The Norfolk Show was a resounding success despite the weather forecasters. Heavy rain during the weekend setting up was soon forgotten as it stayed mainly fine and attendance was estimated at around 95,000 over the two days.
As at many other shows this year there were near record entries of almost all classes of livestock and in spite of the torrential rain in some other area's of the country that caused a few unavoidable no-shows competition was strong among quality entries.
Perhaps this was a reflection of what Norfolk accountants, Lovewell Blake and Land Agents and consultants Cheffins described in a report released at the show as the increased "sex appeal" affecting farming in recent months. Higher prices for cereals in particular have certainly improved the mood of the arable sector of the industry and there was a buzz among the farm machinery stands. My own view on livestock exhibitors, however, is that they are proud of their stock and just love showing. In other words it is an absorbing hobby for many, whether they are making money or not. That's why farming is different from other industries and long may that continue.
The news that the new Secretary of State at DEFRA is Hilary Benn came too late to be discussed at the Show. My first take on the appointment is that, like most of his recent predecessors, he will have a steep learning curve to understand our industry and I would feel happier if there were more people in his office with real depth of knowledge of farming and the environment to speed the process. However, I was mildly encouraged that he was listed 8th in the Cabinet hierarchy whereas Margaret Beckett and other agriculture ministers before her were consistently near the bottom. Does this mean Gordon Brown thinks our industry is becoming more important or is it the environment part of the brief that has elevated the post? Time will tell.
One final comment from the Norfolk Show. The main caterers for official meals had been asked to ensure that all the food and wine was British and where possible from Norfolk. The small packets of butter came, I was told, from Kent, so not much cause for complaint there. But I was a little non-plussed to find typed on the foil wrapping "contains milk". Whatever next?