The Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) is best known for organising the Great Yorkshire Show each July but perhaps is lesser known for the work it does throughout the rest of the year.
The new Yorkshire Farming Conference, taking place on Wednesday 28 January at the Great Yorkshire Showground, will help to change that. YAS is organising this major event for the first time, in collaboration with its Farming Networks, as part of its annual circa £500,000 investment to deliver support and promote agriculture and rural industries across Yorkshire and the North of England.
Aimed at everyone working in agriculture, the Conference features a full programme of inspiring talks and workshops, covering everything from farming smarter, policy implications and strengthening supply chains, to the world of livestock showing and wellbeing support. A packed trade show will also mean farmers can scope out new machinery and technology, speak to rural advisory and professional service providers about a range of issues, and find out more about support available to them.
Allister Nixon, CEO of YAS, said: “Tickets are on sale now for the Conference, which will spotlight big topics with leading lights from across farming. It is an event for everyone in the industry, backed by a trade show and with a full day to make connections with others in farming, hear and take part in topical talks and find out more about what YAS offers.”
A registered charity, founded in 1837, YAS was established to promote agriculture in Yorkshire, and its first objective was to run a major agricultural event. The Great Yorkshire Show was born as a touring show at sites across Yorkshire, with the first show held in Fulford, York, in 1838. This remained the case until 1951, when the show took place for the first time at its new permanent home, the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.
This investment to purchase the Showground and the subsequent establishment of its Showground businesses (Fodder, The Great Yorkshire Events Centre, Pavilions of Harrogate and Harrogate Caravan Park), whose profits are invested back into the charity, helps YAS to flourish. What’s more, an independent analysis in 2019 found that businesses and events held at the Great Yorkshire Showground contributed £73.7 million to the economy.
With these firm foundations, YAS’s work has grown considerably over recent decades. YAS supports and promotes the farming industry through events, training, grants, bursaries, scholarships, education, scientific research, practical support and stakeholder engagement. It does much of this work through its Farming Networks.
Future Farmers of Yorkshire is the group for forward-thinking farmers, vets and industry supporters, which offers events and activities to promote professional development and provide networking opportunities.
The Farmer Scientist Network brings together scientists and farmers to explore how science and technology can both solve practical problems on farms and underpin innovation in agriculture for future generations.
The Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network is made up of local stakeholder groups, representing different areas of the region, to identify and feed back issues and concerns to government.
The Yorkshire Rural Support Network connects farming organisations, charities and voluntary agencies that work with and support Yorkshire’s farming community by promoting and providing sources of help – practical, financial, medical and emotional – to those who live in farming and rural communities.
The Women in Farming Network brings women from farming and related industries together in the spirit of celebration, support and collaboration.
YAS also offers the Goodall Agri-Development Pathway, a fully-funded training programme to develop farming’s next generation, open to those aged 23-40 who work in farming and allied industries in the North of England.
Since 1980, YAS has supported professional development in farming by sponsoring Nuffield Farming Scholarships, which enable farmers to travel internationally, report back on an industry issue and inform progressive change.
Its education programme includes Countryside Days, offering hands-on activities all about farming, food and the countryside to thousands of schoolchildren, free of charge, at the Great Yorkshire Showground over two days in June.
YAS small grants are available to individuals and organisations to: support and promote agriculture, rural and allied industries throughout the North; advance and encourage agricultural research and greater understanding and empathy with farming and the countryside; and, to advance and encourage the protection and sustainability of the environment.
The Tye Trophy, awarded by YAS at the Great Yorkshire Show, recognises conservation and environmental improvements in commercially successful farms and is judged across the North.
Tickets for the Yorkshire Farming Conference, priced £25 + VAT, are available to purchase in advance only, online at yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk. A discount is available for group bookings of 10 or more. Tickets can also be purchased in-person, subject to availability, from Russells farm machinery outlets in Boroughbridge, Eggborough, Malton and Northallerton. BASIS and NroSo (CPD) points can be claimed at the event.
