The views of senior industry leaders – and those of the next generation following them into farming – will be discussed as an annual conference returns to Norwich next month.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 Norfolk Farming Conference, which will be held at the John Innes Conference Centre in Colney on February 11.

Keynote speakers will include farming minister George Eustice and Andy Wood, chief executive of Southwold brewers Adnams, who will give delegates an insight into his decades of business experience.

He is the Prince of Wales' ambassador for Business in the Community in the East of England – a role which has involved working with farmers and landowners to look at the challenges of sustainable water stewardship.

Also speaking at the conference is Dr Gordon Jamieson, the knowledge exchange and commercialisation director at the John Innes Centre. He works closely with Norfolk-based plant scientists, helping bring their research to market.

Nuffield Scholar and photographer-turned-farmer David Walston will be talking about his research into improving soil conditions and yields by rotating between pasture and cropping, while fellow Nuffield Scholar and farm manager Russell McKenzie will address ways to challenge conventional approaches to farming.

The Future Farmers session has been given a new perspective this year, with agricultural parents revealing their thoughts on their children's progress as they follow them into the family profession, and the support they are offering.

Next-generation farmers Robert Hirst, of Hirst Farms, and Sophie Young, of MD Wright and Partners, will talk about the changes and challenges they have faced since coming back to the family farm after studying or travelling.

The conference will be chaired by NFU vice president Guy Smith.

Anglia Farmers chief executive Clarke Willis, chairman of the conference organising committee, said: 'The Norfolk Farming Conference has become an important fixture on the industry calendar and gives farmers the opportunity to hear from industry leaders and their peers.

'This year we are delighted to not only be delivering thought-provoking keynote speakers at the highest level but also to be airing the views of the next generation of farmers, whose debate with their parents is set to be very interesting.'

For more information and to book, visit www.norfolkfarmingconference.org or call 01603 881 803.