A flood of debate at the great show

Now officially the biggest in England, the show attracted visitors from all over the country.

They were joined by some of the UK's best livestock, top farming leaders and even royalty, with HRH Princess Anne visiting the showground on opening day.

Predictably, the subject of the deficit reduction, and the effect it will have on agriculture and the countryside, took up much of the subject matter in conversations around the showground.

The National Farmers' Union issued a stark warning on the show's opening day about the potentially ruinous consequences of scaling back flood defences in East Yorkshire, something it said could lead to some of the county's finest agricultural land being swamped in times of high rain.

Officials, including the NFU president Peter Kendall, counselled against any cutbacks on pumping stations.

In their own press conferences, the Country Land and Business Association warned that scrapping Yorkshire Forward could stifle the rural economy's attempts to get out of recession and back into growth.

William Worsley, the CLA president and a Yorkshire landowner, praised Yorkshire Forward's record on assisting rural businesses and said that plans to hand increased powers to local communities over planning could have a serious impact on the fight to create more affordable housing in the countryside.

It could create a "nimby's charter", he warned.

Traffic entry onto the site was slow but steady, with no significant problems reported.

Crowds were particularly busy around the cattle rings and in the new garden shows. Trade stand holders, particularly in the food hall, reported good trade on all three days.

Overall the weather stayed dry during the day, save for a huge thunderstorm on Wednesday evening, which saw forked lightening lighting up the showground.

Honorary show director Bill Cowling said: "I have no official figures yet but it was clearly fairly busy – we were certainly helped by the weather.

"I am delighted with the new garden show which seems to be a real change in direction and giving visitors something to enjoy.

"The Simmental Society's 40th anniversary celebrations certainly seem to be a big success. I also think it is wonderful that we have the pig of the year competition here too. I am really honoured that we have that here."

CW 17/7/10