The Royal Cheshire Show once again provided a fantastic opportunity to engage with the public and catch up with many of you, our members. Our NFU marquees were busy throughout the two days, with members calling in for a brew and a catch-up, while visitors were keen to learn more about the work farmers do every day through our education marquee.
A particular thank you goes to everyone who gave up their time to help in the education area and to those who proudly wore the “Ask Me, I’m a Farmer” tabards. Conversations between farmers and the public have never been more important, and you all played a key role in helping tell our story. That effort was recognised when we were awarded Best Stand at the Show. The real stars of the marquee, however, were our younger volunteers, who did a fantastic job throughout the event and were a credit to Cheshire farming.
We were also delighted to generate significant media coverage during the show. From local radio interviews and Granada Reports to BBC North West Tonight, which ran a feature ahead of the event before filming live from our marquee for the evening news, the team did a tremendous job promoting farming and highlighting both the opportunities and challenges facing our sector. Thank you to everyone who took part.
It was great to welcome NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins, several MPs, Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore, the Police and Crime Commissioner, along with many other visitors over the two days. Our hospitality marquee was certainly a busy place and it was fantastic to catch up with so many members. Congratulations to our NFU County President and Royal Cheshire Show President, Stuart Yarwood, for arranging such a valuable discussion between Paul Tompkins, Cheshire MPs and our members. A huge thank you must also go to our Group Secretaries, the NFU North team and Bowcock Cuerden for helping to run the hospitality marquee and ensuring members and guests received such a warm welcome throughout the show.
Peak Cluster also remains high on the agenda. Thank you to everyone who attended our recent member meeting at Bidlea and contributed to the discussion. We know there are still many questions surrounding the project and what it could mean for individual businesses. The NFU will continue to engage with project representatives on behalf of members and ensure concerns are raised and information shared as it becomes available.
Our members also recently had the opportunity to meet Bank of England Deputy Governor Clare Lombardelli during a visit to Bidlea Dairy, kindly hosted by Ray Brown and family. Members shared first-hand experiences of the challenges facing farming businesses, including volatile input costs, uncertainty around government policy, pressure within agricultural supply chains and concerns over taxation. A key theme throughout the discussion was the lack of control many farmers have over both the prices they receive and the costs they face, making long-term planning and investment increasingly difficult.
The conversation highlighted the importance of confidence within the sector, alongside concerns about access to finance for new entrants, animal health risks and future food security. Members stressed the need for greater recognition of agriculture's contribution to the wider economy and the challenges created by policy and market uncertainty. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for decision-makers to hear directly from farmers, and our thanks go to all of you who contributed to an open and constructive discussion.
As we move further into the summer, many of you will now be well into harvest. While there never seem to be enough hours in the day, this can also be one of the most hazardous periods on the farm. A timely reminder to prioritise health and safety, take breaks where possible and look out for family members and staff during what can be a particularly demanding few months. Most importantly, please remember to look after yourselves. When pressure is high and time is short, it can be tempting to cut corners, but that is when accidents happen.
If these dates are not already in your diary, please make a note:
- Nantwich Show – 30 July
- Macclesfield Sheepdog Trials – 6–9 August
- Cheshire Ploughing Match – 30 September
- Health & Safety Event (with Cheshire Young Farmers) – 5 August
Looking forward to catching up with many of you over the summer.
Helen Wainwright
County Adviser, NFU Cheshire