For four days the agricultural stage will be filled with the world’s media, politicians from Cardiff Bay, Westminster and further afield, as well as celebrities, visitors and thousands of animals that descend on the Llanelwedd showground for an occasion that celebrates the very best in Welsh agriculture.
What's on the NFU Cymru stand?
Below are some of the events we are encouraging members to join in and support as part of their visit to the Royal Welsh Show this year. Click on one of the bullet points below to learn more:
- Seminars in the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee - hot topics up for discussion in the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee, including a discussion with the First Minister
- Gareth Raw Rees Scholarship Award - helping young farmers travel and learn more about agriculture
- Wales Woman Farmer Award - who will be triumphant for the 26th celebration of the award?
- NFU Cymru campaign - Secure the Future of Welsh Food
- Business zone - information to help your business thrive
- The DPJ Foundation - talking all things mental health
- Rugby 7s and Tug of War - NFU Cymru is once again sponsoring these Wales YFC competitions
Seminars
All in the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee
Monday 22 July - 11am
Setting the Scene
On the opening day of this year’s show, we are joined by an expert panel of speakers who will set the scene for the discussions that will take place over the course of the four days of the show and also in the Senedd and Westminster corridors of power over the weeks and months ahead.
Join NFU Cymru’s panel with NFU Cymru President Mr Aled Jones, Wales’ First Minister The Rt Hon Vaughan Gething MS and NFU President, Tom Bradshaw as they consider how we go about securing the policy, regulatory and funding arrangements we need to allow productive, profitable and progressive farming businesses to thrive and grow.
Speakers
The Rt Hon Vaughan Gething MS
First Minister of Wales
Aled Jones (Chair)
NFU Cymru President
Tom Bradshaw
NFU President
Monday 22 July - 12.30pm
Steven Jackson, Head of Sales at NFU Energy and Josh Robinson, Head of Utility Contracts at NFU Energy, will be hosting an informal seminar in the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee, looking at strategies to conquer energy market volatility and boost efficiency. We invite you to join us for a Q&A and to hear more about how the NFU Energy team can assist you to improve your business resilience and drive efficiency improvements in the face of energy market volatility.
Monday 22 July - 2pm
Is regulation holding back Welsh farming?
Farmer confidence surveys undertaken by NFU Cymru have repeatedly shown most farmers believe that regulation has a negative effect on their business, adding costs and impacting farm business profitability. Regulation and the associated inspections often impact negatively on farmer well-being.
Given the extent to which regulation influences farm practice, it is not surprising that farmers experience more than their fair share of bad regulation. Poor regulation is characterised by approaches that have not engaged in advance with businesses to consider how the regulation is best targeted or implemented. Often the administrative burdens are disproportionate to the outcome. NFU Cymru believes an independent review of regulation is now urgently needed.
At this NFU Cymru Seminar we will consider the burden of regulation on Welsh farming, providing farmer perspectives and also setting out the range of help and support that is available to help farmers. Ahead of Welsh Government’s four yearly review of the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations (2021), the Seminar will also provide the opportunity to consider what changes are needed for the future.
Speakers
Abi Reader (Chair)
NFU Cymru Deputy President
Roger Lewis
Chair of NFU Cymru TB Task and Finish Group
Martin Griffiths
Chair of NFU Cymru Water Quality Review Group
Kate Miles
The DPJ Foundation Manager
Stella Owen
NFU Cymru County Adviser
Tuesday 23 July - 11am
Sustainable Farming Scheme - Where are we now? What Next?
Come and hear from the NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones and Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS on the latest developments in relation to Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Speakers
Aled Jones (Chair)
NFU Cymru President
Huw Irranca-Davies MS
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Wednesday 24 July - 11am
Sustainable Welsh food production
The panel will look at the whole supply chain from feed to red meat to wool and will include a young farmer with a family farm shop retailing a variety of home-produced products from farm to fork. There will also be a speaker from Food and Drink Wales to touch on what government support there is out there to businesses in Wales to become certified as sustainable producers, as well as representatives from IBERS, British Wool and Kepak.
Speakers
Rob Lewis (Chair)
NFU Cymru Livestock Board Chair
Mark Grant
Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster Lead and Associate Director, Levercliff
Dr Julie Finch
Agriculture Governance & Compliance Manager, Kepak
Andrew Hogley
Chief Executive Officer, British Wool
Dr Christina Marley
Lead of Agricultural Systems Research Group at IBERS, Aberystwyth University
Ed Swan
Swans Farm Shop
Award presentations taking place on our stand
Tuesday 23 July - 12.30pm - NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee
Gareth Raw Rees Scholarship presentations
This is an annual prize-giving presentation to scholars wishing to travel to broaden their knowledge of agriculture. A large number of farmers under the age of 30 have received a contribution towards their travels and learning over the years through the Scholarship.
Learn more about the scholarship.
Thursday 25 July - 11am - NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee
Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Award presentation
(pictured above: Previous winners of the award)
This year sees the 26th anniversary of the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Wales Woman Farmer of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the NFU Cymru/ NFU Mutual marquee. The award seeks to champion the contribution that women make to the agricultural industry and to raise the profile of women in farming. The last award winner was Katie-Rose Davies, a beef and sheep farmer in Glamorgan.
Read more about Katie and her farm
All week - NFU Cymru stand
Secure the Future of Welsh Food
The Business Zone
The business zone will be back again this year, located on the NFU Cymru stand, profiling the unrivalled services and discounts available to NFU Cymru members.
The area will promote second-to-none discounts and services that are exclusive to NFU Cymru members and are designed to cover every aspect of your farming business.
Our professional services offer political, legal, regulatory and technical information as well as more practical business focussed solutions covering law, planning, environment and energy. Your NFU Cymru membership also means that you get access to discounts specifically negotiated with farmers and growers in mind, ensuring you’re getting the best possible access to what’s on the market whether it be vehicles, ATVs, agricultural tyres, fuel cards, farm security, health care, and much more.
In the same space will be some of our partners who provide our members with unrivalled affinity discounts across a huge range of leading brand names, so come and find out how to save money on your next purchases.
This year NFU Cymru will also host:
- Nottingham Trent University, who will have a tractor-based hazard test, have a go and tell them what you think.
- Landmark Systems Ltd, who are Market Leading Providers of Farm Business Management Software.
- Jewson, providing savings on nearly 700 products and tool hire.
- Wales Police Forces - Cyber Crime Teams, who will provide advice and guidance on cyber security.
- And our Rural Surveyor Panel Rees Richards & Partners.
There will also be a competition to win a Spada Rock Helmet and a Can-Am swag bag with the winners to be announced after the show.
All week - NFU Cymru stand
The DPJ Foundation
The NFU Cymru stand will be supporting the DPJ Foundation again this year by hosting members of the team throughout the week.
This year The DPJ Foundation will be asking members of the public to share their worries and hopes to both lighten the load and to help The DPJ Foundation to strengthen their own services to best serve the Welsh farming community.
Members of The DPJ Foundation team will be on hand to talk about their training, awareness raising and 'Share the Load' services as well as promoting The DPJ Foundation's Big BBQ. They will also be looking for people who may be interested in volunteering to help The DPJ Foundation raise awareness within their community as Regional Champions.
NFU Energy
The NFU Energy team are once again delighted to be joining their colleagues from NFU Cymru on stand at the Royal Welsh Show next week. NFU Energy staff will be on hand across the four days of the show to discuss and advise on your energy related queries, from how to purchase your energy, options for energy efficiency improvements on farm, investment in renewable energy generation, as well as options to decarbonise your energy demands as a first step on the path to net zero emissions.
Our contracts team will be on hand also, to address your energy contract queries and provide real time energy contract costs. Bring your latest energy bill along and speak to the team about your energy contract.
On day one of the show, at 12.30pm Steven Jackson, Head of Sales and Josh Robinson, Head of Utility Contracts, will also be hosting an informal seminar in the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee, looking at Strategies to conquer energy market volatility and boost efficiency. We invite you to join us for a Q&A and to hear more about how the NFU Energy team can assist you to improve your business resilience and drive efficiency improvements in the face of energy market volatility.
Wales YFC Rugby 7s and Tug of War competitions
(Sponsored by NFU Cymru)
A reception for the finalists of both awards will commence at the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Marquee on Wednesday 24 July at 2.45pm. Receptions will also take place on the Monday and Tuesday afternoons, after each round of the rugby 7s.
NFU Cymru is once again delighted to be able to support Wales YFC’s popular Rugby 7s and Tug of War contests. Join us at the Main Cattle Ring to see who takes the spoils.