Michael Gove, Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be guest speaker at a conference organised by the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network.

Farmers will have the chance to put questions to Mr Gove as part of the event – “Defining a Future for Yorkshire Farming” – organised by the Network, part of Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Free to attend, there will be talks from industry leaders covering all aspects of farming at the event held at the National Agri-food Campus, Sand Hutton, York, on Thursday November 15.

Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: “We are a great productive county both on livestock and arable farming and we have some very innovative forward thinking farmers here in Yorkshire. This is an opportunity to speak directly to leaders of the agricultural sector, to raise concerns and ask questions of the policy makers and we are delighted that Mr Gove has agreed to headline this event and take questions from real farmers about real issues. We would appeal to the farming community to take up this opportunity and attend to have their voice heard.”

David Kerfoot MBE DL, Chairman of the York, North Yorkshire, East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership will launch the much anticipated ‘Grow Yorkshire’, a new collaborative approach to growing incomes in farming and food businesses. The Grow Yorkshire message is simple: ‘Change is coming, you need to have a plan. You can grow your business if you want, we will show you how others have. Help with change is available, we can help you find it.’

Tom Martin, Arable Farmer Cambridgeshire will be delivering a talk about his pioneering project “FaceTime a Farmer” which teaches schoolchildren about farming, food and the environment. There will be a live link up to a classroom during the event to demonstrate the idea of teaching children about rural life.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Malton and Thirsk will chair the conference and guest speakers will include Julian Sturdy MP for York Outer, David Kerfoot Chair of York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, Adam Bedford, Regional Director for the North East, National Farmers’ Union, Dorothy Fairburn, Director for the North, Country Land and Business Association.

Before the conference, delegates will be given guided tours of Centre for Crop Health and Protection’s (CHAP) facilities at Sand Hutton where they will have a chance to see Europe’s most advanced edge-of-field water assessment facility to test plant protection products.

This includes a LED lighting and hydroponics demonstration showcasing indoor year-round crop production; an introduction to the Crop Monitor which provides up to date measurements of crop health and disease across the UK; and the CHAP mobile laboratories offering on the spot advice for farmers in the field.

This event is kindly sponsored by the NFU, CLA, York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, McCain and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, visits the Great Yorkshire Show. Pictured with Charles Mills, Show Director.