Over the past year, I've been out and about with my team talking to farmers and others across the farming sector — from agents and agronomists to academics and advisers.
You might’ve spoken to Michael or Sam at a livestock market, or put your questions to Giles, Gemma, Trevor or any of our ambassadors at a conference or agricultural show.
Every conversation we have gives us valuable insight into the realities of farming. What you tell us is shared with the people whose decisions shape your businesses and communities.
Hearing from you helps us better understand the challenges you face, the opportunities you see, and the practical ways in which government can support farming in England.
We want to keep the conversations going in 2026.
To make sure our plans are the best they can be, we welcome your suggestions on where to visit.
Share your suggestions
We’ve started to put our plans together for 2026, and you’ll find a list of the events we’re currently planning to attend below, though this may change as plans develop.
If there’s an event we’ve missed that you think we should be at, we’d really like to hear from you.
You might be a steward, or an event organiser. Perhaps you’re part of a formal or informal group of farmers.
Whoever you are, and whatever the suggestion, please let us know your ideas in the comments.
If you’re happy for us to contact you using the email address you provide when you comment, please add ‘I give you permission to contact me’ at the end of your message. Your email address won’t be visible.
We can’t promise to visit everywhere, but your suggestions will help us decide where to focus our time and ensure we’re meeting and talking to as many farmers as possible.
We’ll update our Talk to us page as we confirm where we’ll be.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Our current plans for 2026 (TBC)
|
Date |
Event |
Region |
|
8–9 January |
Oxford Farming Conference |
South East |
|
8–9 January |
Oxford Real Farming Conference |
South East |
|
14–15 January |
LAMMA & CropTec |
West Midlands |
|
4 February |
YAMS (Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show) |
Yorkshire & The Humber |
|
10 February |
Dairy-Tech |
West Midlands |
|
24 February |
NFU Conference |
West Midlands |
|
27 February |
IAgSA Conference |
South West |
|
4 March |
Farm Expo |
South East |
|
13-14 March |
Borderway Dairy Expo |
Carlisle, Cumbria |
|
4 May |
North Somerset Show |
South West |
|
5 May |
Cirencester Livestock Market |
South West |
|
9 May |
Nottinghamshire Show |
East Midlands |
|
12 May |
Melton Mowbray Market |
East Midlands |
|
13–14 May |
Pig & Poultry |
West Midlands |
|
16 May |
Hadleigh Show |
East of England |
|
17 May |
Essex YFC |
East of England |
|
22 May |
Hexham Mart |
North East |
|
23 May |
Heathfield Show |
South East |
|
23 May |
Northumberland County Show |
North East |
|
27 May |
Frome Market |
South West |
|
28–30 May |
Royal Bath & West Show |
South West |
|
29 May |
Malton Livestock Market |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
30 May |
Beef Expo |
East Midlands |
|
5 June |
Hexham or Carlisle Mart |
North East / North West |
|
6 June |
Cumberland Show |
North West |
|
9 June |
Melton Mowbray Market |
East Midlands |
|
10–11 June |
Cereals |
East of England |
|
12–14 June |
Three Counties |
West Midlands |
|
15 June |
Rugby Farmers Mart |
West Midlands |
|
20 June |
Exeter Farmers Market |
South West |
|
23 June |
Colchester Market |
East of England |
|
24 June |
Northallerton Mart |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
24–25 June |
Royal Norfolk Show |
East of England |
|
25 June |
CAAV Conference |
East of England |
|
1–2 July |
Groundswell |
East of England |
|
11 July |
Liskeard Show |
South West |
|
13 July |
York Livestock Mart |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
13 July |
Stithians Show |
South West |
|
14–17 July |
Great Yorkshire Show |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
21 July |
Malton Livestock Mart |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
22 July |
Driffield Show |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
28 July |
NSA Sheep National |
UK-wide |
|
29 July |
Frome Market |
South West |
|
30 July |
Launceston Show |
South West |
|
31 July |
Exeter Market |
South West |
|
5 August |
Market Drayton / Bridgnorth Market |
West Midlands |
|
6 August |
Burwarton Show |
West Midlands |
|
7 August |
Bakewell Mart |
East Midlands |
|
8 August |
Manifold Show |
East Midlands |
|
11 August |
Salisbury Market |
South West |
|
12 August |
Camelford Show |
South West |
|
26 August |
Newton Abbot Market |
South West |
|
27 August |
Holsworthy Show |
South West |
|
28 August |
Otley Mart |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
29 August |
Wensleydale Show |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
31 August |
Aylsham Show |
East of England |
|
1 September |
Colchester Market |
East of England |
|
4 September |
Hexham Mart |
North East |
|
4 September |
Rugby Farmers Mart |
West Midlands |
|
5 September |
Moreton in the Marsh |
South West |
|
5–6 September |
Wolsingham Show |
North East |
|
8 September |
Skipton Mart |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
8 September |
Kirkby Stephen Mart |
North West |
|
9 September |
UK Dairy Day |
West Midlands |
|
9–10 September |
Westmorland Show |
North West |
|
12 September |
Romsey Show |
South East |
|
26 September |
Southwell Ploughing Match |
East Midlands |
|
7 October |
Dairy Show |
South West |
|
7 October |
Melton Mowbray Mart |
East Midlands |
|
9 October |
Hexham Mart |
North East |
|
10 October |
Alwinton Show |
North East |
|
29 October |
Longtown Mart |
North West |
|
30 October |
Borderway Agri Expo |
North West |
|
3 November |
Hexham Mart |
North East |
|
3 November |
Hereford Mart |
West Midlands |
|
3 November |
Salisbury Market |
South West |
|
4 November |
Northern Farming Conference |
North of England |
|
4 November |
Herefordshire Rural Business Hub |
West Midlands |
|
4 November |
Agri Fest South West |
South West |
|
5 November |
Thrapston Market |
East Midlands |
|
6–7 November |
ASAO Conference |
South East |
|
18 November |
Selby Mart |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
|
19 November |
CLA Rural Business Conference |
UK-wide |
The 
28 comments
Comment by Guy MacNaughton posted on
Hello,
I'd like you to visit small abattoirs in the South East.
LARK (Local Abattoirs R key) is a farmer group that formed when we lost our local abattoir Tottingworth which was based at Heathfield on the site of the show ground.
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Hello Guy,
Thank you for this suggestion and for sharing the work of LARK - it is helpful context. What's the best way to get in contact?
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Colin posted on
Good to see. Sure it couldnt have been easy but it is appreciated.
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Thank you, Colin.
That means a lot. We know these conversations aren’t always easy, but listening and getting out to see things first-hand matters, and it’s helpful to hear that our being there makes a difference.
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Jonathan Kirby posted on
YAMS at York Auction Centre, 4th Feb 26
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hi Jonathan,
I’m not sure what happened while uploading the table, but our plans for February-April went missing. YAMS is now back on the table!
With thanks,
Sarah
Comment by Clare Scott posted on
Please come and visit a group of farmers in Dorset with representatives from 3 farmer clusters I facilitate and includes farms that have engaged with a-e schemes since the late 1990's. The farmers are keen to maintain and build on the work they are doing for corn bunting, grey partridge, rare arable plants, species rich chalk downland, local river catchments and historic monuments alongside diversified businesses as part of busy food producing farms. I am happy to be contacted.
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Hi Clare,
Thank you for getting in touch! It’s great to hear about the work you and the farmers in Dorset are doing, and the range of species and habitats you’re supporting alongside food production.
We really appreciate the invitation and for sharing your contact details. We'll be in touch.
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Jill hewitt posted on
National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) 91% plus of farmers use an agricultural contractor and we would be happy to have discussion - at an event you are attending or perhaps you could come for discussion at an NAAC Board meeting to meet contractors and understand our issues.
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Hi Jill,
Thank you for your message and for highlighting the important role agricultural contractors play in supporting farmers across the country.
We were pleased to speak with NAAC members at focus groups over the summer and would welcome the opportunity to learn more about the priority issues for agricultural contractors.
Would you be happy for the team to get in touch to discuss future engagement opportunities?
Kind regards,
Alice
Comment by Jill hewitt posted on
Hi Alice
Yes happy for the team to be in direct contact
Thanks
Jill
Comment by Rob posted on
Royal Cornwall Show??
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Thanks for the suggestion Rob!
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by D Willoughby posted on
Lincolnshire show - 17th and 18th June
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Thank you for the suggestion! We'll add this to our list of places to consider.
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Geoff Thorne posted on
The Welsh and Scottish government have looked after their organic farms ,I hope England will do the same ,as they are so important in leading food production and people's health in the right direction ,and its big impact on the environment
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hi Geoff,
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch. I will share your comment with the wider team.
Best wishes,
Sarah
Comment by Laura Copeland posted on
Yorkshire Farming Conference 28th January 2026 - https://yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk/
We hope to see you there!
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Thanks for the suggestion, Laura!
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Anna-Marie Julyan posted on
Please come and visit Truro Livestock & Agriculture Market. My dad is 83 and still sells sheep and cattle at the market - he has done his whole life. It is a hub for the community of farmers down here.
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Hi Anna-Marie,
Thank you for getting in touch. It is inspiring to hear that your father continues to be such an important part of the market. Markets play a vital role in supporting and bringing together local farmers and the wider rural community, and I will add Truro to our list.
Kind regards,
Alice
Comment by Tom Walton posted on
Thame Sheep Fair at the beginning of August and the Bucks County Show at the end of August
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Thanks for those suggestions, Tom!
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Martin Woodhead posted on
That's an impressive number of events you're attending in 2026. Could you squeeze in a visit to Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing in Cambridge to learn about the books and data we publish on sustainable and regenerative farming? Or meet at Groundswell?
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Thanks for the kind invitation Martin, I'll share this with the team!
Please do say hello at Groundswell. Defra will have a tent and we'll be sporting our green gilets.
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Daniel Powell posted on
Good to hear that you are working hard to engage. There have been so many changes in the sector over the last years it has become very difficult to plan. I work with farms in the SW region who wish to see a positive future for their family businesses. Happy to be contacted.
Comment by Alice Brown posted on
Thanks very much, Daniel. We'll be in touch.
Kind Regards,
Alice
Comment by Tom posted on
How about Penistone Agricultural Show, 12th September?