THE chance to network with some of the region’s most forward thinking farmers, and also tap into the latest research for combatting black-grass is on the agenda at two free breakfast seminars at this month's Great Yorkshire Show.

The event runs from Tuesday, July 14 to Thursday, July 16, when about 130,000 visitors are expected to pass through the gates in Harrogate.

It will be the 157th Great Yorkshire Show when the best of British farming will be presented with top class livestock competing for the championship awards and the latest agricultural equipment will be on show.

On the Wednesday morning, NFU president Meurig Raymond will be one of the speakers at a breakfast meeting organised by the Future Farmers of Yorkshire.

The group comprises farmers, vets, consultants, machinery dealers and land agents who are all keen to champion the industry as well as develop their own expertise and businesses, particularly through networking.

North Yorkshire arable farmer Rob Sanderson is chairing the meeting, which will also be addressed by Davina Fillingham, who farms near Driffield. Davina is also a land agent and a Nuffield scholar. A worldwide perspective will be given by poultry farmer Emily Field, also from Driffield, whose CV includes 10 years in the Armed Forces which took her across the world, as well as involvement in Operation Olympics.

The Future Farmers of Yorkshire Breakfast Seminar runs from 7.45am to 9am on Wednesday, July 15, and takes place at the NFU stand.

For more information and to register for a place, email futurefarmersofyorkshire@yas.co.uk before Friday, July 10.

The following day, Thursday, July 16, driving forward the battle to combat black-grass is the subject of the second breakfast seminar which will be of particular interest to arable farmers.

Organised by the Farmer-Scientist Network, the seminar will address the problem of combatting this resilient and invasive weed and hearing the latest on research and tactics.

The seminar will be chaired by Prof Rob Edwards, head of agriculture at Newcastle University and speakers are Oxfordshire arable farmer Tom Allen-Stevens, Dr Paul Neve, Rothamsted Senior Research Scientist, and Prof. Rob Freckleton, of the University of Sheffield, who will give their wide ranging perspectives on the issue.

The seminar runs from 8.15am to 9.30am, on Thursday, July 16, and takes place at the Regional Agricultural Society’s offices at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

For more details and to register, phone Holly Jones, Farmer-Scientist Network on 01423 546251 or email hollyj@yas.co.uk