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Putyourfeetup,playsomegameswiththefam ortryyourluckinthe OneBigDiggametowin StoneyCreekprizes.
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Fieldays® Memories
ByJamieMackay-TheCountryRadioHost
Withmorethan30yearsinrural radio,andalmostasmany appearancesatFieldays undermybelt,IguessIcoulddescribe myselfassomewhatofaMystery Creekveteran.AndI’vecertainlyseen somechangessinceImademydebut appearancebackinthe1990s.
Backthen,Iwasrunningasmall provincialprivateradiostation,Hokonui Gold,specialisinginruralbroadcasting. Wewereonlyanswerabletoourselves andtobehonest,wewerecowboys.But wewerecowboyswhohadalotoffun!
I(sortof)fondlyrememberaraucous one-dayreturncharterflightweran fromInvercargilltoHamiltonwitha planeloadofSouthlandfarmers.
ThentherewastheSouthland FarmingTent-populatedbybankers, accountants,lawyersandfarmadvisers –setuptoencourageNorthIslandcow cockiestomaketheholypilgrimage southtoamuchcheaperfarmingEl Dorado.Thosewhodidmadeafortune.
ItwasfrontedbythethenInvercargill mayor,TimShadbolt,inallhiseloquent glory,whowouldgetonhissoapbox hourlyandhaulthepuntersin.Andboy didsomeofthoseso-calledSouthland professionalsaddtothenocturnal Hamiltoneconomy!
TheadventofthehugenewMystery CreekPavilionin2003,andtheongoing permanentpavingofthelanes,almost madegumbootsredundant.Almost, butnotquite,asthecarparksaftera wetWaikatoweekcanstillbeatrapfor youngplayers!
Fogcanalsocatchouttheuninitiated. Hamiltonairport,mid-Juneandfog aren’talwaysidealbedmates.More
thanonce,we’vecircledtheTrononlyto bedivertedtoAuckland.
Ononesuchoccasion,whenwewere beingdivertedtoAuckland,Ithought Irecognisedtheslightlybaldingpate ofthemansittinginfrontofme.I shoulder-tappedhimandintroduced myselftoDavidShearer–theLabour leader–amanIhadinterviewedoften butnevermetinperson.
Andwhataniceblokehewas.So,we sharedacartoFieldays,stoppingjust outsideofHuntlytodomyradioshow liveviamobilephone.
Unfortunately,whenwegottoFieldays pooroldDavidwastotallyanonymous. Itwasbackinabout2012or2013and JohnKey,attheheightofhisrockstar economypopularity,wasthePiedPiper ofMysteryCreek.Hordesfollowedhim everywhere.Nopolitician,beforeor since,hasenjoyedsuchfandom!
So,30yearson,whatcanweexpect atFieldays2025?
Personally,I’mveryoptimistic.Withthe notableexceptionofstrongwooland somehorticultural/arablecrops,returns forfarmersandgrowersaregood,with thelikesofdairyandbeefatrecord prices.Admittedlythiscomeswiththe caveatofrecordpost-covid,on-farm costinflationbuttimesaregetting better,despitethebesteffortsfromthe OrangeManintheWhiteHouse.
Farmincomegoingup.Interestrates goingdown.AndhopefullyMother Natureplayingball?Nowthere’sagood recipeforsomestrongtractorsalesat MysteryCreek!
Whatadifferenceayearmakes.
ByRowenaDuncum-NZMERuralSpecialist
Thistime12monthsago,thingswere tickingalongokayinruralNew Zealand.Notexactlywhatyou’d describeas‘peachy’though.Morelike whenyouasksomeonehowthey’re doing,andtheyreply‘fine.’Exceptyou bothknowthingsaren’treallyfine.
Q1figureshadjustbeenreleasedby theMeatIndustryAssociation,showing NewZealandhadexported$2.58billion worthofredmeatproductsinthefirst threemonthsoftheyear.
Whichmaysoundlikealot.However, whenyouputitincontext,it’sverymuch likethe‘fine’thatisn’treallyfine.
At$2.58billion,overallexportswere,in reality,downbyfivepercentfromthe firstquarterof2023–thelowestvalue forthequartersince2018.
Thesectorwasfacingongoing
weakerpricinganddemandinChina, and,interestingly,theUShadjust overtakenChinaforthefirsttimeasour biggestexportmarket.
Intermsofdairy,thefinalGlobalDairy Tradeauctionforthe2024/25season (onMay22nd),sawWholeMilkPowder (WMP)fetchinganaverageofUS$3,408 permetrictonne(MT)–wellshortofthe US$4,000thresholdweunofficiallyliketo beabove.
Aweeklater(onMay29th),exactly twoweeksbeforetheFieldaysgates flewopen,Fonterraannouncedan openingforecastFarmgateMilkPricefor the2024/25seasonofbetween$7.25$8.75perkgMSwithamid-pointof$8.00 perkgMS.
Iwon’teventouchonwhatwoolwas worth.
Fastforwardtwelvemonths,andit’s genuinelyamuchrosierpicture. May’sMeatIndustryAssociation figuresnowshowredmeatexportsfor thefirstquarteroftheyearwereworth $3.28billion-a28percentincreaseon thefirstquarterof2024.
“Exceptional,”wasthewordused. WhilethefinalGDTauctionhasyetto occurasIwritethis,thesecond-to-last onesmasheditoutofthepark.
“Globaldairypricessoarastight supplyboostsdemand,”wasjustoneof theheadlines.
“Strongdairydemand,fiercebidding pushupprices,”another. WMPjumped6.2%,commandingan averageUS$4,374/MT.Wellabovethat goldenUS$4,000threshold.
Dairyfarmersarestaringdownthe
barrelofa$10+payoutforthecurrent season,andallindicationsarenext seasonwillbeacrackertoo.
Andwool.Well,Istillwon’tgointo whatit’sworth–BUTwedidfinally seethelegislationcomeintoeffect, wherebyGovernmentagenciesare directedtousewoollenfibreproducts inconstructionandrefurbishment ofgovernmentbuildingswhenit’s practicalandsuitable.
We’lltakethat.
WhileTrump’sTradeTariffs(trysaying thatfivetimesfast)andtheconstant uncertaintyaroundwhat’snextwillstill beapopulartopicofconversationthis Fieldays,theoverwhelmingsentiment,I believe,willbeawholelotbrighterthan lastyear.
Again,we’lltakethat.Seeyathere!
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Fieldays® usesmullet strategytobring2025 eventtogether
Fieldays®hasembracedtheultimate “mulletstrategy”–businessinthe front,partyintheback–tobring togetherinnovation,educationand globalisationtothisyear’sevent.
Themullet,ahairstyleregularly seenduringtheannualfour-day eventatMysteryCreekEventsCentre, symbolisestheimportantbusiness andentertainmentfactorsthatmake Fieldays.
“It’saboutcombiningthecuttingedgeagriculturaltechnology, networking,andinsightfuldiscussions, allwhilecelebratingtheuniqueness oftheruralsectorandbringingtown andcountrytogether,”saysTaryn Storey,HeadofCustomerandStrategic Engagement.
Newbusinessinthefrontinitiatives includeFieldaysTentTalksin associationwiththeUniversityof Waikato,FieldaysDroneZone,andthe FieldaysSectorSpotlight-It’sWool.
TheFieldaysTentTalksinassociation withtheUniversityofWaikatoare focusedonengagingeducational discussions,expert-ledsessions,and real-worldsolutions,whiletheDrone Zone,alivedemonstrationarea,in
associationwiththeAgricultural DroneAssociation,isamust-visitfor anyoneeagertoseehowdronesare revolutionisingfarmmanagement.
TheFieldaysSectorSpotlight highlightsasectorwithintheprimary industrieseachyear,inconjunction withtheMinistryforPrimaryIndustries. For2025,thefocusishighlightingthe versatilityandqualityofNewZealand wool.Exhibitorswillshowcasethekey rolestheyplayinthewoolsector,and theconsumeruse-opportunities.The sitewillalsoconnectproducersand designerstohelpensureasecurefuture forthistimelessnaturalresource.
Thenewinitiativesjoinreturning FieldaysHubs,theRuralAdvocacy Hub,ForestryHub,Careers&Education Hub,InnovationHubandtheHauora TaiwhenuaHealth&WellbeingHub. Partyinthebackinitiativesinclude theFieldaysFamilyFunZoneinthe HeritageVillageandSuperSaturday–acampaignwithexhibitorstodeliver unbeatablepricesandexclusive Fieldays-onlyoffers.
Entertainmentfavouritesalsoreturn includingtheOneBigDigactivitywhich willrunonthehourfrom10am-4pm
eachdayoftheeventontheFieldays VillageGreen,backedbyOneNZ.
The50thanniversaryofFieldays TractorPullinassociationwithPTS Logisticswillalsobringexcitementto punters.Theentryformisnowopen, andearlyindicationssuggestthatwe’re gearingupforanotherbusyeventwith strongturnoutfrombothdriversand spectators.
Wewantedtocreateaformatthat reflectsthewaypeopleengagewith oureventsaysTaryn.“Duringtheweek it’sallaboutnetworkingandbusiness discussions,researchandsealingdeals withahandshake.BySaturdayit’stime tocelebratethoseachievements,wrap
upanybusinessandshopping,and celebratewithfriendsandfamilyat SuperSaturday”.
Withmorethan1200exhibitors, Fieldaysvisitorscanexpecttoseea diverserangeofinnovativeagricultural technology,farmequipment,andrural lifestyleexhibits.
Ticketscanbepurchasedonlinevia theFieldayswebsite,oratthegate duringtheevent.Everyticketpurchased isachancetowintheultimateFieldays gateprizeofaJACT9Ute(RRP$49,990) and$10,000ofStoneyCreekgear. Visitorscantripletheirchancesduring theeventbyvisitingtheJACsiteatF90 andStoneyCreekatsiteF55.
Fieldays® 57-yearlegacy: HowitstartedandtheSocietyleadingit.
AstheNewZealandNational FieldaysSociety(Society) celebratesits57thFieldaysevent andmorethanfivedecadesofservice totheagriculturalsector,italsoproudly acknowledgesthelegacyofpeople whohavesteereditsgrowthand impact.
JenniVernon,thecurrentchairof theBoard(andinhersecondtermin therole),isthefirstwomantoholdthe positionintheorganisation’shistory. Appointedin2023,Vernonbrought40 yearsofexperienceinfarming,regional governance,andagribusinesstothe job.
Farmingadrystockunitinpartnership withhusbandGordonandsonSimonat TeAkateainnorthwestWaikato,Jenni’s leadershipisreflectedinherhands-on approach,balancingstrategicthinking withensuringthateveryvoiceisheard andrespected.
Underherstewardship,theSociety’s Boardhasundertakentwostrategic workshopsonthefuturefocusof Fieldaysandthebiggerpictureforthe organisationongrowingneweventsat MysteryCreekEventsCentre,hometo theannualFieldaysevent.
“Itisimportanttobeopentothe
changingenvironmentweexistinasan eventsvenue,”saidVernon.
Theothermilestoneunderwayisthe developmentofanewconstitutionfor theSociety.“Someofthechanges areduetothenewly updatedIncorporated SocietiesAct,but othersareto modernise ourfounding documentto reflecthow theSociety wishestohold toaccount theBoard’s rolesand responsibilities onbehalfofthe membersand volunteers,”adds Vernon.
showcasingthebestofNewZealand’s primaryindustrieswhilesupporting innovationandthewiderrural communities,”saidVernon.
Duringhertenure,the organisationhasalsoreceived accoladessuchasthe2023Waikato ChamberofCommerceSustainability Awardand,in2024,becomingthefirst eventofitskindtoreceiveaFernMark Licence.
“Fieldayshasalwaysbeenabout
Vernon’sappointmentisa testamenttotheevolving roleofwomenin agricultureand leadership.Herprior achievements includebeing NewZealand’s firstfemale Nuffield Scholar andthefirst femalechair ofEnvironment Waikato. WhileVernon wasthefirst womanchair,Val Millingtonpavedthe wayformanywomen whohavebeeninleadership rolesattheSocietyovertheyears, becomingthegeneralmanagerin1988. Sinceitsinceptionin1968,theSociety hasbeenguidedbyalineofdedicated chairswhohaveensuredthesuccess ofitsflagshipevent,Fieldays,which
hasseenitgrowfrom10,000visitorsto betheSouthernHemisphere’slargest agriculturalevent.
Eachyear,Fieldaysnowattractsover 100,000visitorstoMysteryCreek.
OwingitsoriginstoWaikatofarmer andNuffieldAustraliaFarmingscholar JohnKneebone,whotravelledtoBritain in1966and,uponhisreturn,wroteto theWaikatoTimesfarmingeditorPat Cumingsuggestinganannualouting forfarmers,Fieldayswasbornoutofa passionategroupofvolunteers.
Continuingthevolunteer-led governancetoday,allmembersdonate theirtimeandexpertisetosupportthe Society’smission.
DuringFieldays,Vernonwilltakeup herroleleadingthevolunteerkitchen teamthatprovidesmealsforthestaff, emergencyservicesandmorethan150 membersandvolunteersoverthefourdayevent.
“TheSociety’ssuccesswouldn’tbe possiblewithoutthecontributions ofsomany—ourstaff,volunteers, visitors,exhibitors,andmyfellowboard members,”saidVernon.
Howiswasteandsustainability managedatFieldays®?
Haveyoueverwonderedhowalltheusualwaste createdbythepublicishandledduringFieldays®?
ItisallunderthecontrolofJanine Frohlich-Monk,NZNationalFieldays SocietyCommunityandSustainability Executiveandwhenitcomesto sustainability,she’sintheknow!
HereIwasthinkingitwasamatter ofpickingupsomerubbish,sorting itandtakingitofftotheappropriate destination,ohno,itisfarmoreinvolved thanIeverimagined.
DataisgatheredfromFieldays,right downtothelastpieceofphotocopy paper!
Duringthefourdaysduringtheevent, dataiscollectedonwaterandpower usage,samplesfromtheriverwaterare gathered,usageofpetrol,dieseland LPG,howmuchprintinghasbeendone onthephotocopierandhowmuch paperused,theamountofrecycling collected,carmileagesofvehiclesused, andphotostakeneachdayfromaspot abovethecarparkstoworkoutthetotal numberofvehiclesatFieldays.
AllofthisisdonebyFrohlich-Monkand agroupofdedicatedvolunteers.
AndonceFieldaysisover,thereisstill moredatatobecollectedfromthebus andhelicoptercompanies,sortingout passengernumbersandfuelusage. Allneededtobegatheredtocalculate Fieldays’carbonfootprint.
Everyyeartheycomparethisdatato thepreviousyearandlookatwaysto improvecertainareasforthefollowing year.
Thisdataenablesthemtosortout theirshort,medium,andlong-term goals.
ThisyearatFieldays,anew SustainableExhibitorFrameworkwill berolledout.Itwillbepilotedwith50 exhibitorsatFieldays,bothsmalland largebusinessesandwillbejudged onhowtheyorganisesustainability associatedwiththeirsites.
WhiletheFieldayseventonlytakesup approximately20%ofFrohlich-Monk’s time,theother80%isdedicatedto MysteryCreekEventsCentre,hometo NewZealandNationalFieldaysSociety, thenot-for-profitorganisationthatowns andoperatesthevenueandFieldays.
Asthissitebacksontoneighbouring properties,beingincontactwithand workingalongsidethelocalcommunity isespeciallyimportant.
Thisinvolveskeepingthemallupdated
withnewslettersandget-togethers whenappropriate.
Frohlich-Monkhasorganiseda predator-freehubwhereneighbours canborrowtraps,andworkshops havebeenorganisedforneighbouring schoolsandthecommunity.
Youthandenvironmental programmeshavealsobeenorganised, enablinggulliestobeplantedandwater inthestreamsisregularlycheckedand monitored.
Keepingthecommunity,especially youth,involvedintheimportanceof sustainabilityandwithhavingPekaPeka aroundtheproperty,“TheMysteryCreek CommunityCatchment,”hasbeen formedwithasteeringgroupeagerto ensurethesurroundingareasarewell caredfor,includingthebats!
Whilegoalsandobjectivesare alwayschanging andevolving,the importanceof environmental sustainabilityisa numberonepriority forboththesociety andthelocal community.
JanineFrohlich-Monk
Fashion inthe Fieldays® Field
ByGlennDwight–NZMECreativeDirector
WeallknowFieldaysisabout innovation,agritech,andbig thinking.It’swheretractors battle,dronesbuzzlikebees,and someoneinamarqueesays“bio diversity”atleastonceeveryseven minutes.Butbeyondthegadgets andgumboots,Fieldaysisalso— unapologetically—arunway.Amudcaked,corrugatedcatwalkofrural fashion.
Now,somearriveatMysteryCreek woefullyunpreparedandoutofplace Youknowthetype.Theyrockupdressed likeconcretecowboys—RMWilliams
bootsstillshowroom-fresh,puffervest zippeduplikeawetsuit,andbeige chinos,likethey’reheadingtoafinance seminarwithaslightriskofpuddles.
Butforthoseofuswhounderstandthe heritageoftheland,weknowFieldays fashionispracticallysacred.
Let’sstartwiththeundisputed monarchsofruralfashion:the Redbands.Theserubberyroyalshave stompedthroughpaddocks,yards, andFieldays…sinceforever.They’ve beenwornbyPrimeMinistersand preschoolersalike.Ariteofpassage.And likeallgoodicons,theyscuffwell.Apair
singlet,either.FredDagggaveit legendarystatus.Olympiansmade iticonic.It’sthefarmer’sformalwear, perfectforweddings,wakes, andwoolsheds.Whenpaired withaweatheredandleathered forearmsitsignalstoallthat you’renotjustfarming—youare farming.
ofwell-wornRedbandssays, “Iknowwhattailingis,andI’vegotthe bootstoproveit.”
Thenthere’stheSwanndri.Theoriginal farm-to-fashionsuccessstory.Once strictlyreservedformusteringandmeat raffles,theclassiccheckeredSwanny hasstruttedontocitystreetsandeven theoddfashionweekcatwalk.It’sgone from“sheepdipchic”tosmartcasual. Theonlyitemofclothingthatcan doubleasajacket,blanket,pillow,or emergencytent—makingittherural equivalentofaSwissArmyknife. Andwemustn’tforgettheblack
Butinthistrinityoftreasured Kiwithreads,oneitemhasbeen cruellyleftbehind.Forgotten. SnubbedbyfashionistasandKiwi Burgersongs. Ispeak,ofcourse,ofthe H Harlequinshort.
Theloudestlegsinthegame. A Akaleidoscopeofcolourand c courage.Halfrugbyshort,half raainbowexplosion.Originally designed,oneassumesoutof soomekindoffabricrationingand soomenumbereightwireattitude. BecausewhiletheSwannykeeps yoouwarm,andtheRedbands keeepyoudry,theHarlequins...well, t theyletyourupper-upper-thigh breathe.They’reforthebold.The beautiful.Theblokewhosays,“It’ssix degrees,butI’llriskpneumoniafor fashioninthefield”.They’retheclothing equivalentofbuyingabrightorange tractor—functionallyunnecessary,but impossibletoignore.
Socomeon,NewZealand—let’s givethegreatHarlequinshortthe recognitionitdeserves.Inaseaof beigeandpuffervests,theHarlequin standsproud,likealiquoriceallsorts factoryexplodedgloriouslyonapair ofunsuspectingthighs.It’sloud.It’s unapologetic.It’sruralhighfashion.
LOVOLtractors nowafamiliarsight attheFieldays®
Needinganaffordableandreliabletractor?Needingafree woodsplitter?Well,youbettercheckouttheLOVOLstand H45atthe2025Fieldays,asapurchaseofoneoftheir tractorsgivesyouachancetowalkawaywithafreelog splitteraswell.
LOVOLtractorsareimportedby nationwidedistributorMetrade Limited,alocalKiwicompany aimingtobringaffordablequality machineryandequipmentintoNew Zealand,andattheFieldaysheldat MysteryCreekEventsCentreinJune, theywillhavetheirLovolmodels rangingfrom25hpto110hpondisplay anditqualifiedteamwillbeavailable toansweranyquestionsyoumay have.
Asthedemandforsmallerand versatiletractorscontinuestobe importantforsmalleroperators,the Lovolbrandbringssomefreshchoice tothemarket,pluscomeswithplenty ofextras.
Thesetractorscanbeconnected withdifferentimplementsand aregenerallysuitableforgarden maintenance,mowing,lawnplanting, basicfenceconstruction,small-scale livestockfarms,andfarmplanting.
Foundedin1998andbasedinChina, research,anddevelopmentcentresfor LovolcanbefoundinItaly,Japan,and China.
Withmorethan15,000employees, Lovol’sChinaoperationisoneof thelargestagriculturalmachinery enterprises,withthemostcomplete productlines,youwillfindinChina.
Focusingonintelligentagricultural machineryandintelligentagriculture, Lovoltractorsalsohavetheadvantage
ofexpertiseinnewtechnologyfields, suchashydraulicelectriccontrol,CVT powertrain,newenergy,andintelligent driving.
Lovolstandbehindtheirtractorswith animpressivethree-yearwarranty(or 2000hours,whichevercomesfirst).As astandardnewtractorwarranty,this showshowconfidenttheyareoftheir product.
Askabouttheircombodeals.
Alongwiththeirtractorswillbeafull combodealofimplementsincluding slasher,grader,hydraulicborer,carryall, andbackhoe.Theywillalsohavethe minibaler,drummower,tedderrake, minibalewrapper,andsofthandstoo. Theircompacttractors(andcombo
deals)rangefrom25hp-50hpandare suitableforlifestyleblocksandsmall farms.Their70hpmodelissuitablefor orchardsandvineyards,whiletheir 110hp–130hpissuitableforgeneral farmingactivities.
LovolhasaFieldaysofferof$0 deposit,0.1%-3.5%interestratewith 18-24monthstermsavailableduring Fieldays,andwillalsohavethree hydraulicwoodsplitterstogiveaway forfreeforthefirstthreetractorbuyers (onefreewoodsplitterforonetractor buyer).
TolearnmoreaboutLOVOL tractors,pleasevisitFarmtrader(www. farmtrader.co.nz)toseetheirarticles. https://lovol.co.nz
Rightnow,Mitsubishiarereleasing twonewLimitedEditionBeastsinto thewild.Bothequippedwithour4WD SuperSelectIIandbothwithunique features.
TheTritonGLX-Sportcomeswith 18-inchblackalloywheels,blacksports bar,uniquebadgingonitsflanksand
anattitudetomatch.Theevenrarer TritonGSRhas20-inchblackalloysand all-terraintyres,blackexteriorbody-kit, sailplanesportsbar,frontnudgebar andelectricroll-top.Thesetwonew TritonBeastsaresupremelyequipped, andreadyforonoroffroadadventures. Getoneinyoursightstodaybyvisiting yournearestMitsubishidealer.
TractorPull celebrates 50yearsof competition
TheTractorPullwasintroducedto Fieldaysin1975.Fromitshumble beginningsofsmallhorsepower, manualgearboxes,two-wheeldrive andmechanicalproblems,wefastforwardtoanerawhereweseefourwheeldrive,computerisedtractors,and enginesupto260horsepower.
Itconsistentlyranksasoneofthe mainattractionsatFieldays,beinga timeofgreatfunandcamaraderiefor competitorsandspectatorsalike.
“Mostyearshaveseenupto80 tractorsbeingregisteredtocompete, ittakesjustonfourdays,andthree judgestogetthroughtheheatsand thenfinals,”saysDanReymer,oneofthe organisers.
Thisyearcouldbeyouropportunity toseesomemodifiedmonstertractors withloudenginesandV8motors.It hasbeenawhilesincetheymadean appearanceattheFieldays,butifyou haveseenthembeforeyouwillknow whataspectacletheyare.
Preparationhasbeenunderwayled byasmallcommitteeoffiveforthis populareventanditwillbeachanceto watchthepetrolheadsofthefarming worldbattleitoutintheFieldaysTractor Pull,inassociationwithPTSLogistics. Therewillbefourcategories:
WeightAdjusted: Tractorscompetebasedontheir horsepower-to-weightratio.
Tractorswithnomorethan260
horsepowerparticipate.Thechallenge liesinpullingasledgewhileconsidering boththetractor’sweightandpower.
WeightTransfer:Allentrantsare groupedintofiveweightclasses. Thesledgesettingremainsconstant withinaroundbutmaybeadjusted betweenrounds.Theemphasisisas muchondriverskillasrawpower.
ModifiedTractors:Thiscategory featuresmodifiedtractors(eitherpre1985orcustomised).Anymachinethat doesnotfitintootherclasses. Modificationsbeyondstandard specificationsareallowed.
Pre-85Tractors:Tractors manufacturedbefore1985,with standardconfigurationand
manufacturedwithafactory-fitted, mechanicalpullstop.
Participantscompeteintwoweight classes.
Youwillwanttogetagoodspoton thebanktowatchthis,asitdoesn’ttake longbeforespacesarefilled.
Contractorsandfarmersalikelove tocompetewithsomeofthelucky competitorsbeingsponsoredbytheir bossesbywayofdieselforthetractor... .andsometimestheloanofatractor!
Whilethereisamonetaryrewardfor thewinner,itisallaboutthebragging rightsandhavingthattrophyonyour kitchentable,lounge,tearoomoreven cowshed!
Don’tmissthisfantasticevent!
12monthsofincredibleprogressby Fieldays® 24InnovationProtypewinner
RachelCanning,TangataMedia
Whathappenswhen woolandhorticulture collide?Countries startcalling.
Lackofchoiceforasustainable growing-mediaforthehorticulture industry,ledtoagritechinnovator JacintaPennwonderingifasolution laywithwool.Shequestionedif thepropertiesandapplicationsof woolhadbeenfullyexploredinthe horticultureandagricultureindustries.
FleeceGrowwasformed,andthisweek movesto‘proofofconcept’phase.
Itallbeganin2020andJacinta Penn,livingjustoutofPukekohe,was choosingatopicforherMastersin TechnologicalFutures.
“Wewereaskedtolookaroundusfor problemsthatneedsolving.”
Importedgrowing-mediacanend upinlandfill
HerhomeatPatumahoewas surroundedbyhorticulturistswho wereexperiencingchallengeswith weather,labourandpests.Therewere alsoissueswithnitratesinthelocal waterways.Shedecidedtostudy commerciallysustainableoptionsfor indoorhorticulture.
“Ifoundmostindoorgrowersuse soillessmediums.Theyhadthree choicesofgrowing-media,butallhad tobeimported.”
Oncethecococoir,peat, androckwoolhaveservedtheir horticulturalpurpose,Jacintasays thereisabitofachallengewith disposingorupcycling.
“Ifcareisnottaken,thegrowingmediacanendupinlandfill.Peatis nowrecognisedasacarbonstoreand bansarecomingintoforceoverseas
andmayfollowhere.”
Usingwoolasalocalgrowingmediaforindoorhorticulture
Jacintasetouttofindalocal alternative,thatwasbothsustainable andatthesamepricepointasthe threeexistinggrowing-media.
Afewyearsback,Jacintanotedhow thewoolfromtheironesheep(excalfclub)lastedtwoyearsontheground. Withthisinmind,shesetupatrialin hergreenhouseanddevelopedthe ideathatwoolcanactasagrowingmediaforthehorticultureindustryin NewZealand.
ProofofConcept–support frominvestorsandaWhanganui businessman
Lastyear,JacintaandhusbandGreg wonInnovationPrototypeatFieldays 2024withawool-basedgrowingmediablocktheyinventedin2023. Jacintasaystherecognitionwasa confidenceboost,andagatewayinto theworldofattractinginvestorsand funding.
IntheyearsinceFieldays2024,she andGreghavebeenmentoredby SproutAgritech,andcompletedthe HTKacceleratorfromtheWhakatipu In8cubatorProgramme.Apatenthas
ContainerSpaceNZdirector NickWalker(left)andJacinta metatFieldays2024. Photo/ContainerSpaceNZ.
beenfiledforthegrowing-media prototypemachinery,andtheyhave enteredintoajointventurewith ChristchurchmanufacturerTerraLana toexperimentandattempttoproduce thewool-basedgrowing-mediablocks atscale.
Fieldays–NZ’sbiggestfarming networkingopportunity
Lastweekashippingcontainer arrived,acriticalpieceofkitsothey canproceedtoproofofconcept forthewool-basedgrowing-media block.Thecontainerwillhousethe prototypemachines,andFleeceGrow hastwoyear’sfreeuseofthe40foot shippingcontainerforlease,courtesy ofWhanganui’sNickWalkerandthe teamfromContainerSpaceNZ.
Bothwereexhibitingatthe2024 NationalFieldaysandJacintatalked toNickaboutleasingacontainerbut washesitanttogoaheadwithoutfirst securingfunding.
“Afewmonthslater,Iwasstruggling tofiteverythinginmyhouseandI putupasocialmediapost,asking ifanyoneknewwhereIcouldfinda container?
“Nickreplied,hewasjustso encouraging.Hesaid,“Ilovewhatyou aredoing,I’dliketohelp.
“It’sreallyhardstartinganew businesslikethis,andthiskindof supportreallycounts.”
ContainerSpaceNZdirectorNick WalkersaysFieldaysisNewZealand’s biggestmeetingplaceforbusiness.
“Fieldayschampionsagriculture,and it’salsoamassivenetworkingevent.
“BusinessofalltypesacrossNew Zealandcannetwork,collaborateand
showcaseinfrontofawiderangeof people.
“Fieldayschampionsagriculture,and it’salsoamassivenetworkingevent.I don’tthinkFieldaysfullycatersforthe networkingsideofit,”saysNick.
Woolasacommercialfertiliserand growing-media
Theyearaheadlooksincredibly exciting.FleeceGrowwilllaunchwith arangeofwoolpelletfertilisers,and awool-basedpottingmix.Soonafter launchtheywillreleasetheirwoolbasedcompressedseedlingstarter disks,andthewool-basedgrowingmediablock.
Thewoolbasedpottingmixalso containsbark,seaweed,andadded phosphateforboostingrootgrowth.A liquidfertilisercalledLiquidWoolhas beentrademarkedandisalreadyin testing.
Jacintasaysthatwoolmakes greatnitrogenfertiliser,adding10-14% nitrogentothesoil(byvolume),“which ismorethansheepmanure”.
“Woolgrowing-mediaandwool fertiliserforhorticulturehasaglobal potential.I’mgettingcallsfrom Australia,Mexico,Finland,theUK.
Asforafuturewoolsupply,Jacinta saysshe’shadfarmersofferhertheir entireshed.
“Thebigaimistoreallyrevupthe woolindustryagain,makingwoolthe solutiontoagrowingproblem–pun intended.”
Woolasagrowing-mediaforseedlingshasthepotentialtoreplacethe existinggrowing-mediachoicesofcococoir,peat,androckwool.Photos/ FleeceGrow.
JacintaPennwon theInnovation Prototypeaward atFieldays2024 forherwool-based growing-media blockproduct.
Photo/ContainerSpaceNZ.
