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

Bishop Burton College is preparing itself for an influx of farmers, food producers and rural and allied businesses on Tuesday and Thursday.

Organised by the college’s Centre for Agricultural Innovation, in partnership with Masstock Arable, the events include 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 on Tuesday includes presentations by Graham Stuart MP, Masstock’s David Neale and Prof 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 will feature farm machinery and technological innovations and seminars presented by Countryfile’s Adam Henson and GM expert Dr Julian Little, who spoke at the recent Oxford Farming Conference.

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

She added: “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, firmly believes in building links with educational institutions.

“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 this week of activities in partnership with Bishop Burton College.”

To attend the business conference, contact Ruth Hankinson on 01964-553134 or email ruth.hankinson@ bishopburton.ac.uk.

To attend the Masstock SMART exhibition, contact Hazel Dawson on 01759-302002.