Weather looks golden for Farm Day this Sunday

The weather has aligned nicely for Federated Farmers Farm Day 2011, which will be held near the major centres this Sunday, 13 March between 10am and 3pm.

“Farm Day is about getting folk who live in our towns and cities to come out to a farm to experience the animals, the crops and other features that make up New Zealand’s most important industry,” says Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President.

“We look pretty lucky this year as the Metservice is forecasting fine weather for all our Farm Days locations. It makes it an ideal day to get the family along to discover just what we do.

“South Canterbury and the Bay of Plenty will be holding their Farm Days next weekend on Sunday, 20 March 2011. Hopefully we’ll get a double whammy of fine weather.

“Each Farm Day is different. In Northland visitors will be able to see a working dairy farm in action, while in Auckland you can go 4x4 off-roading.

With the ‘W’s’ biodiversity will be a key part of the Waikato Farm Day being held near Cambridge, while in the capital, Wellington will showcase a regional council farm park.

“In Nelson we’ve got alpacas, while Rotorua/Taupo is milking cows on a sheep and beef farm near the famous Paradise Valley Wildlife Park.

“Otago has already booked out three busloads of visitors and has a fantastic zoo paddock with everything from pigs to ostriches will be present.

“The Stewart Farm, hosting the Manawatu/Rangitikei Farm Day, won the Horizons Regional Council’s regional Ballance Farm Environment Award in 2009.

“All of our farms have some wonderful scenery and some even back on to bush or coastal areas with great views and this forecasted great weather will make these spots only more beautiful. So visit www.farmday.org.nz for driving maps and more information,” Mr Nicolson concluded.

About Federated Farmers Farm Day 2011 – Out in the paddock

Federated Farmers Farm Day is designed to bring farmers and non-farmers together at open farms. It is part fun, part educational and 100 percent based on the New Zealand farm system. It provides people the chance to see modern farming for themselves, with a lot of scope to ask questions of host farmers.

Farm Day is a chance to go behind the scenes on Sunday, 13 March 2011 (10am and 3pm) at:

• Northland (Whangarei) – Denis and Lynne Anderson (Lynden Farms, 444 Kokopu Road, RD 9, Whangarei 0179)
• Auckland (Papakura) – Bill and Lynnette Cashmore (Kiripaka (Cashmore Farms), 389 Kawakawa-Orere Road, Orere, Papakura 2585)
•  Waikato (Cambridge) – Bill and Sue Garland (Rahiri Farm, End of Rahiri Road, RD 3, Cambridge 3495)
• Rotorua/Taupo (Rotorua) – The Heather Family (Heather Dell Angus Stud, 945 Paradise Valley Road, RD 3, Rotorua 3072)
• Manawatu/Rangitikei (Palmerston North) – James and Dave Stewart
• (Stewart Dairylands, 143 Watershed Road, RD 10, Palmerston North 4470)
• Wellington/Wairarapa (Pauatahanui) – Battle Hill Forest Park (Paekakariki Hill Road, Pauatahanui)
• Nelson – Ian and Barbara Stuart (Cable Bay Farm, 799 Cable Bay Road, RD1 Nelson 7071)
• Otago (Balclutha) – Ian Knowles (Telford Farm, 498 Owaka Highway, Balclutha 9240).

Farm Day in the Bay of Plenty and South Canterbury will take place on 20 March 2011 (10am-3pm) at:

• Bay of Plenty (Te Puke) - Noel and Marilyn McLeod and Andrew and Robyn McLeod (1189 Welcome Bay Road, RD 7, Te Puke 3187)
• South Canterbury (Timaru) – Andrew and Vicky Steven (494 Rolling Ridges Road, Rosewill, Timaru 7974)

Please note – despite earlier communications, North Canterbury Farm Day is no longer going ahead.