Young farmers will take centre stage at Cereals 2025, with new opportunities designed to equip and empower the future generation of British agriculture.

This year's event will feature a dedicated programme focused on building skills, confidence and connections, and is being delivered in partnership with the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (NFYFC), Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Young Farmers Clubs, and sponsored by Michelmores. Alongside this, the University and Colleges' Crop Challenge will offer students experience in crop management, bringing classroom learning to life on the event's site.

"We created both the Young Farmer programme and the University and Colleges' Crop Challenge to spark conversations and empower those who will shape farming over the next 10 years," says event director Alli McEntyre. "These sessions give the next generation of farmers, the tools, confidence and connections they need to drive the future of UK agriculture."  

University and Colleges' Crop Challenge

New for this year, Ceres Rural and the Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) are holding a Crop Challenge, aimed at providing agricultural students with an interest in an independent agronomy career the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in crop management. The challenge invites teams from leading universities to compete in growing and managing a winter wheat crop on a trial scale, based at the event's site, Heath Farm.

"We wanted to give students a practical challenge to complement the academic side of agricultural study," explains Charles Garrard, partner at Ceres Rural. "It's great to give the next generation of students the chance to apply what they've learned in lectures and the classroom and apply it in a real-world setting. We've got teams from Newcastle to Aberystwyth, and with Cereals being a late spring show, visitors will get to see the fruits of their efforts on display."

The dry conditions so far this year have made the challenge especially demanding, requiring students to adapt their strategies. Judges will assess teams on criteria including crop performance, appropriate use of inputs, and economic decision-making.

"We'll be looking at things like fungicide use, growth regulation, and nutrition; not just technical application, but also how well the students manage input costs in relation to expected yield," says Mr Garrard. "The ability to grow a crop cost effectively will be a key factor."

With strong interest in its first year, the aim is to make the Crop Challenge an annual fixture at Cereals, with plans to expand participation to all agricultural universities and colleges in future editions.

Young farmer programme

In the young farmer forum, there are four seminars throughout the day, covering key topics such as succession planning, diversification, future farming, career opportunities and a careers luncheon.

James Nixey, chairman of the NFYFC, welcomed the upcoming seminar programme at Cereals as a key opportunity for young farmers. "I'm really excited about the seminar line-up this year. It offers a fantastic opportunity for the next generation of farmers to gain valuable insights, engage in meaningful discussions, and bring fresh ideas back to their own farms," says Mr Nixey. "Events like this are vital in helping young farmers stay informed and inspired, and it's brilliant that YFC members can attend for free."

The sessions begin with a welcome breakfast from Mr Nixey and David Exwood, deputy president of the NFU, discussing business resilience and the importance of adopting good practice.

Succession seminar

The current political and economic climate presents real challenges for young farmers preparing to take on the family farm in the next five to 10 years, particularly for those whose families may be affected by the changes to inheritance tax.

Two tenant farmers will join industry professionals to discuss how families can start early, open conversations around succession, and build long-term resilience into their businesses. "We want young farmers to leave with a clearer understanding of where things stand and what they can do about it," says Charles Frost, managing associate at Michelmores. "It's not an ideal environment, but by getting the next generation involved sooner and thinking strategically, families can not only prepare for what's coming but find new ways to strengthen their businesses.

"While the changes ahead may seem daunting, it's about asking how families can respond positively."

Diversification seminar

As farming undergoes a period of change, exploring new income streams beyond traditional models is becoming increasingly important. Joining a panel of four speakers to discuss the opportunities of farm diversification, Rosie Dalton, a dairy farmer from Derbyshire, launched a coffee and ice-cream kiosk on her family farm in 2017.

"For me it's important to not only show how it came to life but also the lessons we've learned, and the impact it's had on both our income and community engagement," she says. "I believe diversification is especially important for young farmers, not just as a financial strategy, but as a way to bring creativity, value, and long-term resilience into businesses."

Careers lunch

Agriculture is not limited to working on a farm; this session will explore the diverse and evolving career opportunities within the UK's farming sector, highlighting both current options and emerging paths for the future.

Attendees will hear from a panel of experts, including Corrina Urquhart (BASIS), Thomas Price (NFU), Tess Howe (TIAH), Marcus Travers (Anglia Ruskin University), and Devon farmer Charles Jarvis, offering insights from across the farming, education, and policy sectors.

They will discuss the careers available, from agronomy and scientific research to farming operations and agricultural manufacturing. This session aims to showcase the exciting and challenging roles that support the industry beyond the farm gate.

Future of farming seminar

The future farming seminar will be a rapid-fire technical session between Wallace Currie and Thomas Slattery from Agri-Tech, who will be exploring some of the innovative technologies available from gene edited crops to robotics and  artificial intelligence, and the subsequent financial support available.

 "ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) is a new fund  targeted at those producing in the forestry, horticulture and farming worlds," explains Wallace Currie, knowledge exchange manager at Agri-Tech.

"This fund can support anything from boosting soil health to harnessing farm data more effectively," he adds. "It's all about giving the next generation the tools to build smarter, more resilient businesses while learning from each other along the way. Now's the time for young farmers to shape change on their own terms."

YFC members can claim a free ticket to Cereals 2025 by using an access code available through their YFC membership login.

·       The Cereals Event takes place on 11-12 June 2025, at Heath Farm, Leadenham, Lincolnshire, LN5 0QE. Tickets are priced at £15 for both days of the event or £20 on arrival. For more information visit www.cerealsevent.co.uk. YFC members can claim a free ticket using an access code available through their YFC membership login.