13 May 2013

Agriculture extravaganza in Feilding

9:51 am on 13 May 2013

Feilding's Manfeild Park has become a sort of one stop shop for beef and sheep farmers this week.

Three farmer events that have been running for years in Manawatu are being rolled into a single four-day extravaganza.

The Aginnovation programme began on Saturday with Future Beef New Zealand, an event designed to encourage young people into the beef industry.

A two-day Science and Technology programme for sheep and beef farmers began on Sunday with a beef genetics workshop and farm field trip, and will continue on Monday with workshops and expert speakers from New Zealand and overseas.

That incorporates the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Massey science day which has been another regular event on the farming calendar.

Aginnovation will wrap up on Tuesday with the annual Beef Expo bull sale, where breeding bulls from seven breeds are auctioned, and the steak of origin final to find the country's best steaks.

Beef + Lamb western North Island extension manager Mel Poulton says combining the three events into one big programme should make it more convenient for farmers to attend.