Visitor numbers appear not to have been deterred by another wet start to Cereals 2006, however, many Stands reported not to have been as busy as last year particularly on the second day.
The good news from the event was the air of optimism noted amongst growers, no doubt a result of improved wheat and rape prices. This air of optimism was particularly noted by the agricultural machinery stands.

The BEPA/PGRO Stand was again adjacent the NIAB plots of peas and beans. This allowed growers to not only see current new pea and bean varieties but at the same time the opportunity of discussing the 2006/7 pulse market with BEPA members and agronomy issues with PGRO personnel.

Free mushy peas and pea snacks were made available to visitors and the 2005 National Pulse Competition winning samples were displayed on the Stand.

Visitors attention was also drawn to display boards one of which featured the FREE bonuses that growers receive from growing peas and beans, that is, a crop supplementary payment - £38/ha H2005, FREE nitrogen fixed in the soil from the pulse crop valued between £17 and £51/ha depending on soil type, and the FREE one tonne of wheat/ha gained by the first wheat following pulses.