Benchmarking, new technology, science and research will be the key themes running through this year’s CropTec seminar programme during the two-day event on November 29 and 30, at the East of England Showground, in Peterborough.

Stephen Howe, CropTec’s development director, said: “Growers and their suppliers are, quite rightly, concerned about the run up to the UK leaving the EU in less than two years. There are also concerns about the level and form of support payments once we are operating outside of the CAP.

“Whatever the future holds, our seminar programme is designed to arm growers with the knowledge they need to make the right technical decisions to drive down production costs while increasing productivity.”

Opening address: 'Understanding your competitors'

A snapshot of cereal and oilseed production costs and some constraints faced by the UK’s main competitors. Discover how benchmarking can help you modify your farming business to make it fit for the future.

Speaker: Jack Watts AHDB, lead analyst, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds.

Crop breeding:

Session chair: Russell McKenzie, Cambridgeshire farmer and Nuffield Scholar. 'Variety recommendations: where to find the information you need?' will help you navigate the minefield that is new variety selection?

Speakers: John Purslow, Farmacy Norfolk (day1); Peter Riley, Farmacy Norfolk (day 2).

'Selecting for margin, yield or quality?' featuring Jock Willmott, of Strutt and Parker.

'Breaking down resistance' – with James Brown, project leader Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre.

Crop establishment:

Session Chair: Robert Lockhart, Staffordshire farmer and vice-chairman NFU Combinable Crops Board.

'Soil health: The keystone of profitability' from Jacqueline Stroud, soil scientist, Rothamsted Research.

'What’s the drill for drill selection?' by Philip Wright, independent consultant.

'Containing cultivation costs' with Brian Barker, Suffolk arable farmer.

Crop nutrition:

Session chair: Mark Tucker, head of marketing and agronomy, Yara UK

'Nutrient management strategies' with Natalie Wood, country agronomist, Yara UK.

'Targeting phosphorus for yield and profit' led by Roger Sylvester-Bradley, head of crop performance, ADAS.

'Measuring, managing and utilising nutritional data' hosted by Ian Matts, farms director and agronomist, Brixworth Farming.

Crop protection:

Session chair: Guy Smith, Essex farmer and NFU vice-president

'What’s in the pipeline?' with Emma Hamer, senior plant health adviser, NFU.

'Application technology' by Tom Robinson, independent consultant.

'Pest and disease forecasting' with Francesca Salinari, R and D projects co-ordinator, Agrii.