Major tourism attraction

This week, many visitors to West Wales will have joined the locals, town and country alike, in socialising at the County Agricultural Show, always held near Haverfordwest, which has grown to become one of the largest events of its kind in the country - and certainly one of the oldest, given that the society was founded in 1784 and is still going from strength to strength around 230 shows later.

The Pembrokeshire Show held in the third week of August each year - give or take a few days - caters for all ages and is considered to attract in excess of 80,000 people.

The organisers pride themselves on being a major livestock Show, with its heart firmly in agriculture. Sections include horses (including heavy horses), cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, dogs and poultry as well as marquees for local food produce, rural crafts, young farmers and many hundreds of trade stands.

Pembrokeshire is proud to boast one of the largest areas promoting local produce in Wales entirely supported by local producers promoting their own products, with special demonstrators and celebrity chefs.

The County Show remains a premiere “shop window” for a ‘taste, try and buy’ experience in a convivial and relaxing atmosphere. The show is a centre of excellence and a great place for people to meet and discuss current and future rural issues: bringing together people from all walks of life to meet, socialise and talk.

All the above, combined with ongoing arena events in a number of locations, ensured lots to see and do.

Hot topic

There was no question that, following the UK’s decision to vote to leave the EU, Brexit was the hot topic for everyone associated with the agricultural industry at the show.

The farming unions used the platform to engage with members on their biggest ever consultation.

As part of this process, NFU members were given options paper that gave them the chance to voice what is needed from a future domestic agricultural policy for the Welsh farming sector.

Pre-show, a delegation of FUW members met with Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths at Llwyncelyn Lan farm, Llanfyrnach, on Monday, to discuss not only the wider economic and social importance of agriculture to the rural and urban economy but also the impact of Bovine TB.

The FUW deputy president Brian Thomas, who farms the 280 acre holding, said: “Much political and media attention has recently been focused on risks to jobs and the local economy in and around the M4 corridor in South Wales - and quite rightly so but, you may be surprised to learn, there are almost as many people engaged in the milk industry in Pembrokeshire alone as there are people making a living in our Welsh steel industry.

“Despite this, there is a clear imbalance in political focus for supporting these two very important industries - an imbalance which also extends to all our agricultural sectors.”

Waste register

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has thanked farmers for the way they have responded to the start of a campaign to register their waste exemptions. This ensures waste on their land is dealt with in a way that doesn’t harm people or the environment.

Many last registered for an exemption in 2013, but these are now about to expire and need to be re-registered. One month into the campaign, more than 750 farmers have already registered - with most doing so on line and this is significantly up on the same time in 2013.

However, many thousands still need to register and NRW is urging them to do so as soon as possible, rather than wait until the deadline at the end of September.

One who has already done so is dairy farmer Andrew Wigley. Andrew needs an exemption to burn green waste, import recycled waste paper for cattle bedding and to use building waste to create tracks, for example.

After hearing that he could register online on the NRW website, Andrew said: “Three years ago, I registered for a waste exemption by post, but this time I thought I’d register online to save myself the trouble of completing a form by hand and posting it.

“I was very happy to find how easy it was - it took me less than 10 minutes. It’s good to tick this off my long list of things to do and I know that I am now OK to deal with my waste on the farm without a permit for the next three years.”

Not registering or complying with waste exemption can lead to farmers facing penalties and the NRW reminds farmers that they would be committing a criminal offence if they carry out a waste operation without having an exemption or a permit.

For NRW, Caroline Hawkins reminds me: “Our environment provides us with our basic needs, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Registering for these exemptions demonstrates that farmers understand what they need to do to help protect these valuable natural resources.”

Cutting

Last week, I came across a newspaper cutting in which a local show in 1887 was reported: “One of the highlights of the show was a display of horse jumping by Mrs. Anne Isobel Jones - wife of the affluent William Jones. She was widely renowned for her skill in the saddle and she delighted the crowds who loudly cheered as she cleared the high gates and ten foot water jumps on her magnificent hunter - contemporary reports suggest that the show was a day of great excitement and splendid entertainment. An interesting list of prices show that eggs cost 1/- for 16; potatoes 1/- for 24lbs; chickens and geese 2/6 each; veal was 8d per lb; lamb 8d per lb; beef 8d per lb; pork 7d per lb. A bottle of gin cost 2/3; Irish whisky 3/6; Scotch whisky 3/-; brandy 4/- and rum 2/9 per bottle. The admission fee to the show was 1/- before 1 o’clock; thereafter it was reduced to 6d.”

Lessons from life

They told me I couldn’t -that’s why I did.

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever did.

I am thankful for all those difficult people in my life -they have shown me exactly who I do not want to be.

When it rains, look for the rainbow - when it’s dark look for the stars.

Better to be the one who smiled than the one who didn’t smile back.

Everything is going to be OK - if it’s not OK it’s not the end.

Sometime the smallest step in the right direction turns out to be the biggest step of your life - tip toe if you must, but take that step.