THE Princess Royal and Lord Rooker, Minister of State for Sustainable Farming and Food, will visit NSA Sheep 2006 at the Three Counties Showground on Wednesday (August 2).

The biennial event will be officially opened by NSA president Lord Plumb, former MEP for the Cotswolds and previously president of the NFU.

It is expected to attract 12,000 visitors, including delegations from Canada, Denmark, Holland, Sweden and the USA.

The event will split into five working areas, focusing on a comprehensive range of industry issues including production marketing, consumption, environmental and conservation issues and traditions. More than 260 educational and commercial trade stands have booked, including live exhibits from 55 sheep breed associations and societies.

A key feature will be seminars featuring presentations throughout the day by a line-up of keynote industry-wide speakers, together with a lunchtime question time, followed by a marketing forum.

YFC members and other youngsters will compete for the inaugural NSA Young Shepherd of the Year award, professional fencing contractors take part in the Tornado Wire Fencer of the Year award, finalists for both the English Shearer of the Year and the Open Shearing awards will compete and there will be a sale of working sheep dogs.

Event chairman David Smith said: "We're offering a format that will offer not only sheep farmers but the entire industry the opportunity to learn about the latest developments to help plan their business strategies ready for the full impact of the new regime come 2012."