THE Royal Show has moved with the times, with a more informal first day on a Sunday to bring in the weekend crowds.

In the relaxed atmosphere, families favoured casual clothes and not many bowler hats were to be seen.

The official opening at the Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, show was no longer a stately ceremony in the Grand Ring, but a down-to-earth affair among the crowds coming and going by the grandstand.

Minister for Rural Affairs Alun Michael is now also Minister for the Horse, and he spoke of the dangers of ragwort to horses and other grazing livestock, urging its control.

This was a welcome message for all horse lovers.

It fell to NFU president Tim Bennett to officially declare the 2004 Royal Show open.

"Farming is in the middle of a revolution," he said.

"But it is a silent revolution, escaping the notice of almost everyone outside the food and farming industries.

"Next year, with the reform of the CAP, farmers and growers will be free from the shackles of the old policy.

"They will be free to make their own production decisions. They must focus on consumers, producing what the market requires.

"This is a message for the whole food chain, not just farmers. Those who buy from farmers must pay enough or they won't get their supply.

"Farmers need honest partnerships with the rest of the food chain.

"Farmers are the key to environmental protection and improvement. Who else will manage the vast majority of the land in our country?

"Willing change by farmers prevents problems and promotes improvements. Self-regulation is best.

"Prescriptive regulation must be the last resort. It is a sign of failure.

"With partnerships we can have the confidence to succeed. Let this Royal Show see the start of the renaissance of our industry!"

Garden lovers found the Flower Show now condensed within a tent, with the previous area now fenced off as the site for the new headquarters of the NFU, when it moves from Knightsbridge next year.

This will undoubtedly further enhance Stoneleigh as a central focus for British agriculture.

Sir Donald Curry, chairman of the Implementation Group overseeing the delivery of the Government Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, spoke of his vision for the future of farming in the brave new world ahead.

The hall specially devoted to this theme offered a wealth of information, though it seemed to attract less interest than the food hall.

The international attraction of the Royal this year saw a Saudi Arabian pavilion for the first time, with strong promotion of dates and other produce.

It was heartening to see more of a buzz again among the machinery exhibitors, and all classes of livestock booming with increased entries.

Sheep classes were 20 per cent up on last year and beef classes were over-subscribed.

Worcestershire breeders were well to the fore among the nation's top livestock people.

Among a strong entry of more than 60 Highland cattle, John and Valerie Monk, of Manor Farm, Chadwich, near Bromsgrove, secured the top honours of the breed with their home-bred five-year-old Elizabeth of Chadwich.

"We are over the moon," exclaimed John.

"All our home-breds are named after members of our family.

"Elizabeth, our daughter, is now a craft potter."

Congratulations to Percy Tait, of Broughton Hackett, on taking the Supreme Inter-breed Sheep Championship with his Bleu du Maine shearling ram, which also won the pairs championship.

Unfortunately, Mr Tait could not be at the Show, being in hospital for a knee replacement, so his sheep trimmer, Carol Grain, showed his sheep.

Another striking success was that of Derek Daffurn and his daughter Jennifer Curtis, of Wickhamford, whose Charollais shearling ewe topped the strong breed entry and went on to be Reserve Inter-breed Sheep Champion.

They began breeding Charollais in 1981, having been among the first when the imported sheep came in from France.

WH Sinnett and Son of Stockton Court, have been at the top with their Suffolks many times. Their ram lamb stood as Suffolk Champion.

It was a great day for MA & RA Bown, of Hanley Castle, whose superb Ayrshire cow Sandyford Primrose 4, was Reserve Supreme Inter-breed Dairy Champion, after topping her own breed classes.