George Gill is a farmer and Management Board member of the Future Farmers of Yorkshire network at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. Here, George introduces himself and explains how Future Farmers is playing its part in shaping the Yorkshire Farming Conference programme.

I’m a fourth-generation farmer based on the outskirts of Boroughbridge, where my family has farmed for well over a century. Today, our business is a mixed enterprise: housing bed-and-breakfast pigs, fattening lambs, and growing a range of crops. This year we’ve been growing milling wheat, barley, oilseed rape, and stubble turnips for winter grazing.

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a natural point to pause and reflect on what has been a challenging year for agriculture. We’ve faced everything from extreme weather pressures, to slumping grain markets and constant political uncertainty. More than ever, it feels essential to look ahead with clarity and plan for the long-term future of our businesses.

Even in my relatively short time in farming, the scale and pace of change in the industry has been striking. Advances in technology are transforming how we work, improving efficiency and helping us save both time and money. That’s exactly why I’m proud to be involved with Future Farmers of Yorkshire, a forward-thinking network of farmers and others in allied industries, and to help contribute to the brand-new Yorkshire Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire Showground on 28 January 2026.

Future Farmers is playing a significant role in shaping the Conference content, bringing a fresh, forward-thinking perspective from the next generation of agricultural leaders. Our network works closely with the organising team at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to ensure the programme covers the issues that matter most to farmers today – everything from innovation and technology to policy, business resilience, personal development, and mental wellbeing.

We’ll be hosting a lively debate, ‘7 year Itch: Is UK agriculture more in control since Brexit?’ where motion and counter motion will be tabled and industry speakers take on this hot topic and argue their cases. Then, it’ll be over to you to scrutinise their viewpoints in a Q&A and vote on who put forward the most compelling case.

The Conference is going to be a great meeting place at the start of the new year. Farming can naturally be an isolating career, with many of us seeing only a handful of people from day to day. Having the chance to meet like-minded, passionate individuals can make a real difference and help lighten the load we all carry on our shoulders.

Future Farmers gives people exactly that opportunity, whether it’s taking part in debates on the key issues facing the industry or joining organised visits such as January’s trip to the LAMMA show. The network aims to equip farmers across Yorkshire with the skills, connections and confidence needed to ensure their farms remain fit, healthy and resilient for the years ahead.

The LAMMA trip, on 15 January 2026, is something we are trying for the first time. Kindly supported by Krone UK, Future Farmers is offering 45 places on our coach trip to the agricultural machinery and technology show at the NEC in Birmingham for just £10 per person to cover transport costs. I hope to see many of you there – it will be a great way to connect ahead of the Yorkshire Farming Conference a couple of weeks later.

Future Farmers of Yorkshire is free to join and open to everyone in the industry, regardless of age or experience, see yas.co.uk/futurefarmers where you’ll also find full details and can sign up to our visit to LAMMA.

7 year Itch: Is UK agriculture more in control since Brexit? takes place between 9:45 – 10:45 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