| Yorkshire Show
Farming to the fore at Great Yorkshire Show
First class farming is synonymous with the Great Yorkshire Show and next month’s event will be no exception with
thousands of animals, the latest in high tech agricultural machinery and rurally related seminars to interest and inform.
And there are discounted rates for farmers if tickets are booked in advance.*
ates for England’s premier
agricultural event are Tuesday
12 – Thursday 14 July when
over 130,000 visitors are
expected to come through the
gates of the showground on
the edge of the spa town of Harrogate. For one
person in particular it will be a particularly
special three days; for Charles Mills it will be his
first as Show Director. A farmer from near York,
Charles is no stranger to the event having been
joint chief cattle steward for a number of years
and as a member of several committees for the
event organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural
Society.
Said Charles: “Agriculture is firmly at the
heart of the Great Yorkshire Show, and we are
delighted to showcase the best of British
farming, both for livestock and arable farmers.
We are a shop window across the industry and
this year we are providing even more to interest
our core farming visitors. Each year thousands
attend, to show their animals, browse the many
stands assessing cutting edge equipment,
gathering the latest information on precision
agriculture and to meet up with fellow farmers
and friends.”
For the first time a live Lely Robotic Milking
Demonstration will take place at the event – the
first to feature at a British agricultural show. The
demonstrations will be a significant feature with
a purpose built dairy unit constructed close to
the cattle lines. An important part is being
played by Yorkshire farmers, brother and sister,
Edward and Victoria Goodall who are bringing
D
36 | Farming Monthly | June 2016
40 Holstein cows from their farm near Leeds to
be milked at the event.
The Lely Astronaut robotic milking system
recognises each cow giving them access to the
robot 24/7 so they are milked when they
choose. Over 200 pieces of data are taken each
time with important data recorded on the T4C
(time for cows) management programme which
is then presented in a dashboard format
enabling the farmer to supply each cow with all
her needs for optimal health, milk production
and well-being. Over the three show days
presentations will be given by Lely staff.
More than 8,000 animals will be competing
for the top awards, including around 1,000
cattle, more than 2,000 sheep and some 400
pigs. In the cattle section the Blythewood
awards for beef and dairy animals are one of
the event’s highlights, particularly as the Grand
Parade of Cattle in the Main Ring is the
stunning backdrop to the judging. In addition,
this year the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society is
holding its Summer National Show at
Harrogate.
Precision Agriculture is the overarching
theme of an extensive range of seminars held
each day which showcase agriculture and
innovation. Talks range from the experiences of
a Nuffield scholar to looking at the future of
farming without pesticides to the issues and
latest developments regarding anaerobic
digestion. Places for the seminars are limited
and should be booked in advance.
Innovation in farming will be particularly
recognised through the Society’s White Rose
What’s Next Award. This will be given to the
product, implement, device or service that is
judged to bring a significant improvement to
the Yorkshire rural community or Yorkshire
farmers.
Linking farmers with their customers is an
important element of the Great Yorkshire Show
which provides a platform for the two to
engage. This will be particularly evident in the
showground’s new £11.5m exhibition hall
which opens this month (June). At the Great
Yorkshire Show the hall will become an
amazing food emporium featuring the popular
Great Yorkshire Cheese and Dairy Show, a
Food Theatre, an extensive range of stands and
the Journey of Food exhibition.
“Agriculture is firmly at the heart of the
Great Yorkshire Show, and we are delighted
to showcase the best of British farming,
both for livestock and arable farmers”
Elsewhere around the showground there will
be much to see and do including
demonstrations of rural skills such as sheep
shearing and drystone walling, a busy Country
Pursuits Area, the latest in forestry techniques
and equipment in the Forestry Area and much
much more.
For the latest information including booking
tickets see www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk