FARMERS across the region are being invited to a major conference this week aimed at producing a blueprint for the future of agriculture in Worcestershire.

The Winning Ways event on Thursday will feature keynote speakers and workshops, and will be chaired by David Hall, principal of the Pershore Group of Colleges.

Its aim is to gauge the opinions of farmers and set out a plan for changes to the industry.

This latest meeting is the third in a series of five being held in the National Farmers' Union (NFU) West Midlands region during October.

The talks are being jointly staged by the NFU and the Country Landowners and Business Association (CLA) and have been funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

"Our first conference was held in Shropshire and was very well received by the community," said Bob Forster, NFU West Midlands regional director.

He confirmed the majority of farmers who had attended were in an upbeat mood, and were looking forward to talking about how they could help to mould their own future.

"Everyone knows that agriculture must continue to change with the times, but it's vital there is a definite plan to which we can all work. The driving force for that plan has to come from the farmers themselves," he added.

Speakers at the Worcestershire conference include NFU marketing adviser Stuart Thomson, James Parker, owner of Food Connexionx Ltd, and farmer Richard Haddock, director of Triple S Ranch plc.

The event is being held at the Bank House Hotel, at Bransford, near Worcester, from 10.30am until 4pm.

A further conference will be held at the Three Counties Hotel, in Hereford, on Tuesday, October 23.