It's not all the about the animals - Fieldays its looking after farmers' health too.

Meet the eight rural blokes who are in the running to win a coveted Golden Gumboot.

Better prices are likely to mean a more optimistic mood at Fieldays.

The wet weather peaks on Tuesday, before clearing for the opening of Fieldays on Wednesday

Near-record crowds flocked to Fieldays near Hamilton, making it one of the biggest years in the event's history.

Paul Olsen from Opiki won only one challenge throughout the week, but he walked out a winner.

"Hang in there" - that's the message Fonterra chairman John Wilson was giving to farmers at Fieldays.

COMMENT: The big question is whether Fieldays still provides an accurate barometer for NZ's agriculture sector and by proxy the wider economy.

A New Zealand company has developed technology that promises to deliver real-time data for farmers - from the sky.

Doug Avery knows what it's like to be depressed.

The crankholder is set to revolutionise the fencing industry ... or at least make it much easier to build a fence.

WATCH: Despite the dairy downturn a big lift in kiwifruit and apple exports has boosted agricultural revenue.

Agriculture exports have risen despite the dairy downturn. Liam Dann talks to KPMG’s Simon Hunter and NZEIR economist Christina Leung about what’s driving growth.

Attendance at Fieldays is running just slightly below this time last year, despite the current slump in dairy prices.

ASB Bank rural economist Nathan Penny talks about the latest world dairy auction and farmer sentiment at Fieldays.

Dairy product prices have held steady at the latest Global Dairy Trade auction.

New Zealand's native parrot the kea, an Australian bushfire and a toasted marshmallow were just three of the inspirations behind the Fieldays Ag Art Wear extravaganza.

New Zealand's primary sector needs to innovate and reinvent itself if it is to thrive, KMPG says.

Fieldays' new boss claims it has all the ingredients to be a success, despite tougher times for dairy farmers.

Roasting marshmallows with a bunch of 5-year-olds was a different challenge altogether for this year's rural bachelor contestants.

Big buys at annual agricultural event are likely to be lower on the shopping list for some who are hurting, especially dairy farmers.

Attendance at Fieldays at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton, was up by 5.2 per cent compared with last year's weather-affected event.

Farmers have overcome the shell shock of very low milk prices to turn out in force at Fieldays - New Zealand's biggest agricultural event.

There have been good crowds reported at this year's Fieldays event near Hamilton.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson says he knows farmers are increasingly anxious about low farm-gate milk prices.

A national programme to address rural depression will be developed in recognition of challenging times for farmers including volatility in milk prices.

Fonterra says it will lay off hundreds of its 1500 head office staff in a major review following the decline in dairy prices.

Thousands are expected at the first day of National Fieldays today with a tractor pull competition, air displays and machinery exhibitions set to entertain the crowds.