AUSTRALIA'S biggest agricultural field day has been pushed back three months in Gunnedah in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
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AgQuip is the biggest event on the calendar in Gunnedah with 100,000 people flocking to the town for the three-day show, and now it will be held on November 10 to 12.
It has always showcased the best of the bush in August but the event will move to November as organisers navigate the COVID-19 crisis.
ACM Rural Events Group Manager Kate Nugent told the Leader the new dates had been organised after extensive surveys of participants and visitors.
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"Despite the virus, we have solid inquiries from over 100 new agri-companies and will be closely monitoring how commercial sites are allocated in a fair and equitable way, to both new and existing clients," Ms Nugent said.
While the virus crisis and social distancing measures had threatened to derail the show entirely, Ms Nugent said the future looks bright for agriculture, despite the ongoing dry conditions.
"Whilst we will be in the midst of harvest time and hopefully free from coronavirus restrictions, we can be assured in offering hope and opportunity, there will be a lot of buying decisions made on the field," Ms Nugent said.
Ms Nugent said that with the drought easing its grip on vast areas of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, the economic outlook was better than it had been for the past few years.
"Farmers who hadn't produced a crop for many seasons, were anticipating excellent harvests," she said.
"With pastures and flocks thriving too, people on the land were being offered the opportunity of replacing and updating equipment, in a way they hadn't dared to consider for some time."
AgQuip started at the Gunnedah Racecourse in 1973 is due to celebrate it's 50th birthday in 2022.
While it has never shifted from the third week in August, organisers have pulled out all the stops to ensure it goes ahead in a safe way.
ACM, the publisher of the Leader, has also announced AgQuip will return to its usual August dates in 2021.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
