Fieldays return to old timeslot

Fine weather’s predicted this week as Fieldays returns to its traditional mid-winter sweet spot at Mystery Creek, fuelling hopes for a strong bounce back in attendance.

But the outlook’s more gloomy over spending on-site, with fears it’ll be subdued – despite the expected sunshine and higher numbers – due to impacted farmer incomes, higher costs and general uncertainty on various fronts.

Last year’s Fieldays was held in November – delayed due to Covid-19 concerns earlier in 2022 – and attendance numbers dropped to 75,000 for the four-day event.

In an interview, National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation was clearly chuffed about the weather forecast and hoped attendance would return to around the usual 130,000.

‘‘Someone’s looking down at us ... the average is 130,000 so we’ll be up to our historic numbers in the past,’’ he predicted.

The return to mid-winter would help. ‘‘People like that winter event and the weather is really going to encourage people to attend.’’

Other positives were a new sustainability hub, which was a first-time feature, school groups were attending from a wide range of regions, and there were strong international exhibitor and delegation contingents coming, particularly from Europe.

‘‘In the seven years I’ve been involved we’ve got the biggest international interest I’ve seen,’’ Nation said.

He expected the upcoming general election to be on farmers’ minds and Fieldays would be a good time for them to chew the fat over the parties’ different policies.

‘‘All the political parties will be exhibiting.’’

But the likes of high interest rates, costs, supply issues and reduced incomes were also mentioned as concerns confronting farmers, and it was expected these would cut spending at Fieldays.

‘‘There’s a few headwinds out there ... that squeezes their margin,’’ Nation said

‘‘I think they’ll be spending, but it won’t be at record levels.’’

Waikato Federated Farmers immediate past president Jacqui Hahn agreed spending levels would be an issue.

‘‘Young farmers are feeling hard hit by interest rates and general price increases across the board.

‘‘Inflation in the rural sector is double what it is for the general public.’’

Waikato Rural Support Trust

MARK TAYLOR/STUFF torohanga farmer Michael Woodward is not expecting a big spend up at Fieldays. But he’ll be exhibiting and taking the family along.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF National Fieldays Society Chief Executive Peter Nation is stoked with a sunny forecast for this week and is hoping for a return to historical attendance numbers of around 130,000.