South Island Field Days will feature more than 600 exhibitors

The 2015 South Island Agricultural Field Days attracted 27,500 people and organisers are hoping for a similar turn out this year. Photo / File

More than 600 exhibitors will be at the South Island Agricultural Field Days when it is held for the second time at Kirwee, this month.

The annual event, which switches between Canterbury and Southland each year, will take place March 29 - 31.

It was held at the Courtenay Rd site for the first time in 2015, after outgrowing its previous site at Lincoln, where it had been based for 32 years. More than 27,500 people attended that event and organisers anticipate the same number or more this year.

Field days media spokesman Daniel Schat said a lifestyle section with exhibits for the whole family would add something new to the event.

"We have 50 exhibitors lined up to display products ranging from model trains and spa pools to dog control systems and solar water and power units."

Other attractions would include Farm Trader magazine's top tractor shootout. It will compare variable transmission tractors made by the world's leading brands. Judges will test the tractors on a range of criteria including performance and affordability.

Two fencing competitions will also be held, and another event which has been popular in the past is the Agri-Innovation awards which recognise New Zealand-made innovations or inventions. Entrants are given a chance to demonstrate their inventions.

Mr Schat said the site had a good crops of maize, fodder beet, pasture and oats ready for harvest machinery demonstrations.

"Cultivation and seeding machinery will also be in action," he said.

Field days is a non-profit organisation made up of farmers and others in the agricultural industry. Organising committee chairman Rodney Hadfield said it would not be possible without the work of volunteers and community groups and Friends of the Field Days who donated equipment and services.

He said it was a good community fundraising opportunity for local schools and young farmers who helped with parking, running the tills and the entrance, and clean up.