Shows blow hits farming

Exhibitors are suffering because of cancelled shows

By BBC business reporter Karen Hoggan

The South of England showground at Ardingly in Sussex stands empty this weekend.

It should be playing host to the Spring Garden and Leisure Show, cancelled because of foot-and-mouth.

Beyond my wildest dreams I could never have expected a nightmare to happen like this

Anthony Lynn
PA supplier

The agricultural show calendar would have been starting in earnest this weekend - but the continuing crisis has put a stop to that.

The cancellation of the flagship South of England agricultural show, scheduled for June, is another blow.

The decision has cost the organisers - the South of England Agricultural Society - £450,000.

Exhibitors suffering

Carola Godman Law, chairman of the management committee, said: "It's obviously depressed a lot of people - not only the surrounding area, the farmers, the trade stand holders, the stall holders, the exhibitors.

"It is one of the most important events that happens in Sussex."

One of the exhibitors suffering because of the cancellation is Culverwells Farm Machinery, a supplier of tractors and other agricultural equipment.

In recent months it has been hit badly by floods then foot-and-mouth.

Shop window

Marketing manager Dave Gasson said the South of England Show was going to be a key part of the firm's recovery plan.

"We were going to, especially this year, use it as a shop window and tell everybody that we were open again.

We cannot support grants, scholarships, new initiatives in research because we've not got the finances

Paul Hooper
Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations

"It is a major disappointment for us not being at the South of England Show."

Around the UK there are normally 150 shows a year but 60 have already been cancelled including the Royal Highland Show in Scotland, the Royal Agricultural Show in Warwickshire and the Royal Bath and West Show at Shepton Mallet.

One of the few that is going ahead is this weekend's Classic Bike Show at the Royal Bath and West Showground.

Anthony Lynn has the contract to supply the public address system.

He is managing director of NSR Communications, which has lost £90,000 this year - a quarter of its turnover - as a result of shows being cancelled.

Industry wrecked

He does not pull his punches when describing the effect of cancelling so many agricultural shows.

"Beyond my wildest dreams I could never have expected a nightmare to happen like this. It has just wrecked the industry really.

"I can't think of anything that could equal this, other than going to war."

The cancellation of so many events also poses a longer term problem for the organisations behind the agricultural shows.

They are charities which pump money back into farming and that money comes from staging shows.

No finances

The Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations represents more than 200 organisers.

Secretary Paul Hooper said: "We cannot support grants, scholarships, new initiatives in research because we've not got the finances.

"Agriculture loses out in the long run because we are not keeping up with continual research, continual improvement into the industry."

Agricultural shows are big business - their problems have ramifications far beyond the farming industry.

The big worry is just how long it is going to take them to overcome their present difficulties.