From serious arable innovation and live machinery demonstrations to the Premier League Trophy, Clarkson’s goats and a chance to score against a former England goalkeeper, Cereals 2026 will bring a packed two days of technical insight, entertainment and farming debate to Diddly Squat Farm.
Farmers heading to Cereals 2026 at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm on June 10 and 11 are being urged to plan their day carefully, with more than 25,000 visitors, over 700 exhibitors and a packed programme of must-see features across the site.
The final countdown to the UK’s leading arable event is now under way, with organisers promising a show that combines the technical pedigree Cereals is known for with new features linked to its high-profile Cotswold host venue.
Highlights include the Diddly Squat Farm Trials presented by Ceres Rural and sponsored by Grain Fumigation Services, the Niab Soil Hole, the Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena, product launches from major machinery brands, Kaleb Cooper Q&A in the Young Farmers Programme sponsored by Zenatech, the Clarkson goats in Nofence collars and the Premier League Trophy on show at the Farmer’s Gin Bar sponsored by Barclays Bank and Propel Finance.
Jeremy Clarkson said hosting Cereals was a chance to do something positive for farming at a difficult time for the sector. He says: “Farmers are facing so many issues at the moment and hosting Cereals was our chance to do something positive for the industry and showcase some practical advice and ideas for food producers.
“We hope to shine a spotlight on farming in the UK and educate people about the challenges farmers face. Cereals is an opportunity for us to come together and find the solutions we all need. We’re really looking forward to welcoming farmers from across the UK.”
Diddly Squat Farm Trials put margins in focus
One of the biggest technical draws will be the Diddly Squat Farm Trials, run by Ceres Rural and sponsored by Grain Fumigation Services.
This year, the trials take a new approach, with high input, low input and untreated treatments across each plot, allowing farmers to compare the impact of different management strategies on varieties they are already growing or buying.
The work is designed to be highly practical and figures-focused, with some high-input programmes costing more than £100/ha, giving visitors the chance to see how different levels of investment perform side-by-side without taking the risk on their own farm.
The trials also include spring cereal and companion cropping options, including herbal leys, legume fallow and Charlie Ireland’s protein mix, exploring how growers can build more diverse systems even without Sustainable Farming Incentive funding.
Charlie Ireland said Cereals is about giving farmers the chance to look closely at what is happening in the field and take useful ideas home.
“When you walk around a show such as Cereals, you need to have your eyes and ears open,” he said.
“Look at what is going on, what new techniques are out there, what opportunities there are to mitigate the need for as much fertiliser use, what technology can be used and there’s lots of that about.”
Premier League Trophy heads to the Farmer’s Gin Bar
Farmers looking for a change of pace can head to the Farmer’s Gin Bar sponsored by Barclays Bank and Propel Finance, where the Premier League Trophy will be on show.
Alongside a photo opportunity, Barclays and Propel Finance will also stage breakfast seminars each morning at 10am exploring financial challenges, funding equipment and the future of farm investment.
Visitors will also be able to access free clinics offering no-obligation farm advice during both days, making the Farmer’s Gin Bar a mix of practical support, networking and a little football glamour.
Marketing and Partnerships Director at Propel, Julie Warren, explains: “A lot of farmers are struggling to fund the technology or even the basic equipment they need for their farm plus diversification and sustainability projects. We want to make it simple, smooth and seamless to acquire the finance to support them.
“We have a super experienced team who deal with our agricultural customers and who will tailor finance to suit the farmers’ needs with the added advantage of fixed monthly payments, so they know what their commitment is for during the lifetime of the finance agreement. From our experience, farmers are time poor and they need funders they can trust and who can work with them to create bespoke structures. Cereals is the perfect opportunity for us to meet with farmers from across the country, help answer their questions and concerns, and ensure they can get what they need to succeed and grow.”
A Barclays spokesperson added: ““Barclays has been supporting UK farmers to innovate, learn and grow since 1744. Whether you’re an estate owner looking to diversify, or a farmer wanting to invest in new technologies, our expertise, banking services and understanding of UK agriculture could help you make the most of every opportunity.”
Kaleb Cooper to take centre stage with young farmers
Kaleb Cooper will be speaking in the Young Farmers Programme at 12 noon on Day One. The programme, sponsored by Michelmores, and seminar sponsored by Zenatech will focus on the future of farming, including succession, careers, resilience, innovation and community.
Kaleb will also reveal the winners of the Kaleb Cooper Scholarship at the Royal Agricultural University, helping shine a spotlight on the next generation of talent entering the industry.
Kaleb has said inspiring younger and first-generation entrants into farming is one of the most important parts of Cereals.
“We need a farmer three times a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner,” he said.
“You can go in to be the actual farmer, or there’s other careers in farming, whether that be the agronomist, whether that be a GPS specialist, whether that be a journalist.
“So, there is definitely a future in farming and it’s so important to open up people’s eyes and opportunities in our industry.”
Farming Influencers unite for Agri-Aid
In a unique charity stunt, a group of 20+ social media influencers from across the farming sector are set to come together to perform a new song at 1.30pm on the Farming Weekly Stage on Wednesday, June 10. The performance may also get a star appearance …
The Agri Aid idea has been created by Michael Gallacher from GCS Machinery and Rick Kellett from Caddis who will be leading the unique choir alongside 25 students from Bredon School, which specialises in providing SEN support with practical, hands-on learning.
The special performance reimagines the Friend’s theme song, I’ll Be There For You, with their own farming-related lyrics and will help to raise funds for the Farming Community Network to help provide mental health support in agriculture.
Niab digs deep with the Soil Hole
The Niab Soil Hole will offer one of the most distinctive technical experiences at Cereals, giving visitors the chance to step 1.8 metres below the surface and examine the Cotswold Brash beneath Diddly Squat Farm.
The 20-metre-long exhibit will allow farmers to see how crop roots interact with a shallow, stony soil profile, including the 40% limestone stone content typical of the region.
Niab will also be showing more than 25 crop species across 130 plots, covering variety choice, crop protection, nutrition, soil management, sustainability, protein crops, emerging crops and research-led approaches to improving crop performance.
Sprayers, drones and the latest application technology
The Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena will once again be a must-visit for sprayer operators, agronomists and anyone focused on crop protection efficiency.
Visitors will be able to see self-propelled and trailed sprayers working in the field alongside the latest drones, precision application systems and digital technologies.
A major highlight will be the crowning of the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year, with the winner receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to Agritechnica 2027 in Hanover, Germany.
The arena will also showcase advances in drone spraying, nozzle selection, application efficiency, sprayer set-up, digital integration and responsible product use.
Syngenta will be bringing its “Robodog” technology, designed to capture soil-level insights from the field and help improve efficiency, yield potential and early detection of disease, pests and weeds.
Varieties, chemistry, sustainable solutions on show in the Agronomy Zone
The Agronomy Zone sponsored by Bayer remains at the heart of Cereals, with more than 600 individual plots showcasing the latest varieties, chemistry, crop science and agronomic thinking.
Other Agronomy Zone highlights include new variety launches, hybrid wheats and barleys, alternative crops, new fungicides, competitions to win seed, crop nutrition plots and research-led demonstrations from leading crop science organisations.
Secobra will also add a sporting twist to the Agronomy Zone, with former Premier League goalkeeper Chris Kirkland on its stand encouraging visitors to try to score a “Belter” against him in celebration of the company’s Belter spring barley variety.
Product launches and machinery highlights
Cereals will also be packed with machinery, off-road vehicles and product launches.
John Deere will be showcasing the 500R Sprayer, while Isuzu will put its latest pick-ups through their paces as part of the Isuzu 4x4 Off-Road Driving Experience.
The experience will include the latest electric and diesel Isuzu D-Max models, with visitors able to test vehicles on a purpose-built off-road course and speak directly to experts about the range.
Polaris will bring its Ranger line-up to Cereals for the first time, with the all-new Polaris Ranger 500 taking centre stage alongside other models on a dedicated demo course.
The wider Working Demonstrations will include drills, cultivation equipment, land drainage, autonomous machinery, handling equipment, track systems and off-road transport.
Fruehauf brings trailers, innovation and a race truck
Fruehauf, co-host and main sponsor of Cereals 2026, will be a major presence at Diddly Squat Farm.
The trailer manufacturer will showcase its Hydraulic Drive Bulk Blower Trailer, designed for sectors including animal feed and wood pellets, where customers have faced challenges delivering products on narrow or tight roads.
The trailer features an internal hose delivery system, allowing material to be delivered several metres away directly from the trailer to improve efficiency and accessibility.
Fruehauf will also display customer trailers in their own liveries and its BTRC race truck from the British Truck Racing Championship.
David Lewington, head of sales, said Fruehauf is aiming to connect with customers directly at Cereals and welcomes the “Clarkson effect”. He said: “With the event being held at Diddly Squat, the event should draw more attention to the major issues that UK farmers are facing and to the important role British farmers play in the UK and global economy.
“Two thirds of our customers are part of the agricultural sector, from individual farmers making a one-off purchase of a tipping trailer every 12 years, to large agricultural businesses operating hundreds of trailers that move produce for thousands of farms.
“Being involved in Cereals gives us a chance to catch up with existing customers, meet potential new customers and listen to their feedback.”
Visitors will be able to speak to Fruehauf’s industry specialists about technical and product questions, while also enjoying a food and drinks reception featuring Hawkstone beers and ciders.
Clarkson goats showcase virtual fencing
The new Livestock Zone, sponsored by Nofence, will bring animals to Cereals in a major first for the event in recent years.
The zone will feature the Diddly Squat goats wearing Nofence collars, demonstrating how virtual fencing can help farmers bring grazing back into arable systems with minimal infrastructure.
Twice-daily demonstrations will show the system working in a real farm environment, with the technology using GPS-enabled collars, a smartphone app and cloud-based mapping to manage livestock without physical fences.
“Cereals is one of the most important events in the UK farming calendar, and we're delighted to be the Official Livestock Sponsor,” says Finlay Russell, Senior Sales Associate at Nofence UK.
“This year feels particularly special, as we'll be doing live demonstrations with goats that have been wearing Nofence collars for over two years, right on the farm where the event is hosted.”
The feature will also explore how integrating livestock can improve soil health, manage cover crops and create new opportunities for income diversification.
Giant chain bull adds a fun talking point
In another eye-catching attraction, a giant chain bull sculpture created by County Durham farmer Steven Nesbitt is expected to head to Diddly Squat.
The sculpture, made from metal chain, is part of a fundraising campaign and adds another unusual talking point to a show already combining serious farming insight with fun, photo-worthy attractions.
Food, drink, retail and networking
Alongside the technical content, Cereals 2026 will feature The Farmer’s Dog pop-up pub, Diddly Squat Farm Shop Area sponsored by V12, The Farmer’s Gin Bar sponsored by Barclays and Propel Finance and Kaleb’s Korner sponsored by Nick Young Tractor Parts.
Both the main Diddly Squat Farm Shop and a pop-up shop at the lowland barn will be open on event days.
There will also be a heat of Britain’s Fittest Farmer at the show, ahead of the finals at The Farmer’s Dog Pub.
The Cereals site will also feature a number of hydration stations that are sponsored by YETI and will be free for visitors to top up their water bottles. A spokesperson for YETI said: “Cereals brings together some of the hardest-working people in British agriculture, and that community is exactly the kind of audience YETI was built for.
“Our products are designed for durability in the outdoors, long days in the field, and demanding conditions, which is why we’re supporting the event with dedicated hydration stations, helping everyone stay refreshed across the site.”
Practical knowledge across the site
Although there is more fun and entertainment to be had this year, Cereals remains a business-to-business event focused on arable farming, technical advice and practical decision-making.
The Seed to Shelf Stage sponsored by KWS, BASE-UK Regenerative Agriculture Stage sponsored by Tees Law, Farmers Weekly Stage and Young Farmers Programme sponsored by Michelmores will host discussions on policy, succession, innovation, regenerative farming, finance, careers and farm business resilience.
The BASE-UK Regenerative Agriculture Stage will focus on “Growing Without Government Support”, while the Mainstage will examine post-Budget agriculture, AgTech, innovation and the issues shaping the future of UK farming.
Charlie Ireland said the event is coming at a pivotal time for the sector.
“Events like Cereals help farmers make informed decisions that improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability,” he said.
“Farmers are operating in one of the most challenging environments we’ve seen in decades and finding new efficiencies, particularly around inputs and fuel, is absolutely essential.
“Farming is constantly evolving and Cereals helps to showcase the latest thinking and ensures farmers aren’t left behind.”
Farmers can still register for tickets at www.thecerealsevent.co.uk.
Cereals is a business-to-business event and registrations will go through an approval process. Members of organisations including BASE-UK, Farmers Weekly, the National Association of Agricultural Contractors, Young Farmers and the National Farmers Union will be automatically approved and receive a discount with their membership number.
To manage traffic, comprehensive traffic measures will be in place and visitors are being asked to choose a preferred entrance date and time. Visitors can also book a seat on a Cereals Bus from key locations across the UK, giving farmers priority access on arrival and helping to reduce traffic further.
For more information, visit www.thecerealsevent.co.uk
