On opening the multi-streamed conference, Henry Robinson, CLA president, said renewable energy development within farming is vital to the government as part of their current energy supply.

His message was clear. ‘Investment in renewable energy needs clarity and stability’. And to farmers he recommended that they ‘took care’ in what was a minefield of changing information and tariffs. "And here, at the Expo, valuable information is accessible from reputable firms. Talk to them, be sure about the structures you will put in place, and take time to get it right.”

Opening the event on the second day, Meurig Raymond, NFU president, voiced his support of renewable energy in farming. "I’m delighted to see the renewable sector growing. We need tools to manage the volatility of farming, and the fall in milk prices is an example of where renewables can act as a financial buffer when the price paid to the producer is unstable.”

"RHI is growing at a pace, and the NFU estimates that half the solar, half the AD output, half the renewable heat and two thirds of wind turbines in the UK renewables sector are sourced from our farms.”

This message was underlined by Dr. Nina Skorupska, the chief executive of the REA, the first Keynote speaker, who said UK farmers have come a long way, in terms of renewables, but there’s still work to do. "A third of people still believe that ‘man made’ reasons are behind climate change. This perception needs to change.”