Davina Fillingham is a farmer and member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Farmer Scientist Network. Here, Davina previews the Farm Smarter session at the Yorkshire Farming Conference.
With everything that is happening in agriculture at the moment, we can take heart in the way that many farmers are evolving the ways in which they farm to become more self-sufficient and reduce costs.
Digital technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated in what it can do on-farm, from smart ways of dealing with paperwork and compliance to field mapping, crop applications and so much more.
Our industry is continuing to develop by embracing new technologies and working with nature to ultimately save on labour, eliminate inefficiencies and maximise profit margins.
The ways in which this is happening now, on farms across Yorkshire, will be brought into focus at a session that I’m really looking forward to at the new Yorkshire Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Wednesday 28 January.
Some really forward-thinking farmers are being brought together for the session, ‘Farm Smarter: Less In, More Out’: fourth-generation arable farmer Graham Potter based near Thirsk, Richard Barker of Lingy Moor Farming near Richmond who finishes Aberdeen Angus cattle, and Green Hammerton-based regenerative farming advocate, Mike Powley.
James Young, Vice President for Agriculture at McCain Foods (GB) also joins the session, which will be chaired by Dr Dave George, Chair of the Farmer Scientist Network and is sponsored by Agri-Sense.
This interactive panel will explore how technology and crop choices can work together to build resilience.
From precision tools that optimise input use to innovative crop strategies, such as growing whole crops as sustainable forage alternatives, the panellists will share real-world experiences of improving efficiency and environmental performance.
As a farmer, a member of the Farmer Scientist Network and the convenor of Agri-Sense, an initiative of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to support knowledge exchange and innovation, this is going to be a real highlight of the Conference for me.
The Conference itself will be a really positive step forward for agriculture in terms of bringing all of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s networks of farmers together.
I’m pleased it will showcase some of the work that’s being done by the Farmer Scientist Network, which brings together farmers, academics and scientists in search of new ways for science and technology to underpin agricultural innovation.
An example of a recent project the Network has got behind is the Forage for CH4nge project in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, where methane emissions and the environmental impact of UK upland sheep living off a natural forage diet is being investigated.
Funded by Innovate UK, the project is led by Yorkshire farmer Adrian Thornton-Berry in collaboration with industry partners.
The Network is also a huge supporter of the Agri-Sense initiative which held its latest event this week.
At Thirsk Auction Mart, we looked at how innovative products and agri-tech solutions are helping farmers improve nutrient and nitrogen use efficiency.
Having broadened my understanding of how precision technologies can benefit farming during a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, I’m keen to widen their appeal to others in the industry whose businesses would benefit.
I look forward to hearing about some of those with successes to share at the Yorkshire Farming Conference. I hope to see you there!
Farm Smarter: Less In, More Out takes place between 11:45 – 12:45 at the Keynote Theatre which is kindly sponsored by Barclays
Tickets for the Yorkshire Farming Conference are available to purchase online in advance only and are priced £25 + VAT.
To buy tickets, for more details and for announcements about the line-up, visit yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk
