Defra and NFU kick off 2026 with farm business events

Farmers across England have a packed calendar of opportunities in early 2026 to meet Defra representatives and hear from industry experts on farm business and environmental issues.

Defra’s strategic engagement team will attend major agricultural events in January and February, giving farmers the chance to ask questions and provide feedback on government plans.

See also: What are industry leaders’ greatest hopes and fears for 2026?

Events at which attendance is confirmed include the Oxford Farming Conference and Oxford Real Farming Conference (8-9 January), Lamma & CropTec (14-15 January, West Midlands), the Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show (4 February, Yorkshire & the Humber), Dairy-Tech (10 February, West Midlands), and the NFU Conference (24 February, West Midlands).

Farmers and event organisers can suggest additional shows they think Defra should attend via the department’s online portal.

Separately, the NFU is hosting a series of farm business updates, including seven morning events with guest speakers, presentations by the NFU’s Richard Wordsworth outlining the progress of Defra schemes, the latest on water company schemes and environmental guidance, and networking opportunities.

Sessions run 9.15am-12.15pm, followed by a free lunch.

Highlights include:

• 13 January, Marford Hall, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire – Teresa Meadows on integrated pest management in UK arable farming
• 20-21 January, Norfolk – Izak van Heerden and Tom Pearson on future leadership and agri-health
• 27-28 January, West Midlands and Essex – Ruth Grice and Izak van Heerden on sustainable food security and leadership
• 4-5 February, Suffolk – Kendra Hall and Teresa Meadows on transparency of livestock production and crop management.

A special Farm Business Resilience event will be held on 21 January at Colworth Park, Bedfordshire, focusing on smart farming, AI for herbicide reduction, agronomic planning, and soil health. It will feature local farmers and agronomists.

Meanwhile, the NFU South business resilience roadshow – a member-exclusive event – takes place on 8 January.

NFU members are encouraged to register for events and submit questions ahead of time, ensuring their voices help shape policy and support practical farming solutions in 2026.

For full details and registration, farmers can contact their local NFU adviser or visit the NFU and Defra websites.

Scotland and Wales

The NFU Scotland Future Support Roadshow visits McDiarmid Park, Perth on 19 January, giving members the chance to share feedback and help shape future agricultural support. NFUS members must register in advance.

In Wales, NFU Cymru has a busy start to 2026, with county conferences and officeholder hustings in January.