Call for community to support shows

The UUP MLA issued her statement following one of her first major visits to a constituency event as an Assembly member – the Balmoral Show.

Mrs Palmer said: “For the past number of years, our agricultural sector has taken a financial battering from the effects of the BSE crisis, Foot and Mouth Disease, and ever-challenging regulations from the European Parliament.

“These events have placed numerous burdens on our agricultural sector in Lagan Valley with many farmers facing severe financial hardships.

“The community has a golden opportunity to clearly demonstrate to the farming sector that it has the full backing of the Ulster public.

“So I would publicly encourage as many families as possible to give their open support to the farmers by visiting the shows,”