From post-Budget policy and succession planning to AgTech, innovation, regenerative farming and the next generation of farm leaders, Cereals 2026 will bring two days of practical debate and expert insight to Diddly Squat Farm this June.

The UK’s leading arable event will place knowledge exchange at the heart of this year’s programme, with the KWS-sponsored Seed to Shelf Mainstage hosting discussions on some of the most pressing issues facing farmers and the wider agricultural supply chain.

Taking place at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm on June 10 and 11, Cereals 2026 is expected to welcome more than 25,000 farmers and over 700 exhibitors for two days of technical advice, live demonstrations, networking and business-focused discussion.

The Seed to Shelf Mainstage sponsored by KWS will be hosted by agricultural commentator Jo Jefferson and will explore the major political, financial and technical questions shaping the future of UK agriculture.

Key themes include post-Budget agriculture, succession planning, AgTech and innovation, with sessions designed to give farmers practical insight into how policy, technology, markets and business decisions will affect their farms in the months and years ahead.

The programme will examine how farm businesses can navigate the post-Budget landscape, respond to financial pressure, plan confidently for the next generation and make better use of technology to improve productivity, resilience and profitability.

Ceres Rural managing partner Charlie Ireland says: “Cereals has always been where farmers come to find practical answers, and this year’s agenda reflects the scale of the decisions facing the industry.

“The Seed to Shelf Mainstage will bring together the people shaping policy, technology, markets and farm business strategy, giving visitors the chance to hear directly from experts and ask the questions that matter to their own farms.”

Alongside the political and business focus, the Mainstage will also highlight innovation across the arable supply chain, from crop production and storage to data, machinery, connectivity and future farm infrastructure.

Among the agenda highlights will be a breakfast seminar on why farmers should care about reverse engineering in crop protection, exploring the role of post-patent products, competition, availability and input costs.

Another Mainstage session will look at smarter root crop storage, with Omnivent’s Frank van der Linden sharing lessons from more than 1,000 stores and exploring how growers can reduce hidden losses, protect crop quality and improve efficiency at a time of rising energy costs and tight margins.

Technology will also be a major theme across the event, with sessions looking at the role of rural connectivity, satellite technology, precision agriculture, data-driven decision making, mapping, telemetry and automation.

The agenda will also ask how connected machines and autonomous systems can move from concept to practical on-farm use, and what that means for younger farmers, contractors and progressive arable businesses.

Beyond the Mainstage, visitors will be able to access a broad programme of specialist content across the event.

A key highlight will be in the Farmer’s Gin Bar where Barclays and Propel Finance have joined forces to stage a breakfast seminar each morning. Adding to the excitement on the day, they will also be bringing the Premier League Trophy to the event, with the option of people having a picture taken beside it.

The seminars will explore key financial challenges, key trends and, crucially, what farmers need to know about all things funding to support the future of their farm. Farmers will also be able to take advantage of free finance clinics both days, offering no obligation farm advice from Barclays & Propel representatives.

Propel Finance is the fastest growing asset finance business in the UK and partners with Barclays to ensure farmers can access finance to secure the equipment they need. The company now has 250 experts based around the country.

Marketing and Partnerships Director, Julie Warren, explains: “A lot of farmers are struggling to fund the technology or even the basic equipment they need for their farm plus diversification and sustainability projects. We want to make it simple, smooth and seamless to acquire the finance to support them.

“We have a super experienced team who deal with our agricultural customers and who will tailor finance to suit the farmers’ needs with the added advantage of fixed monthly payments, so they know what their commitment is for during the lifetime of the finance agreement. From our experience, farmers are time poor and they need funders they can trust and who can work with them to create bespoke structures. Cereals is the perfect opportunity for us to meet with farmers from across the country, help answer their questions and concerns, and ensure they can get what they need to succeed and grow.”

A Barclays spokesperson added: ““Barclays has been supporting UK farmers to innovate, learn and grow since 1744. Whether you’re an estate owner looking to diversify, or a farmer wanting to invest in new technologies, our expertise, banking services and understanding of UK agriculture could help you make the most of every opportunity.”

Other highlights include, the new Farmers Weekly Stage which will bring a lively Question Time format to Cereals 2026, offering debate, discussion and audience-led insight close to the pop-up Diddly Squat Farm Shop and The Farmer’s Dog pop-up pub.

The BASE-UK Regenerative Agriculture Stage, sponsored by Tees Law, will focus on the theme “Growing Without Government Support”, bringing together practical experience and real-world insight into how farms can build resilience, reduce reliance on support payments and adapt their systems.

The Young Farmers Programme, sponsored by Michelmores and led by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs and Oxfordshire Young Farmers, will focus on the future of farming, including succession, careers, health in farming and diversity.

The Livestock Zone sponsored by Nofence will explore how introducing livestock to arable land can improve soil health, support weed management and create opportunities for income diversification, with expert advice for farmers considering how mixed systems could work in practice.

Visitors will also be able to earn BASIS and NRoSO points across the event, with technical sessions and knowledge trails designed to support professional development as well as practical learning.

The wider Cereals programme will sit alongside the event’s established technical features, including the Agronomy Zone crop plots sponsored by Bayer, machinery demonstrations and the Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena.

Organisers say this year’s agenda has been designed to ensure farmers leave with useful ideas they can take back to their businesses.

Cereals event director Alli McEntyre-Gaharan adds: “What makes Cereals valuable is the combination of technical depth and real-world relevance. Whether visitors are looking at policy, succession, crop protection, machinery, data, regenerative farming or diversification, the aim is for every session to offer something practical that can help farm businesses make better decisions.”

Cereals 2026 will also include new features linked to its Diddly Squat Farm host venue, including Kaleb’s Corner sponsored by Nick Young Tractor Parts, the Diddly Squat Farm Shop sponsored by V12, the Nofence Livestock Zone, The Farmer’s Dog pop-up pub, Diddly Squat Farm Shop pop-up and The Farmer’s Gin Bar sponsored by Barclays Bank and Propel Finance.

However much extra fun is to be had this year, organisers say the event remains firmly focused on delivering a professional, business-to-business event for farmers, contractors, agronomists, land managers and the wider agricultural trade.

Farmers can register for tickets at www.thecerealsevent.co.uk.

Cereals is a business-to-business event and registrations will go through an approval process. Members of organisations including BASE-UK, Farmers Weekly, the National Association of Agricultural Contractors, Young Farmers and the National Farmers Union will be automatically approved and receive a discount with their membership number.

For more information about the agenda, visit www.thecerealsevent.co.uk