Carlisle Venue For Beef Expo 2006
30/08/05

Next year's national beef event, Beef Expo 2006, is to be held at Harrison and Hetherington's Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday, June 2.

Plans for the National Beef Association's major annual event for the UK beef industry are already being progressed by the local organising committee under the chairmanship of Cumbrian farmer, Ian Watson, Newlands Farm, Carleton, Carlisle.

"We are delighted to have been given the opportunity of hosting Beef Expo 2006 in the North-west which is one of the most important beef producing areas in the country," said Mr Watson.

It is hoped the beef industry will be experiencing more buoyant times by next June following the long-awaited dismantling of the Over Thirty Month Slaughter (OTMS) scheme later this year and the resumption of exports of beef from the UK.

Receipt of the Single Farm Payment will also mean that farmers will have money to invest to strengthen their farm businesses.

"But the drive for greater efficiency through technical innovation and reducing costs will still be paramount, especially in the light of soaring fuel and fertiliser prices," said Mr Watson.

"Beef Expo will point the way for beef producers by focusing on the latest technical developments and highlighting marketing opportunities."

Features of Beef Expo will include practical demonstrations, educational exhibits, beef breed displays, seminars and trade stands. The emphasis will be on performance, health, efficiency of production, profitability and marketing.

Mr Watson has recently turned to beef production after a lifetime in dairying. His pedigree Ayrshire herd was lost to FMD in 2001 and he now finishes 300 beef cattle a year on his 300-acre farm. He was vice-chairman of the Milk Marketing Board at the time of milk de-control in 1994 and later became chairman of Milk Marque. He retired as a director of Dairy Farmers of Britain in 2001.

The 15-strong organising committee for Beef Expo includes Andrew Wright, Hopes of Wigton, Wigton, Cumbria, and Bryn Davies, Meerybank, Croglam Park, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, who have been appointed joint vice-chairmen.

This year's Beef Expo was held in Wales and the previous two events in 2003 and 2004 in Scotland.

National Suckled Calf Show At Beef Expo 2006