Thousands have visited the first day of the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd near Builth Wells, the highlight of the rural calendar in Wales. The attendance stood at 54,956 on Monday, up 9,594 on the first day in 2005.
The hot weather saw the St John medical centre at the showground treat 100 people on Monday due to effects of the heat - more than any other day before.
Show officials said they might even bring in fans to keep animals cool.
Lack of space means entries have had to be limited in livestock sections.
Some 7,500 entries have been received in the livestock sections, which is 500 down on 2005.
Show chief executive David Walters said: "We have had to cut down because there is simply no more room on the showground.
"We haven't turned anyone away but there is a restriction on the number of pens for any one exhibitor."
Road safety north along the main A470 has been improved with permanent lighting installed from the main entrance to the young people's village.
The improvements have been introduced following the fatal accident two years ago when Elgan Williams, a young farmer from Denbigh, was hit by a car as he walked towards the young people's village.
The Welsh Assembly Government and Powys Council have paid for the lights from the main entrance to the livestock entrance, and the young farmers' movement and the show itself have paid for the rest.
'Overwhelming response'
Last year's feature county, Carmarthenshire, raised almost �250,000 towards the Royal Welsh - a record figure. The money is to go towards building a food hall.
Montgomeryshire is this year's feature county, and Llanerfyl farmer John Vaughan, chairman of the appeal committee, said: "I'm pleased to say there's been an overwhelming response.
"Naturally there's been support from the farming community - but we've also had support from the towns and villages.
"There's been a big change in the population in Montgomeryshire - an influx of people into the county... and the fact that this is the feature county has raised awareness about the show," added Mr Vaughan.
All the money raised by the feature counties goes towards improving the showground facilities.
"The contribution of the feature counties is immense," said Dai Lewis, chairman of the show's management board.
"When the show moved to a permanent site at Llanelwedd in 1963 it was felt that we had to keep the very important link with the counties and that is why the idea of the feature county was introduced."
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We have had to cut down because there is simply no more room on the showground
