THE 30th anniversary NIAB TAG Outlook Conference at Scotch Corner on Wednesday of next week is a sell out.

Originally developed as the North of England Arable Centre (NEAC) by Dr Eric Evans, head of crops and agronomy at Newcastle University, the first trial site was established at the University's Cockle Park Farm, near Morpeth, when wheat yields averaged 6.3t/ha compared to today's 8.6t/ha.

Providing unbiased independent research and on-farm meetings, the organisation grew rapidly to a membership of 320 before the merger with Arable Research Centre (ARC) in 1999, which then became The Arable Group and finally NIAB TAG in 2009.

Today, NIAB TAG has more than 2,500 members and holds trials on a much wider range of crops.

Next week's anniversary conference will include a look at where farming is heading politically, scientifically and economically.

Sir Jim Paice, NIAB board member and former farming minister will look at the politics of farming while Dr Jason Beedell, head of research at Smiths Gore, will consider the

secrets to the success of long-lasting companies, family firms and John Lewis.

Blogger David Norris, has worked in the animal feed industry for 35 years, and has a network of contacts all over the world. He will consider what is driving the global grain markets, and how to handle market cycles.

The afternoon sessions cover precision farming with Dr James Taylor, of Newcastle University and Davina Fillingham, Nuffield scholar and associated partner at York-based Stephenson and Son. Stuart Knight, director of crops and agronomy at NIAB, will round the day off with some crystal ball gazing.

The event is sponsored by NatWest, Syngenta, Mole Valley Farmers and GrowHow. The media sponsor is The Northern Farmer, sister publication of the D&S Times.