6 April 2001 South Island Agricultural Field Days 'very positive'

The South Island Agricultural Field Days held over 28-30 March have been and gone and the feedback has been very positive, says Errol Costello of Lincoln University, a major sponsor of the event.

"There were many positive comments on the friendliness of both the organisers and the visitors to the event," he says.

"The attendance count was 16,400 people through the gate for the three days up from 13,200 in 1999 and 10,400 in 1997. The weather and the apparent buoyant rural economy were mainly responsible for the increase. The extra people through the gate caused some anxiety in the committee who at times were almost swamped. Thanks to the NZ Police and the patience of all concerned the temporary road blockages were quickly and efficiently handled.

"The event has definitely gone up a notch in attendance numbers and the committee is planning on working smarter for the 2003 occasion.

"The exhibitors put much effort into their sites and the winner of the Rural News best site was the display by Hume's Pipeline Systems. The judges were impressed by the standard of the entries and awarded two merit awards to the Doug Hood site and the RD1.Com site respectively. Warren Cochrane, a shrewd valuer of horsepower, reckoned that the total value of the machinery etc. on sites was in the region of $700 - $800 million."

The Rural Contractor Best Demonstration Prize went to Penrose Engineering and a merit prize to Fred Bull of Harvester Markets. The new farm equipment awards sponsored by the Field Days and Canterbury Farming went well with a high standard of entrants and the following received prizes or merit awards: Class One, Imported Machinery, L P Thian, Accord Seed Box 1st and Tulloch Farm Machinery, mower conditioner, 2nd. Class Two, New Zealand Made Machinery, Racewell Industries, sheep handling equipment, 1st, Robertson Farm Equipment 2nd. Class Three, Farm Aids and Tools, Electro Ease, cow teat sprayer, 1st, The Real Dog Co. 2nd. Class Four, Farm Inventions, Tedmon netting strainers 1st; merit award, Doc's Bye Flies.

The Community Diary is produced by Lincoln University's Strategic Communications Centre.