We’ve got one all-expenses-paid ticket to give away for the trek.
The tour, beginning on June 8 next year, will take in six nations beginning in Germany before heading southeast through Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
As well as taking in some of the great tourist sights participants will visit farming operations and be able to talk to farmers, industry leaders and government and trade officials about the primary industries in that part of the world.
In Germany the group will hear from the New Zealand ambassador and NZ Trade and Enterprise about the state of trade in Europe and how NZ fits into that changing landscape.
Poland is an emerging dairy producer though farm sizes are still very small compared to NZ.
Trekkers will hear about state of the primary industries there and visit a number of farms and an agri-tourism facility.
Arable farmers will be interested in the Czech Republic where corn, wheat and barley fields dominate.
Hungary is home to the largest natural grassland in central Europe and they also run Merinos there so a stop at a farm will inform the group on how they grow fine wool in the northern hemisphere.
As well as learning from European farmers the Global Trek group can no doubt educate their northern farming counterparts with what they know about farming without subsidies.
European farmers face changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) system that will influence how they manage their land and stock.
In Hungary, for example, innovation and development is mainly funded through subsidies while for the sheep farming sector the CAP is a lifeline.
With the CAP period ending on 2020 there are economic uncertainties in the pirmary industries there.
But while farming is a feature of the trek, sightseeing and shopping will also play a big part in the tour from day to day.
C R McPhail managing director Ron McPhail said the trek will offer a unique experience for farmers.
“We’re excited to partner with Farmers Weekly on this Global Trek,” he said.
“The trek is more than a holiday, it’s a working tour that will expose farmers to the primary industries in Europe’s heartland. I’m sure the group will come back with new ideas to try out on farm and a greater understanding about where we sit in the farming world.”
Watch for details on how to enter to enter the competition to win an all-expenses-paid spot on the Global Trek in Farmers Weekly in coming weeks.
