"UNITED we stand" was the message at the Westmorland Agricultural Society's ninth annual meeting.

Around 50 of the society's members gathered at Lane Farm, Crooklands, to discuss the issues affecting the structure of the organisation of the society and look back over a successful 2003.

The meeting was addressed by Chief Executive Rodger Read who talked about last year's show, and the recent statement by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett outlining the new single farm payment which will replace the current raft of subsidies paid to farmers and, the government hopes, simplify bureaucracy.

He also talked about the Oxford Farming Conference which looked at some of the burning issues affecting farmers - including imminent admittance of ten new member states to the EU, which will increase Europe's agricultural workforce by 50 per cent - and a debate about the relationship between supermarkets and British agriculture.

The society was addressed by James Nicholson, of Birchbank Farm, Blawith, who gave a positive speech on the benefits of diversification and encouraged other young farmers to see their future in agriculture as bright despite CAP reform.

An analysis of the society's accounts from treasurer Christine Knipe showed that last year's Westmorland County Show made a surplus compared to the massive loss made in the previous year. Reasons for this included an increase in entry price and improved security measures ensuring that fewer people entered the show without paying.

The level of income gained from sponsorship of the show fell markedly last year and members were assured that this was being addressed well in advance of this year's event.

Income was also boosted by Lane Farm's conference facilities, which were in almost constant use throughout the previous financial year.

A more sombre note was struck by the announcement that grants were drastically down on the previous year, although members were reminded that the fickle nature of grants meant they were a thing that could not be relied on as a "given".

Outgoing president Alan Thompson then made an emotional address to members thanking them for their support and his appointment as Life Member of the Society.

The new president will be Tony Duckett, who was praised by Mr Thompson as a top rate farmer and cattle breeder with a broad expertise in agriculture - and a man of "integrity and vision who has provided years' of wise counsel and hard graft, unseen by many."