Farmers' profits tips at Royal Welsh

Two new projects designed to help farmers improve the profitability of their business will be launched at the Royal Welsh Show in Powys.

The schemes will focus on animal health and disease control and advise farmers on how to forecast market demand for produce.

The nominations for next year's St David Awards will also be opened at the four-day event.

Firms using a new Wales/Cymru domain name from autumn will also be unveiled.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the event in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, which showcases the best of Welsh livestock, food and drink and includes forestry, countryside sports and horticulture.

Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales - will be there to talk about its new schemes aimed at helping farmers get the most out of their business.

The first will see a number of farms selected for a trial to achieve improved levels of health and fertility, coupled with reduced costs.

The second will give farmers further analysis and forecasting advice on local, national and global supply conditions and demands.

'Vibrant industry'

First Minister Carwyn Jones will open the nominations for this year's St David Awards at the show on Monday.

He will be joined by some of last year's winners including lollypop lady Karin Williams who tried to protect a group of children from being hit by a car outside Rhws Primary School in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The awards were set up to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of people in all walks of life who benefit Wales.

Welsh assembly presiding officer, Dame Rosemary Butler, will announce that S4C, the National Assembly for Wales and the Wales Federation of Young Farmers Club have signed up to use Wales and Cymru in their internet address names.

She said the new domains would help promote the Welsh language and Wales' cultural interests on the internet.

The new deputy minister for agriculture and fisheries, Rebecca Evans, will meet farming representatives to discuss the new rural development fund at her first event since being appointed.

She was given the role after the former environment minister Alun Davies was sacked after asking civil servants for private information on opposition AMs.

She said the Royal Welsh was vital to our rural economy and demonstrated how much farming contributed to Wales.

"I'll be at the show to listen and to learn but I also want to share my perspective on how I think we can work together to achieve our collective vision of a successful and vibrant farming industry that will continue to thrive in the future," she said.