farmlands'.”
“It’s more than a one-day job and we
“It’s all about making life easier and
do often save our purchasing until these
safer and you’ve got to really make an
events to make sure we are getting the
effort to see everything to make sure
best deal.”
you’re not missing anything that can
The open, inviting nature of the
help you on-farm,” Rob says.
Farmlands tent and having the team
The Field Days deals are just a nice
of field staff and industry experts from
add-on for the Mangins, although Janet
Farmlands Growth and Innovation team
keeps a careful eye on the purse when
available in their bright orange “Know-It-
Rob is out and about.
All” t-shirts was also a winner for Rob.
“I’m always up for a bargain!” Rob says.
“Having someone come up, say hello
“At these events you always see products
and make a genuine enquiry into how
that you’ve never heard about or seen
your farm is going is what makes you feel
before and they can be the missing piece
valued as a shareholder. A great thing
to make a project so much easier.”
about these events is how social they are,
The multitude of options available at
so having that contact with people is very
SIAFD means that the whole 3 days are
important,” Rob says.
on at the farm, Field Days offers
| The Knowledge and Advice Hub gave shareholders a chance to chat with the Farmlands Growth and Innovation Team during Field Days.
| Phil Johnston, Farmlands Agronomist is interviewed by Sarah Perriam from Sarah's Country during the Field Days.
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