We're hearing that the sheep industry is at risk by rising costs

As there becomes more mouths to feed each day, we're hearing the sheep industry - which plays a vital role - is being threatened by rising costs.

Jonathan Long is a part of the British Texel Sheep Society and has been showing livestock at the event.

He runs Chaileybrook Southdowns & Littlebrook Blue Texels in Herefordshire and says costs are their biggest issue:

"Costs are huge, I mean feed prices are not quite double, but almost, what was three years ago, and everything is up. Fuel is up, fertiliser cost is up, medicine price is up, yeah, whatever you wnat to name is up. We're okay, but the margin isn't what it was.

"Support is there but perhaps heading in the wrong direction, the Government is looking very much at the environmental factor - which is right - but we do have to feed the population as well. We're not morally obliged to produce food, and I know a lot of people that are questioning whether actually there's more money in growing wildflowers, than farming sheep. and that is a very worrying position to be in."

Despite the industry's demand, Jonathan continues to say that the future can be uncertain:

"Lamb prices are still pretty good, but the big fear is what happens after the peak in the summer, and hopefully it'll be alright but we'll have to wait and see.

"UK based is great, locally based is great but we have a growing population in this country, and a growing world population to feed, and if the UK can't sustain it's own population - yeah, we can import food but at what price, and at what environmental cost.

"It's alright saying we can look after our own environmental factors but if we're just slashing rainforests to feed our own population, it's not a great place to be as a part of the population or the country."

But there's more to see and find out at the Lincolnshire Show as hundreds of exhibitors, traders and livestock will be shown throughout the day.

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