Last week I spent a few days giving Opposition Leader John Key a close look at farming in the South.

The trip included time at Waimumu Field Days, a public meeting at Tuturau to help raise money for the new roof on the hall and a woolshed social event in the Tokanui Fortrose area. 

I played a game for the Tokanui Golden Oldies team when they came to a tournament in Wellington two years ago. During the after match a deal was done to get the Leader of the Opposition down for a quiet drink in a woolshed.

A large crowd showed up and the Aucklander showed he is just as much at home in Tokanui as he is in wellington. It was an enjoyable night. They've had a good year on the coast with a bit more sunshine

The most important bit of the trip was a briefing on the Alliance proposals for the meat industry. Farmers know something has to change and at the Field Days the message was clear; get on and do it. Farmers are more interested in change now they have been for years and signs of coordinated change are better than no direction at all.

Sheep farmers' cheque books are closed but the industry keeps innovating judging by the variety of products and services on sale at the field days. Even a drought, low prices, a high dollar, and high interest rates haven't completely killed confidence.