Royal Show bites the bullet and makes a return to farming roots
By Andrew Watts
THE ROYAL Show is to be relaunched as an event dedicated to farming after research revealed the general public contributed very little to the success of the show.
Research carried out by the new show organisers, Haymarket Land Events, revealed that only 50% of showgoers were farmers and their families. But, the research showed, that they contributed well over half of all spending at the show.
In light of this, the decision was taken to drop all non-agricultural related activities, cease advertising to the general public and bill the show as a centrepiece for promoting the very best of British agriculture.
“Somewhere along the line the show had to become one thing or the other, either consumer or agricultural, and we have decided to be an agricultural show,” said Dominique Loral, Haymarket”s managing director.
Instead, the show will offer an array of free forums and presentations discussing all of the hot topics from CAP reform in a WTO context by EU farm commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, the implications of changing legislation outlined by law firm Burges Salmon and drug manufacturer Merial Animal Health dissecting the implications of the forthcoming Animal Health and Welfare Act.
The events company has also promised better opportunities for farmers to meet suppliers, buyers, manufacturers and representative bodies in a range of different venues. But farmers should not expect to see the return of endless rows of new tractors and other new machinery, the organisers warned.
As Ms Loral explained, manufacturers prefer the technical events which provide a better platform for them to promote their wares.
Having invested heavily in a new main stand, a conference centre capable of seating 250 people and a comprehensive programme of speakers HLE is not expecting to make a quick return from the show.
“Some of the steps we are taking require fairly deep pockets. There is no other venue in this country that offers this range of speakers for free and therefore we have had to take a five-year view,” said Ms Loral.