AN ONLINE debate is set to keep a long-running young farmers’ club tradition going.

The young farmers’ movement in Yorkshire has held an annual forum for as long as most people can remember. This year, rather than its usual venue of one of the county’s livestock markets the debate - British Farming Outside the EU - will be held online via zoom on Friday, January 22.

Georgina Fort, chairman of the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFYFC), will chair the debate, with panellists Robert Goodwill MP; director of the Country Landowners’ Association Dorothy Fairburn, Laurie Norris of the National Farmers’ Union and Richard Betton, northern regional director of the Farming Community Network. Also joining the discussion will be YFYFC member and farmer Ryan Howe.

Georgina Fort, a dairy farmer from Silsden, said: “Of course, we’re all looking forward to a time when we can get together but keeping this annual forum going offers a beacon of hope in these trying times. I’m very grateful to our panellists and our sponsor, legal firm Crombie Wilkinson, for supporting us.

“The theme, looking at farming post-Brexit, reminds us that in spite of all that is happening in the world with coronavirus we need to keep thinking about the future of agriculture. I hope as many people as possible join us.”

The forum will start at 7.30pm on January 22. Log in details for the debate can be obtained by registering with office@yfyfc.org.uk