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More than 700 farming people have been brought together for the first-ever Yorkshire Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire Showground, with organisers hailing the event a huge success.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society‘s new event for everyone in agriculture was a vibrant occasion with a bustling atmosphere inside the Great Yorkshire Events Centre.

Thirty-nine industry speakers discussed pressing farming topics during a series of workshops and talks, and more than 60 businesses and organisations connected with farmers in the sold-out Trade Show.

Such has been the response in its first year, the Society has confirmed that the Yorkshire Farming Conference will return next year, on Wednesday 27 January 2027.

Allister Nixon, CEO of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said:

“What a fantastic landmark first Yorkshire Farming Conference we have enjoyed. The event has been brilliantly attended and supported by the agricultural sector.

“It was a real pleasure to bring everyone together, particularly at the start of a new year and ahead of the Great Yorkshire Show in July.

“I hope that everyone who attended the conference has been inspired by what they have heard, feels that bit more emboldened about the direction of their farm business, and made a new connection or two.”

Farmer to farmer conversation was at the core of the event, with frank and fascinating talks covering a variety of topics.

From Soil to Start-Up sponsored by Pasture for Life, saw Dales beef and sheep farmer Tom Carlisle and sisters Tamara Hall and Camilla Parsonage of Molescroft Farm Estate, Beverley, open up about how they had established successful diversified income streams that run side-by-side with commercial farming.

Tom, whose glamping pods took off as people holidayed domestically amid COVID pandemic uncertainty, offered this advice to farmers thinking of diversifying:

“Having a business plan and a get-out plan is really important. Have a realistic budget, passion and drive. You have really got to be committed to the diversification.”

Camilla Parsonage, MD of Molescroft Farm Children’s Nursery which is expanding to meet a two-year waiting list, such has been its success as part of the farm estate which is managed by sister Tamara, said:

“Diversifying is not just a quick fix. Find something you are really passionate about, work really hard and you will make a success of it.”

Farming Safe – Farming Strong sponsored by Merit Advantage and Geo, was a heartfelt discussion about mental and physical wellbeing in agriculture, chaired by David Exwood, Deputy President of the National Farmers’ Union.

Andy Venables, CEO of Hillsgreen, one of the speakers, said:

“Start by looking after ‘Number One’ if you want to look after your business and your family. Let’s all pull together and help each other and champion this great industry we are part of.”

During a debate on Farmers’ Role in the Big Food Picture sponsored by Sofina, Zulfi Karim, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, said:

“Too many people don’t know how to cook. The connection between farming and cooking in schools is really important and should be brought back.”

Cumbrian farmer and best-selling author James Rebanks was the keynote speaker.

From the Keynote Theatre sponsored by Barclays, James encouraged farmers not to feel beholden to how their farm had been run by previous generations, saying:

“Nobody has ever farmed your farm in 2026, never when they have faced these prices, when input costs are like this, when BPS (Basic Payment Scheme) has disappeared.

“Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t make it work like your dad did. It’s a fundamentally different world.”

The conference was attended by high-profile guests including the Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner, and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, who met farmers during a private roundtable discussion.

The event was a collaboration between the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and its farming networks – Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Farmer Scientist Network, Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Women In Farming Network and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network – and gave farmers the chance to find out more about the Society’s work to support education and development, promote innovation and help farmers seize opportunities.

For more details, see yas.co.uk

Hundreds of farmers are set to attend the first-ever Yorkshire Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Wednesday 28 January 2026, with a limited number of tickets available to purchase in advance only with a week to go.

The conference’s trade show is fully sold out and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, organisers of the event in collaboration with its farming networks, is excited by the response in the conference’s maiden year.

More than 60 farming and rural businesses and organisations are part of the trade show and nearly 40 industry speakers take centre stage for a series of workshops, including a 2026 Briefing for Farmers covering financial and policy implications of government announcements, with an animal health briefing from leading veterinarian, Professor Jonathan Statham of Bishopton Vets.

Allister Nixon, CEO of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said:

“This is exactly the response we hoped for. So many people from within this great industry are getting behind the Yorkshire Farming Conference. By holding a conference that’s loaded with farmer-to-farmer conversations and opportunities to connect with each other, there are so many great reasons to attend as a member of the farming community.”

High-profile speakers include James Rebanks, the Cumbrian farmer and best-selling author who will deliver an address on the Keynote Stage, sponsored by Barclays, before signing copies of his books, The Shepherd’s Life, English Pastoral and The Place of Tides.

Other industry names on the bill include Tom Carlisle, Yorkshire Dales farmer and social media star, Sue Pritchard, Chief Executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, and arable farmer Guy Poskitt of Mark H Poskitt Ltd.

A wide range of agricultural topics, from whether UK agriculture is more in control since Brexit to farming safer and stronger will be covered by workshops chaired by the likes of Nigel Murray, MD of Booths, David Exwood, Deputy President of the National Farmers Union and Olivia Midgley, Editorial Director of Farmers Guardian.

A session about The Farmer’s Role in the Big Food Picture will be opened by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith.

For the first time in one place, the conference brings together the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s farming networks – Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Farmer Scientist Network, Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Women In Farming Network and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network – to showcase the Society’s work to support education and development, promote innovation and help farmers seize opportunities.

Allister added:

“The Yorkshire Farming Conference is a great way to find out about the many ways you can benefit from the wide-ranging, year-round work of the Society. We are really looking forward to welcoming the farming community to the Great Yorkshire Showground for this event. It’s going to be a brilliant occasion.”

Dedicated networking sessions offer opportunities to meet the Society’s networks – the Yorkshire Rural Support Network and the Women In Farming at 10.45am and Future Farmers and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network at 2.45pm.

The Farmer Scientist Network is part of the trade show, and farmers can purchase discounted farmer rate tickets for the Great Yorkshire Show at the Society’s stand.

The trade show is a chance to scope out new machinery and technology, speak to rural advisory and professional service providers, and find out about support for farming families.

There will be businesses specialising in everything from agricultural technology and farm management software, to fencing and farm buildings.

Free blood pressure checks will be available at the Field Nurse stand.

The Yorkshire Farming Conference is for everyone working in agriculture and takes place on 28 January 2026 at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from 9am to 5pm.

Farmers can claim BASIS and NroSo (CPD) points at the event.

Tickets, priced £25 + VAT, are available to purchase in advance only, here until 7pm on Tuesday 27 January, subject to availability.

A discount is available for group bookings of 10 or more.

Tickets can also be purchased in-person, subject to availability, from Russells machinery outlets in Boroughbridge, Eggborough, Malton and Northallerton.

Tickets are selling fast for the first-ever Yorkshire Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Wednesday 28 January 2026, as farmer Tom Carlisle becomes the latest speaker joining the line-up.

Tom, a sheep and beef farmer in the Yorkshire Dales near Skipton, shares his farming life with more than 50,000 followers on social media.

He will be speaking at the Conference about Coxons farm glamping pods, his successful diversification as part of a panel workshop.

Chaired by Farmers Copleys’ Heather Copley and sponsored by Pasture for Life, From Soil to Start-Up will explore what it really takes to make fresh ideas work on the ground.

Tom said:

“It is a pleasure to be asked to be involved in the Yorkshire Farming Conference and I very much look forward to sharing my knowledge as well as learning from others.”

Organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the Yorkshire Farming Conference is the first landmark event brought together in collaboration with the Society’s farming networks – Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Farmer Scientist Network, Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Women In Farming Network and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network.

Each of the networks is guided by farmers and funded and coordinated by the Society to support those working in the industry.

As well as a chance to hear from more than 30 industry speakers, the Conference brings the farming community together.

Meet our Farming Networks – details

During the day, there will be chances to meet with the Society’s farming networks, to connect with likeminded people and find out more about what other opportunities the networks offer, year-round.

The Yorkshire Rural Support Network and the Women In Farming Network will host a networking session between 10.45am and 11.45am, followed by a session hosted by Future Farmers of Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network at 2.45pm to 3.15pm. All conference delegates are welcome at either session.

The Farmer Scientist Network can be visited as part of the bustling trade show, which runs throughout the day.

Allister Nixon, CEO of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said:

“At the heart of this event is a drive to connect farming people, offer inspiration and ideas, and an opportunity to find out more about what the Society offers to nurture professional development, business direction and health and wellbeing.

“We want the first-ever Yorkshire Farming Conference to leave a lasting impression for the benefit of farmers.”

At the trade show, farmers will be able to scope out new machinery and technology, speak to rural advisory and professional service providers about a range of issues, and find out more about support available to farming families.

Among the 60-plus trade stands will be businesses offering everything from agricultural technology and farm management software, to fencing and farm buildings, and organisations such as the Forestry Commission, National Farmers Union, Natural England, Rural Business Network and the Rural Payments Agency.

Headlining the conference’s Keynote Theatre, sponsored by Barclays, is Cumbrian farmer and best-selling author James Rebanks who will offer an address to farmers on his outlook on agriculture.

James is one of a high-profile line up of farmers and industry speakers who will be discussing big topics, from policy changes to whether UK agriculture is more in control since Brexit, and how to farm smarter using fewer inputs.

The Yorkshire Farming Conference is for everyone working in agriculture and takes place on 28 January 2026 at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from 9am to 5pm.

Farmers can claim BASIS and NroSo (CPD) points at the event.

Tickets, priced £25 + VAT, are available to purchase in advance only, here

A discount is available for group bookings of 10 or more.

Tickets can also be purchased in-person, subject to availability, from Russells farm machinery outlets in Boroughbridge, Eggborough, Malton and Northallerton.

The start of a new year is a bit of a funny one as a farmer. It’s not a case of firing back up, naturally re-energised after switching off from work for a few weeks, but more of a continuation of the graft that goes on day to day, regardless of the recent festivities – a point I make as an observation rather than a complaint.

Without having the option of downing tools in the same way as others, it’s important for all of us in farming to give pause for thought about how else we can fire fresh spark to take on the months ahead, particularly when the early morning rounds to feed livestock pack a chill and everything feels that bit more of an effort.

The conditions at this time of the year can limit the work you can get done on the farm, depending on your business model, but repairs and paper work tend to become bigger draws on your time.

It is a time of the year that does come with a benefit – for those with lighter duties, there’s a greater chance to get off the farm and seek out inspiration or ideas to steady the cumulative strain of duty back home, and to even enjoy a boost in confidence and community spirit to inject positivity.

I’m really looking forward to the Yorkshire Farming Conference, being held by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and its farming networks for the first time, at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Wednesday 28 January.

You know how after Christmas, when you need something to get you through the winter?

I think conference season is a really good time to get together with the rest of the farming community, to meet old friends and make new friends, and the Yorkshire Farming Conference is going to be extra special.

It’s a very accessible price point, at £25, to attend and it brings together all the farming networks in the Yorkshire Agricultural Society – and there’s so many different facets to that, so it’s going to be a really interesting day to get together at the Showground.

We’ll be hearing from industry speakers who will talk about all sorts of farming topics, as well as enjoying the social side with lots of likeminded people who are all working through the same challenges back home.

Among those lined up to speak are farmers James Rebanks, David Exwood, Tamara Hall and Guy Poskitt – ‘farmer-to-farmer’ conversation is very much at the heart of this event.

The trade show, running throughout the day, is a brilliant part of what’s on offer.

There will be more than 50 farming and rural businesses and organisations represented, so if you’re looking to scope out a machinery or structural investment on the farm, get professional guidance on particular issues or would like to find out what support is available to farming families – the trade show is a one-stop shop.

I hope to see lots of familiar and new faces there. It’s going to a fantastic trip off the farm to re-energise, re-focus, resume friendships over lunch and make new connections, all inside in the warm with hundreds of others from the industry.

Wishing you and your families a happy new year.

Tickets, priced £25 + VAT, are available to purchase in advance only, online at yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk

A discount is available for group bookings of 10 or more. Tickets can also be purchased in-person, subject to availability, from Russells farm machinery outlets in Boroughbridge, Eggborough, Malton and Northallerton.

Rachel Coates is a West Yorkshire dairy farmer and Honorary Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show.

Opportunities to improve how farmers, processors and retailers work together will be debated by a high-profile panel of speakers, as more than 50 farming and food businesses and organisations are brought together at the Yorkshire Farming Conference on Wednesday 28 January.

A wealth of experience and broad perspectives from across the food supply chain will make for a fascinating workshop, In the Middle: The Farmer’s Role in the Big Food Picture, as part of the conference’s packed programme at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Nigel Murray, Managing Director of Booths supermarkets will chair the session. He will be joined by, among others, Sue Pritchard, Chief Executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission and Zulfi Karim, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and Programme Director of NHS Well Bradford, an initiative to tackle health inequalities.

Sponsored by Sofina and led by the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network, it is one of a series of talks looking at key agricultural issues at the inaugural Yorkshire Farming Conference.

Organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the Conference will run alongside a bustling trade show. Farmers will be able to scope out new machinery and technology, speak to rural advisory and professional service providers about a range of issues, and find out more about support available to farming families.

Nigel Murray said:

“As a resident of North Yorkshire and an advocate for a better farming-led food system, I’m delighted to see this inaugural event take place and hope to see it become an annual event.”

The Yorkshire Farming Conference is the first landmark event brought together by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s farming networks – Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Farmer Scientist Network, Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Women In Farming Network and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network. Each network is guided by farmers and funded and coordinated by the Society to support those working in the industry.

Tango Fawcett, Chair of the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network said:

“Having been involved with all the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s farming networks, I am thrilled that we are all coming together for the Yorkshire Farming Conference on Wednesday 28 January.

“A whole day of workshops and a large variety of trade stands will make for an inspiring, networking event, just at the time of the year when it is needed most. Connecting farming with food is integral to our well-being and health, as well as the well-being and health of our land and farmers.”

The trade show is a chance to talk to more than 50 agricultural businesses and organisations, as well as charities offering expert support to farming families: Addington Fund, Field Nurse, Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, Papyrus, RABI, Samaritans and The Farming Community Network. Organisations such as the Rural Payments Agency, National Farmers Union and Rural Business Network will be available to speak to, and businesses offering everything from agricultural technology and farm management software, to fencing and farm buildings.

Cumbrian farmer and best-selling author James Rebanks is the keynote speaker, offering an address to farmers on his outlook on agriculture. James is one of a growing line up of farmers and industry speakers who will be discussing big topics, from policy changes to whether UK agriculture is more in control since Brexit and what it takes to make fresh farm business ideas work on the ground.

The Yorkshire Farming Conference is for everyone working in agriculture and takes place on 28 January 2026 at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from 9am to 5pm. Farmers can claim BASIS and NroSo (CPD) points at the event.

Tickets, priced £25 + VAT, are available to purchase in advance only, online at yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk

A discount is available for group bookings of 10 or more. Tickets can also be purchased in-person, subject to availability, from Russells farm machinery outlets in Boroughbridge, Eggborough, Malton and Northallerton.

Actionable tools for farmers to make a difference to farm safety and their wellbeing will be shared at the first-ever Yorkshire Farming Conference, in a workshop headed up by NFU Deputy President, David Exwood.

David, a national voice for UK agriculture in his role at the National Farmers Union, is the latest high-profile speaker to join the line-up for the Conference.

Organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and taking place on Wednesday 28 January 2026 at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, the conference will feature a packed trade show, networking opportunities and a series of talks and workshops.

As a farmer himself, in West Sussex, David will Chair the Farming safe – farming strong session which will offer a fresh take on farm safety and wellbeing: no lectures, just real stories and actionable tools for the benefit of everyone in farming. It will be a frank, peer-led and positive conversation, showcasing the lived experience of farmers.

David said:

“Farming is one of the most rewarding professions, but it remains one of the most dangerous. Too many families are left devastated by preventable accidents each year and that’s why it’s vital we keep talking openly about safety and wellbeing as an industry.

“Our campaign pledge, asking members to Take Five on farm safety, means even small changes, from taking a moment to pause, wearing a helmet and checking your machinery, can save lives.

“I’m looking forward to the discussion and to working together on building the cultural shift we need. By sharing our experiences and focusing on practical steps, we can build the confidence to make safety an everyday habit so we can all get home safe at the end of the working day.”

Farming safe – farming strong is led by the Society’s Yorkshire Rural Support Network and is framed around both physical risks and mental health.

Jill Gray, farmer and Chair of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network said:

“This workshop will hopefully encourage our farming community to ask for support if they are struggling with mental health, and to consider all the consequences of taking risks when working on the farm. Farmers, we are not indestructible. It’s okay to ask for support.”

The trade show at the conference is a chance to talk to dozens of agricultural businesses and organisations, as well as charities offering expert support to farming families: Addington Fund, Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, RABI, Samaritans and The Farming Community Network.

Big topics up for discussion during a series of talks include policy changes, the farmer’s role in the big food picture, and farming smarter by using technology and through crop choices.

Cumbrian farmer and best-selling author James Rebanks is the keynote speaker. He will be joined by a host of others from the industry such as Nuffield Scholar Tamara Hall, MD of Molescroft Farm, rural affairs journalist Anna Jones, founder and MD of Just Farmers, and arable farmer Guy Poskitt, of the award-winning Poskitts which specialises in growing carrots, parsnips and potatoes.

The Yorkshire Farming Conference is for everyone working in agriculture and takes place on 28 January 2026 at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from 9am to 5pm. Farmers can claim BASIS and NroSo (CPD) points at the event.

It is the first landmark event brought together by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s farming networks – Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Farmer Scientist Network, Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Women In Farming Network and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network. Each of the networks is guided by farmers and funded and coordinated by the Society to support those working in the industry.

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

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

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

The importance of community and collaboration in agriculture is being brought to the fore as the schedule takes shape for the first-ever Yorkshire Farming Conference, held by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

At the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on Wednesday 28 January, the Conference will be a platform for big topics, from policy changes to the farmer’s role in the big food picture, as part of a varied programme that will emphasise the close connections that drive the industry forward in an ever-changing world.

Dairy farmer and Great Yorkshire Show Director, Rachel Coates will chair Behind the Scenes of Showing on behalf of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women In Farming Network.

A panel including serial show winner Anna Pennell and showing judge Ashleigh Fenwick will share their experiences of showtime preparation and judging, whilst telling of the friendships that continue to make showing such an enduring part of farming life for many.

Rachel said:

“I’m really looking forward to this particular session of the Yorkshire Farming Conference. Showing has always been a huge part of my life. Beyond the benefits that come from enhancing the reputation of your stock by picking up a prized rosette, there is an amazing camaraderie that bonds show people.

“The friendships you make in the livestock rings, sheds and pens are testament to the strength of community that continues to exist in farming, generation after generation, and it’s something we should celebrate.”

The power of collaboration between farmers will also be celebrated at the Conference, including during a session that focuses on mentorship and personal development.

Mentorship and Momentum will see first generation farmer Stephen Frankland and farm administrator Megan Hall explain how they have grown their confidence, knowledge and skills to take the next steps in their own agricultural careers after taking part in the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Goodall Agri-Development Pathway.

Applications for the 2026 Pathway are open until 1 December 2025 – follow this link for all the details.

Stephen and Megan will be joined by Nuffield Farming Scholar Helen Wyman, CEO of Conference sponsor TwoCan, who is building a cross-sector network where people support one another to grow.

Yorkshire arable farmer Guy Poskitt of Mark H Poskitt Ltd is the latest, well-respected industry speaker to join the line-up.

Guy is joined on the bill by keynote speaker, farmer and author James Rebanks, Richard Barker of Lingy Moor Farming Ltd, regenerative farmer advocate Mike Powley and Graham Potter of W Potter and Sons.

Other industry names confirmed include James Young, Vice President, Agriculture at McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, Professor Jonathan Statham, Chair of Bishopton Veterinary Group and Chief Executive of RAFT Solutions Ltd, Anna Jones, founder and MD of Just Farmers, and Olivia Midgley, Editorial Director of Farmers Guardian.

The Yorkshire Farming Conference is an event for everyone working in agriculture and takes place on 28 January 2026 at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from 9am to 5pm.

As well as a wide range of talks and workshops, there will be a trade show and farmers can claim BASIS and NroSo (CPD) points at the event.

This is the first landmark event brought together by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s farming networks – Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Farmer Scientist Network, Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Women In Farming Network and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network. Each of these networks is guided by farmers and funded and coordinated by the Society to support those working in the industry.

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 announcements about the conference line-up, visit yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk

Stephen Frankland is a first-generation farmer from Ingleton, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. He’ll be speaking at the Yorkshire Farming Conference where he hopes to inspire others in farming to pursue professional development opportunities.

As a first-generation farmer pursing my farming dream, it is a real honour to be asked to speak at the Yorkshire Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Wednesday 28 January.

I was a member of the first group of Pathfinders to take the Society’s Goodall Agri-Development Pathway in 2024. I had seen it advertised and thought it was just what I needed to give me the guidance to push my farm business to the next level.

It was a big step, meeting new people from totally different areas but it has really transformed me and made me realise what can be gained by stepping out of your comfort zone.

The Goodall Pathway has opened many doors to help me progress my business and really inspired me to try and help others where I can.

The application window is open to be part of the next round of the Goodall Pathway, until 1 December.

An annual programme with eight modules to complete, you get to visit farms and conferences, hear from expert speakers and enjoy an international study trip.

It’s fully-funded by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and open to anyone aged between 23 and 40 who works in farming and allied industries in the North of England. Have a look at the Society’s website – yas.co.uk – to find out more.

I’ll be sharing a little bit more of my own personal story, and how I’ve benefited from expanding my horizons, at the Yorkshire Farming Conference.

The session I’ll be speaking at is titled Mentorship & Momentum: Your Next Step in Personal Development and it will be a really useful talk to come to if you are interested in finding out more about some of the brilliant opportunities that are available to us in farming to support our development.

As well as the Goodall Pathway, it will cover Nuffield Farming Scholarships and mentorship schemes. If you are looking to take the next step in your farming career, like I was, this is a session that’s not to be missed.

The Conference is going to be a great place for everyone in farming to come together and share ideas and hopefully everyone leaves the event feeling stronger, united and better prepared for the road ahead, whatever that looks like for you.

Mentorship & Momentum: Your Next Step in Personal Development will take place between 11:45-12:45 and is listed in the Workshop 1 schedule

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 announcements about the conference line-up, visit yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk