Future of Farming

Cultivating sustainability; looking after ourselves, the environment and our businesses

The Future of Farming area and theatre will once again be an important feature of the Royal Three Counties Show thanks to our returning sponsors Virgin Money and Lightsource bp.

It will provide specialist, farmers and special guests in panels on stage and hosted networking sessions over the three days of the show bringing together farmers, professional, those based in agriculture and land-based professions as well as working to inform all visitors to the show about agriculture and its role.

Business, environmental and personal sustainability and resilience will form the heart of our three days, supported by The Rural Planning Co and others. With expert insight speakers together with farmer case studies of business and technical excellence, to share applicable, relevant, applied actions and technology.

The Future of Farming area and theatre will enable visitors to enhance their skills and knowledge or to keep their skills and knowledge up to date (hopefully with associated BASIS points) as well as provide a social space for farmers, agricultural and land based professional at the show.

Farming special guests will include Charlie Ireland from CERES Rural chairing a session in the Future of Farming Theatre on Friday, Matt Baker MBE appearing in various locations across the show on Saturday and Kaleb Cooper also joining us on Sunday. Ally Hunter Blair will also be at the show across the whole weekend.

Timetable

	Friday
9.00	Networking hosted by FWAG SouthWest
9.20	Welcome
9.30	Local Nature Recovery and Biodiversity; making it work for you and the environment	Katy McGuinness, Head of Environmental Planning, Northern Europe, Lightsource bp Nicola Hillary, Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership Manager Sarah Wells, Senior Farm Environment Advisor, FWAG SouthWest Chaired by Iwan Williams, Partner, Michelmores
10.30	Royal Three Counties Show Opening Ceremony & Long Service Awards
11.30	Unlock the hidden potential of your farm assets Join us as we embark on a virtual farm tour with a panel of experts who can help you enhance your assets and create additional income	Oliver Maxey, Regional Head of Agriculture – England, Virgin Money Hannah Moule, Founder and Planning Consultant, The Rural Planning Company Ben Allman, Partner and Head of Business Services, Ballards LLP Antony Pearce, Partner, Dudley Peverill Associates Stephen Kenyon, Regional Director Rural West England & Wales, Howden Chaired by Nicola Palmer, Marketing Manager, The Rural Planning Company
12.30	Networking hosted by The Rural Planning Company
13.00	Using data trends to make decisions Using the data farmers collect and have access to, to make better business decisions	Ben Thompson, Centre Manager, Hartpury Agri Tech Centre Ben Butler, Co-founder, Soil Benchmark Holly Shaw, Farmbench Manager, AHDB Chaired by Charles Day, Gloucestershire NFU
14.00	Networking hosted by Virgin Money
14:15	Benefits to your business of being better for the environment Benefits to the farmer of reducing on-farm GHG emissions; how farmers can play their part and potentially monetise	Brian Richardson, UK Head of Agriculture, Virgin Money Hugh Martineau, Technical Director of Sustainability, Map of Ag Chaired by Charlie Ireland, CERES Rural
15.00	Cattle – part of the solution, not the problem	Dr Lisa Morgans, Vet and Senior Lecturer in Animal Health & Welfare, Royal Agricultural University Professor Jude Capper, ABP Chair of Sustainable Beef and Sheep Production, Harper Adams University Arran Redman, Soils and Natural Resources Advisor, Innovation for Agriculture and Royal Agricultural Society of England Chaired by Paul Westaway, Melview Farming
16:00	Farmers Club Members Only Reception

	Saturday

9.50	Welcome
10.00	Water quality How we can improve water quality and our businesses	David Johnson, Technical Director, Rivers Trust Ben Nott, Agri-supply chain lead, The Wye and Usk Foundation Billy Lewis, Farmer Chaired by Paul Westaway, Melview Farming
11.00	An audience with Matt Baker MBE
12.00	Soil health What farmers can do and why it’s important to farm businesses as well as the environment	Tim Hassell, Farming and Food Manager, Madresfield Estate Arran Redman, Soils and Natural Resources Advisor, Innovation for Agriculture Niels Corfield, Advisor Chaired by Thomas Slaterry, UK Agri-Tech Centre Further panellists to be announced
13.00	Succession; getting the right people to help you find the best way	Lucie Hammond, Partner, Hazlewoods Jon Johnson, Managing Director, Mountain Perspective Martin Waite, Business Development Consultant, Ashbridge Partners Chaired by Iain Morrison, Partner, MFG Solicitors LLP
13.45	Networking hosted by Lightsource pb
14.00	Alternative land uses What are the options and what does this mean for you	Declan Keiley, Head of Development, UK & Ireland, Lightsource bp Amy Watkins, Sustainability Project Manager, Agrii Will Masefield, Severn Treescapes Project Manager, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Graham Clark, Senior Planning Consultant, Berrys Kate Speke-Adams, Managing Director, Herefordshire Rural Hub
14.45	Positive messaging in agriculture; working with the public	Ruthie Peterson, Careers Manager, TIAH Ernie Richards, Farmer Oliver Surman, Farmer Chaired by Iain Morrison, Partner, MFG Solicitors LLP
15.30	Young Farmers Club Reception
15.45	Positive messaging in agriculture; getting to grips with social media	Ally Hunter-Blair, Farmer Karl Franklin, The Pretend Farmer Ben Andrews, Farmer Ben
16.30	Screening of documentary feature film ‘Six inches of Soil’

	Sunday

10.20	Welcome and Young Farmers Club Reception
10.30	Getting into and growing your farming business Looking at different business models to grow success	Jill Hewitt, CEO, The National Association of Agricultural Contractors Ernie Richards, Farmer Paul Westaway, Melview Farming Tara Best, Bennetts Farm Shop Martin Waite, Business Development Consultant, Ashbridge Partners Chaired by Nick Dee, TCAS Council
11.15	An audience with Kaleb Cooper
12.15	Developing ourselves and those we work with for better resilience and mental health	Gemma Johnson, Director, Mountain Perspective Ben Andrews, Farmer Ben Rachael Chamberlayne, Farmer Chaired by Chris Lloyd
13.00	John Craven Q&A and Book Signing
13.45	Getting into Agriculture Developing your career in the diversity of agricultural roles and getting none-farmers into agriculture	Jonathan Powell, Agricultural Business Manager, Virgin Money British Racing School Helen Brookes, Engagement Director, UK Agri-Tech Centre Carol Bramhill, British Racing School Andrea Leach, Cotteswold Dairy Chaired by Ally Hunter-Blair, Farmer
14.45	JB Gill – an audience with and book signing
15.45	Screening of documentary feature film ‘Six inches of Soil’

If you would like to be involved in the Future of Farming Theatre, please email helena.grant@threecounties.co.uk

If you would like updates about the Future of Farming Theatre as we draw closer to the show please complete the form here.