Industry support for the UK’s national beef event, Beef Expo 2006, is reflected in strong trade stand bookings for this year’s event at Carlisle on Friday, June 2. And the country’s premier beef event has been given a further boost with the announcement this week of the re-opening of export markets for British beef.

The venue for this year’s event, organised in a different area each year by the National Beef Association, is Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway Mart.

“Trade stand bookings are ahead of this time last year and indicate increased confidence in the beef sector following the receipt by farmers of the Single Farm Payment and the imminent re-opening of export markets,” said event organiser, Euan Emslie.

“Carlisle is an ideal venue at the apex of the motorway network and will draw a large attendance of beef producers from north, south, east and west, as well as from Ireland and overseas.”

Mr Emslie said events like Beef Expo were becoming increasingly popular with trade exhibitors because of the targeted, high-calibre audience which specialist events attracted.

“Beef Expo has grown from strength to strength over recent years and is widely recognised as a “must attend” event for producers with a serious interest in the future of the beef industry,” said Mr Emslie.

“The event will highlight the latest trends in the beef production and marketing and give producers a unique opportunity of focussing on the most up-to-date technical developments and marketing opportunities to help them run a profitable and sustainable beef enterprise without subsidy.”

The theme of this year’s Beef Expo is “Seeking Solutions” and features will include practical demonstrations, educational exhibits, beef breed displays, young farmers and open stockjudging competitions, a new National Suckled Calf Show, comprehensive seminar programme and trade stands, with a focus on performance, health, efficiency of production, profitability and marketing.

Arrangements for the event are following the format successfully developed in previous years and will include the opportunity to visit three beef farms on the day before the event (June 1), followed by a major conference and pre-event dinner. The conference will focus on export opportunities, marketing trends and the impact of increased supplies of beef on the market following the ending of the OTMS.

Mainline sponsors confirmed so far are Harrison and Hetherington Ltd, Dugdale Nutrition, EBLEX, Intervet, Keenan and Yara.

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National Suckled Calf Show At Beef Expo 2006