The Farmers Mart Feb-Mar 2020 - Issue 67 | Page 36

36 LAMMA 2020 FEB/MAR 2020 • farmers-mart.co.uk LAMMA’S SELL-OUT SHOW A Commercial and Professional Success LAMMA’S return to the NEC in Birmingham at the beginning of January produced an even bigger and better show than the year before, resulting in an upbeat two days that have been widely praised by exhibitors and visitors alike. Fears among some exhibitors that last year’s runaway success had been partly fuelled by the novelty factor of an all-indoor event were quickly dispelled as visitors flooded through the gates on 7 and 8 January. Overall, numbers ended slightly up on the year before, topping 40,000, drawn by more than 700 exhibitors showing the latest farming machinery, equipment and innovative technology that catered for all farming sectors and all depths of pockets. LAMMA’s event manager Kate Walsh said: “We are delighted to report that we sold all the exhibition space this year, with 40 additional companies coming on board. All told, the stands covered over 56000sq m, the equivalent of eight football pitches. “The feedback we received from exhibitors and visitors suggested this LAMMA was the best they had attended and the most professional. “Overall, the mood was surprisingly positive, considering the tough time the industry has had recently and the uncertain outlook that has prevailed over recent years. A number of exhibitors reported very positive conversations and leads with plenty of key on-farm decision makers. “Many visitors were here to keep a close eye on the latest developments so they will be able to make the right decisions and make the most of more favourable times when they return. Others were looking to tweak systems to optimise margins and make their busi- nesses more resilient in the face of economic, political and physical pressures. “We were delighted to receive such positive support from exhibitors old and new, and from visitors across the two days. I would like to thank all of them for helping to make the event such an outstanding success, and we can’t wait to take the event forward again next year.” Many exhibitors, large and small, used the event to launch new and updated tractors, combines, arable and grassland kit, and there was a wide range of products, services and tools on show. Innovation was evident right across the event this year, not only in the latest machinery. LAMMA is gaining a reputation a place to exhibit cutting edge technology, including precision farming hardware and software, and agronomy and livestock management systems. The event also hosted the well-established Innovation Awards, which recognises and rewards companies pushing new boundaries. This year also saw the launch of the well- attended Farming 4.0 zone, which hosted a wide range of companies involved in the development of key tech- nological advances and their successful implementation and uptake. Exhibitor and visitor feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Louise Hemmings from JCB said: “The show has been brilliant, superseding even last year. The stand has been heaving both days. There has been lots of interest in the machinery and we’ve taken lots of positive leads.” Martin Holden of grassland machinery specialist SIP said: