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 at the Great Yorkshire Showground.
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, where NFU North County Advisers Laurie Norris (North Riding and Durham) Jennifer Costello (Yorkshire West Riding) and Charlotte Dring (Northumberland) manned the NFU stand. Yorkshire West Riding County Chair Richard Pears was also on stand to greet the public.
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.”
Fascinating talks
Farmer to farmer conversation was at the core of the event, with frank and fascinating talks covering a variety of topics.
‘Farming Safe – Farming Strong’ sponsored by Merit Advantage and Geo, was a heartfelt discussion about mental and physical wellbeing in agriculture, chaired by NFU Deputy President David Exwood. Andy Venebales, 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.”
‘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 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, 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.”
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 and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network.