An exciting line-up of speakers has been announced for the Norfolk Farming Conference 2016. Tickets are now on sale for the annual event, which has become a key fixture in the industry, and will be held at the John Innes Conference Centre in Norwich on 11 February.
Speakers include the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) George Eustice and Andy Wood, Adnams CEO.
Andy will give delegates a fascinating insight into his decades of business experience. He is the Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for Business in the Community in the East of England – a role which has involved working with farmers and landowners to look at the challenges of sustainable water stewardship – and holds a number of academic business positions.
Also speaking at the conference is Dr Gordon Jamieson, the Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Director at the John Innes Centre. He works closely with the scientists who carry out research into plant and microbial science, helping them bring their research to market and to benefit society more widely.
Nuffield Scholar and photographer turned farmer, David Walston, will be talking about his research into improving soil conditions and yields by rotating between pasture and cropping. Fellow Nuffield Scholar and farm manager Russell McKenzie will also be speaking and will be addressing ways to challenge conventional approaches to farming.
With a new and exciting perspective, the Future Farmers session is not to be missed. Young, new generation farmers Robert Hirst, of Hirst Farms and Sophie Young, of MD Wright and Partners, will reveal the changes and challenges they have faced since coming back to the family farm after studying or travelling.
For the first time, the parents of the Future Farmers will reveal their views on what their children have been doing and the support they are offering. This is expected to result in lively debate and questions will also be welcomed from the floor.
The conference will once again be chaired by Essex farmer and NFU Vice President Guy Smith.
AF chief executive Clarke Willis, chairman of the conference organising committee, said: "The Norfolk Farming Conference has become an important fixture on the industry calendar and gives farmers the opportunity to hear from industry leaders and their peers."
"This year we are delighted to not only be delivering thought provoking key note speakers at the highest level but also to be airing the views of the next generation of farmers, whose debate with their parents is set to be very interesting."
For more information on this event please click this link.
