A crowded conference hall greeted delegates today (Tuesday) at Bishop Burton College’s annual Rural Business Conference.

The event, entitled ‘Food Production: Drivers for Success’ provided attendees with lots to debate as speakers covered topics such as CAP reform, nutrient management and renewables.

Organiser and the College’s deputy principal Kevin Kendall felt the conference gave farmers and growers many reasons to be optimistic.

“The presentation from Kevin Roberts of the NFU was very positive,” said Kevin. “It was optimistic for the future and provided delegates with a sense of hope.

“Peter Fane of Eurinco presented a very detailed examination of the imminent CAP Reforms and urged farmers to try and make it work for them, while Dr Robert Shiel of the University of Newcastle offered some very sound advice on nutrient management.

“It was interesting because he used established principles, but in a very modern context which gave us a lot to think about.

“The end of the morning session saw Professor Simon McQueen-Mason take to the stage to show how very basic research, but at a molecular level, is allowing scientists to discover how to extract sugars from woody matter such as miscanthus. These sugars can then be fermented to make fuel.

“It was absolutely fascinating.”

Kevin went on to describe how the event had taken delegates out of their comfort zone and given them a host of new ideas.

Adam Bedford, senior food and farming advisor for the NFU agreed.

He said: “It’s been a great event. None of the speakers said anything that was designed to be a crowd-pleaser.

“They were hopeful and optimistic for the future but made it clear that production in the future is not going to be easy.

“It was great to kick the event off with some technical presentations with information on policy and NFU input and they certainly provoked debate.”

Christopher Pitt farms 250 acres of organic sheep, beef and arable at Whenby near York – he was particularly interested in the presentation by Peter Fane of Eurinco.

“It was fantastic,” said Christopher. “The presentation brought in research conducted in the 1920s that I had come across myself, and brought it right up to date. 

“It was also interesting to see how policy makers were starting to question the ICI Handbook and talk about encouraging the growth of clover and herbs, which as an organic farmer; I’m very much in favour of.”

Agriculture student Tom Chalk of Northallerton was also enjoying the event. He found the presentation by Dr Robert Shiel the most interesting.

Tom said: “It’s been really good. Dr Shiel from the University of Newcastle gave a great presentation about nutrient management and about how the soil is the most precious thing we have, as it forms the bedrock of everything we as farmers, do.”