Organisers of last week's Cereals LIVE - the online version of the arable event - have proclaimed it a "resounding success", saying it attracted over 10,000 visitors from all over the world.

Having postponed the physical event due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the organisers say they decided to deliver as much content as possible online to support the industry during lockdown. The result was a two-day online event on 10-11 June featuring a seminar programme, video demonstrations of machinery and new kit, crop plot tours and interactive chat with exhibitors.

“We have been overwhelmed at the reaction from the farming industry,” said event director Alli McEntyre. “Everyone has been really keen to get involved – and the response to the live webinars far exceeded our expectation. We had more than 9,000 live viewers, with the top session drawing over 800 attendees and every session producing some excellent questions from the audience.”

Visitors were also able to view machinery in action in the Syngenta Sprays & Sprayers Arena – where the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year presentation took place. Scooping the top spot was Matt Fuller, who works at Heathcote Farms, Toddington, Bedfordshire. 

The event offered an opportunity for visitors to collect BASIS and NRoSO points, as well as a plethora of technical advice from exhibitors and through the NIAB virtual event hub. There were also virtual crop walks and video from crop plots at the original Cambridgeshire site.

Closing the event on each day was a virtual beer tent, where visitors could relax with friends, request live music from the resident DJ and pledge money to the charity partner RABI.

“Nothing can quite replace seeing friends, machinery and crops in person, but going online has enabled us to deliver a wide range of content and to reach a totally new audience,” said Ms McEntyre. “I’d like to thank all of our exhibitors, sponsors, speakers and visitors for contributing to such a successful event, and look forward to meeting you face-to-face next year.”