Rural sector has plenty to celebrate at Fieldays – Editorial
The typical Kiwi farmer isn’t one to get overly excited when the going is good.
“Can’t complain” may be about as effusive as some seasoned cow cockies ever get.
But rural New Zealand has plenty to celebrate right now.
It is riding a high of simultaneous title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fieldays-2026-booming-rural-economy-on-display-at-sold-out-event/KHD27E6APNDTVO47I2UFQEFF3Y/">strong economic results across multiple agricultural sectors, as the booming sector leads New Zealand’s recovery.
Wool prices are at a 15-year high and recent records have been set or are forecast for dairy, red meat exports and kiwifruit.
Food and fibre exports are set to top a record $62 billion in the financial year ending June 30.
Net farmer confidence, at 37%, was the highest since 2017 in January’s Federated Farmers mid-season survey.
History suggests these things go in cycles and the halcyon days will only last so long.
Most farmers will probably read this and think “halcyon days” is a bit strong for 2026.
Not with those fuel prices and El Nino looming.
Always being ready for the other gumboot to drop is a necessary defence mechanism when your livelihood too often depends on forces that are out of your hands.
But this is not the week for talk of that.
This week is Fieldays, New Zealand’s festival of farming, celebrating the people and industry that feed us, clothe us and contribute about 10% to New Zealand’s GDP.
We mark the occasion by parking up in a (traditionally) muddy Mystery Creek field and traipsing through a dizzying array of agricultural innovations, big machines, grassroots enterprises and multi-buy deals on woolly socks.
Even the weather fell in line this year, with the Waikato fog blanket tucked away in a drawer somewhere, with clear blue skies on Wednesday’s opening day.
Evidence of an election year abounded, with National ministers around every second corner, probably in a blue Swannie and announcing something.
The 58th annual Fieldays has sold out – for the first time in a long time – with about 100,000 people expected through the gates over four days.
The event has also booked more than 1100 exhibitors and vendors.
Touted as another sign of buoyancy and optimism in the sector, it also no doubt reflects an eagerness to keep some of that $3.2 billion in Mainland deal divestment cash circulating in the rural economy.
Are the halcyon days here for farmers? Debatable, but they are surely here for Fieldays.