The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60

YAMS 2019 27 • DEC/JAN 2019 YAMS hits a glorious sixth in February THERE is an atmosphere about YAMS – the Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show – that is somewhat different to any other large scale machinery event and in its first five years has continually set new records for trade stand numbers and visitor attendance. ‘Whatever we do it just keeps growing,’ says YAMS founder and organiser Richard Tasker of York Auction Centre where the show will take place once again for the sixth year at Murton near York on Wednesday 6 February. ‘There is most definitely an appe- tite for the show that seems unabated and there is a feeling among many who have taken stands over the first five years that it could be extended to two days.’ ‘Regardless of whether that happens or not, and we will continue monitoring response to the suggestion at this year’s YAMS, we are delighted with the way in which the show has become an integral part of Yorkshire and the North of England’s show scene.’ ‘For our stand holders it provides an ideal and cost effective way of reaching and meeting more farmers than company rep- resentatives could visit in a day and in fact that’s one of the main drivers behind them wanting a second day as some have said they cannot get to talk to everyone who comes on to their stand in just one day.’ Yorkshire has a proud history of major agricultural dealerships based in the county running their own machinery shows around the same time of year, but such is the pas- sion for farm equipment across the county encompassing all sectors from combinable cropping to roots crops, livestock opera- tions and estate woodlands and forestry that YAMS has added substantially to the machinery show season. ‘We have a fantastic line-up including every single one of our leading farm ma- chinery dealerships with the likes of Rus- sells, Ripon Farm Services, Scrutons, Claas Eastern, Farmstar, Brian Robinson Machinery and Peacock & Binnington all not just taking stands but using YAMS often as their main launch pad for major model launches.’ The county is also the base for a myriad of manufacturers with nationally recog- nised companies such as Graham Edwards Trailers, but YAMS is already much more than purely about Yorkshire companies and Yorkshire farmers. ‘Coach parties come from right over on the east coast of Yorkshire in Holderness and as far north as Cumbria, Northumber- land and the border counties of Scotland,’ says Richard. ‘The 2018 show attendance was way in excess of anything we had achieved in the first four years with over 12,000 here at Murton and with over 200 trade stands. We had already received nearly 50 new requests for trade stand packs for 2019 by November and we are confident this year’s trade stands will num- ber at least 220.’ Logistics inevitably come into play as an event grows in the way YAMS has expanded and Richard is delighted with the way in which York has played its part. ‘We quickly exhaust our on-site car parking facilities on YAMS Day and we have several other fields available close by but the best option visitors have is in using the Grimston Bar Park & Ride facility just off the A64 and only a few minutes from YAMS. There is a regular shuttle bus service run to and from the show and the Park & Ride throughout the day making life much easier than hanging around trying to find a parking space. We’ve had this running for two years and everyone is now aware of just how easy it makes getting back on the road when you want to get home, as well as ease of getting in to the show.’ Seminar meetings with guest speakers made their debut at YAMS last year and Richard is in no doubt that the subject matter will be as high profile as it is possi- ble to be at YAMS in February. ‘We will be just weeks away from our official leaving date from Europe and Brexit with all its connotations is bound to be uppermost in most minds. Clearly none of us know what everything will entail at present but subjects such as the Agriculture Bill, subsidies without the Basic Payment Scheme, grant funding and envi- ronment land management will all be on the agenda. We hope to have some high ranking government officials from DEFRA on the platform.’ It all adds up to another record break- ing, informative, business and social event for the 6th YAMS to be held at York Auction Centre on Wednesday 6 February where entry is free and there are plenty of refreshments available.

The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60 | Page 27