ORGANISERS of next week's Three Counties Farming Conference say they have secured a number of fine speakers.

Headlining this year's event, which takes place on the Three Counties Showground near Malvern next Thursday, are Nuffield scholars, Kate Adams and Sophie Edenborough.

Ken Nottage, CEO of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, said: “We are very proud of our Farming Conference. "We feel that we are not afraid to raise the issues that face the farmers of today and the farmers of our future. "Our panel of speakers is exceptional and is bound to stimulate lively and worthwhile debate amongst our delegates. We are looking forward to welcoming them.”

The Nuffield scholars are academics with Kate having been supported by the agricultural society to investigate the pressing issue of soil preservation.

Sophie has researched the need for alternatives to antibiotics in the poultry industry.

The evening conference should see lively debate with the panel of experts consisting of Mike Godding, managing director of FAI Farms Ltd and Woodland, together with Graham Redman, partner at The Andersons Centre.

The pair are being joined by the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Minister of State at DEFRA, and Stuart Agnew MEP.

Mr Nottage added: "This year’s debate centres on ‘Do UK farmers need the EU?’ "The fortunes of UK farmers are inexorably linked to membership and as farmers’ subsidies are currently calculated in Euros, the strong pound is seeing this support weakened even further. "It is believed that UK farmers are more efficient, but are they keeping pace with world competition? Is there room for improvement and would leaving the EU genuinely help the UK farmer? We will be examining this issue throughout the conference.”

Delegates will hear each speaker present their views and then have the opportunity of posing their own questions to the people that are at the forefront of policy and decision making in agriculture. Conference tickets cost £18 per person or £9 for students.

For information visit threecounties.co.uk/farmingconference or call 01684 230128.