Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, an environmental scientist and agribusiness commentator, has stated that innovations showcased at the National Agricultural Fieldays must prove their on-farm value, especially as farmers face rising costs. Fieldays, held annually at Mystery Creek near Hamilton, New Zealand, is the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural event, attracting thousands of exhibitors and visitors.
Rowarth emphasized that while new technologies and products are exciting, they need to demonstrate a clear return on investment for farmers. With input costs such as fertilizer, fuel, and labor increasing, farmers are looking for solutions that can improve efficiency and profitability without adding unnecessary expense.
The 2026 Fieldays, running from June 10 to 13, featured a range of innovations from precision agriculture tools to sustainable farming practices. Rowarth noted that the most successful innovations will be those that address real on-farm challenges and provide measurable benefits.
