siafd

Sunny start to South Island Agricultural Field Days

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 05:35:42 GMT

Stunning autumn weather has ensured strong crowd numbers on the opening day of the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee, drawn to the wide array of exhibitors, demonstrations and competitions with a strong rural focus.

Those competitions on day one included the Agri-Innovations Awards, showcasing the latest and most inventive solutions to farm problems and tasks offered by a range of established and start up technology companies.

This year’s Agri-Innovation winner award went to Marlborough company Repost that takes vineyard posts and repurposes them for other fencing applications, saving thousands of tonnes of timber from landfill.

Repost took out the top award with its portable hydraulic nail puller, developed specifically for pulling nails from vineyard posts. The second prize was awarded to Rakaia based Plucks Engineering for its Hose Runner, a towable device that can lay or wind up 300 meters of 20mm alkathene hose in only minutes.

The winners take home $1000 and $500 each from the South Island Field Days Society. They were among 17 entrants in the competition that included devices and technology as varied as a nanobubble agritech pivot system, to a towable road grader machine for farm raceways.

There’s a vast range of agricultural equipment at this year’s event including the active demonstrations site encompassing the range of heavy equipment for pulling, digging, sowing, cultivating and spraying on today’s farms.

Dedicated hard work from the voluntary committee means the demonstration site is well established and gives a real-world impression of how the equipment performs.

Demonstrations manager Tim Wilson says the demonstration were well attended, pointing to the wide range of equipment in action including, CLAAS mowers, Krone and New Holland balers, Great Plains Spartan drills and Bednar disks.

Recognising the shift in agri tech to the skies, this year’s Field Days also incorporates the latest in drone technology, with a chance to witness the precision and scale the next generation agri drones can provide.

Day two on Thursday promises to deliver plenty of action for farmers, visitors and children alike.

The New Zealand fencing competition will be running all day with the South Island Doubles competition.

For anyone keen to get a closer look at telehandlers, the Farm Trader Showcase event at lunchtime will be featuring the machines, followed by farm trailers at 2pm.

“Today shows that the South Island Agricultural Field Days is bigger and better than ever, meaning we are able to cover the entire sector with something for everyone. Attendees won’t be disappointed” says Field Days committee chair Andrew Stewart.

Click here for more details on the South Island Agricultural Field Days events and demonstrations

Young hopefuls compete at South Island Agricultural Field Days

info@siafd.co.nz (Phillipa Linton) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:12:45 GMT

This year the next generation of farmers can try their hand at some true farming challenges while also enjoying the technology and innovation showcased at the South Island’s premier agricultural event, the South Island Agricultural Field Days.

Set to kick off in Kirwee from March 26 to 28, this year’s Field Days include a focus on encouraging school leavers interested in farming to get an insight to the exciting career options agriculture offers.

“We have always let school groups attend for free with their teachers to encourage more kids to take an interest in agriculture. But this year we are taking things up a notch by getting them interacting with various elements during field days” says Annabelle Adkins, Field Days committee member.

Following along similar lines to the Young Farmers competition, Annabelle and her team have organised a SIAFD “Ag Challenge” event that includes both practical and theoretical related challenges for students to accomplish. There are already 100 students signed up to participate.

“We have taken inspiration from what Young Farmers offer and this provides a great way to introduce a fun element and appeal to schools that may not normally have many students drawn to agriculture,” she says.

The SIAFD volunteer committee enjoys strong links to Young Farmers, with many past and present members who often contribute to the running of such events.

There is also a Secondary Schools Fencing competition being held that will team of two to construct a three-wire electric fence, drawing off the ever-popular South Island doubles fencing competition which is also a drawcard at the Field Days.

Once again organisers are ensuring children under 16 can also enter for free, with events like the Cowboy Challenge providing family focused entertainment during the event.

Held for the first time, the challenge is a competition designed to test the partnership of horse and rider as they weave through a series of obstacles along a time course. Judged on performance and horsemanship, the event is a thrilling spectator experience for all ages.

Meantime, Mums and Dads who are farmers seeking out the latest in equipment and advice can spend time getting up close and under the hood, including seeing equipment in action at the Field Day’s demonstration area.

This year that includes a Farm Trader showcase demonstration of trailers and tele-handlers for anyone considering their options for a new purchase.

“With the secondary schools competition, kids under 16 free and over 600 exhibitors we are confident this year’s Field Days will offer something for everyone, whether you are a kid, or thinking about it as a career, or if you already farm and are keen to see the latest and best equipment,” says Annabelle.

The SIAFD are being held at Kirwee from March 26-28. Click here for ticket registration and purchase .

Field Days prizes for early ticket purchases

info@siafd.co.nz (Phillipa Linton) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:38:02 GMT

Getting in early for tickets to this year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) means ticket holders could win twice, not only having access to the South Island’s premier agricultural event but also the opportunity to win a prize pack worth over $1000.

The highly anticipated event returns to Kirwee from March 26 to 28 and promises to showcase the latest in agricultural technology, equipment and expertise on a site bigger and better than ever before.

Early bird ticket purchasers who place their order from February 1 to 28 will automatically go in the draw to win a prize pack worth $1000 from some of the event’s gold sponsors. These include products from RD Petroleum, Think Water Canterbury and ITM Darfield.

Field days committee chair Andrew Stewart says there is an elevated level of anticipation for this year’s event, thanks to a lift in good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.

“The first half of the 2024-25 farming year was tough. But since Christmas there has been considerably more good news about commodity values, and we are picking many farmers will be keen to bring forward plans they may have had for upgrading or replacing equipment they have held back on.

“The South Island Agricultural Field Days is certainly the place to come to for weighing up your options,” he says.

There will also be an action-packed equestrian event guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser when the Cowboy Challenge kicks off.

With over 600 exhibitors booked and preparing their sites, this year’s event promises to be one of the biggest on an expanded area that has been upgraded for access with shingled laneways and accessible demonstration areas.

“The field days are an essential event for anyone engaged in agribusiness and farming, and we are more excited than ever to bring together such a diverse range of exhibitors to highlight the innovation and expertise in the sector,” says Andrew.

Exhibitors tune in for Kirwee Field Days

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:25:29 GMT

Agricultural companies keen to be part of the 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee still have time to secure site space before the event kicks off in March.

Organisers have gone to extra effort to ensure more space than ever is available and are urging companies intending to exhibit to get in sooner rather than later to secure some prime field days real estate.

“We are anticipating we will fill the site to its 650-exhibitor capacity for the 2025 field days and are working hard to ensure we can accommodate the needs of all our keen and committed companies,” says field days committee chair Andrew Stewart.

Exhibitor registration has been streamlined to a simple online process that offers a site map for exhibitors to choose where and how much site they require.

For many exhibitors the South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee play a key part in their marketing and sales programme.

It may be a big trip up to the Kirwee site for Lochiel Trailers from Winton, but it is one company director Colin Hitchen makes a point of doing for every Kirwee event.

“For us the timing of the field days is good. Unlike some events, being held in March means farmers know exactly how much money they have to spend and are prepared to commit.”

He says having companies with similar products grouped together encourages some constructive tyre kicking, ensuring customers have the best chance to assess what’s on offer, all in an easy walk.

“We enjoy the challenge of getting people to go and compare our product to what else is there, they get a good chance to appreciate what we offer.”

While the past couple of years have been particularly tough ones in the rural sector, Colin looks to the field days as an opportunity to keep the quality Lochiel brand out there and is looking forward to better times ahead.

“This is the time to get your name out there and keep it out there so when things come right you are already there.”

Commercial tool retailer George Henry based in Christchurch has been a long-time supporter of the field days. Manager Corey Burmester says the field days have long proven themselves as an invaluable part of the company’s promotional and sales activity, with good sales resulting not only over the field days, but often in follow up business.

“We would have been coming for almost as long as the field days have been running, going well back to when it was basically a tent site at Lincoln.

“We find the Kirwee field days to be the best for generating sales. Farmers are keen to buy and being bi-annual we find they are very well timed, customers have had something in mind for a while and have the money, ready to spend,” says Corey.

Their site’s success has been such they have tripled its size over the past six years, and this year are also supporting a second site with a distributor.

“It is at the scale now that what we are offering is pretty much what we have in our showroom back in town,” he says.

George Henry has no problems getting its loyal suppliers including the likes of Kingtony, Powerbuilt, Hikoki and Makita on board for the field days, and Corey firmly believes in the value of being seen by farmers, some of their most loyal clients.

“It is a lot of organising, but it really is worth our while to be there.”

Access to exhibitors’ sites is even better this year, with the field days committee investing in additional shingle laneways and boosted shingle on existing laneways throughout the site.

Field days chair Andrew Stewart encourages exhibitors with a special piece of equipment to exhibit to contact the organisers to optimise their location and exhibition time.

Southern field days a chance to “get under the hood”

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:32:34 GMT

The ability to get up close and under the hood of some of the most innovative, modern agri-tech and equipment on the market today has always been at the core of the South Island Agricultural Field Days, and the 2025 event promises to be no exception.

Field Days committee chair Andrew Stewart says the Kirwee event set for March 26-28 next year promises to give farmers and contractors the ultimate opportunity to inspect, test and drive equipment in an environment as close as possible to what they would be using it in.

“We have always prided ourselves on being the field days where the equipment is accessible. But so too are the people who sell and understand that equipment, having them on hand to really help potential buyers have a detailed, informed look at what that piece of kit can deliver for them.”

This year the traditional demonstrations will also include a change in the timetable to include a presentation walkaround for participants.

Accessibility to the equipment and the ability to see it being demonstrated has been expanded further this year, with the addition of an earthmover-excavator demo area. The earthmoving section will complement the crop and pastoral harvesting demo area.

“This will be popular with operators looking to upgrade their equipment. We intend to have a digger competition running for competitors to demonstrate their skills at some pretty delicate work, and it is bound to also be crowd pleaser.” 

Dedicated hard work from the voluntary committee means crops used in the demonstrations will be well established giving a real-world impression of how the equipment harvesting them performs.

Along with the biggest and brightest shiny hardware, agritech has also always been an integral part of the displays at the field days.

Andrew Stewart says this year the latest in large scale drone technology is likely to draw strong interest.

“The technology behind the drones means they are bigger and more powerful than even a few short years ago, with significantly greater crop spraying and monitoring capabilities. Canterbury is the ideal, and most likely, place to see this gear operating commercially.”

The 2023 field days was lashed by unexpectedly heavy downpours on just prior to kicking off and on day one, making access in some areas challenging.

While crossing their fingers the weather will be more of a typical Canterbury autumn next year, the organisers have also invested significantly in improving access to the Kirwee site with additional shingle laneways laid down and boosted raceway shingle on existing laneways.

“Regardless of what mother nature brings this time, we are well set up to cope, and of course hope we see the usual run of warm, sunny weather you’d expect for the time of year,” says Stewart.

Only a few weeks into taking exhibitor bookings there are already a healthy 250 registrations. Expectations are the 2025 field days will feature at least 650 exhibitors, similar to 2024.

Registration has been simplified, with an accessible online registration process that provides a site map for exhibitors to outline their preferred location, and site size.

“The beauty of our site here is that should we get more exhibitors than expected, there is always plenty of extra space to expand our footprint to fit more.”

Exhibitors with a special piece of equipment to exhibit are encouraged to contact the organisers to optimise their location and exhibition time.
The field days draw in solid crowds who may not be committed to investing in some new equipment but have a keen interest in farming and agriculture’s latest and most innovative tech. Meeting the needs of those hungry crowds has also been better accommodated this year, with the committee arranging to have 25 food trucks offering many assorted food types, spread throughout the site.

Andrew Stewart says the strong community and voluntary input to the South Island Field Days helps make it a personal, accessible day out for visitors and industry alike, while offering the best tech and equipment available in the world today.

“It’s always an exciting, inspiring place to spend some time in. Even if you are not committing to some new equipment, you are guaranteed to come away a lot wiser and informed about some of the cutting-edge developments in farm productivity today.”

Would be exhibitors wanting to attend the field days can get full details on bookings and sharply priced sites at https://www.siafd.co.nz/

Award Winners at SIAFD 2023

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 02:59:05 GMT

Congratulations to our Award Winners at the South Island Agricultural Field Days 2023

Innovation Awards

Agri-Innovation winner - Ravensdown Ventures with EcoPond
Agri-Innovation runner-up - Ruts Plus Limited with a Pivot Rut Filler

Best Site Awards

Best Large Site - CLAAS Harvest Centre
Best Small Site - Lammermoor Distillery
Hamish Reid Memorial for Best Overall Site - CLAAS Harvest Centre

Best Site Awards

Best Cultivation or Drilling Equipment Demonstration - Norwood Farm Machinery
Best Harvesting Demonstration - Power Farming
Phillip van de Klundert Memorial Trophy for Best Overall Demonstration - CLAAS Harvest Centre

Weather clears for Day 2 of South Island Agricultural Field Days

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 01:59:05 GMT

Southerly blasts bringing bursts of hail and rain failed to deter over 7000 visitors to the South Island Agricultural Field Days on its opening day, with better weather promising even more visitors for the next two days.

Running from Wednesday 29 to Friday March 31, organisers at the Kirwee site are looking forward to an improvement in the weather with the event’s fencing and machinery demonstrations kicking off today.

“Wednesday certainly was a cold, wet one for all our volunteers and keen visitors, but its moved through and we are looking forward to better weather and good visitor numbers for the rest of the event,” says Field Days committee chair Hayden Dorman.

A first day highlight was the awards ceremony for the Field Days agricultural innovation awards.

This year’s supreme award went to the EcoPond system from Ravensdown. The joint Lincoln University-Ravensdown developed technology is a treatment system capable of removing almost all methane emitted from dairy farm effluent ponds, and is now on the market as an emerging mitigation technology.

Estimates are that if all dairy farms adopted the technology the sector’s total farm methane emissions could be reduced by 4-5%.

Ravensdown received $2500 prize money, while the runner up was another Canterbury based innovation, the Ruts Plus Pivot Rut Filler. Developed to help farmers remediate centre pivot ruts, the innovative design utilises the soil in situ and does not require new material being bought onto farm.

Organisers are looking forward to welcoming a high profile surprise VIP to the site on Thursday and are confident many visitors will be keen to catch up to discuss the state of play in the industry and the economy with them.

Meantime the expansive demonstration site will be firing up with multiple machines demonstrating the latest in cropping and harvesting technology, providing visitors with the opportunity to field trial them in real time.

“We have worked hard to make sure the demonstration site provides some real interest to visiting farmers and contractors. We encourage them to come and see the range of gear and applications we have to view. That includes the planted maize crop that highlights three different drill types including a strip till drill,” says Dorman.

This year’s Field Days also include an offer by ACE Homes to put a movable home up for auction, with proceeds going to the Rural Support Trust.

“The weather is improving all the time, and there is plenty of parking, plenty of food and lots to see over the remaining days,” says Dorman.

Agritech entries set high bar at South Island Field Days

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 01:59:04 GMT

Innovation and technology are key themes at this year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, featuring an exciting line up of entries for the event’s Innovation Award.

This year’s entries include technology and innovation as varied as a methane reduction tool for dairy farm effluent ponds, to a simple means of anchoring centre pivot irrigators prior to a storm event.

Awards co-ordinator Andrew Stewart said the field days have a well-established reputation for showcasing emerging innovation that is practical and usable by farmers looking for solutions to every day farming challenges, and emerging “big picture” issues like green house gas emissions and water quality improvement.

“And this year is certainly no exception. Many of our visitors will already be familiar with the Ravensdown Ventures EcoPond technology that is capable of removing almost all the methane from dairy farm effluent, along with bacteria and phosphate.”

Another Canterbury sourced innovation entry farmers will be able to get up close with is an innovative tech from FieldMate for protecting the electric drive motor used in seed drills.

The innovative drive system enables operators to define the distance between each seed released by the seeding disc on a drill, ensuring distance between seeds is kept tightly controlled, ensuring even crop emergence.

The technology showcased in the award protects the rev counter sitting inside the seed drill metering system’s electric motor.

Farmers grappling with problems caused by centre pivot ruts will also welcome the opportunity to check out the latest innovation from Ruts Plus.

The company’s solar powered, wirelessly operated machine follows the ground contour without any adjustments required, regardless of ground conditions. The same company has also entered a pivot rut filler for easy, economical filling of centre pivot ruts.

Farmers who have grappled with tying down their centre pivot irrigators in the face of howling gales will also appreciate Gray Engineering Solutions’ entry.

Its pivot anchors were developed to provide a cost-effective, simple means of anchoring them down, reducing the impact of high winds on the expensive equipment.

“The Field Days always provide an excellent showcase for local innovation that comes from problems farmers here have needed solving, and this year is no exception.

“Farmers appreciate being able to see, touch, and use this tech, knowing it is the solution to something they may have struggled with for some time,” says Stewart.

Judging is conducted by a panel of experienced industry experts, with the winner announced during the field days event.

“We feel confident this year’s entries do an excellent job in maintaining the exceptional standard of innovation we have seen in past years.

“Farmers are going to enjoy having the opportunity to be among the first to engage with the class leading technology that is going to be on display this year.”

Winners of the Innovation Award also receive prize money of $2500. The Field Days are being held at Kirwee from March 29 to 31.

Ready to go for SIAFD 2021!

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 02:48:23 GMT

The sheds have been built, the marquees are up and now the six hundred plus exhibitors are busily dressing their sites as New Zealand oldest and largest regional Agricultural Field Days transforms an 80ha site in the outskirts of Christchurch into a satellite village for next week's South Island Agricultural Field Days.

Just minutes from the centre of Kirwee, 21 of the 80 hectares is now starting to resemble a small agricultural town, with numerous banks, primary industry supply stores and some of the latest innovations in the farming and primary sectors all set to display their wares. “It is great to get to this point,” said organising chairperson Michaela McLeod.

“We’re expecting between 20 and 30 thousand people through here next week and with the large array of exhibitors this year, there’s something for everyone.”

With a further 11ha of irrigated land planted in barley, lucerne and other crops, machinery exhibitors from all over New Zealand have the opportunity to showcase their latest equipment starting with cultivation equipment, which leads into hay and silage demonstrations and other types of machinery later in the day.

And it’s not just on the ground where the action takes place, with Christchurch Helicopters set to showcase their spraying and spreading operation twice a day during the three-day field days which run between the 24th and 26th of March.

"Farmers are always looking to do things more efficiently and reducing crop damage or accessing hard to reach areas via helicopters can often be an effective way of spraying weeds and crops and spreading fertilisers" , says Christchurch Helicopters Marketing Manager Tim Murdoch.

Christchurch Helicopters will also have their Guimbal Cabri G2 training aircraft on hand for those thinking about getting into the aviation industry.

Kiwi rally ace Hayden Paddon’s 400kw rally monster will also add extra appeal to the Gravity NZ site on Wednesday the 24th before moving over to the Hyundai site on Thursday and Friday.

While the event which started as a machinery sale 70 years ago as a fundraiser for the local Young Farmers Club still has a distinct focus on machinery and demonstrations, SIAFD Chairperson Michaela McLeod felt this year’s field days should also be used as an opportunity for farmers and agricultural workers to get off site and celebrate their wins. “The South Island Agricultural Field Days is the perfect place to meet and talk to like-minded people, share ideas and discuss challenges you might be having. It’s an opportunity to find out where other people are at and take some of those thoughts and ideas back to your business.”

Farmers the focus for South Island field days

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 02:26:12 GMT

The opportunity for farmers to see, touch and operate the latest in agricultural equipment returns this year as the countdown commences to the South Island Agricultural Field Days, held at Kirwee from March 29 to 31.

Field Days organisers report exhibitor interest has been stronger than ever, with all sites selling out, including the additional laneway sites the organisers elected to add on to this year’s event.

Committee chairman Hayden Dorman says 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 for farmers this year.

“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.”

A key appeal of the Field Days is the opportunity for farmers to scrutinise potential equipment purchases closely before committing.

With its easily accessible, flat site in central Canterbury, the Kirwee event has become popular with both farmers and contractors keen to get to grips with the latest gear.

Demonstration co-ordinator Andrew Stewart says all the respected brands of tractors, machines and cultivation equipment will be on display this year. He expects up to 50 different pieces of equipment will be on active demonstration throughout the Field Days’ duration.

“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.”

With climate change, maize is becoming a more viable option in Canterbury with maize silage a high value feed crop 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.

Despite the challenges of the past two years in sourcing and servicing equipment, Stewart says machinery companies appreciate the South Island Field Days focused, farmer friendly approach enabling them to have in depth one on one contact with their ultimate clients.

But it will not only be machinery nuts who will get something out of the event.

Organisers have gone to efforts to keep the Field Days’ appeal broad across the rural community.

This includes also supporting a growing number of agritech exhibitors keen to showcase their latest developments, incorporating an Innovations Award with the winner announced during the event. A wide range of quality food and drink vendors will be on hand offering some of the best of local offerings to visitors.

With one eye on recent weather events in the North Island, organisers have also welcomed the offer by ACE Homes to put a movable home up for auction, with proceeds going to the Rural Support Trust.

“The heart of the South Island Field Days are the rural communities who our exhibitors rely so much upon. 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,” says Hayden Dorman.

Country Women to be tested with farm-focused challenges

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 02:54:45 GMT

After an engaging response to the inaugural Country Women Competition at last year’s Amuri Show, the fun, farm focused competition heads to the South Island Agricultural Field days in 2021.

The Kirwee based Agricultural Field Days hosts one of the largest and most interactive demonstration areas in the country, so to have some of the regions most talented rural women also display their capabilities is a big coup for chairperson Michaela McLeod.

“The South Island Agricultural Field Days has long been known for the place to see harvesters, seeders, balers and some of the newest agricultural technology in action. But to be able to highlight the skills and capabilities of the women, who are often the backbone of the Agricultural industry is a special addition to the Field Days this year.

Initially designed by Bex Green, Volunteer Regional Leader in North Canterbury, the competition revolves around a series of challenges that give rural women a chance to prove their mettle and demonstrate their talent in the farming sector.

“I wanted to see women step up and step out, and be brave in the farming world,” said Green.

“And the response we had to the CWC was incredible, with 20 women toughing it out last year.’’

After seeing some incredible skills, tactical thinking and entertaining endeavours, Fran Gunn from North Canterbury became our inaugural Dairy Women’s Network Country Woman of the Year

This year, volunteer Regional Leader Jordain Adams is taking the lead for the DWN Canterbury team and she is looking forward to seeing the calibre of competition this year as she and the rest of the Canterbury team look to broaden its appeal by taking the competition to the South Island Agricultural Field Days.

While details are still being finalised, she says participants can expect the same challenges such as throwing darts, milking a fake cow, throwing a gumboot, chopping wood, backing a trailer on a quad bike, and carrying hay bales.

“We’re so excited to be running this competition again, get ready for three days of tough competition, bigger prizes and opportunities for rural women to get out there, have fun and show the rest of New Zealand how to get it done” said Adams.

Providing opportunities for women to get out there and demonstrate the value of women in the rural sector is the purpose of the Network as an organisation. Through workshops, regional events, competitions and conferences they bring women from around the country together for shared learning and connection and give them the support they need to achieve personal and professional goals.

Exact details for the 2021 Country Women Competition will be finalised closer to the date. Keep an eye on the Dairy Women’s Network Canterbury Facebook page for entry information.

South Island Agricultural Field Days about connecting farmers and industry

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 03:59:28 GMT

Organisers of the 2021 South Island Agricultural Field Days are looking forward to bringing people together in a celebration of the sector.

Chairperson Michaela McLeod says as a result of Covid-19 the agricultural sector, like so many others has struggled.

“Not just from a financial perspective but from a social perspective as well,” McLeod said.

“There have been a number of A&P Shows and other events cancelled around the country. They are such important events for farmers and traders, and I know it’s been very hard on a lot of people not having them.”

The South Island Agricultural Field Days held from March 24-26 it will be a big opportunity for the agricultural industry to get together. It will be a chance to celebrate all the latest developments and innovations in the sector as well as a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues.

Celebrating its 70th year in 2021, the South Island Agricultural Field Days is one of the largest and longest running Field Days in New Zealand. McLeod said the event will offer something to interest everyone - not just those in the agricultural sector.

“I’d say the technology sector has continued to advance this year, even with Covid-19.

“There are some exciting new innovations which people may have read about, but at the Field Days they will have a chance to see them, not only on display but in action. The working demonstration area has definitely expanded and we have made them more accessible to people.”

"There has also been a lot of work done on creating a fantastic lifestyle section which we are really excited about. It will be the place to find delicious food and treats as well as things like spa pools and other lifestyle products.

“We think it will be the perfect area for people to come together and catch up with friends over a beer and a bite to eat.”

The event attracts between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors over the course of three days to the Kirwee site on the outskirts of Christchurch.

McLeod estimates if someone was to walk around and visit every single attraction it would be about 10km of walking.

“That’s why we encourage people to come over at least a couple of days and take it easy. It is however doable in just a day. Over the years we have had buses doing day trips from as far away as Blenheim and people have still had a great day out.”

This is McLeod’s her first year in the role as Chairperson and it’s a position she has worked towards after more than 10 years on the organising committee, in a number of different duties.

“I really enjoy working with the fantastic bunch of people on the organising committee. I have got to know a lot of them well over the years in my various roles and they are some of the hardest working people you could ever meet.”

McLeod is a mother to two young children and along with her husband Ben runs an agricultural research business which conducts independent trials.

She says when she took the helm of the event for 2021 there wasn’t anything that needed changing.

“It’s already a very successful formula – I think the fact it’s been running for 70 years is testament to that. We had a social function earlier this year with past members from organising committees and stalwarts of the event. It was wonderful listening to their stories about what it was like in the earlier years of the event and just how much it has grown over the years.”

McLeod says a key component of the events success is the support from the local Selwyn Community.

“We love all the support we get and it’s really important for us to be able to outsource jobs to community groups. We always need help with things such as car parking so if anyone wants to get involved, we would love to hear from them.”

Big crowds flock to South Island Agricultural Field Days 2021

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 02:35:35 GMT

Big crowds and sunny conditions has the South Island Agricultural Field Days heading for a record attendance as it inches towards the final day of the three day event.

Close to 25 thousand have already been to see the machinery demonstrations, primary industry trade sites and interactive stalls.

“We’ve had a wonderful few days so far, and the weather is looking great for tomorrow, so all signs are pointing towards another bumper crowd,” said SIAFD Chairperson Michaela McLeod.

“The feedback we’re getting is the exhibitors are really enjoying the positive engagement they’re having with the public, which is a great achievement for our organising committee which is largely made up of volunteers,” McLeod added.

Two-time Rugby World Cup winning All Black Sam Whitelock will be a feature of the Field Days on Friday as he engages with the public as part of his role as a Farmstrong Ambassador.

Over 40 tractors, headers and balers will also be on show tomorrow, which has been a highlight of the demonstrations.

Best overall
Alpine Buildings NZ headed off stiff competition to win the best overall site award at the South Island Agricultural Field Days, taking home the Hamish Reid Memorial Trophy (Former SIAFD Committee Chair).

Judged out of more than 600 sites, Alpine Buildings NZ had erected a 230 square meter clear span shed, clearly demonstrating their ability to cover a large bird proof area with limited footings.

We feel really delighted to win this award, and equally privileged to be able to display our innovative shed amongst all the other innovations that are here at the South Island Agricultural Field Days. Said Alpine Buildings Managing Director Anthony Brewerton.

Best Big Site

Polaris picked up the Best Big Site award after wowing the crowds with their off-road vehicles who were put through their paces on their makeshift all terrain course.

The judges said it was hard to go past Polaris who were constantly surrounded by onlookers, who also clearly displayed the vehicle's safety abilities.

Best small site

Christchurch based planning and surveying company Survus Consultants scooped the Best Small Site award, impressing the judges with their striking site and ability to create great conversation and interaction with the public.

Smart Paddock Weigher wins Innovation award at the South Island Agricultural Field Days

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 02:42:05 GMT

Judges were unanimous in their decision to award Frizzell’s Smart Paddock Weigher the 2021 Agri-Innovation award at the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee.

The three-person panel of industry experts were extremely impressed by the new technology which allows farmers to weigh young livestock in the paddock, therefore offering the possibility to better manage the individual needs of the animal.

“Whenever you’re taking animals away from the paddock, they’re not doing what you need them to do, which is grow, however with the Frizzell’s Smart Paddock Weigher right there in the paddock, the animals continue to put on weight in a relatively stress-free manor, whilst the farmer is able to gain all the information they need.” Said judge Neil Baxter.

“Rather than treat all animals as the same, this allows you to offer individual solutions to a herd.”

“Farmers can find that significant labour is required to move stock to a weighing area to weigh stock manually and because of the time and cost involved animals are never really weighed at optimal times which results in a loss of production, delayed notifications of diseases or poor pasture management decision making, so we’re hoping to counter all of those with the Smart Paddock Weigher,” said product designer Alistair Frizzell.

The towable unmanned scales entice livestock onto the platform with the promise of grain and nuts by way of an automated feeder. It then reads the RFID tag and records the animals weigh and monitors the herd weight performance.

Animals can visit anytime but will only be permitted a predetermined rate of feed during any 24-hour period.

“There’s no doubt this product can have a positive impact on the animal’s health and well-being as well as labour and cost saving for the farmer,” said Baxter.

STOCK EZY’s flow control gate picked up the runners up award, after developing a real ‘Kiwi number eight wire’ solution to the bottle neck often experienced in sheep yards.

Sean Belkin designed the Flow Gate Control after being frustrated whilst drafting livestock and battling with stock in an effort to keep them flowing consistently. He remembers experiencing the same issue 40 years ago as a youngster so decided to try and find a solution

Sam Whitelock heads to South Island Agricultural Field Days

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 02:38:10 GMT

A bye week for the champion Crusaders is the perfect opportunity for senior lock and two-time World Cup-winning All Black Sam Whitelock to share the importance of rest, relaxation and dealing with pressure. The 32-year-old who grew up on a dairy farm in the Manawatu will be at the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee as part of his role as a Farmstrong ambassador.

Whitelock, who has been a Farmstrong ambassador since 2016, sees a lot of parallels between rugby and farming.

“I know the challenges farmers regularly face with weather events, production targets, fluctuating prices and changing regulations. I reckon rugby and farming are similar in that way; there are always results you need to achieve, whatever the conditions. Dealing with disappointment when things don't go according to plan is also a challenge for both.”

“Being a professional athlete has certainly taught me that investing up front in your wellbeing is vital for times when you are under the pump and need to draw on it; it’s no different in farming. Once I complete my rugby career I’ll be heading back to the land. When I do, I’ll continue applying all that I have been sharing and learning through Farmstrong.”

Whitelock will be at the FMG site, number 570, on Friday sharing stories and taking photos with farmers, growers and the general public before heading along to the JJ site at number 213 where he’ll get amongst the impressive line-up of Fendt and Massey Ferguson tractors.

Former All Black Richard Loe will also feature at South Island Agricultural Field Days, broadcasting his rural radio show REX (Rural Exchange) alongside co-host Hamish McKay. The pair will be onsite with Carter’s Tyres as well as mixing and mingling with the various exhibitors.

Halter wins Agri Magic Smart Farming award at the South Island Agricultural Field Days

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 02:45:36 GMT

The potential for positive environmental impacts, improved animal health awareness, and on farm financial gains was what drew the judges of the South Island Agricultural Field Days Agri Magic Smart Farming Award to Halter Cow Collars.

The judging panel of three industry experts were impressed with collars, which they say demonstrated an ability to integrate quickly into a dairy farming system and offer benefits to multiple layers of farming practices.

“The ability to tell a cow that bad weather was coming, sending it to the feed pad and ensure it has both shelter and wasn’t having a negative impact on the grass cover or the ability to keep it out of waterways was something that really impressed us,” said judge Neil Baxter.

“There’s a handful of other collars on the market that can indicate that a cow has poor health or other issues, but to have a range of benefits is quite unique.”

Baxter also mentioned that the collars’ ability to offer significant value to the purchaser from day one was the reason it rose above the competition.

“There were some great entries this year. But some of them are still finding their place in the market. Whereas the Halter Cow Collars are a real success story, they finished runners up in this competition two years ago, so it’s great to see they’re continuing to develop and add value to the dairy industry,” said Baxter.

“To win this Agri Magic Smart Farming award is great recognition for the hard work that goes in each day from our team and it’s pleasing to understand how the judges valued what Halter offers.” Said Halter CEO Craig Piggott.

“Our business is looking at the next area to expand into which is a major reason we will be at the South Island Agricultural Field Days. We're really looking forward to meeting with farmers down South this week and chatting about how Halter could help to drive their on-farm performance.”

Halter picked up $1,500 thanks to Agri Magic, while Canterbury company Grounded collected $500 for claiming second place.

The winners of the Agri-Innovation awards will be announced next Wednesday on the first day of the 2021 South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee.

Sell out looming for the South Island Agricultural Field Days

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 03:03:17 GMT

The 70 ^th year of South Island Agricultural Field Days is shaping up to be one of the best events yet, with demand for exhibitor space heading for a sell-out, despite there still being three months to go before the 2021 event.

The committee have been busy allocating sites across the 17ha as well as the addition of 10ha of demonstration area, with exhibitors right across the agricultural sector lining up to showcase their businesses, products, services, innovations and opportunities.

2021 will see more companies demonstrating their machinery than ever before, headlined by Claas and Norwood.

"This is the place that farmers can come and see all the gear put through its paces before making a decision to purchase," said Grounds Committee Chairman Rodney Hadfield.

"Plus other big companies like Silver Fern Farms, PGG Wrightson, Farmlands, most of the vehicle and farm bike dealers, as well as the big banks etc will all be here,” he went on to say.

It’s now been over twelve months since the last big agricultural show in the region and SIAFD Organising Committee Chair Michaela McLeod predicts that’s one of the reasons there has been a lot of interest from exhibitors.

“Farmers and industry people love to come together and share their ideas, do business and look at ways to incorporate fresh ideas into their farming operation and the South Island Field Days provides that perfect opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their developments and opportunities.”

“It’s also very healthy and encouraged to spend time away from your farming operation and we’re really delighted that we can be that platform for people to meet up and connect.”

Tickets are set to go on sale to the public in the New Year, with the event moving to an online ticketing system for the first time.

“It’s about to be 2021, farmers use technology every day in their farms and businesses and we need to keep up with technology ourselves too,” said McLeod.

“We have a large site and by using technology this is one way we can send out exhibitor maps before the event starts, allowing the public to plan who and where they want to go when they arrive. Also, it’ll help us play our part in ensuring everyone’s safe around Covid 19.”

Whilst the machinery demonstration area continues to be a cornerstone of the South Island Agricultural Field Days the event organisers have also been working on an ATV demo course as well as incorporating a fencing competition, which will highlight some of the regions most talented fencers.

“This is a way for other industries to showcase their talents to the public and prospective clients too,” said McLeod.

Exhibitors entries are now open for New Zealand’s longest running Agricultural Field Days.

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 03:06:32 GMT

The South Island Agricultural Field Days, held in Kirwee on the outskirts of Christchurch, will celebrate its 70th year in March 2021, and event Chairperson Michaela McLeod is describing it as the perfect opportunity to celebrate the industry that has been the backbone of New Zealand’s economy during the uncertain times of Covid 19.

“The Agricultural industry has hardly skipped a beat over the past few months, and we see the South Island Agricultural Field Days as the perfect place for farmers, contractors and our industry to come together and share their stories, celebrate their successes and look for opportunities to improve their businesses.”

“Like everyone else, we need to keep planning and operating our businesses, so whilst we’re putting in a lot of contingencies regarding various Covid restrictions, it’s important that we get set to celebrate our milestone of our 70th year too,” McLeod added.

“It was sad that the Canterbury A & P Show was understandably cancelled this year, which means the SIAFD will be the first major agricultural gathering of its size to take place in Canterbury post lockdown.”

SIAFD, which is renowned for its live demonstrations, will increase the size of its demonstration area with the intention of showcasing both large and small machinery to the attending public.

“We see our event as the perfect place for exhibitors to demonstrate their equipment and developments to as many people as possible. With that in mind it made sense to offer a larger space to see their equipment in full flight and to also expand that to some of the smaller equipment exhibitors. We see SIAFD as an opportunity for farmers and contractors to engage in all sorts of commerce over a couple of days, as well as a place for them to get off farm and enjoy time with their mates.”

“We have 10ha of irrigated land that will be in a mixture of barley stubble, green feed oats, grass and lucerne, which offers a wide range of exhibitors the chance to showcase their new equipment,” said Committee Member Andrew Stewart.

With no other field days in New Zealand offering this sort of demonstration area, Stewart believes the South Island Agricultural Field Days is one of the best places for interested buyers to see and compare so many options. “We will have ploughs, large one-pass cultivators, drills, mowers, rakes, tedders, balers, forage harvesters, sprayers and all sorts of equipment on display. Because it is over three days as well, it means potential buyers can take their time and make any decisions without
feeling rushed too,” Stewart added.

If the SIAFD event has to be cancelled due to Covid 19, the exhibitors can be reassured that the committee will refund 100% of the site fees paid.

Statement from the 2019 Organising Chairman

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 04:17:46 GMT

On behalf of the Organising Committee of the South Island Agricultural Field Days, we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those victims of the tragic shootings that took place in Christchurch on Friday 15 March.

We acknowledge that the Muslim community are an important part of the agricultural industry and many of us have employees, employers and friends that have been affected by this tragedy.

After liaising with local police and our Health & Safety providers, we have made the decision to proceed with holding the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee next week. We have added extra security measures such as installed security cameras and more lighting, and we will work with the police if they have further suggestions.

We will be observing a minutes silence at 12pm on Wednesday 27th March out of respect for those New Zealanders that lost their lives last Friday.

Rodney Hadfield
2019 SIAFD Organising Committee Chairman

Organisers say bigger, better South Island Field Days deliver

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 03:11:22 GMT

Despite some literal and figurative clouds overhead, the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) was a success, organisers say.

The bi-annual event took place 27-29 March at the SIAFD’s permanent site outside of Kirwee. It hosted more exhibitors than ever before and more machinery was at work during the in-field demonstrations.

SIAFD media spokesperson Daniel Schat says despite the tragic events in Christchurch on 15 March and flooding that prevented some West Coasters from attending the event, the car parks at the field days were near capacity and attendance was strong.

A moment of silence was held at noon on the opening day to honour the memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks at the Christchurch mosques.

SIAFD Grows

“We had 640 exhibitors this year compared to less than 600 at our last event in 2017. Feedback from them has been very positive. The introduction of the Diesel Tune NZ Tractor pull was another a positive addition with crowds of people gathered there throughout the field days,” Daniel says.

A number of politicians dropped in on SIAFD 2019. They included Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor, local Selwyn MP Amy Adams, and Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage.

Amy Adams presented the Agri-Innovation Award to Ravensdown for its Clear Tech effluent treatment system, and Eugenie Sage announced $380,000 in government funding to support recycling waste plastic from farms.

The SIAFD site has 20 hectares of exhibitions and 10 hectares devoted to machinery demonstrations, and this year more machines were on display during the demonstrations.

Machinery demonstrations organiser Andrew Stewart says the demonstration area included 4 ha of grass, 1 ha of fodder beet, 1 ha of maize for harvesting and 3 ha of grain stubble for cultivation.

“We had good buy-in for the demonstrations this year,” Andrew says. “Twelve different companies demonstrated their machines and that included four companies who demonstrated four different machines.

“We had five balers on display this time and only two at the last field days. We also had four or five machines that were new to New Zealand. They included the Weaving disc drill from the UK, a drone that does spot spraying with a five-litre tank and a fire suppressant system for combine harvesters.”

Andrew says not only were there more machines, there were also a number of larger machines at work during the demonstrations. They included several cultivators that were more than 10m wide.

Norwood won the award for the best groundwork gear demonstration and Claas Harvest Centre won the best harvest gear demonstration, with Claas also taking out the overall best machinery demonstration award and the Phillip van De Klundert Memorial trophy.

High Quality Displays

SIAFD secretary and event coordinator Tineka Johnstone says the quality of the displays at the 2019 was very high.

“PGG Wrightson won the award for the best large site and the Hamish Reid Memorial Trophy for the Best Overall Site. They had pre-grown crops to demonstrate their products and all of the different sections of their site were nicely demarcated,” Tineka says.

“Maxxis Tyres won the best small site because of their dynamic display of four wheel drive tyres and their welcoming, friendly attitude.”

Tractorpull NZ Inc general manager Vaughan Coy says although he would have like to see more farmers and contractors putting their tractors on the line, re-introducing the tractor pull to SIAFD was a successful step.

“It was a lot of fun and we had good crowds parked up on the bales watching the action for considerable periods,” Vaughn says. “And whenever the super-modified tractor started up, people would flock in.”

The winner of the Tractor Pull’s standard class was Baylee Horn in a Massey Ferguson 8240, second was his father, Andrew Horn in a Massey Ferguson 3645 and third was Tim Rowe in a Fendt 716. Winner of the modified class was Gavin Millar in Who Deeres.

SIAFD is organised entirely by a team of 27 volunteers, this year captained by organising chairman Rodney Hadfield. With the 2019 event now in the rear view mirror, they will take a break and then in a year’s time they will start getting ready for the next event, which takes place March 24-26, 2021.

Ballance wins SIAFD 2019 Inaugural Smart Farming Award

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 03:15:03 GMT

Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ breakthrough environmental planning tool, MitAgator, has taken out the inaugural South Island Agricultural Field Days Smart Farming Award.

Backed by 30 years of independent science from AgResearch, MitAgator helps farmers reduce contaminant losses that impact water quality.

As agriculture has become more sophisticated, technology that allows farmers to work smarter has assumed greater importance. To acknowledge these changing times and the role innovation plays in helping farmers meet the demands they face, South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) has initiated the Smart Farming Award.

The Canterbury consultancy firm Agri Magic Ltd sponsors the Smart Farming Award, which was decided on Friday March 15th. The judges who selected the winner were BLINC Innovation’s Toni Laming, ANZCO founder Sir Graeme Harrison and primary sector business innovator, Richard Green.

The judges were unanimous in their decision and say that MitAgator was a standout given that the key judging criteria centred on new technology that enables improved decision making and adds value to agricultural businesses.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients chief executive Mark Wynne welcomed the award as endorsement of MitAgator, a farming tool that has been 10 years in the making.

“MitAgator will change the way we farm in New Zealand for the better. It gives farmers a speedo on their dashboard that takes the guesswork out of ‘farming within limits’ by mapping hotspots for the four key water contaminants – nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and E.coli pathogens,” Mark says.

“This tool is tailored for today’s farming because it shows where to invest to achieve the greatest environmental gain. Farmers know where the real risks are and where they can make the biggest impact for every dollar they spend, whether that should be fencing a stream or building a wetland.”

MitAgator was developed by Ballance Agri-Nutrients with financial support from the Primary Growth Partnership.

It is available to farmers through Ballance’s team of Farm Sustainability advisors. Its Risk Map and Scenario Analysis deliver a new gold standard in Farm Environment plans.

The judges also gave a Special Award for emerging innovation to Kiwi company Halter for its virtual fencing and animal movement technology. The concept is in its early days but is truly innovative, they say.

The judges wanted to encourage Halter’s ‘out-of-the-box thinking’ with a Special Award. Halter has thanked the judges for the special award and says they would like to donate their prize money to the Muslim community in Christchurch.

Organisers say the inaugural Smart Farming Award attracted some first-rate entries. FarmIQ and Groundtruth’s smartfarms.co.nz website, were also finalists and excellent contenders worthy of mention.

Smartfarms.co.nz and FarmIQ both provide a framework and technology that can be applied in a range of ways to provide farmer value.

Agri Magic managing director Charlotte Glass says the calibre of the entrants for the inaugural award was outstanding and Agri Magic is proud to sponsor them.

“Innovation and providing value to farmers are very dear to our hearts at Agri Magic. The focus of SIAFD has always been on comparative demonstrations and this is a great opportunity for farmer to compare the latest technology options at the Kirwee event too.”

Make time to visit the sites of the award winners and finalists or seek them out on-line.

Award finalists with sites at SIAFD March 27th-29th include:

Ballance Agri Nutrients – Site 228
Halter – Covered site C62,
FarmIQ – within the Farmlands site.

Bigger South Island Field Days offers Tractor Pull and more lifestyle displays

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 03:21:32 GMT

This year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) will be bigger and more diverse than ever.

The SIAFD is well known as an invaluable opportunity for farmers and contractors to see the latest agricultural machinery, but this year the event features something for the whole community with a greatly expanded lifestyle section and a Tractor Pull competition.

SIAFD takes place March 27-29 at Kirwee. It is one of the oldest and largest agricultural events in the South Island, going back more than 65 years. Every two years it attracts about 30,000 members of the farming public.

SIAFD organising committee chairman Rodney Hadfield says interest in this year’s event has been strong and virtually all exhibition sites have been sold.

"We have done a lot of work since last time in terms of gravelling all the laneways and improving infrastructure, but the format will be the same as always."

Rodney says the field days provide huge opportunity for people in the agricultural industry to network, meet customers and view new machinery. With its focus on presenting working machines, SIAFD reinforces the relationship between farmers, manufacturers, retailers, and technical experts.

"The field days are all about getting the people who want to buy to come along and look. It is an event for people who are really ready to make financial decisions and spend their money. We want them to come to our event and get their field days deals."

Power Farming Canterbury dealer principal Geoff McCabe says the company has doubled the size of its site at this year’s SIAFD.

"The field days are very important to us. They are a great place to show off our machinery and we showcase our new gear that people haven’t seen before," he says.

"People come from far and wide to the field days to look at machinery. They are very important for customers because they get the chance to compare all the brands."

Trevor Goodeve is with Canterbury manufacturer Taege Engineering Limited, and he says SIAFD provides an invaluable opportunity.

"Because it is in our own area, we can get feedback from our customers on the machinery that we design, build and develop. This ensures we are able to work directly with those farmers and contractors to improve our business."

The timing of the SIAFD at the end of March directly helps Taege Engineering showcase its new equipment and set up its winter machinery build programme.

At its 2017 event the SIAFD organising committee introduced a lifestyle section on a trial basis and its popularity has led them to expand it this year.

SIAFD lifestyle section coordinator Michaela McLeod says there will be more than 100 lifestyle stalls.

"They will showcase a wide variety of products – from garden sculptures and outdoor furniture to jewellery, clothing, art, plants and food products. Some of the noteworthy stalls include Vege Pods, Container Pools Canterbury and Mt Hutt Pods," Michaela says.

"Local producers including Kirwee Bees will also be participating, and we will also have a food court in the lifestyle section with Funky Monkey Bars showcasing their jungle gyms and play equipment next door."

This year will be the first time Tractor Pull has been held at SIAFD since they moved to their new home at Kirwee thanks to Diesel Tune NZ, which is sponsoring the event and providing prizes.

Tractorpull NZ Inc general manager Vaughan Coy says the first two days of the field days will be practice days and day three will be the competition day.

"We will have three classes of competitors – standard, modified and pre-1985. Already a number of people have said they will bring their modified tractors from different parts of the South Island, so it should be an exciting event."

Vaughan says tractors in each of the three competition categories pulls a sled that weighs a percentage of its weight, which means tractors of different horsepower ratings can compete against each other.

Entry forms for the event are on the Tractorpull NZ website ( www.tractorpull.co.nz ). There is a 15 tonne weight limit on all entries.

Tickets to SIAFD are $20 per day (children are free) and can be bought at the gate.

siafd

Sunny start to South Island Agricultural Field Days

Stunning autumn weather has ensured strong crowd numbers on the opening day of the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee, drawn to the wide array of exhibitors, demonstrations and competitions with a strong rural focus.

Young hopefuls compete at South Island Agricultural Field Days

This year the next generation of farmers can try their hand at some true farming challenges while also enjoying the technology and innovation showcased at the South Island’s premier agricultural event, the South Island Agricultural Field Days.

Field Days prizes for early ticket purchases

Getting in early for tickets to this year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) means ticket holders could win twice, not only having access to the South Island’s premier agricultural event but also the opportunity to win a prize pack worth over $1000.

Exhibitors tune in for Kirwee Field Days

Agricultural companies keen to be part of the 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee still have time to secure site space before the event kicks off in March.

Southern field days a chance to “get under the hood”

The ability to get up close and under the hood of some of the most innovative, modern agri-tech and equipment on the market today has always been at the core of the South Island Agricultural Field Days, and the 2025 event promises to be no exception.

Award Winners at SIAFD 2023

Congratulations to our Award Winners at the South Island Agricultural Field Days 2023

Innovation Awards

Best Site Awards

Best Site Awards

Weather clears for Day 2 of South Island Agricultural Field Days

Agritech entries set high bar at South Island Field Days

Ready to go for SIAFD 2021!

Farmers the focus for South Island field days

The opportunity for farmers to see, touch and operate the latest in agricultural equipment returns this year as the countdown commences to the South Island Agricultural Field Days, held at Kirwee from March 29 to 31.

Country Women to be tested with farm-focused challenges

After an engaging response to the inaugural Country Women Competition at last year’s Amuri Show, the fun, farm focused competition heads to the South Island Agricultural Field days in 2021.

South Island Agricultural Field Days about connecting farmers and industry

Organisers of the 2021 South Island Agricultural Field Days are looking forward to bringing people together in a celebration of the sector.

Big crowds flock to South Island Agricultural Field Days 2021

Big crowds and sunny conditions has the South Island Agricultural Field Days heading for a record attendance as it inches towards the final day of the three day event.

Best Big Site

Best small site

Smart Paddock Weigher wins Innovation award at the South Island Agricultural Field Days

Judges were unanimous in their decision to award Frizzell’s Smart Paddock Weigher the 2021 Agri-Innovation award at the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee.

Sam Whitelock heads to South Island Agricultural Field Days

Halter wins Agri Magic Smart Farming award at the South Island Agricultural Field Days

The potential for positive environmental impacts, improved animal health awareness, and on farm financial gains was what drew the judges of the South Island Agricultural Field Days Agri Magic Smart Farming Award to Halter Cow Collars.

Sell out looming for the South Island Agricultural Field Days

Exhibitors entries are now open for New Zealand’s longest running Agricultural Field Days.

Statement from the 2019 Organising Chairman

On behalf of the Organising Committee of the South Island Agricultural Field Days, we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those victims of the tragic shootings that took place in Christchurch on Friday 15 March.

Rodney Hadfield 2019 SIAFD Organising Committee Chairman

Organisers say bigger, better South Island Field Days deliver

Despite some literal and figurative clouds overhead, the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) was a success, organisers say.

SIAFD Grows

High Quality Displays

Ballance wins SIAFD 2019 Inaugural Smart Farming Award

Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ breakthrough environmental planning tool, MitAgator, has taken out the inaugural South Island Agricultural Field Days Smart Farming Award.

Bigger South Island Field Days offers Tractor Pull and more lifestyle displays

This year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) will be bigger and more diverse than ever.

Rodney Hadfield
2019 SIAFD Organising Committee Chairman