What’s available for Broadacre? Welcome by Prof Rob Edwards, Chair, Farmer-Scientist Network The European Agricultural Fund or Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas

The Farmer-Scientist Network, established by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society in 2012 as part of its charitable and educational activities portfolio, incorporates direct expertise of policy, research and practical farming across the agricultural sectors. Made up of professional scientists, senior representatives from relevant governmental organisations; and farmers, spanning small and large successful businesses in the the North of England. The group discusses farming practises, food security, sustainable productivity encouraging and supporting the changes that are urgently needed to bring innovation into farming Innovation as a two way process

Network Activities 2017-19 Knowledge transfer with the Agri-Innovation Centres, CHAP and CIEL, N8, FERA, IAFRI and the farming community. Connecting academics with real problems Raising the research profile of YAS Raising farmer awareness of research conducted on their behalf Moving to a more proactive approach in introducing/ implementing new ideas Implementing practical projects in collaboration with farmers and academics

Profit and Innovation Platforms A series of focus groups each led by a member of the farmer-scientist network. These focus groups enable farmers’ problems and concerns to be identified through a ‘bottom-up’ approach in search of practical solutions and knowledge exchange. Crop Health North Project (EIP-Agri), led by Prof Rob Edwards, Chair, FSN Participatory Epidemiology Hill Sheep Farming Project (EIP-Agri), led by Dr Amanda Carson, FSN Member Brexit Working Party, led by Prof Wyn Grant, FSN Member

EIP-AGRI Objective Promoting agricultural innovation which is more resource efficient, productive, low emission, climate friendly, resilient and that operates in harmony with the essential natural resources on which farming depends. Innovation Collaboration Dissemination

EIP-Agri Operational Groups Group of people who come together to work on concrete, practical solutions to a problem or innovative opportunity. Practical and scientific backgrounds Share the achieved results within the European network. Not pure research projects; they need to have a clear and practical innovation angle Use of existing technology in a new and innovative way

Working with a group of farmers and scientists comparing the effectiveness of synthetic and “biologic” products on different wheat varieties’ disease resistance, yield and quality. Trial sites: Stockbridge Technology Centre in Yorkshire and Newcastle University’s Cockle Park and Nafferton farms in Northumberland. Work package 1: February 2017, Spring Wheat – KWS Willow and Mulika Work package 2: September 2017, Winter Wheat - Skyfall and Leeds

To register for updates, please contact: Holly Jones www.crophealthnorth.co.uk Partners: To register for updates, please contact: Holly Jones Email: hollyj@yas.co.uk Tel: 01423 546 251 (Mon & Thur)