The Northern Ireland Shows Association (NISA) is expected to give evidence to Stormont’s agriculture committee in the coming weeks.
However a date has not been set as yet for the event according to NISA chairman, Brian Lockhart.
“We will be addressing the need for the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs to core fund the local agricultural shows held in Northern Ireland throughout the summer months,” he said.
While a date has not been set, there are strong indications that the event will take place in the very near future.
The request by NISA to meet with representative of the Stormont agriculture committee follows the 2023 publication of the Jones’ report, which recommended that NISA should receive an annual support package from Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture.
Aled Rhys Jones, the chief executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, had been commissioned by former Stormont agriculture minister, Edwin Poots, to investigate the feasibility of public funds being used to support Northern Ireland’s local agricultural shows.
His report was published at a time when the Stormont Assembly and Executive had been dissolved
However, the decisions were not acted upon due to a lack of available funding at the time. This position was further endorsed by Andrew Muir, following his appointment as Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland.
Lockhart said: “Our aim is to inform the members of the agriculture committee about the Rhys Jones’ report; specifically the background to its commissioning int4h first place and its recommendations.
“NISA members feel it is imperative that all of Northern Ireland’s local farming shows should be supported by the department of agriculture.
“The average annual support figure referenced in the Jones’ report comes in at around £10,000 per event. This is a very small amount of money in relative terms. However, it would mean so much to each NISA member organisation,” he continued.
The NISA representative also highlighted the fact that most local shows held in the Republic of Ireland receive core public funding.
However, on a related matter, it has been confirmed that the members of the Stormont agriculture committee will be hosted by the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society during Balmoral Show week 2025.
This year’s event takes place between Wednesday, May 14 and Saturday, May 17.
The local show season then kicks off on Saturday, May 31 with Ballymoney and Lurgan agricultural societies hosting their annual events.
