Defra minister key speaker at northern farming summit

Defra minister, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at this year’s event which will be held on Friday, November 9 at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

Lord Taylor will head an impressive line-up of speakers including Defra shadow secretary, Mary Creagh, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee, Anne McIntosh and rural policy and agricultural affairs expert, Professor Allan Buckwell.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn, who is part of the organising committee, said: “This is the third year that we have run the Northern Farming Conference and I am delighted that we have once again attracted such a great range of high-profile speakers.

“The conference has established itself as a key source of information for farmers and landowners in the North wanting to know about the latest industry developments that will help them to plan their business activities.”

Subjects include future government and EU policy, the recruitment and education of farmers, sustainable farming and updates on the arable and livestock sectors. The political speakers will also form a Question Time-type panel in a session led by Strutt & Parker partner Alistair Cochrane.

Conference chairman Harry Chrisp, a Northumberland farmer and a solicitor at Gibson & Co in Hexham, said the recruitment of young farmers was a key issue for the industry. For information and to book telephone 01748 907070.