People will be able to see scores of sheep and goats when they attend the South of England Show, which starts at Ardingly, near Haywards Heath, today.

That's more than they could last year when farming was still suffering from the aftermath of the foot-and mouth-crisis.

Things have not been good for agriculture in general and livestock farming in particular since foot-and-mouth, which was raging two years ago.

But this year things seem to be getting back to normal, with a welcome increase in the number of cattle being exhibited.

Animals are at the heart of any agricultural show. The South of England exhibition is a showpiece for the whole industry in Sussex and beyond.

Because farming is so efficient and mechanised, relying on small numbers of employees, many people do not realise its importance to the economy.

But without great advances in farming techniques since the Second World War, Britain would be back in the bad old days when it had to rely heavily on food imports.

Ardingly will be a barometer for how well farming is faring and Sussex as a whole should hope for a successful show.

It will also be fun and should bring smiles to the faces of farmers for the first time in a while.