THE ARABLE farmers’ main event of the year takes place on June 10 and 11 when Cereals 2010 heads for Cambridgeshire again.

Though it is hundreds of miles away from Scotland, many from north of the Border will make the pilgrimage to an event which offers them the chance to take in machinery, plus new techniques, science and varieties, and which will help them map out their budgets for the coming years.

Sponsored by HSBC Agriculture, the event attracts more than 26,000 visitors to see 400 exhibitors over its two-day spread.

On varieties, a total of 30 companies will present more than 90 sown crop plots. What gives these small crop areas such a buzz is the direct contact that they allow to some of the country’s leading researchers, plant breeders and technical managers.

The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) is also joining forces with Cereals to bring its summer conference along – debates will be run on both days with different panellists.

The 11.00am session will ask ‘Science in the arable sector – where are the ideas which are relevant to cereal production?’ – panelists include Professor Ian Crute (HGCA), Dr Bill Clark (BBSRC/Rothamsted Brooms Barn), Peter Kendall (NFU) and Professor John Snape (John Innes Centre).

The 2.30pm sessions will debate the ‘Campaign for the farmed environment – is it working and commercially viable?’ Panelists include Aileen Kirmond (Environment Agency), Andrew Brown (farmer/environmentalist) and Cereals host farmer, Robert Law, who is also an OFC Council member.

FARMERS WILL be able to see for themselves which new varieties are performing well at Cereals. HGCA will have an incredible 135 varieties growing on their stand – 41 of them winter OSR, 40 winter wheat, 22 winter barley, 11 winter oat varieties and 21 plots with spring barley.

Jim McVittie or Bill Handley will guide visitors on the popular guided tour and there will also be a representative from the UK milling industry describing what the end market wants, plus Dr James Brosnan of the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, on the requirements for distilling. There will be six or seven tours each day, lasting 30-45 minutes each.

A DEDICATED exhibition area will focus on renewable energy generation and supply opportunities for UK farms.

Sponsored by Drax Power, and supported by the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), this should offer potential alternative energy suppliers with much food for thought.

Facts:

CEREALS IS the leading technical event for the UK arable industry, with more than 64ha of stands and live demonstrations, including crop plots, working demonstrations, plus the Sprays and Sprayers arena.

MORE THAN 400 suppliers will be showcasing the latest products, advice and information – offering a complete one-stop service from seeds to sprayers, crop varieties to cultivation equipment, fertiliser to finance.

TICKETS ARE priced and can be booked online at the Cereals Event website www.cerealsevent.co.uk, as follows: Adult, £20; student, £17.