August has been a very busy month here at Bowmont Hill in Northumberland, with an unusually early harvest brought on by the dry weather. Fortunately, we’ve been lucky in the north of England with good yields. Alongside the harvest, we are also selling lambs and hoping to take another cut of silage.
I was delighted to hear such positive reports from the Ekka in Queensland, Australia, this year. I have very fond memories of helping with the cattle there many years ago, back in the old cattle sheds, so it’s wonderful to know the show remains such a success. Closer to home in Northumberland, our own local show – the Glendale Show – took place last Monday. We were fortunate with the weather, which drew in a strong crowd. In my role as Vice President, I had the honour of showing our new MP around the showground.
In New Zealand, my eldest son, Will, has completed sheep scanning, and the ewes are now settled into paddocks ready for lambing, which has just begun. Thankfully, the fine weather is holding.
It is also very encouraging to hear such positive feedback from the Next Generation Mission to Botswana – a great reflection of the hard work and dedication of all involved. Meanwhile, preparations for our 31st Commonwealth Agriculture Conference in Cape Town in November 2026 are continuing to move forward with great momentum.
Finally, I would like to highlight a special moment from our AGM in Wales last month. It was a great honour to see our President, HRH The Princess Royal, present Captain Sir Nick Wright with his Certificate of Honorary Fellowship to the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth. A very proud occasion for us all.
