Farm events rescheduled due to coronavirus
© Tim Scrivener Farming events and shows are being rescheduled and reviewed as industry organisations take action to mitigate the impact of coronavirus.
One of the first announcements came from the NFU which postponed a mass rally for UK agriculture planned for central London on 25 March. The rally will now take place at a later date, to be decided.
The UK government has urged people to avoid gatherings, crowded places and unessential journeys as part of its social distancing guidelines.
See also: All the latest on coronavirus
Although it believes the risk of transmitting the disease at mass gatherings is low, it wants to keep emergency services freed up for dealing with the ongoing health crisis.
Here are some major events that have either been cancelled, postponed or under review:
Events affected by coronavirus situation |
| Events listed alphabetically |
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12 of Northern Ireland’s local agricultural shows have been cancelled for 2020: Killyleagh, Ballymoney, Lurgan, Armagh, Newry, Ballymena, Omagh, Castlewellan, Londonderry/Limavady¸ Antrim, Clogher Valley and Fermanagh. |
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AgriScot 2020 due to be held on Wednesday 18 November, now cancelled. |
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Arable Scotland 2020, 2 July cancelled. The organisation is looking to deliver an online version of the event. |
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British Cattle Breeders Club Conference 2021 will be held online as a virtual E-conference on 26 January 2021. |
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Cereals Event, 10-11 June: Physical event postponed to June 2021 but holding online demonstration videos, seminar sessions and expert advice on 10-11 June 2020. |
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Common Agriculture Conference, in Norfolk, 30 June – 11 July cancelled. |
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Dairy Show, due to be held on 7 October 2020, now cancelled |
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Devon County Show, postponed until 28-30 August. |
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Dorset County Show & Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show will combine to provide an online virtual farming series Farming @ Home via their social channels from 6 July 2020. |
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Dorset County Show due to be held on 5-6 September 2020 now cancelled. |
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East of England Farming Conference cancelled for 2020 and aims to hold a conference on 11 November 2021. |
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Egg and Poultry Industry Conference due to be held on 1-2 November 2020, now cancelled. |
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Great Yorkshire Show, 14-16 July cancelled. |
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International Forum of Agricultural Robotics (Fira), 8-10 December 2020. |
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Kent County Show, 10-12 July cancelled. |
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Mass rally for UK agriculture, organised by the NFU and planned for central London on 25 March. Postponed until a later date. |
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Northumberland County Show, 25 May cancelled. |
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NSA ScotSheep Event 2020, due to take place on 3 June, has been postponed with a new date yet to be confirmed. |
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NSA Sheep Event – was postponed to October 2020, now cancelled. |
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Open Farm Sunday face-to-face events in 2020 cancelled. In place will be online events in June and September, the next face-to-face event will be Sunday 13 June 2021. |
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Oxford Farming Conference, 7 Jan 2021. |
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Royal Norfolk Show, 1-2 July cancelled. |
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Royal Ulster Agricultural Society 2020 Winter Fair cancelled. Rescheduled for Thursday 9 December 2021. |
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Royal Welsh Grassland Event, 7 May cancelled. |
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Royal Welsh Show, 20-23 July cancelled. |
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Scottish Game Fair, due to take place 3-5 July is postponed to 2-4 October. |
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Sima 2021 cancelled, now rescheduled for 6-10 November 2022. |
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Smallholding and Countryside Festival, 16-17 May cancelled. |
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South of England Agricultural Society Spring Live!, 2-3 May cancelled. |
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South of England Show, Thursday 11-13 June cancelled. |
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The Balmoral Show, 18-22 August cancelled. |
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The Game Fair 2020, postponed until 18-20 September 2020. |
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The National Beef Association’s Beef Expo, due to take place in Darlington on 28 May 2020 cancelled. Next event will be Darlington Farmers Market on Saturday 22 May 2021. |
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The National Sheep Association (NSA) Wales and Border Ram Sales due to take place in September 2020 now cancelled. |
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The Royal Bath and West Show, revised dates 31 July – 2 August but now cancelled until 2021. |
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The Royal Cornwall Show, postponed until 10-12 September. |
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The Royal Highland Show, 18-21 June cancelled. |
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The Sussex Food and Drink Awards, Brighton, will now take place on 1 July rather than 29 April. |
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Tillage-Live – due to be held on 23 September 2020, now cancelled. |
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UK Dairy Day, due to take place in Telford on Wednesday 16 September 2020, will now take place on Wednesday 15 September 2021. |