The crucial role of the agriculture and food industries in the county’s economy is being emphasised at this year’s Royal Cornwall Show by the National Farmers Union.

Agriculture is directly worth about £189m to the economy of Cornwall and employs just over 10,500 people – about a quarter of the county’s jobs are connected to farming or food processing – with the financial benefits rippling out along the supply chain.

A recent NFU report found that for every £1 invested in farming, £7.40 is returned to the rural economy.

There is particular emphasis on the dairy industry, as NFU Cornwall county chairman Roger Jenkin, a dairy farmer from Manaccan on the Lizard, has invited all the people who supply his farm with everything from feed, fertiliser and insurance to milking parlour equipment and veterinary services along to a special event at the NFU stand, to illustrate just how many other businesses the industry supports.

There are 45 dairy processing businesses in the county, employing several hundred people between them and all depending on a supply of milk from its dairy farms, emphasising their importance right the way down the supply chain.

’The number of dairy farmers has fallen from 25,000 in 1995 to less than 10,000 today,’ said Mr Jenkin. ’In Cornwall the number has halved to just over 500, so we must speak to the supermarkets and come up with a plan to ensure that dairy farmers’ costs are covered, even at the lowest prices.’

Visitors to the showground will also see colourful bale stickers in fields and along the approach roads emphasising that British farmers are proud to produce the nation’s food.