A THOUSAND farmers are expected to descend on Bishop Burton College next week.

Bishop Burton College, Beverley, East Yorkshire, is preparing itself for an influx of farmers, food producers and rural and allied businesses.

Organised by the college’s Centre for Agricultural Innovation, in partnership with Masstock Arable, the event includes its annual Rural Business Conference and the Masstock SMART Farm Event. Both are free and open to anyone with an interest in farming and food production.

The Rural Business Conference next Tuesday includes presentations by Graham Stuart MP, Masstock’s David Neale and Professor George Marshall, of the Scottish Agricultural College.

Entitled Food Production: More for Less, it continues on the theme of last year’s conference, which examined the challenges facing farmers from climate change and population growth.

The Masstock event on Thursday, February 10, will feature farm machinery and technological innovations and seminars presented by BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson and GM expert Dr Julian Little, who spoke at the recent Oxford Farming Conference.

Organisers are expecting an attendance of more than 1,000 at the two events.

Jeanette Dawson, Bishop Burton College principal, said last year’s events were particularly successful.

She said: “Running them together presents our students with the opportunity to meet employers and find ways we can work together – particularly through applied research under the guidance of the college’s Centre for Agricultural Innovation.”

David Neale, Masstock business development manager, will speak about Turning R&D and new crop developments in to achievable farm yield Increases at the Rural Business Conference and is involved in organising the Masstock SMART Farm exhibition.

He believes that building links with educational institutions is the way forward.

“The future of farming is dependent on a flourishing educational process that connects with frontline agriculture,” he said, “For anyone in our industry to ignore the youth then they do so at their peril. At Masstock, we have a proactive and high-level requirement for a regular intake of new entrants into all sectors of our business and hence we recognise the importance of the week.”

To attend the business conference, call 01964-553134 or email ruth.hankinson@bishopburton.

ac.uk For the exhibition, call Hazel Dawson on 01759-302002.