Exhibitors come from all over the world and offer exclusive deals to farmers and primary producers in the hope of fetching some big sales at AgQuip.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But there’s one product synonymous with Australia’s largest and premier field days which needs no introduction.
Breeders from near and far use the field day to sell the finer points of their cattle, and come midday, crowds were finding their way to barbecues around the 26 hectare site, lining up for the traditional steak sandwich.
The Murray Grey beef stall had one of the biggest steak sandwich lines come midday on Tuesday, which came as no surprise to Wallawong Beef principal Kate James.
“We have the highest quality steaks,” the Gunnedah breeder said.
“Murray Greys are the carcass breed.
“They’re high yield, high quality and they have an excellent temperament; they’re quiet cattle and are generally less stressed.”
Mrs James said the Murray Greys sold about 5000 sandwiches across last year’s field day and sales were tracking at the same rate for 2016.
Steak sandwiches aside, Mrs James said AgQuip was one of her biggest client contact building exercises in the year.
“If we did nothing else, we’d do AgQuip,” she said.
“We can look back at our sales through the year, and a lot come from conversations that were had at AgQuip.
“It gives potential buyers an environment where they can be confident to approach breeders.”
We can look back at our sales through the year, and a lot come from conversations that were had at AgQuip.
- Wallawong Beef principal Kate James
Organisers pushed a sense of optimism and confidence returning to agriculture in the lead up to the event, and Mrs James said she had seen a big shift in attitude at markets recently with beef prices booming.
“The markets are a lot happier and people are a lot more willing to spend money,” she said.
“They’re being rewarded for raising a quality product.
“It’s a great time to be in the industry.”
Barraba cattle farmer Adam Kelly was checking out new tractors at the field days and said cattle and sheep prices were definitely boosting farmer’s confidence.
“The market prices are the best they have been, plus we’ve had some good rain,” Mr Kelly said.