Dairy Event and Livestock Show 2010

Exhibitors continue to roll in to Dairy Event and Livestock Show

nick everington — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:53:00 GMT

We are continuing to receive a great response from exhibitors to the Dairy Event and Livestock Show to be staged at its new venue, the NEC, Birmingham on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 September. We’ve acknowledged almost 400 confirmed bookings from exhibitors, and approximately 25% of those have booked additional stand space compared with last year. We’ve just signed off the event’s official flyer with a print run of 100,000 and copies will be available before the end of the month. Apart from listing what to see and do in the new colour zoned sections, this year’s flyer contains details of trains and flights to help you plan your journey. In fact it’s not too early this month to start planning your trip to the NEC. Tickets are available on line see www.dairyevent.co.uk and it usually makes financial sense to book a low cost flight or train ticket well in advance. RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington

Dairy Event and Livestock Show attracts record exhibitor bookings

nick everington — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:07:00 GMT

The Dairy Event and Livestock Show has attracted a record number of exhibitor bookings and area of stand space to date for its new location, the NEC, Birmingham on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 September. More than 300 exhibitors have confirmed bookings since the stand space schedule was posted out four weeks ago, a figure up 62% on the same period last year. Of those 300 plus exhibitors, 30% have booked additional stand space compared with previous years leaving less than 25% of the exhibition hall space still available.

We are pleased to receive such a high level of support from regular exhibitors along with those making a first time booking including from as far afield as Finland, India and New Zealand. Not only does it reflect their endorsement for our relocation to the modern purpose built exhibition facilities of the NEC, which are readily accessed by road, rail and air, but also the fact that profits from the event are returned to RABDF to help lobby on behalf of British dairy farmers.

RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington

The Dairy Event and Livestock Show 2010

nick everington — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:19:00 GMT

Relocating the Dairy Event and Livestock Show to the NEC, Birmingham on 7 and 8 September is an exciting challenge for our small but extremely focused event team. Richard Evans and myself, assisted by Tris Worrall, Wendy Griffin, Sylvie Fry and Tom Rabbetts, are working full time to ensure the event continues to build on its previous format offering comprehensive technical, business and financial information for the entire UK ruminant sector, and provide a one-stop shop for livestock farmers. A couple of weeks ago, Caroline Hadley joined us to manage the event’s livestock section. One of her first tasks will be to organise the infrastructure for the new Livestock Hall including the milking facility, wash down and clipping areas, as well as providing stalling for up to 240 cows. She will be sorting accommodation as well as providing catering facilities for stockmen so they will all have access to facilities throughout their stay at the event. Staging four exhibitor awareness day sessions at the NEC at the turn of the year proved a huge success. More than 300 people took up the invitation to tour the exhibition halls and find out more about the facilities and layout plans, including costs for both inside and outside stand space, together with build up and breakdown times. Since then, we’ve been receiving an increasing number of calls from businesses and organisations planning to exhibit and keen to find out more about the new venue. Our plans are gaining momentum: a few days ago we posted stand space schedules to exhibitors and prospects and we are urging all recipients to return their application within four weeks of arrival – by the end of April, to ensure priority stand allocation. RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington

Buzzing with success......

nick everington — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:47:00 GMT

If you attended the Dairy Event and Livestock Show, then you’ll appreciate the real buzz about the place and from our point of view, we certainly did continue to build on our previous successful events. Visitor numbers increased by 12% on last year, with attendance up 18% on Thursday, the second day, despite the number of dairy producers declining by more than 3% in the last 12 months.

The event attracted more than 460 exhibitors with many booking larger floor space, while the cattle stalls were booked out with 240 places reserved. Farm Health Planning and mixer wagons were among the most popular practical working demonstrations, while the soil surgery continued to attract strong interest from all livestock farmers.

Overall, we were thoroughly pleased by the industry’s response with many companies across a wide product range, reporting good size orders placed and quality enquiries received, confirming our belief that the Dairy Event and Livestock Show is the premier business to business event for the ruminant sector.

Despite operating in a contracting market, visitor numbers increased, particularly on the second day, which provided more quality time for farmers and exhibitors to talk and actually complete their negotiations.

Moving to the NEC in 2010 will allow this specialist event, to be staged on 7 and 8 September, to continue its expansion, and with vastly improved facilities and logistics will attract a larger farmer audience from not only UK and Ireland but also overseas countries.

Tractor Ride and Drive

nick everington — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:06:00 GMT

Would you like to test drive some of the leading makes of livestock tractor? Well here’s your chance at the event.

RABDF has organised the new Tractor Ride and Drive feature where manufacturers will first give a live commentary and demonstration of the key features and benefits of their models, followed by the opportunity for farmers over 18 years of age to test for themselves how well these machines perform before deciding which model to purchase. The tractors on test: the John Deere 5100R with 583 front loader and bucket, and the New Holland T600LS Loader Tractor. Where to find us: the Grand Ring, Stoneleigh Park.

Free visit to the event for NE and Yorkshire dairy farmers

nick everington — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:58:00 GMT

North east and Yorkshire dairy farmers can still benefit from an all expenses paid visit to event thanks to funding from Landskills North East and Landskills Yorkshire and Humber. All dairy farmers living in Northumberland, Durham, Tyneside, Wearside, and Teeside are eligible to apply along with those in North, West and South Yorkshire and Humber. Landskills North East and Landskills Yorkshire and Humber have recognised the value of the Dairy Event and Livestock Show as a source of information for dairy farmers to keep up to date with husbandry and management skills from more than 450 exhibitors covering every aspect of the livestock business. Consequently they’ve agreed to offer grant funding to dairy producers in both the North East and Yorkshire Forward regions who have arranged relief staff in order to attend. The offer covers two tickets for entrance to the event and return mileage at 25p per mile. In addition, for those wishing to attend two days, you will be entitled to a contribution of up to £100 for overnight accommodation and a further two tickets. To take advantage of the offer, you should ideally buy two tickets on line www.dairyevent.co.uk by the evening of Sunday 6 September, mentioning participation in the Landskills North East or Landskills Yorkshire and Humber scheme. If you miss the deadline, then email tomrabbetts@rabdf.co.uk to register your contact details, buy tickets at the event gate and then visit the RABDF stand in the Cattle Centre to apply for a refund. For more information please call us on 0845 458 2711.

Build up to the event

nick everington — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

With less than two weeks to go to the event, there’s plenty of evidence we’re on count down. At Stoneleigh Park, the team has started building the mixer wagon demonstration site. The temporary clamps are being prepared for the grass silage, EDF Mann Intermol will be erecting the tank and supplying the molasses and KW Agriculture will be bringing in a selection of straights, and next week sees the high level gantry being constructed enabling visitors to view the mixing operation.Our John Deere sponsored demonstrations will be the biggest in the UK this year with seven different makes representing all the main types of mixer wagon currently available including paddle, auger and tub designs. Each will demonstrate twice, in rotation, on both days. Visitors will be able to compare ease of loading, mixing and feed out of two different total mixed rations, one in the mornings based on clamp silage for dairy cows and the other in the afternoons for beef finishing cattle using big bales.We’ll also be featuring the battery operated Lely Juno feed pusher. This new piece of kit will be making its debut around and about the demonstration area, pushing silage back to the clamp face and keeping the area tidy.

Cattle stalls booked out with 240 entries

nick everington — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:56:00 GMT

We’ve just finalised the entries for the competitive cattle classes and I have to say exhibitor interest and enthusiasm is outstanding. Entries have poured in to Dairy House in the last few weeks, and in total we’ve received more than 240 which means we’re booked out. Six breeds of cattle will be competing for prestigious silverware and attractive prize money on, thanks to cattle sponsor, Merial Animal Health through its Eprinex brand which has put up £1,000 for the HSBC supreme championship. Judging on inspection only format, will take place throughout Wednesday in Cattle Shed 13, culminating with the supreme champion in the afternoon. John Garnett of Milnthorpe, Cumbria will judge the Holstein section, while Willie Bell, of Wigton, Cumbria will do the honours in the British Friesian ring; George Templeton, Cumnock, Ayrshire will judge the Ayrshires; Matt Hayward, Newark, Nottinghamshire, the Dairy Shorthorns; Philip Oliver, Stocksfield, Northumberland the Brown Swiss and David Gray, East Kilbride, Glasgow the Jerseys. On Thursday, we’ll also be hosting the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs’ National Stockman and Young Stock Judge of the Year competitions. The day culminates in the judging ring at 3pm when the awards will be presented by RABDF president, Baroness Hazel Byford.

Phones are red hot

nick everington — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:59:00 GMT

Pre-event action in Dairy House is fast gaining momentum. Exhibitors have been calling in for our new flyers to help promote the event and last week we mailed out more than 110,000 copies.

The phones are red hot and this year we’ve had a noticeably growing number of calls from internationals – both exhibitors and visitors.

The competitive cattle class schedules are out, and entry forms are starting to pour in. Once exhibitors are back home from the main summer show circuit this month we expect them to put heads down and decide exactly who they’re going to bring to Stoneleigh Park.

Come to the Farming Womens' Workshops

nick everington — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:57:00 GMT

With less than two months to go, our new features for this year’s event are coming together.

This year we’re encouraging farmers to bring along their wives or lifelong partners who we are well aware play a significant role in managing the business. We’re launching Farming Womens’ Workshops, a series of seminars specifically designed for women and delivered, sponsored and supported by women – the Womens’ Farmers Union and the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries.

These seminars will offer answers to some of the hard core issues farming women have to manage including employment law, succession, negotiating skills and business implications for diversification enterprises.

Our new Tractor Ride and Drive will feature some of the latest models from leading manufactures designed for livestock farmers. You’ll able to these new pieces of kit through their paces in the main ring at Stoneleigh Park and hopefully when it comes to that big investment you’ll have more of an idea which make to opt for.

Exhibitor interest in attending the Dairy Event and Livestock Show is hot

nick everington — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:59:00 GMT

A number of larger companies want to up their presence at the event and have asked to extend their stand space this year. On the other hand, we’re continuing to receive enquiries from first time exhibitors on a weekly basis. We sold our last piece of undercover space a month ago and to be honest, it’s become a bit of a challenge fitting everyone in. However, we’re a ‘can do’ team, and we’ll find a solution.

New award for innovative products

nick everington — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:45:00 GMT

We’ve just launched a new award for all our machinery and equipment exhibitors at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show.

Called the RABDF Livestock Machinery and Equipment Award, it’s designed to recognise the economic importance of their products to the livestock farming sector.

The judges will take into account each entry’s innovation, its economic advantages to the farmer, running costs including replacement parts and prices, servicing requirements, safety features, energy usage, potential market and list price.

Short listed entries will be judged at the event on Wednesday 16 September and the results will be announced at the close of the same day. The winner will be presented with a silver trophy, while the remaining finalists will receive certificates.

The closing date for entries is 24 July. If you’d like further information and entry forms contact then please email Wendy Griffin.

Four months to go....

nick everington — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:38:00 GMT

Four months ahead of the event and I’m pleased to write we’ve booked in more than 350 exhibitors and we’re receiving new enquiries on a daily basis.

Our small team at Dairy House is busy working on an array of activities specifically dedicated to beef, sheep and commercial goat producers, together with those farming commercial native breeds, and we’ll let you know more as soon as they’re firmed up.

We’re also planning some new activities. Farmers considering investing in a new tractor will be able to make a more informed decision by visiting the new ride and drive track where they’ll have the opportunity to put a range of leading makes through their paces.

We will also be staging for the first time a series of Women’s Workshops featuring topics and issues which tend to be managed by livestock farmers’ busy wives and partners such as grant applications, employment law and succession planning.

RABDF is confident that this year’s event is going to continue to attract more dairy farmers and herd managers, particularly those who don’t regularly attend, together with all beef, sheep and goat farmers who would benefit from meeting exhibitors relevant to their business. We’re also encouraging farmers to bring along their wives or partners who play a significant role in running their business and the two days also allows herd managers and stock people to attend.

It’s not too early to book your tickets – log on to the Dairy Event website for details.

Welcome to the Dairy Event and Livestock Show Blog

Isabel Davies — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:29:00 GMT

Welcome to the Dairy Event and Livestock Show Blog which will be used by the organisers to give you updates on this key event in the farming calendar. It takes place on 16 and 17 Spetember 2009 and promises to be a one-stop shop for all livestock farmers. See you there!