Australia’s Largest Agricultural Field Days Cancelled
16/09/21
AgQuip field days will not go ahead in 2021, with organisers ACM Rural Events cancelling the major event due to the ongoing COVID-19 uncertainty.
The event had been due to take place in August, but was rescheduled to November this year.
The event organisers, in consultation with the NSW state government authorities and agencies, said at the time that the event would only proceed if it was safe to do so.
With extended lockdowns and restrictions in NSW and other states encountering snap lockdowns and restrictions, there is no certainty as the state works towards vaccination expectations under the NSW Roadmap to Freedom.
ACM Rural Events group manager Kate Nugent said while the cancellation was disappointing, the health and safety of rural communities remained their highest priority.
“It is with a great sense of loss, disruption and disappointment to cancel for the second year (in 2021 and 2022), particularly when the Australian agricultural industry is experiencing a boom year and a beacon for our Australian economy,” Ms Nugent said.
“It is the most responsible decision to cancel as early as we could to give everyone certainty and minimise the impacts where possible.
“The health and safety of our primary industry, rural and regional communities is paramount, which is why we’re encouraging everyone to get vaccinated so we can get back to enjoying COVID-safe events again.”
Ms Nugent said they were now looking toward plans for the event in 2022.
“There is no complacency under COVID, there is financial pressure, there is emotional pressure, there is a feeling of fracture,” she said.
“With hundreds of millions of dollars lost to industry and rural and regional communities across the nation, again – it’s a burden of responsibility and then there is the time to react - to be resilient, to reimagine, to rebuild and realise the new reality.”
The AgQuip Field Days will shine in 2022 from August 16 to 18 when it commences its celebration of its 50th year in the meeting place of rural Australia, Gunnedah, NSW.
Building off AgQuip’s strong history of success, ACM Rural Events will be introducing a spin-off event.
The inaugural AgSmart Australia event will take place in March 2022 and will be the first national commercial agtech and innovation exposition. It will be staged in a multi-purpose indoor venue in Tamworth, NSW.
“As we work together to contain the current outbreak and get our communities vaccinated, we can all look forward to the return of major events like AgQuip and new events like AgSmart that bring us together in celebration of the Australian agricultural industry and community,” Ms Nugent said.
For updates on the event, visit acmruralevents.com.au/agquip/home