Organisers say bushfires and drought will impact upon the Royal Easter Show as more than a dozen local agricultural events are called off for the first time since World War II.

Key points: About a dozen agricultural shows in NSW have been cancelled this year due to the bushfire and drought crises

About a dozen agricultural shows in NSW have been cancelled this year due to the bushfire and drought crises Local agricultural shows host qualifying rounds for the Royal Easter Show

Local agricultural shows host qualifying rounds for the Royal Easter Show Organisers of the Royal Easter Show say they are working out how to best support people who have been affected

Sydney's Easter Show is the largest event of its kind in the country, with the revenue it generates used by the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) to invest in programs across rural and regional areas.

RAS general manager Murray Wilton said about a dozen local shows had been cancelled and it is likely more will follow suit.

"It's absolutely devastating — I think we will see an impact, there is no doubt about it," Mr Wilton said.

"Many of the volunteers at these shows are fighting bushfires or assisting at recovery centres and our judges, stewards and officials are involved in it as well.

"We also had several shows cancel around six months ago too, due to the drought."

A man competes in the shearing competition at the Albion Park Show in 2019. Organisers say locals are too anxious about the fires for it to go ahead this year. ( ABC Illawarra: Kelly Fuller )

First cancellations in decades

In the past week agricultural events set to be held in the New South Wales towns of Kiama, Berry, Bemboka, Cobargo, Lithgow, Parkes, Albion Park, Bowral, Pambula and Candelo have been called off.

Until now, many of the shows have not been cancelled since World War II.

"I think the big thing is that people are suffering and there's so much stress and anxiety out there that we had to take that decision," Kiama Show Society president Neil McLaren said.

"We've had judges unable to attend, horses need to be worked up to the point that they're able to compete, and that hasn't happened.

"People are more concerned that if the fire comes over the hill, do they have to load up their horses and get out of there? That's the sort of reality of what's out there."

Apart from the smoke, the greater Wollongong area has not been affected by fires, but Albion Park show president Sean Macfarlane said its grounds were still being used as an evacuation centre for large animals and locals were feeling anxious.

"It's just that everything's impacting upon us, the fires and the dry weather as well," Mr Macfarlane said.

"A lot of our committee live on properties as well, and everybody is very uptight about the fires — there's a lot of bush in the Illawarra that hasn't been burnt for many years."

The Kiama Show has decided to cancel its event for the first time since WWII. ( ABC Illawarra: Kelly Fuller )

More participants likely to withdraw

Every year 190 shows are held across the state that allow for competitors in certain events to earn points and qualify to compete at the Royal Easter Show in March.

Mr Wilton said the society would need to determine how the cancellations and participant withdrawals will affect competitors in need of performance points.

"A lot of people who entered would not have known what was around the corner with regards to these fires," Mr Wilton said.

"People who compete in the horse competitions would have qualified for this show, but if they're not able to compete at more than a dozen or up to maybe 20 local shows that have cancelled, they won't be able to get those performance points.

"So we need to take that into consideration."

The Royal Agricultural Society will meet with NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall on Monday to discuss the scale of the impact.

"As far as the Easter Show is concerned, we are convening to look at the best way we can support people who have been affected by the fires and the drought," Mr Milton said.

"It's a dreadful time [but] people in regional NSW are very resilient, especially with fires and drought.