< Previous80 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LinkFarm GPS Tracker thefts hit new heights Farmers are being warned of a spate of thefts of tractor GPS systems – an expensive item which is likely to have a serious impact on farmers’ lives and livelihoods. As Rural Task Force officer PC Josh Fawcett said: “These recent thefts have had a devastating impact on the farmers. It’s hard enough producing the country’s food without having people come along and steal their property. Farm machinery is a massive investment for a farmer, and it needs to be protected from opportunist thieves.” The police are urging farmers to take additional security measures. Fawcett continued: “Please also make sure your device is properly insured as it may need to be a separate item on your insurance, especially once removed from machinery. We would also advise people to consider installing CCTV, intruder alarms, security lighting and boundary security (entrance gates/fencing) around your property to provide formal surveillance and target harden the most vulnerable areas.” NFU raises over £7,000 for rural mental health charity The NFU has led a 130-mile egg and spoon relay raising more than £7,000 for the rural mental health charity YANA (You Are Not Alone). The relay was in memory of NFU poultry member and former Poultry Industry Programme Chair Patrick Joice, who suffered from depression following the diagnosis of a rare cancer which claimed his life in 2019. Throughout his illness he was committed to increasing awareness around mental health. NFU poultry board chair James Mottershead took part in the relay. He said: “This event was a fantastic way to show our support for charities like YANA and honour Patrick’s legacy. “There are so many people who rely on charities like YANA to help support their mental health and every penny raised through this event will help YANA continue this vital work in rural communities. “I also hope this fundraiser helps to continue Patrick’s legacy in opening up the conversation around mental health and shows anyone who may be struggling in silence that help is out there.” © stock.adobe.com/Luca Gene editing gets green light The government has announced plans to allow the gene editing of animals and crops in a bid to improve Britain’s agricultural productivity. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill is aimed at promoting “efficient” farming and food production – stripping out rules inherited from the EU after Brexit. The Food and Drink Federation’s chief scientific officer, Kate Halliwell, said: “We welcome [the] announcement by the UK Government to create the right regulatory framework in England for precision breeding techniques to be enabled. “While the process will take time, techniques like gene editing present clear opportunities to encourage innovation within food production and could help drive competitiveness and sustainability in the food and drink supply chain. However, it is important that the UK Government also considers how to put in place the right framework so not to raise unnecessary barriers to trade.” © stock.adobe.com/mythja © stock.adobe.com/petert2 80-85.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:28 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 81 Supporting the rural community 3 tonnes of surplus leeks rescued from Lincolnshire farm to help tackle food poverty Dozens of volunteers have hand-pulled, topped and tailed around 3,000kg of surplus leeks at a Lincolnshire farm – helping to reduce waste, combat food poverty and support the agricultural sector. Organised by members of Lions Club International, a global voluntary service organisation, the initiative was the first of the year in conjunction with The Gleaning Network, which encourages people across the country to pick surplus crops to shrink farm-level food waste. After being picked in Coningsby, the leeks were placed in crates and distributed to frontline charities and local groups – such as school breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, homeless shelters, food banks and community cafes – via FareShare’s regional centres. Dr Chris Hibbert, a member of Lions Club International and holding the role of national hunger officer, formed the Lions Gleaning Hub two years ago. Since then, more than 38 tonnes of food from eight counties – including Lincolnshire – have been rescued. Hare coursing and illegal encampment laws strengthened Lobbying has resulted in changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act which will help protect farms from hare coursing and illegal encampments. The changes to the Bill, which has been given Royal Assent, will help deter hare coursers by giving police forces the means to seize more dogs and by lifting the existing limit on fines. It will also mean that unauthorised encampments will become a criminal offence for those who do not leave when asked by the landowner or tenant, and offenders will be hit with strengthened penalties. NFU vice president David Exwood said: “Hare coursing and illegal encampment can both cause significant damage to farmland and wildlife, something farmers across the country experience all too often, with little repercussions for offenders. Their behaviour can also be a source of great distress for farming families who feel vulnerable and threatened in their own homes.” A growing number of farmers are converting to organic as nature-friendly farming increasingly meets consumer demand and offers resilience. Data released by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has revealed that land going through the two-year conversion period to organic rose by 34% in 2021, compared to the previous year. UK organic land also rose by 3.6% last year, following a rise of 0.8% in 2020. Sophie Kirk, business development manager for Soil Association Certification, said: “It is encouraging to see that the latest statistics show confidence in organic farming is on the rise in the UK. Our farming sector has dealt with many shocks over the last few years but opportunities for sustainable farming remain strong with rising consumer demand and government support for organic. “It is clear both government and shoppers are waking up to the benefits organic can deliver for nature and the environment, and these latest figures show that, with the right incentives, nature and climate friendly farming can grow rapidly.” © stock.adobe.com/Viktor Pravdica © stock.adobe.com/Ivan © stock.adobe.com/valya82 Organic farming on the rise 80-85.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:28 Page 282 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK T he flatlands of Lincolnshire have proved themselves perfect for farming since the beginnings of agricultural Britain. Fertile earth and plenty of pastures for grazing animals, along with temperate weather meant that early settlers could survive and later thrive, setting the county up to be the proud centre of agrarian industry it remains to this day. The facts speak for themselves; Lincolnshire produces one eighth of the UK’s food, with its acres of space under unbroken skyline used to grow large quantities of wheat and barley, rapeseed and sugar beet. Once our ancestors chose to set aside the old hunter- gatherer ways and put down roots, word soon got around about the wealth to be had from Great Britain and its farming. Everyday exportation of grains and cattle to continental Europe set Rome’s sights on our shores as prime for conquest. After the Roman invasion our agriculture developed dramatically, thanks to large villa farms which began to introduce the wider management of cultivation and food production. This system of organised farming continued on into the Middle Ages, although for some time crop-focused arable farming fell out of favour. Wealthy landowners who were passed the power baton from Roman hierarchy preferred sheep farming for its profitable stock in meat and wool, pushing out the smaller farmers and decreasing space for their crops. But this was not to last, as during the 18th and 19th centuries the industrial boom brought in technologies that made arable farming quicker, less labour intensive and much more profitable as a result. This time period saw the invention and rollout of the steam tractor, with Lincolnshire at the forefront of producing the machinery needed for these vehicles. Greater scale of management and knowledge in crop rotation and field drainage, as well as leaps forward in fertilisers, all contributed to huge increases in production and Lincolnshire’s name as an agricultural leader heading into the 20th century. The county’s landscape was forever changed from the one its early settlers would have known. With Lincoln and Boston as thriving industrial hotspots, Lincolnshire as a whole was now renowned as first in rank out of all the English counties in regards to agricultural development. Even as the county’s population grew, doubling from 200,000 to 400,000 between 1800-50, the sheer amount of land ripe for cultivation meant that agriculture retained the highest employment numbers of any industry until 1851. In the 19th century in particular, the Lincolnshire farmer was known for working hard and being very mobile, often only serving one or two years at a single farm before going back to the hiring fair for his next work placement. So lucrative was this line of labour that it’s even believed that Lincolnshire farmers may Landscape of hope and glory With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this month, we decided to take a look at Lincolnshire’s farming communities, their importance to the Royal family throughout history, and just why our region was important to the foundation of England today. Landscape of hope and glory 80-85.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:28 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 83 © stock.adobe.com/Alekss THE GREAT FAMILY DAY OUT Sunday 7 th August www.revesbycountryfair.co.uk Image credit: JC Balls & Sons TICKETS ON SALE NOW have been upwardly mobile in terms of earnings too, and that he was richer than your average farmhand from any other county. This line of thought comes from the wealth of opportunities afforded a worker across Lincolnshire, from the growing maritime trade on its rivers, to engineering for canals and railways, or taking the fishing or tourism industry opportunities on the coast. Despite the historical speculation of the prosperous Lincolnshire farmer, agriculture has a different landscape here today. Small family farms, like their fellows in the Middle Ages, are being side-lined by industrial farming and struggle to reach the customers that keep them in their homes and businesses. To combat this, Prince Charles launched his own Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme back in 2016, as part of a £1.5 million initiative to help 1,500 family farms network with clients and run efficiently as small businesses. Workshops run at 15 venues every year, in association with agricultural consultancies, helping to increase the savvy and confidence of family farmers. Resilience is essential in helping these small businesses stay afloat as they manoeuvre the overwhelming funding for supermarket mass-production, simultaneously increasing consumers’ difficulty in seeking out local goods, especially in 84 Á 80-85.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:28 Page 484 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK www.mjp.supplies • MJPSupplies mjpsupplies For the purpose of importing and selling Algifol™ biostimulant products to farmers and growers of specialist crops Watch your profits grow Special offer on 1 litre bottles bought direct from our website Suppliers of a range of liquid storage tanks for: • Oil • adblue • Water • Fertiliser rural communities. The programme also supports farming heritage events still in operation today, such as the Louth Livestock Market, the last of its kind in Lincolnshire. Opened at its current Newmarket site in 1983, but running since long before, it was a bustling centre of farming trade until the area was hit by the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak. It was saved from closure in 2017 by campaigners in the local community, and the Prince of Wales visited the market in 2018 to give his support, thanks and congratulations. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity of coming to Louth and visiting the market here,” he said as part of the speech he gave at the market, “and I am thrilled that it was possible to save this particular vital part of the rural community’s business world.” The Prince also expressed his “enormous pleasure” at knowing his Countryside Fund, a charity supporting rural family farms and communities, helped in the campaign to save the market. In the spirit of bringing together farming enterprises in order to identify and inspire opportunities for improvement, the Farm Resilience Programme has helped Louth Livestock Market plan to sustain its future. Plans with the local council are underway to install a new roof for the market, reinvest and its cafe and extend its potential as a rural hub. The farmers who regularly attend the livestock market showed their gratitude for The Prince’s genuine interest and concern for farming communities. There is still a need and many benefits in sustaining these aspects of our heritage, not least in reconnecting us to our roots and what we can still learn from our history. As the UK prepares to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, there’s even more cause to reflect not only on how we’ve progressed as a society, but also where we might reconnect with old values of community to overcome the hardships facing our country, and the world at large. The perseverance of Lincolnshire farmers and farming communities to keep sustainable, local farming alive can only serve as an inspiration to Lincolnshire and the UK, especially in light of Coronavirus, Brexit and ongoing ecological turmoil. Lincolnshire farming continues to overcome, determined to remain an example of traditional values. Lincolnshire and its farming may only be what it is today because of its flat landscape, but that’s only in the topographical sense. The heart and soul of the county as a band of farming communities, working hard to prosper, is anything but flat. © stock.adobe.com/Gill 80-85.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:28 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 85 It'sshowtime! PEACOCK&BINNINGTON JOINUSATTHELINCOLNSHIRESHOW2022TOTALK MACHINERYANDMOREWITHREFRESHMENTS SERVEDONBOTHDAYS. BRIGG-CORRINGHAM-HALSHAM-KIRBYMISPERTON-LOUTH-SELBY “For those times when you need a helping hand on farm or on land” 4 Church Road | Wittering | Peterborough | PE8 6AG Tel: 01780 782924 | Mobile: 07860 608825 enquiries@kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk www.kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk l Lime spreading (Lime stone and Lime x70) and can arrange soil testing with GPS l Fertilizer spread including variable rates l Drilling with 6 metre tine drill l 220 hp tractor and driver l 8 row Maize drill l Mowing with Triple mowers (with or without conditioner) We would like to congratulate the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee Your Ifor Williams Trailer Distributor Trailers from Camping to 3500kg gross Sales • Repairs • Servicing • Spares Sole Distributors in Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Pickup canopies also available You are welcome to view our stock of Trailers Tel: 01526 860317 website: www.scott-trailers.co.uk e-mail: office@scott-trailers.co.uk Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8am-5pm Sat 9am-12 noon • Other times by appointment Horsebox Commercial Livestock Unbraked 80-85.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:28 Page 6Luxury driving 86 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING We’ve looked at economical and electric cars in the past few months but this month we wanted to look at what luxury feels like, and what is being offered in terms of not just power and price, but the interior and driving experience. 86-89.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:30 Page 1BMW 7 Series COUNTY MOTORING BMW 7 Series The new BMW 7 Series represents a significant step up from its renowned predecessor, with an innovative specification designed to deliver incredible driving pleasure, unsurpassed long-distance comfort and a cutting-edge digital experience. With the BMW Curved Display fully digital screen grouping, additional My Modes, the BMW Interaction Bar and the newly designed gear selector, the cockpit represents an invitation to enjoy concentrated driving pleasure. The lounge-like atmosphere in the second row of seats is elevated to extraordinary heights both by the extra spaciousness on offer and, most prominently, by innovations like the BMW Theatre Screen and upgraded comfort seats with optional reclining function. One of the main highlights of the equipment options available for the new BMW 7 Series is the BMW Theatre Screen with Amazon Fire TV built in. This includes a 31.3” 8K touchscreen display with Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system with optional in-seat exciters, built-in touch screen remotes in the door panels (BMW Touch Command), and an automated rear shade system that closes when the BMW Theatre Screen is turned on. Mercedes-Benz With the luxury saloon EQS and the sporty executive saloon EQE, Mercedes-Benz has entered a new, all- electric era in the upper market segments. Making charging easy, navigation 88 Á 86-89.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:30 Page 288 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING with Electric Intelligence plans the fastest and most convenient route, including charging stops, based on numerous factors and reacts dynamically to traffic jams or a change in driving style, for example. This includes a visualisation in the MBUX infotainment system as to whether the state of charge of the battery is sufficient to return to the starting point without charging. Charging stations along the route that have been added manually are given preference in the route calculation. Proposed charging stations can be excluded. The estimated charging costs per charging stop are calculated. The highlight of the interior is the MBUX Hyperscreen (special equipment). This large, curved screen unit spans almost from A-pillar to A-pillar. Three screens sit under a common cover glass and merge visually. The 12.3-inch OLED display for the front passenger gives them their own display and control area. In Europe, and in a growing number of countries, the front seat passenger is also able to watch dynamic content while the vehicle is on the move. This is because Mercedes- EQ is able to rely on an intelligent, camera-based blocking logic: If the camera detects that the driver is looking at the passenger display, the system automatically dims the dynamic content. Audi urbansphere Though the urbansphere is a concept currently and not due to be released, it may still offer a view as to what luxury city driving will mean in the future. Designers and engineers have created the Audi urbansphere primarily for use in traffic of Chinese megacities. In these metropolitan areas, where Mercedes-Benz 86-89.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:30 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 89 COUNTY MOTORING Tel: 01472 812130 www.lincsvwa.com Unit 3, Woodside Park, Station Road, Tetney, Grimsby. DN36 5HX Find An Experienced Motor Mechanic In Tetney, Near Grimsby n Servicing n MOTs n Repairs n Brakes & Tyres n Engine diagnostics n Car Batteries n Exhausts n ECU Remapping n Air Conditioning Testing/repairs/Re Gas VW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA SPECIALIST personal space is in particularly short supply, the concept car offers the largest interior space of any Audi to date. In addition, it intelligently coordinates this with technologies and digital services that appeal to all the senses and thus offer a new quality of experience. The result of this process can be seen in the Audi urbansphere concept, above all in the interior. As such, the spacious automobile acts as a lounge on wheels and mobile office – the vehicle serves as a third living space during the hours spent in traffic. To this end, the Audi urbansphere combines the luxury of complete privacy with a comprehensive range of high-tech features on board, even during the daily rush hour. The word “sphere” in the name already suggests that the focus of the Audi skysphere, grandsphere, and urbansphere concept cars is on the inner space, the interior. It is no longer the powertrain or the driving dynamics that are at the top of the list of requirements for this new generation of cars. Instead, the interior becomes the foundation for design and technology. And this means that it transforms into the passenger’s sphere of life and experience on the road. Audi urbansphere 86-89.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:30 Page 4Next >