HOW Does your CAP Fit? is the title of this year's Pershore Conference organised by the Pershore and Upton-on-Severn branch of the NFU.

A high-profile panel of speakers has been lined up for the event at the Frank Parkinson Centre, Pershore College, on Thursday, January 20, under the chairmanship of Dr David Hall, a past principal of the college.

Guy Smith, an Essex farmer farming 1,200 acres of combinable crops on the north east Essex coast. The farm business is well diversified though farming remains the core of the business. The question is for how much longer.

Martin Haworth is NFU policy adviser having previously had wide experience in Brussels, heavily involved in the work of the European Farmers Organisation (COPA) and president to its General Experts Group from 192-95.

Euro MP Neil Parish is a farmer and continues to live on the 300-acre family farm in Somerset, combining his love of farming with a career in politics. He has been Conservative spokesman on agriculture and fisheries in the European Parliament since 2001.

"This is an evening of debate that will look at the effects of CAP Reform and how the panel is recommending the approach to 2005," said group secretary Ray Foster-Morison. "There will be ample opportunity for questions."

The evening starts at 7.30pm and places can be booked through sponsors Carver Knowles on 01684 853400.