THOUSANDS of Wimmera and Mallee farmers got up to speed with the latest equipment and technology at the Mallee Machinery Field Days on Wednesday.
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Visitors braved wet and windy condition to attend day one of the two-day event at Speed.
Field days committee president Terry Kiley said while crowd numbers were difficult to estimate, the first day was busier than usual.
"It looked like a huge crowd and the car park was full within the first two hours," he said.
"It's great to see that the interest in the field days is still there.
"The rain we had not long ago has given people confidence in the season."
Mr Kiley said crops in the region were looking good.
"There is not a lot of sub-soil moisture though," he said.
Exhbiitors brought a range of new equipment to the field days.
"A highlight is always the equipment and the increases in technology," Mr Kiley said.
"One new product is air-seeders with section control - I would love to see how they work."
Big machinery seemed to be a standout of this year's field days with both Claas Harvest Centre and Agrifac boasting some of the biggest sprayers on the market.
Claas sales representative Jake Olver said the centre's site had a 12,000 litre spray with a 36-metre boom spray.
"It is one of the biggest on the market at the moment and it won machine of the year at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days," he said.
Mr Olver said staff at the site had been busy with customers for most of the day.
"The crowd has been good, we had a very steady morning," he said.
"It's good to get out to the field days and about and talk to customers.
"The season is looking good, but everyone is hoping for some spring rain."
Mildura farmer Frank Poole said he came to field days each year,
"I used to be involved with running the site," he said.
"It's been good this year, cold, but good.
"I came to look at the general equipment, especially Massey Ferguson machinery.
"The machines have improved over the years - they have got bigger and shinier."
Site awards were given out at the event's official opening on Wednesday.
Belpard Australia won best small site, Casco Petroleum won best medium site and Sunrise Ag won best large site.
Best undercover site was won by JK Milling and best craft and interest site was won by Jamie's Fine Dressings, for the third year in a row.
Mr Kiley said overall the committee was extremely happy with the first day of this year's event.
"We are always looking for improvements though, so if anyone has any suggestions they should talk to the committee," he said.