Organisers of the National Agricultural Fieldays are not expecting the event to generate the same level of sales as last year.
The four-day show opens its gates at Mystery Creek near Hamilton on Wednesday morning.
This year's event matches the record of more than 1,000 exhibitors.
However general manager Barry Quayle says the recession is likely to influence farmer spending patterns, especially in the dairy sector.
A Waikato University study assessed the economic impact from Fieldays at $870 million in sales and downstream benefits last year.
