FARMERS are encouraged to attend a debate on the impact of the impending Agriculture Bill at next month's Great Yorkshire Show.

Currently 62.3 per cent of Farm Business Profit in Yorkshire and Humber is made up of farm subsidy and George F White, the land property and business consultancy, will host the debate to help farmers and landowners understand and discuss the current and future opportunities for safeguarding their future in relation to profit without subsidy, land values and rent.

Simon Britton, partner, said: "This time last year, we didn't know what would happen to our farm subsidies; now information on the Agricultural Bill has been released, and we know that subsidies are going to diminish in the next seven to nine years.

"Rather than dwell on this, we need to work together, discuss and share knowledge in order to review our businesses and ensure they can survive financially when the time comes. Interestingly, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) names ' knowledge sharing' as one of the characteristics of the top performing 25 per cent of farms in the UK.

"The changes that are coming will significantly impact farm businesses, however, the purpose of our debate, and the main aim of our farm consultancy team moving forwards, is not to scare people but to prepare our client's businesses for the impact of the changes that will face us, as an industry over the next few years."

The panel debate will focus on how change will affect future profit, rent and land values; how to react to these changes and embrace opportunities; and preparing a business to make those opportunities available in the first instance.

Mr Britton said: "Opportunities are available now and will continue to be available in the future to those that have truly analysed and understand their business; ultimately, we'll be discussing what your businesses profitability will look like without subsidy and the affect that will have on rent and land value should you waste this period of adjustment to ready your business."

The debate will be on the George F White stand (202) at the Great Yorkshire Show on Wednesday, July 10, at 2pm.