Overseas visitors to flock to show Market round-up

Farming correspondent

Thursday 21 June 2012

THOSE attending the Royal Highland Show, which begins its four-day run today at Ingliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh today, will not fail to notice the large number of overseas visitors.

sprucing UP: Yesterday was a day of preparation for Royal Highland Show which starts today at Ingliston. Picture: Steve Cox

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ROG WOOD

Apart from 225 international delegates from 14 different countries, who are in the UK for the World Charolais Cattle Congress, there will be more than 800 other overseas visitors from 56 different countries signing in at the International Visitors' Pavilion.

Most cattle breeders will be keeping a watchful eye out for the party of 27 Brazilian farmers and ranchers who will visit the cattle lines and are interested in Scottish genetics. They farm some 500,000 head of cattle between them and there could be some lucrative export deals struck in the next few days.Although figures for international business are difficult to quantify, independent studies have shown that the impact of the show domestically is around £70 million.While the "Highland" is primarily about showcasing all that is best in Scottish agriculture and generating business, there is also a political side to the event, which is seen as a platform to get messages out to the farming press.This year the political theme is very much about the proposed reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), that has provided journalists with reams of copy.Senior Scottish Government officials – David Barnes, deputy director for agriculture and rural development, and Drew Sloan, chief agricultural officer – will be holding a CAP surgery today, from 1pm to 3pm in the Scottish Government pavilion.Alyn Smith, MEP, published a CAP Reform Guide this week, and will hold a question-and-answer session with the Young Farmers' Association.Not to be out done, George Lyon, MEP, will have a stand at the show and intends to hold two drop-in surgeries where farmers and their families can discuss their concerns about future support for the industry – and NFU Scotland will have plenty to say on the subject at their press briefing today.CRAIG Wilson sold 12 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to average 214p, while 10 prime beef-bullocks levelled at 203.6p. A prime B&W bullock made 175.5p. In the rough ring 62 beef cows averaged 151.1p, while 108 dairy cows levelled at 117.6p. Nine bulls averaged 141p.There were also 10 dairy cattle forward with Holstein heifers selling to £2020 and £1900. The firm went on to sell 841 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to average 205.6p per kg (+1.6p on last year). A small show of 61 cast ewes saw Texels sell to £118 and Blackfaces to £67.50.United Auctions sold 89 store bullocks at Stirling yesterday to average 208.6p (-4.1p on the week), while 62 store heifers levelled at 202.7p (-1.6p). In the rough ring 150 cast cows averaged 139.1p.

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Overseas visitors to flock to show Market round-up

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