Mixed prospects for agriculture shows during 2021
© Tim Scrivener For many farming families, the agricultural show season is the highlight of the year.
The opportunity to leave the farm and attend shows to network, make new friends and do business is just the tonic after months of hard work in winter and spring.
Coronavirus wiped out last year’s shows calendar, causing millions of pounds worth of losses to the rural economy.
It hit everything from larger shows to smaller, one-day events which bring rural communities together.
Hundreds of shows up and down the country were forced to cancel as the virus let rip, starving farming communities of annual chances to meet acquaintances, denying traders a vital market and rural charities of fundraising activities.
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Virtual agricultural shows went some way to filling the void left by the mass cancellations.
But they struggled to replace the buzz of live outdoor shows.
Seven million visitors
About seven million people attend agricultural and county shows across the UK every year, and numbers were growing before the pandemic, said to the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), the voice of the British agricultural show industry.
In 2019, agricultural shows generated £128.6m of income, ASAO figures show.
But the mass cancellation of physical shows last year led to a £36.5m loss, while the impact on the wider economy was an estimated loss of £810m.
In 2019, shows donated £14.5m to charity, but this figure dropped by 58% last year.
ASAO secretary Paul Hooper said the show sector was having difficulty gaining support from Defra, and a direct approach to the prime minister’s office is now under way.
The number of people being made redundant by organisations that were continually debating what was best to do for their society, organisation and the industry, was of deep concern, he added.
Shows cancelled
Some agriculture show organisers have already announced cancellations of their 2021 events.
These include: The Suffolk Show, the Royal Berkshire Show, the Fife Show, the Monmouthshire Show and the British Pig & Poultry Fair (see below).
Off: British Pig & Poultry Fair, May 2021
One early casualty of Covid restrictions is the British Pig & Poultry Fair, which won’t return to Stoneleigh until 10-11 May 2022.
“Putting on an event of this size this is hugely time consuming and the costs start clocking up quickly,” said Alice Bell, head of technical events at Grandstand Stoneleigh Events.
She admitted it was a “torrid time” for all event organisers, in particular large-scale indoor events.
The Royal Agricultural Society of England, which runs the event, said it simply could not risk the cancellation of another fair.
The viability of taking the event online in May is now being considered.
Many said they could not run the financial risk and continue show preparations while uncertainty about Covid-19 remains pervasive.
Organisers of other shows are waiting to discover what impact the UK’s government mass vaccination programme will have on life later in the year – and many remain hopeful that outdoor events in particular may still go ahead. For these, the situation looks more promising.
Some of the big names, including Cereals, the Royal Highland Show and Grassland UK, intend to return to their showgrounds in 2021.
Grassland UK will be held on 6 May, at the Bath & West Showground, as the site offers easier access and better facilities for helping visitors to stay Covid secure than its usual on-farm format, said Alan Lyons, head of shows at the Royal Bath & West Society.
“Being outdoors, we are confident that we will be able to operate within government guidelines, enabling farmers to finally attend a physical event after more than a year of restrictions,” he said.
“Being located on the main show site means the event will be far easier to navigate, with trial plots in the centre and trade stands around the entire circular route.”
Cereals 2021 will open its doors to physical visitors in Lincolnshire this June (see below).
Still on – Cereals, June 2021
Cereals 2021 is on target to open its doors to physical visitors in Lincolnshire on 9 and 10 June.
The decision was taken following a series of meetings with farmers, exhibitors and health and safety advisers.
“All of our farmers and exhibitors are so keen to get back out into the field and meet people again,” said event director Alli McEntyre.
“We are, of course, following all of the latest health and safety advice so, although navigating the site might feel a little different, we are extremely positive about our ability to deliver a vibrant and biosecure outdoor event.”
Tickets will go on sale on 1 February. For more information visit cerealsevent.co.uk.
The decision was taken following a series of meetings with farmers, exhibitors and health and safety advisers.
Royal Highland prospects
Last year, the Royal Highland Show in Scotland launched a £2m funding appeal to try to plug a £6m gap in its finances after the show was cancelled.
But show numbers for Scotland’s flagship farming event could be restricted this year to 50% or 75% of the 195,400 visitors in 2019.
A decision will be made according to the Covid situation nearer the event date in June.
Alan Laidlaw, chief executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, said early-bird tickets released in December were sold out within days.
The general ticket release was brought forward to December and ticket sales remain steady, he added.
“Crowd management to allow for social distancing will no doubt be an important factor in delivering a safe show and we have years of experience and processes in place to manage the numbers attending each day to allow this to take place,” said Mr Laidlaw.
“Clearly, there will be logistical issues to factor in, however, we have a large site and with reduced numbers we are confident that this can be achieved.”
The organisers of Wales’ premier show, the Royal Welsh Show, were asked about their plans for the 2021 but have not responded.
Covid-19 vaccination is currently taking place by appointment only at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, Powys.
Abi Reader, a third-generation dairy farmer based in Glamorganshire and NFU Cymru Dairy Board chairman, told Farmers Weekly she really hoped the show would go ahead.
“I really could do with going to a show. Every day is the same at the moment,” she said.
“The Royal Welsh Show is just a really relaxing and social time.
“It would be nice to meet people randomly I have not seen for some time.”
Going ahead: Open Farm Sunday 2021
Organisers of the annual Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf) Open Farm Sunday (OFS) event have plans in place for both physical and digital events this year.
The date for the on-farm Leaf OFS event – the farming industry’s annual open day – has been set for 13 June 2021.
While awaiting clarity on Covid regulations on public gatherings and events, farmers are being encouraged to start thinking about how they can host visitors on-farm in June, which will be the 15th anniversary of OFS.
Following the success of last year’s online events, two “virtual” farm open days will take place this spring and autumn, alongside a programme of monthly live broadcasts running throughout the year.
Keep track of news updates on OFS at farmsunday.org.
- Additional reporting by Debbie James