KEY POINTS:
Organisers are tipping farmers will open their wallets at this week's New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays despite a tough season for many sectors.
Fieldays general manager Barry Quayle says overall the mood at the show will be positive.
"There's no doubt that this emphasis on food [prices] is being recognised as supporting what the farmers have always known, that they're an important cog in the world's economy," Quayle says. "From that point of view I think they're going to be fairly positive that there's a good future out there."
Business from the show - held at The Mystery Creek Events Centre near Hamilton from Wednesday until Saturday - totalled $320 million last year.
Fonterra last month boosted its already record payout to dairy farmers to $7.90 a kilogram of milksolids - compared with $4.46 last season. It has also made an opening forecast for the new season of $7 per kg.
Despite the impact of the drought and a tough year for some farmers, particularly in the meat industry, Quayle expects spending to consolidate on last year. "All farmers know that if they don't invest in their farms they'll go backwards," he says. "So what they'll be doing is wisely spending."
Some farmers will club together to get a better price.
The show is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It attracts international buyers and delegations, with business also taking place between exhibitors and companies.
"We've got more inbound buying missions this year than we've ever had," Quayle says.
About a third of international visitors are farmer interest groups.
"If we can influence the farmers offshore to realise that there is plenty of reason why they should work to the global market place rather than have subsidies ... it's all better for New Zealand in terms of its exports."
The premier feature, or theme, of the show this year is: The Science of Farming.
"We believe that the application of science to farming is going to make the most significant step looking forward at this time," Quayle says.
"There's some great innovations and breakthroughs in agriculture and applying science to farming which is going to increase productivity."
Agriculture is a sunrise industry and Fieldays is a snapshot of an exciting industry with huge further potential, he says.
"There's plenty more that agriculture can bring to the GDP growth of New Zealand."
The premier feature area, outside the Mystery Creek Pavilion on M Road, and inside the Pavilion, will offer technologies and developments to a very wide range of Fieldays visitors with exhibitors covering developments from GPS to nutrition, research to organics.
Fieldays team leader, Vanessa Richmond, said that the science of farming underpinned the international success of primary producers. "The area will be the heart of Fieldays, as it has been the heart of New Zealand's success in competitive domestic and international markets," she said.
Premier feature supporter, AgResearch, and strategic partner the University of Waikato, will unveil the latest research and amazing interactive displays at Fieldays.
FIELDAYS
* Largest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere.
* About 125,000 visitors expected.
* More than 1000 exhibitors.
* 40 hectares of exhibitions and demonstrations.
* 57 hectares of car parking.
