June 2025

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event opens its gates next week with a strong number of international delegates, ambassadors and exhibitors in attendance. The interest signals a strong rebound on international travel and a growing interest in Aotearoa New Zealand as a world-class provider of agricultural products and innovation. In a notable first, the German Pavilion, a collaborative initiative led by the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce and IFWexpo Heidelberg, and backed by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has brought together 11 leading agri-businesses from across Germany all under one roof. “We are thrilled to welcome the delegation of German companies exhibiting at Fieldays,” said New Zealand National Fieldays Society Chief Executive Richard Lindroos. “This milestone highlights the strength of our growing relationship and aims to foster long-term partnerships”. Exhibitors include German automation firm IFM Electronic Ltd, horticultural supplier Floragard, irrigation and pump developer Bauer and more. Their unified presence marks Germany’s most significant exhibition at Fieldays to date, reinforcing the strategic importance of New Zealand as a destination for global business. Returning international exhibitors also include Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s export agency, returning for their 18th year, and exhibitors from countries including Australia, United States, United Kingdom, China and South Korea. “We’re also expecting a large number of international visitors, including student delegates from Oklahoma State University. It’s exciting to see international interest in the educational opportunities at Fieldays,” says Lindroos. Fieldays will offer the 25 agriculture students, along with a record number of booked domestic schools, a unique learning experience outside the classroom, allowing students to learn about agriculture, forestry, science, technology, and sustainability while exploring career pathways in these industries. The New Zealand International Business Centre (NZIBC) will provide face-to-face access to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and other government agencies, helping delegates and businesses understand the regulations, incentives, and support available for international companies seeking to connect with trade in New Zealand and vice versa. The NZIBC will also deliver two one-hour guided Innovation walking tours, and hold a range of seminars, including “Agritech in Latin America” and “New Zealand’s Role in International Food Security and Beyond.” Additionally, “Beyond the Diplomat” will be a seminar focusing on how women lead through complexity, particularly in an era of geopolitical change and an uncertain global trade environment. Lindroos said that equally impressive is the commitment of our regional and national exhibitors, who have prepared themselves and their sites over the past few weeks to showcase their latest products and services. “We have seen some extraordinary site builds taking shape. Exhibitors are putting a great deal of effort into their presence. It’s clear that this isn’t just about selling products. It’s about connecting people through stories.” Other Fieldays initiatives that provide opportunities to connect are the newly introduced Fieldays Tent Talks in association with the University of Waikato, on site D79, the Fieldays Innovation Awards, and the Fieldays® VIP Business Plus in association with KPMG. This lounge provides a central location within the event to utilise as a base and a comfortable space to continue business activity. From 11 – 14 June, Mystery Creek will be a global meeting place for all things agriculture, providing a platform for the exchange of business, ideas and innovations in New Zealand and around the world. For more information about Fieldays and the New Zealand International Business Centre visit fieldays.co.nz You can also stay up to date with any on the ground news by checking out the Fieldays LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok pages. ENDS CONTACTBrett Beagley l Marketing & Communications ManagerT +64 7 843 4497 l M +64 21 412 951 | E brett.beagley@nznfs.co.nz ABOUT FIELDAYS Held at Mystery Creek, Fieldays is the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere drawing people from around the world – both as exhibitors and visitors. Fieldays is run by the New Zealand National Fieldays Society, a charitable organisation founded in 1968 to advance agriculture and the primary industries. Contact MediaPA 027 458 7724 phillip@mediapa.co.nz

At the 2025 “Grow Grass in the Colder Months” Field Day, New Zealand soil scientist Dr Gordon Rajendram delivered an insightful talk on how strategic foliar fertiliser application is transforming pasture-based farming. Hosted on-farm and designed as a practical “how-to” event, the day focused on helping farmers grow more, higher-quality pasture during the colder months, when traditional systems typically slow to a crawl. Dr Rajendram explained how foliar fertilisers, specifically Cold Grow, can be used to feed pasture directly through the leaf, delivering nutrients exactly when and where they’re needed. This method improves nitrogen uptake efficiency, reduces environmental loss, and supports continued pasture growth during cooler conditions. “Applying foliar fertiliser in winter means you’re not relying on soil temperatures to activate the nitrogen,” Dr Rajendram said. “You’re feeding the plant directly — it’s faster, more efficient, and leads to better results with less input.” He also highlighted how foliar nutrition supports soil biology by stimulating root exudates — the sugars plants release into the soil — which in turn feed microbes and improve overall soil health. The result is not just more grass, but better-quality pasture with higher nutrient density. The event also showcased the BA Sprayers LM Series and Brandt tractors from Power Farming, demonstrating how modern equipment makes foliar application practical and precise. A Q&A session followed, with Dr Rajendram joined by a farmer already using the foliar system and Mike Prendergast from BPM. Moderated by the event organiser Jolyon Ludbrook, the panel discussed real-world applications and gave attendees a chance to ask questions throughout. The goal was simple: ensure every farmer walked away with practical knowledge they could apply on their farm immediately — no purchases required. Dr Rajendram’s message was clear: with the right tools and timing, farmers can grow more grass in winter, reduce inputs, and build healthier soils — all while improving profitability and maintaining flexibility on-farm. How to Grow More Grass Efficiently with Dr Gordon Rajendram Unit N40 (extra kg DM per unit N applied over 40 days of growth) for the different seasons and regions using Granular Urea. Reference: G.S Rajendram et al (2009). Nitrogen Fertiliser Trial Base. Taken from 1272 Nitrogen Fertiliser Response trials throughout New Zealand over 80 years conducted by MAF and AgResearch. Why Choose Foliar? ✅ More yield per unit of nitrogen✅ Lower environmental loss✅ Faster uptake and response✅ Effective at lower application rates With mounting pressure to reduce nitrogen losses and improve input efficiency, foliar fertiliser offers a smarter, more sustainable solution for pasture management. Pasture growth (kg ha-1) from harvest one, 24 days after the fertiliser is applied. kg of Dry Matter produced per kg of N applied: Granular: 14kg Liquid (Foliar) UAN: 61kg Foliar is x 4 more efficient than Granular. About Dr Gordon RajendramDr Gordon Rajendram is a New Zealand-based soil scientist with over 40 years of experience in nutrient management and soil fertility. Formerly with AgResearch, he is widely respected for his work on improving nitrogen efficiency and sustainable farming practices.021 466 077 | rajendram@xtra.co.nz | www.gordonrajendramsoilscientist.co.nz  Contact MediaPA 027 458 7724 phillip@mediapa.co.nz