The show attracted more than 300 trade stands and over 6,000 visitors, and there were record numbers of livestock in the show rings.
Visitors to the NFU stand included lead commissioner for the farm assurance review David Llewellyn, and agricultural supply chain adjudicator Richard Thompson. Sarah Dyke, Lib Dem MP for Glastonbury and Somerton and members of the Avon & Somerset Police rural crime team also called in.
Dent in confidence
NFU South regional director Mel Squires said: “Over the past 12 months, we have experienced devastating flooding, high production costs and low market returns, set against a backdrop of reduced farm support and as we transition to a new domestic agriculture policy and associated farm support - all of that has put a huge dent in the confidence of dairy producers.
“Therefore, our immediate priority is to secure investment through government delivering a renewed and enhanced multi-annual agriculture budget of £5.6 billion and urging Defra to rollover their reported underspend, which is money to deliver policy to benefit food production and the environment.
Long-term sustainability
“This, alongside fairer market returns, would build confidence, offer dairy farmers long-term sustainability and benefit the regional economy and our communities.”
“Our immediate priority is to secure investment through government.”
NFU South regional director Melanie Squires
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South dairy board chair Ian Harvey is interviewed
South diary board chair Ian Harvey added: “Our farms have faced many challenges over the past year, and we will continue to do all we can to ensure that these family businesses are supported and feel confident moving forward.”
Both Mel and Ian were interviewed by local media at the show.
At the annual dinner the night before the show, the Dairy Industry Award was presented to John Clothier, who retired as chairman of Wyke Farms in 2020 after 70 years on the farm, in recognition of his many years of service to dairying.
Promoting British dairy
The event came in the same week that the UK Dairy Export Programme brought around 40 international buyers, from 19 different countries to the UK to promote British dairy products and expand our export markets.
The group saw UK dairy at its finest and two days of site visits included cheddar cheese makers in Somerset, as they heard about the diverse range of commodities the UK produces.