With the Royal Welsh Show is going online in light of coronavirus restrictions, NFU Cymru has decided to take its series of policy seminars to the web too.

This year’s Royal Welsh Show, which is taking place between Monday and Thursday, July 20-23, may be very different to the normal event farmers know and love, but NFU Cymru is adopting the spirit of ‘the show must go on’ to once again host its popular series of seminars.

NFU Cymru president John Davies said: “The Royal Welsh Show is one of the highlights of the agricultural calendar.

For many farmers, the show provides a chance to get away from the farm and catch up with friends from across the country.

“While it is understandable that the show cannot take place in its usual form this year, I am pleased that there will be a virtual event.

“I am delighted that at NFU Cymru we are still able to host our series of popular policy seminars to add to the virtual Royal Welsh Show offering.

We have a great line-up of speakers, with our seminars focusing on politics, women in farming and the red meat supply chain.

“I hope that people from across the country will register and join us for these informative and thought-provoking events.”

Topics

Topics for the seminars include:

  • Monday, July 20th at 11:00am: ‘In Discussion with the First Minister’.
  • Tuesday, July 21 at 3:00pm: ‘She Who Dares…Farms’.
  • Wednesday, July 22 at 12:30pm: ‘The Red Meat Food Chain – What Will It Look Like in the Future?’

On Monday, NFU Cymru president John Davies will be in discussion with the First Minister, the Rt. Hon. Mark Drakeford.

There is much for the pair to discuss at this pivotal time for Welsh agriculture with the UK’s departure from the EU’s single market at the end of the year and the Welsh Government’s new agricultural policy still in progress.

Following last year’s successful event, Tuesday’s seminar will see the return of ‘She Who Dares…Farms’.

The seminar will bring together women involved with farming businesses to share knowledge, ideas and to raise the profile of women working in the farming industry.

This panel will feature:

  • Caroline Mason, head of Agriculture at the Co-op;
  • Abi Kay, chief reporter at Farmers Guardian; and
  • Tracey Roan from the BBC2 series ‘This Farming Life’.

The final NFU Cymru seminar will focus on the future of the red meat supply chain. The seminar features:

  • Christopher Dodds, executive secretary of Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited;
  • Norman Bagley, policy director for the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers; and
  • Nina Prichard, head of Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing at McDonald’s UK & Ireland.