This year's Dairy Show is introducing a new AgriForum, offering visitors a more dynamic, interactive space for debate and discussion. Set to be held on October 1 at the Bath & West Showground, it promises to put the real issues facing the dairy sector under the spotlight.

Forget lengthy lectures, AgriForum brings together expert panels in a lively, balanced format. Each session pairs policy insight with on-the-ground experience, giving the audience both the big picture and the realities of life on farm.

So what can visitors expect from this year's AgriForum?  Thought-provoking panel sessions and seminars will tackle pressing issues head-on, including adapting to climate volatility, rising costs and changing consumer demands. As sustainability becomes increasingly important to both business and consumer trust, conversations about how farmers can make practical changes have never been more important.

Jodie Swain, sector manager for agriculture at NatWest, says the Dairy Show provides the ideal platform to explore these challenges. "It's a fantastic opportunity to bring together farmers, sustainability experts, and financial partners to explore how we can support the dairy sector's transition to more resilient, nature-positive practices."

The focus will be on practical steps farmers can take to embed sustainability into daily operations, supported by case studies and research from NatWest's partnership with WWF-UK. "We'll explore how improving soil health, enhancing animal welfare, and reducing long-term operational costs aren't just environmental goals - they're business imperatives," she says.

This year also includes speakers from the NFU, CLA and ADAS, bringing expert perspectives to some of the most pressing issues facing the sector.

A panel on 'Inheritance tax – planning for the next generation' will address the complexities of succession planning for farming families and rural enterprises. The discussion will focus on strategies to protect business assets, ensure tax efficiency and support smooth transitions between generations.

And a seminar on farm infrastructure will tackle the challenge of balancing growth with regulation. 'More cows, more slurry, more rules: Navigating planning for new farm developments will provide practical advice for producers considering expansion while meeting environmental and planning requirements.

Sustainable energy will also be in the spotlight, with a panel on 'Biomethane – powering progress in farming'. Experts will assess its role in renewable energy generation, waste management and reducing carbon emissions, highlighting opportunities for the sector to harness biomethane as part of a more resilient, climate-smart future.

 LandAlive at the Dairy Show

Meanwhile, the LandAlive programme will bring regenerative farming into focus with practical insights from farmers and advisers who are living the reality of change.

Independent farming advise, Niels Corfield, will join the session 'financing the future of regenerative dairy: De-risking the transition'. This will explore how new finance models can support farmers to invest in soil health, biodiversity, animal welfare and climate resilience without compromising their livelihoods.

"It's not just the transition itself," says Niels. "Anything new carries risk and requires new competencies. Investments in soil health deliver a short and very good return on investment – they are typically low overhead and low capital."

The seminars will also investigate the human reality of farming change. Oliver Lee, founder of How Now Dairy, will share his story about moving from conventional to regenerative farming, the tough seasons that test conviction, and the wins that kept him going.

"If you look after the land, the land looks after you," says Mr Lee. "That might sound simple, but it's about strategies, timing, and being aware of weather patterns when it comes to managing soils and weeds.

"What we do can sometimes feel inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but being able to share our story on a larger stage is a recognition of the value of local farm communities."