Quiz the speakers
Fantastic opportunity to put your questions forward and hear what the speakers have to say.
A series of regional LIVE debates
Policy makers and influential figures will be talking about key agricultural topics and current affairs that are relevant to your region.
Networking opportunity
Following the event, there will be an evening drinks reception where you will have the opportunity to network with likeminded peers in the industry.
Meet the QuestionTime host
Voice of the Farmers Weekly podcast and projects editor, Johann Tasker, is taking to the stage to host our new Question Time live show.
A long-standing and integral member of the Farmers Weekly team, he has been reporting and analysing the impact of government policy on agriculture – and how it affects farm businesses – for more than 20 years.
Most recently he has led our agricultural transition and farm safety (Dying to Feed You) projects alongside production of the weekly podcast with co-host Hugh Broom.
Running order:
- Registration: 17:30
- Live QuestionTime: 18:00 - 19:15
- Drinks reception: from 19:15
Speakers
Victoria Vyvyan
Victoria has been actively involved in the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) at branch, regional and national level. She chaired the CLA's Business and Rural Economy Committee and the Environment Committee, and was previously deputy before being elected president in November 2023.
Victoria Vyvyan
Trelowarren, Victoria's home in Cornwall, is a diversified rural family business with a strong ecological focus.
The business includes some tenanted and some in-hand agricultural land, a lowland heath restoration project, woodland managed in-hand for quality timber and for bio-mass production, a tourism business and off-site building projects.
Victoria has been actively involved in the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) at branch, regional and national level. She chaired the CLA's Business and Rural Economy Committee and the Environment Committee, and was previously deputy before being elected president in November 2023.
Jon Storkey
Jon leads an area of work at Rothamsted that aims to balance sustainable food production with other public goods and services from farmland including achieving net zero and enhancing biodiversity.
Jon Storkey
Jon leads an area of work at Rothamsted that aims to balance sustainable food production with other public goods and services from farmland including achieving net zero and enhancing biodiversity.
A variety of approaches are being used to provide the evidence base for evaluating the effect of regenerative approaches such as agroforestry, reduced tillage and crop diversification on multiple outcomes.
These approaches include a new long-term experiment comparing different cropping systems and a large project that is auditing greenhouse gases, soil carbon, productivity and biodiversity at the farm scale.
Jon is also involved with work at Rothamsted on integrated pest management and is interested in how changing land use and cropping systems can contribute to sustainable crop protection.
The Rt Hon Lord Benyon
The Rt Hon Lord Benyon was appointed minister of state at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 November 2023.
The Rt Hon Lord Benyon
The Rt Hon Lord Benyon was appointed minister of state at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 November 2023.
He was previously minister of state (minister for biosecurity, marine and rural affairs) at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between 30 October 2022 and 14 November 2023.
He was also parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 13 May 2021 to 30 October 2022. The Rt Hon Lord Benyon was raised to the Peerage in January 2021.
Richard was educated at Bradfield College and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.
He was Conservative MP for Newbury from May 2005 to November 2019.
He was parliamentary under secretary of state for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs from May 2010 to October 2013.
He served as opposition whip from 2007 to 2009 and as shadow minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2009 to 2010.
Following a career in the army, where he served with the Royal Green Jackets from 1980 to 1985, he qualified as a chartered surveyor and ran a business which included farming, forestry and the management of rural and urban housing.
Charlie Ireland
Charlie is managing partner at Ceres Rural – a market leading consultancy providing smart business solutions for the rural economy.
Charlie has 20 years of experience providing farm management and consultancy advice to clients across the west and south east of England.
Charlie Ireland
Charlie is managing partner at Ceres Rural – a market leading consultancy providing smart business solutions for the rural economy.
Charlie has 20 years of experience providing farm management and consultancy advice to clients across the west and south east of England. He specialises in farm management and strategic planning. Implementing the plans is the exciting part of the job, making a real difference to the future of a business.
Charlie is a registered agricultural valuer, qualified agronomist ICM & BETA and has been a local board member of the GWCT. Charlie advises a number of high profile and high net worth clients.
He loves spending time with his family and will soon struggle to come to terms with the fact his sons are faster, stronger and hit a cricket ball further than he can!
Stuart Roberts
Stuart Roberts is a third generation farmer from Hertfordshire, has worked for Defra, the Food Standards Agency and held a number of roles within the meat supply chain.
Stuart Roberts
Stuart Roberts is a third generation farmer from Hertfordshire. He has worked for Defra, the Food Standards Agency and held a number of roles within the meat supply chain.
Stuart served as NFU deputy president and since finishing with the NFU he has been advising the Liberal Democrats on food and farming policy.
Venue
Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ
Getting there by train
Harpenden is 28 mins by Train from London St Pancras (adjoined with London Kings Cross). Taxis are available on arrival at Harpenden station. Rothamsted Research is Approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the station.
Getting there by car
From the M1 - Take J9 off the M1, follow the signs to Redbourn - go past the Hertfordshire County Showground on your right - at the roundabout take the first exit (left) and follow the B487 until the next roundabout - At the roundabout take the first exit (left) onto the A1081, Rothamsted Research is signposted on your left.
Getting there by air
Luton Airport is 20 mins from Rothamsted Research. London Gatwick Airport is a 1-hour 15mins train journey away from Harpenden station. London Heathrow and London Stansted airports are approximately an hour’s drive from Rothamsted Research (dependent on traffic conditions).
If your application is successful, please inform us of any dietary requirements two weeks prior to the event. You can contact us at our eventsandprojects email.
Sponsors
Sponsors
Pictures of the event
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Past events
The Great Yorkshire Showground
Great Yorkshire Showground,
Railway Road,
Harrogate,
HG2 8NZ
Newcastle University Campus
Agriculture Building
King's Rd
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LB
Royal Agricultural University Campus
Cirencester,
Gloucestershire,
GL7 6JS
Harper Adams University
Edgmond,
Newport,
Shropshire,
TF10 8NB
FAQ's
Yes, but you need to inform us at least 24 hours before.
We aim to select a panel of influential figures within the agricultural industry who have a broad range of views, knowledge, and experience. Where possible we try and select panellists who are relevant to the area in which the event is taking place.
To make the audience diverse and to ensure a range of different views and opinions are reflected, we try to select audience members of varying age groups and occupations. The successful audience members will be contacted by a member of the Farmers Weekly team and asked to provide two questions for the panel.
Following the event, there will be an evening drinks reception where canapes and light refreshments will be provided.
Yes, the event is free to attend, however you do need to apply to be a member of the audience.
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