A former National Farmers' Union officer is to stand trial at Exeter Crown Court accused of growing a cannabis crop on his land.
John Shears, aged 70, has admitted allowing the drug to be grown at his Dartmoor farm by another man but has pleaded not guilty to producing £49,000 worth of the drug.
He will now face a trial by jury on April 9 after a case management hearing in front of resident Judge Francis Gilbert, QC.
Shears, of Lower Nattadon Farm, Chagford, Devon, admitted allowing his land to be used for the production of cannabis at an earlier hearing.
A second man, Daniel Perryman, aged 26, of Exeter Road, Kingsteignton, Devon, admitted producing cannabis and will be sentenced after Shears' trial.
The case follows a police raid on May 5 this year in which 189 cannabis plants were seized, which allegedly were capable of producing drugs worth £49,000.
Shears is a former chairman and vice chairman of the Devon branch of the National Farmers' Union. He is also a member of the Dartmoor National Park Authority, where he was appointed by the Environment Secretary.
He serves on committees dealing with Standards, Audit and Governance, Planning and Sustainable Development, and Park Management but has been given leave of absence from his duties.
