Even cool winds were utilised at the field day, as renewable energies and the changing environment took centre stage as the feature of this year’s field days.

Feature director, Frank Harney, said more and more people were looking at alternative energy sources, like wind to power their homes, businesses and offset their own energy costs.

He said having a climate change feature topic was timely.

"Farming is getting harder and harder, and we need to start thinking outside the square," he said.

"This is a way for people to find out more about the potential benefits for farms and rural communities."

Mr Harney said wind power was a particular favourite with field day visitors, with a new wind turbine released at the field days by Australian company, Hush Wind Power, attracting plenty of interest.

Hush project engineer, Darren Bell, said the new turbine featured a unique shape of blades and was 20pc more efficient that regular blade wind systems.

"Renewable energies are creating a ground swell as people become concerned about sustainability," he said.

"Using alternative power sources are a way of drought-proofing a farm property."

Mr Bell said the new turbine developments resolved issues of noise, as it was virtually noiseless; unsightly landscape as they were smaller than normal; and enabled land underneath turbines to remain productive.

Alternative energies including solar power, biodiesel and carbon trading systems were also a feature of the Climate Change theme at the field days, which continues until Thursday.