The biggest agribusiness get together of its kind in the southern hemisphere, starts today.

National Fieldays at Hamilton's Mystery Creek, last year generated $430 million for the New Zealand economy.

CEO Peter Nation told Rachel Smalley over the last 48 years they have looked at challenges for the rural community.

"Last year we opened the careers and education hub, because the agricultural economy needed 50,000 more jobs by 2025. This year quite topical is health so we are opening the inaugural rural health hub this morning," he said.

With dairy, beef and lamb prices on the rise, spending is expected to rise this year as well.

Waikato Federated Farmers president Chris Lewis said signs point to higher spending and better business opportunities.

"Not all the sales happen on the field day week. A lot of the conversations carry on for the next few months, and the orders or check gets paid over the next few months. Yea I think it is going to be very positive leading right up to Christmas."

LISTEN ABOVE AS PETER NATION SPEAKS WITH RACHEL SMALLEY