Press Release (4 October 2007)

AgriScot Goes Ahead -  But Without Livestock

AgriScot, Scotland’s Farm Business Event, will be repeating the precedent of 2001 when it goes ahead next month with no livestock present.

The decision not to have competitive dairy or beef cattle classes was taken by the AgriScot Management Committee this week (w/c October 1) after industry wide consultation.

The event  - on November 14 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh - will now focus on its business credentials with a number of new demonstrations and displays.

All three halls at Ingliston will be in use with the main trade stand area in the Highland Hall, machinery in the Lowland Hall and technical demos in the Central Hall, which would normally have housed the cattle entries.

Robin Young, Chairman of the Management Committee, said: “It is regrettable that we won’t have the country’s top dairy cattle present but it was the only responsible course of action given the current situation on animal movements and standstills.

“The real priority for the industry just now is the essential movement of livestock but our decision also removes any uncertainty about our event and will allow trade exhibitors and visitors to plan ahead.

“The agricultural trade regard AgriScot as a major platform for their products and services and by taking this decision early, we can guarantee the event will go ahead rather than running the risk of a future cancellation.

“We are now working on plans to attract visitors from all sectors of the industry to ensure we maintain our position as one of UK agriculture’s main events.”

In 2001, following the FMD outbreak, AgriScot was staged successfully without livestock and the organisers are confident they can repeat that success.

In addition to more than 200 trade stands, there will be a re-introduction of virtual stock judging with major prizes and technical demonstrations will include making the most of home-grown feed. The country’s largest winter display of farm machinery and equipment will feature and included in the business seminars is a “head to head” debate between Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead and NFUS President Jim McLaren.

Strict bio-security measures will be in place with Ecolab providing and managing the bio-security from build-up to break-down of the event.