Farmers seeking resilient, climate-ready crop options will find plenty of inspiration at this year’s Cereals Event, where more than 600 meticulously curated crop plots will showcase the latest in mainstream and alternative varieties.
Spanning everything from drought-tolerant cereals to novel protein crops and improved oilseed rape lines, the plots -created by 25 leading exhibitors -offer a hands-on look at the future of UK farming.
Despite the dry spring, the site looked outstanding during the recent Crop Plot Open Day at Andrew Ward’s Heath Farm in Lincolnshire.
“We last hosted Cereals here in 2008,” says Mr Ward. “It felt like the right time to bring the show home; this year’s event truly highlights how innovation in crops and cultivation is evolving to meet new challenges.”
Set across 52 hectares, the event will feature over 400 exhibitors, 200+ live demonstrations, two full seminar days, and hundreds of crop plots covering the latest advances in agronomy, crop science,
However, for Mr Ward, the event is about more than just the latest kit or crop performance. “These shows bring people together,” he said. “Farming is facing big challenges, from market pressures to mental health, and we need spaces where we can talk, share, and support each other. Cereals is exactly that.”
Despite a ‘tricky’ season, Will Davis, partner and agronomist at Ceres Rural, a technical partner of the event, says the site is providing valuable insight for growers. “A wet autumn delayed drilling for many, and now we’re coping with very low rainfall this spring. But this site is forgiving, and we’ve got a strong establishment despite the challenges.”
Ceres Rural is also launching an exciting new Crop Challenge for students, pitting teams from top agricultural universities against each other in a winter wheat growing competition. Judged by Ceres and the AICC, the winning team will be crowned on 11 June, and awarded tickets to the 2026 Cereals at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.
“These crop trials are more than just plots,” Mr Davis adds. “They show real-world performance under unpredictable conditions. Whether it rains or not, visitors will gain valuable insights into varietal response and agronomic strategy.”
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