This year’s Cereals event is packed with the latest technical and business advice as well as some important new initiatives, says event director Jon Day.

After three very successful years at Boothby Graffoe in Lincolnshire, Cereals has headed south to team up again with 2010 host Robert Law and his excellent site at Chrishall Grange.

There is a lot to look forward to. Our 500 exhibitors continue to develop the event’s core offerings, ensuring visitors find all the technical expertise and advice they need.

Just about every agronomy issue is covered in the crop plots and beyond, along with some of the most fascinating agricultural research on the planet from both independent organisations and commercial companies.

See also: Read more on this year’s Cereals event

If you have a question about precision farming, be sure you’ll find an answer. If you are in the market for new kit, chances are you’ll find it among the massed ranks of gleaming machinery that are another Cereals hallmark.

In addition, specialist areas covering business and finance, renewables, post-harvest technology, potatoes and careers and education are packed with helpful people ready to answer questions.

The Arable Conference, in partnership with the Oxford Farming Conference, has an excellent line-up of speakers, including DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson and NFU president Meurig Raymond on the same platform. Get ready for an interesting discussion on the three-crop rule.

In addition, the popular technical seminars introduced in 2013 return this year to highlight some of the sector’s key challenges and discuss how they can be managed.

There are several new initiatives this year. The Inspire pavilion aims to encourage young people to consider the vast and varied career opportunities our vibrant agricultural industry offers.

Cereals is hosting a CPD points trail, offering 12 BASIS points and eight NRoSO points, underlining the importance that the industry now puts on the event.

The event is also hosting the new International Machinery Manufacturers’ Awards, new “industry Oscars” open to any kit launched in the past 18 months by companies selling farm machinery in the UK.

UK Trade and Investment is supporting the overseas lounge, helping visitors from here and abroad seek out opportunities for export.

On behalf of Haymarket Exhibitions I would like to thank our principal sponsor HSBC and all other partners and exhibitors for their continued support, and to all our visitors for attending and helping to make Cereals the industry’s leading arable event.

Welcome to Cereals 2014.

Jon Day
Event director