It's called Gypsy Day but instead of brightly decorated horse drawn caravans, more stock trucks, furniture vans and herds of cows will be out on New Zealand's rural roads today.

Gypsy Day is the annual movement of dairy farmers, sharemilkers and farm workers between properties on the change-over date of June 1.

David and Kelly Fisher and their daughters Ashlyn, 7, and Yasmin, 10, are on the move on Gypsy Day today.

With more farming vehicles on the roads, Federated Farmers is asking motorists for patience on the roads.

'We'd like to ask motorists to be patient if they do encounter a herd on the road. Please do not use a car horn as that will spook stock.

'Farmers want to get the move done quickly so please follow their instructions,” says Ciarán Tully, Federated Farmers Sharemilkers' Section chairperson.

While Gypsy Day is officially June 1, many movements of animals, farm machinery and furniture are likely to happen throughout the coming weekend.

Ciarán says thousands of farm animals and hundreds of households will be on the move. 'Gypsy day is a fairly unique part of the Kiwi farming calendar.

'If you are a sharemilker taking up a new contract it means having all of your household possessions in a truck with your stock not far behind. It marks the end of the 2011/12 season and the start of 2012/13.

'In dairy areas stock trucks will be flat out. Some farmers may also be moving their stock on the road if a new property isn't far away.”

Federated Farmers has reminded farmers moving stock on roads to make sure they have permits from their council and plenty of staff on hand to help.

'One aspect of Gypsy Day we want to tidy up is effluent.

'Federated Farmers is advising our members to plan their move in some detail. It isn't a good look to leave roads covered in effluent when it can be minimised by planning ahead.”