South Island Agricultural Field Days preparations on track

Alastair Robinson.

Trade sites are in demand as South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) approaches.

More than half of the available sites for the next field days have been sold and potential exhibitors are encouraged to get in quickly to secure a spot for the event being held at Kirwee, near Christchurch, from Wednesday March 27 to Friday, March 29, 2019.

Media liaison Daniel Schat said the revamped field days website had made it easy to register for a site online.

''We have revamped the website, and while parts of it will still be updated closer to the event, the registration section is working perfectly.

''It is the best way for anyone who wants to exhibit their agricultural or lifestyle products and services to book a site.

''Agricultural technology is the primary focus of field days and we are proud of our status as the field day with the largest machinery demonstration programme in New Zealand.''

Every two years the three-day field days event - which moved to its permanent home near Kirwee in 2015 - attracts about 30,000 people.

North Canterbury dairy farmer Alastair Robinson has been named as the new chairman of the executive committee, which has financial and governance oversight of the South Island Agricultural Field Days Society, and is separate from the organising committee, which he chaired in 2015.

He said preparations for the 2019 field days were on track and the organising committee was improving infrastructure at the venue.

''This year we have a new secretary and event co-ordinator, Tineka Johnstone, and she is doing a good job getting things up and running.

''Sites are selling well, which is important because income from registrations helps us carry out the work we want to do to improve our facilities.''

Mr Robinson said the organising committee was upgrading the electrical infrastructure at the site to make it easier and safer for exhibitors to set up their sites and clean up afterwards.

''Earlier this year we have gravelled all the laneways, which will make life more pleasant if we get wet weather during the field days.

''We have also extended our irrigation system and planted native trees along the boundaries of the property.''

He said several businesses had been generous in their support, and others were likely to step in to help as the event got closer.

-By David Hill

Central Rural Life