CAN agriculture continue to take money from the public purse is the subject of the next debate organised by the Future Farmers of Yorkshire group.

Held at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Thursday (5), the discussion will be set against the backdrop of unstable commodity prices, the forthcoming general election and increased pressures on EU and UK government budgets.

Lord de Mauley, Defra Under Secretary of State for the Natural Environment and Science, will give a presentation and be one of the panellists.

He will be joined by Allan Wilkinson, HSBC head of agriculture; Dorothy Fairburn, CLA North regional director; David Hamer, the NFU's West Riding county chairman; Ian Backhouse, arable and beef farmer from Goole; and Richard Longthorp, East Riding pig producer and chairman of the National Pig Association.

Future Farmers is a group which brings together younger famers, vets and industry supporters for regular meetings and social events and is hosted by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

The event is free and begins at 6.15pm with a light supper. For further information and to book a place contact Elizabeth Hudson on 07702 598108 or futurefarmersofyorkshire@yas.co.uk