Latest news with #BalmoralShow2025
Agriland
12-05-2025
- Agriland
Balmoral Show 2025: How to get there
The Balmoral Show 2025, the biggest agricultural show in Northern Ireland, takes place this week from Wednesday (May 14) to Saturday (May 17). Ahead of the event, the show organiser, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) has provided information for people travelling to the event, including for those travelling by car and by public transport. The Balmoral showgrounds are located just outside Lisburn, near the boundary between counties Antrim and Down, about 13km southwest of Belfast city centre. The nearest train station is Lisburn train station, about 15 minutes from the showground, from which a complimentary shuttle service to the event site will run. The organisers have said that they operate a strict 'no dogs' policy at the Balmoral Show, with the exception of dogs taking part in displays or verified assistance dogs. Visitors with dogs will not be able to enter the show and dogs are not permitted to stay in the car parks due to the risk of heat exhaustion. For those travelling by public transport, the free shuttle bus service will operate from Lisburn Train Station to the Eikon Exhibition Centre, where the show takes place. The estimated journey time on the days of the show is approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The first shuttle bus will leave the train station at 9:00a.m each morning, with the final returning shuttle bust departing the showgrounds each evening as follows: Wednesday (May 14) – 6:30p.m; Thursday (May 15) – 8:30p.m; Friday (May 16) – 7:30p.m; Saturday (May 17) – 6:30p.m. NI (Northern Ireland) Railways and Enterprise Railways (which runs between Dublin and Belfast) will be making additional stops at Lisburn Train Station to help travelers avail of the shuttle bus service. If travelling by car, visitors are advised to allow plenty of time for their journey and, if possible avoid peak times such as rush hour. Those travelling from the west or northwest of Lisburn are advised to take the Northern Ireland M1 (which runs between Belfast and Dungannon in Co. Tyrone), exiting at junction 8, and then following the signage. Those travelling from the Lisburn itself should take the Moira Road out of the city and follow the signage. If travelling from Belfast or the north east of Northern Ireland, you should travel south on the Northern Ireland M1, coming off at Sprucefield and following the signage. Motorists travelling from the south should take the A1 dual carriageway (which is a continuation of the Republic of Ireland's M1/N1 motorway), and then follow the signage. Car parking is available on the showgrounds at a daily rate of €10 per car. Car parking must be paid by cash only, on the day of your visit.
Agriland
22-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Northern Ireland's farm finances in a ‘good place'
Farm finances in Northern Ireland are currently in a healthy state according to Ulster Bank's head of agriculture, Cormac McKervey. McKervey made the comments at the recent launch of Balmoral Show 2025, where he said: 'From a price and income perspective farming in Northern Ireland is in a good place'. 'Through the second half of last year, dairy farmers saw good farm gate returns. And these were maintained over the winter. 'For March milk, paid this month, most processors are paying a base price that is 40p/L and above. 'That is a good price for this time of the year,' he added. Farm finances Ulster Bank's head of agriculture also pointed out that international milk output levels usually tend to increase as farm gate returns rally. ''While this trend is impacting to a certain extent at the present time, it is not to an extent that will impact on prices. 'There are parts of the world which would have traditionally produced large quantities of milk. But for a number of reasons – these could be labour or environment-linked – this is not happening at the present time,' McKervey said. Turning to beef and lamb, McKervey pointed to an envisaged continuation of the strong prices that characterise international red meat markets at the present time. 'None of us would have predicted the increase in beef prices that have been witnessed over recent times. 'The price of a finished animal has increased by around £550 per head since the beginning of the year,' he said. However he also added that 'these are exceptional prices'. He said: 'It is only right given the quality of the protein that beef represents – it has been commercially undervalued for far too long. 'Yes, there are some fears that supply-demand factor may kick in to ease the beef market somewhat. 'However, if we arrive at a new norm where the prices paid to livestock farmers more realistically reflect the quality of the food they produce, this will be an inherently good thing.' Meanwhile lamb prices are forecast to remain relatively strong during the period ahead. Pork prices have eased slightly over recent months: but so too have feed prices. 'This means that pig margins are being maintained,' confirmed McKervey. 'It's good to see the pig sector in such good health. Poultry meat remains steady. 'But, in truth, there is nothing to touch the margins being generated by free range egg producers at the present time. Supply and demand is driving this reality,' he said. Land prices According to McKervey, land prices remain very robust and strong in NI. He said: 'There seems to be a perception that investors outside of production agriculture are the main investors in land at the present time. However, from an Ulster Bank perspective we are finding that such is not the case. 'There is a huge demand for land. And it is active farmers who are leading the way in this context. The Ulster Bank representative also noted the ongoing problems with bovine tuberculosis (TB) in NI. 'Overall, farming is in a good place at the present time. However, the threat of bovine TB (tuberculosis) remains very real. 'The number of herds impacted by the disease continues to grow with every year that passes. 'The implications for affected farmers, both from a financial and mental health perspective, are exceptionally difficult to deal with. 'There is a new TB strategy coming through. Let's hope that it works for everyone involved,' he added.
