John Deere is once again the exclusive machinery sponsor for Open Farm Sunday, which this year takes place on June 9th 2013, with the theme 'Discover the story behind your food'.

Organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), Open Farm Sunday is the industry's annual event that gives everyone across Britain a chance to meet the farmers who grow their food and care for the countryside.

"I think it's very important that people see all aspects of farming, and they have a much greater understanding as a result," says OFS host farmer John Whitby of Rowley Farm, near Slough. "If you are proud of and enthusiastic about what you do, you have a great story to tell that visitors will be keen to hear - they'll go away having had a good day out and their view of farming will have improved."

Gordon Day, John Deere Limited agricultural & turf marketing manager for the UK and Ireland, adds: "Education and care for the environment are two of the company's key guiding principles underpinning our business activities as the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural, turf, forestry and construction equipment.

"Open Farm Sunday provides an ideal opportunity to show a wider public audience how advanced farming technologies are being applied to the benefit of farming, efficient food production and sound environmental management, including the reduction of harmful emissions. We also see the event as a way of encouraging young people to consider a challenging and worthwhile career in farming and agricultural engineering."

Many John Deere staff will be out on farms on June 9th, helping host farmers and talking to visitors about John Deere's advanced technology and its role in helping farmers to produce quality food with care for the environment. The company is also encouraging its farming customers to open their farms on the day, and join around 200 who have already committed to doing so this year.