Following NSW Health's strong recommendation to cancel the 2021 field days amid the growing COVID-19 concerns in NSW, ANFD chairman Sam Connell said with exhibitors expected to come from Greater Sydney, Queensland and Victoria there was little option but to look ahead to 2022.

The 2021 event would have been the ANFD's 70^th year, but it now marks the second year running the event has been forced into cancellation following similar circumstances in 2020.

Mr Connell said both the committee and board discussed many options for the event and was told it could operate under the four-square metre rule, if there were no stay-at-home orders in place.

"However, NSW Health has strongly recommended the event not go ahead in the current climate," Mr Connell said, with all of NSW in lockdown.

ANFD manager Jayne West said she was disappointed the event had been cancelled for the second year in a row.

She said an event of this size does not happen overnight, and ANFD organisers owe it to those contractors, suppliers and exhibitors committed to the event to give them notice.

"The organisation will take a huge financial hit along with local businesses in the Cabonne Council and Orange City Council Local Government Areas, but it is utmost that we look after the safety of our rural regions and community," Mrs West said.

"Snap lock downs could still be possible for the next few months and the staff and committee will look into the possibility of organising some smaller events early next.

"We now have an education, training and function centre on site, which gives us the opportunity to run a large variety of events."

Mrs West appealed to exhibitors to be patient as management makes contact for site refunds or the rollover of fees to the 2022 event.

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