WITH all the changes taking place in agriculture, new ideas for generating income are high on the agenda and one of the leaders is growing crops for fuel.

As always, The Pershore Conference is up with the front-runners on the way ahead and the subject for the evening at the Frank Parkinson Centre at Pershore College on Thursday, January 26, is Fuel for Thought.

"It will be an evening of debate that will look at the recent government announcement of a five per cent renewable transport fuel obligation which paves the way for farmers to grow crops for fuel," said Ray Foster-Morison, secretary of the Pershore and Upton-on-Severn Groups, organiser of the prestigious annual event.

"We have a strong line-up of speakers and there will be ample opportunities for questions," he said.

The event will be chaired by Dr David Hall, past principal of the Pershore Group of Colleges, and speakers include Peter Kendall, NFU national deputy president who has been actively involved in the arable industry as a past director of the Arable Research Centre and former member of the HGCA's British Cereal Exports and Crop Marketing advisory boards.

Professor Melvyn Askew is head of agricultural and rural strategy group Central Science Laboratory and visiting professor at Harper Adams. Archie Montgomery, chairman of the South West NFU Arable Board, who grows oilseed rape for fuel and barley which goes to Spain for the production of bioethanol. Nick Maskery, a member of the bio-energy WM Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food team, is a project co-ordinator for the Bio-Energy West Midlands initiative.

The event is free but places need to be booked through the sponsor Carver Knowles on 01684 853400.