Archive Article: 2002/07/26
A visit by the Princess Royal, near normal livestock entries, and a trade stand sell-out more than countered the impact of rain and long traffic queues on the Royal Welsh Show.
Visitors, 160,000 in the first three days, poured in, and so too did Welsh politicians. They found an industry depressed by years of low prices and the foot-and-mouth crisis. Every sector of farming delivered its own wish list and, with an assembly election less than a year away, all political parties were keen to show they were listening.
Inevitably the most discussed topics were the Anderson Report, the impact of the 20-day rule, low milk prices and CAP reform. Gloomy stuff, but at least news of the Farming First groups £1m investment in a meat processing plant in south Wales certainly lifted livestock farmers spirits.