< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Link£5m award to help commercialise Lincoln-led agri-tech research A new partnership led by the University of Lincoln, to develop a globally recognised agri-tech innovation cluster in the East of England, has received a major national funding award from Research England to advance commercialisation of research through new spin-out companies. Agri-tech Commercialisation Ecosystems (ACE), a partnership project from the universities of Lincoln, Cambridge and East Anglia, has been awarded £5 million by the UKRI-Research England CCF-RED Fund. This will enable the creation of a national agri-tech ‘Technology Transfer Office’ and the new company Ceres Agri-Tech Ltd that will support the commercialisation of early-stage agricultural innovations. The project targets key regional challenges, including low wages, workforce skills gaps, and climate resilience by supporting high-quality, inclusive employment and environmentally focused agri-tech innovation. Professor Simon Pearson, founding director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT) at the University of Lincoln, said: “We are thrilled that the ACE project has received a vital £5 million award from Research England, which will enable incredible growth within agri-tech and the creation of many new ‘spin-out’ businesses over the next decade and beyond. “Within the next 10 years, ACE aims to fund 95 research projects, create over 1,300 new jobs within the sector and bring a projected £506 million into the UK economy. “In a world where geopolitical instability, climate change and resource scarcity seem to be threatening food security, we now have a great opportunity to create an innovation cluster for the UK that will deliver positive economic, societal and environmental impacts for many years to come.” Connectivity shortfalls hinder tech investment on UK farms A lack of reliable internet access is limiting productivity gains and delaying digital adoption across UK agriculture, according to new industry data. The survey, commissioned by infrastructure provider CityFibre, found that 8% of farms still have no internet access, while 42% of respondents cite slow or unstable connections as a key barrier to investing in new technology. This comes despite nearly 60% of farmers expecting to scale up their use of digital tools—including AI and real- time data systems—over the next five years. While cost remains the top obstacle to tech investment, poor connectivity is directly undermining the uptake of precision farming, operational automation, and digital admin tools. On farms where full fibre broadband is already in place, respondents reported tangible improvements in efficiency and diversification. The issue goes beyond operations. Poor rural broadband is also disrupting workflows at the household level, with 90% of farmers avoiding internet use at peak times, creating friction in both business and personal settings. CityFibre, one of the private players tasked with delivering the UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme, has secured £865 million in public funding to build out fibre networks across nine rural regions. Combined with private co-investment, the initiative represents £1.2 billion aimed at connecting over 1.3 million homes and businesses. With agriculture under pressure to modernise amid rising costs and tight margins, the survey reinforces the commercial case for accelerated digital infrastructure in underserved areas. © stock.adobe.com/Kay peopleimages.com © stock.adobe.com/Pakorn51LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 Supporting the rural community The Princess Royal to attend 140th Lincolnshire Show Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal is to attend this year’s Lincolnshire Show, which is back for the 140th time on 18th and 19th June 2025. Television presenter Matt Baker MBE, best known for his work on BBC’s Blue Peter, Countryfile and The One Show, will also be attending the event, which has announced an inspiring programme of events and performances. Brand-new Main Ring act, the Knights of Middle England, a professional team of stunt riders, performers, actors and combatants, will be bringing an action-packed performance, and all things countryside will be showcased at the Show’s new Rural Voices Stage. The Lincolnshire Show beach, using sand sourced from the Lincolnshire coast, and the Garden Show, which were both introduced for last year’s event, are set to return – bigger and better than before – as well as long-standing favourites including the Shetland Pony Grand National, LAS Schools’ Challenge, Floral Arts Competition and visits from canine friends with Jerry Green Dog Rescue. The Lincolnshire Show is a celebration of all things Lincolnshire and rural life, with around 60,000 people expected to attend the two-day event. Farm of the Future initiative receives fresh funding Innovation for Agriculture has received funding to continue delivering the RASE Farm of the Future initiative in 2025 and 2026, which the charity delivers on behalf of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE). The funding has been awarded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and is to focus on supporting farm businesses to introduce practices that enhance biodiversity, accelerate progress towards net zero emissions and improve farm business resilience. The Farm of the Future initiative has been running since 2023, and has included demonstration days, farm walks and study tours, all of which have been free to access for farmers. The project has brought together over 400 participants from a broad range of systems and farm sizes, to see and discuss technologies and innovative practices. With the funding awarded for 2025 and 2026, the project will deliver a further twelve events for farmers, taking place throughout the UK. Delicious dining with a purpose at the Bransby Horses Café The Bransby Horses Café is more than just a place to eat — it’s a haven for homemade favourites and heartfelt purpose. Known for its famous sausage rolls, classic Victoria sponge, full English breakfasts and indulgent Afternoon Teas, this 5* hygiene-rated café truly offers something for everyone. Whether you’re popping in for a slice of cake or a comforting hot meal, every bite supports the care of rescued horses, ponies and donkeys. Proudly serving locally produced Stokes Coffee and Breckland Orchard soft drinks, the café also caters to diverse dietary needs with tasty vegan and gluten-free options. Open daily from 10am to 4pm, hot food is available until 2.30pm, with drinks and cakes served until 3.45pm. Great food, good company, and a cause worth supporting. For catering and allergen enquiries, please email: cafe@bransbyhorses.co.uk. © stock.adobe.com/Kay A/peopleimages.com52 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Supporting the rural community UK not prepared says Climate Change Committee The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has issued stark warnings as climate change makes extreme weather in the UK more likely and more extreme, stating that the UK is not appropriately prepared. Amongst the immediate concerns of the Committee, expected to worsen if no action is taken, is that over half of England’s top quality agricultural land is at risk of flooding today, with a further increase in total agriculture land at risk expected by 2050. 6.3 million properties in England are also in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, and surface water. This is predicted to rise to around 8 million (one in four) by 2050. Over a third of railway and road kilometres are additionally currently at flood risk, predicted to rise to around half by 2050. Baroness Brown, chair of the Adaptation Committee, said: “We have seen in the last couple of years that the country is not prepared for the impacts of climate change. We know there is worse to come, and we are not ready – indeed in many areas we are not even planning to be ready. The threat is greatest for the most vulnerable: we do not have resilient hospitals, schools, or care homes. Public and private institutions alike are unprepared. “We can see our country changing before our eyes. People are having to cope with more regular extreme weather impacts. People are experiencing increasing food prices. People are worried about vulnerable family members during heatwaves.” New partnership to provide farming and countryside experiences to pupils Children from primary schools in areas of social and economic disadvantage will be offered a taste of life on a working farm and access to the countryside as part of a new partnership between The Crown Estate and The Country Trust. The Crown Estate, which manages more than 185,000 acres of rural land, will work with The Country Trust to offer more than 40 farm visits this year to working farms across the country to enable more children to learn about nature, the countryside and food production. The 40 visits will take place on Crown Estate farms and estates across the country, including Thorolds College Farm in Boston. Typical activities for a farm visit include sowing seeds, harvesting vegetables, seeing and learning about animals and helping to feed them where possible, and learning about and cooking fresh produce, including making butter and flour. The programme follows a successful pilot which saw 180 pupils from four schools take part in farm days in Shropshire, Essex and Lincolnshire. © stock.adobe.com/Alena Yakusheva Revesby Country Fair offers £1,000 to young people working in the countryside The organisers of Revesby Country Fair, a popular Lincolnshire family day out, are offering grants of up to £1,000 to support young people living and working in the region. The Revesby Rural Activities Fund, which has doubled from £500 last year, is available for people up to the age of 25 living in Lincolnshire. The grants aim to give young people the chance to participate in rural activities including traditional skills and crafts, game- keeping and horticulture. The funding can be used to pay for travel to rural activities, driving and tractor licenses, towing courses and IT costs – among many other expenses. John Roe, chairman of Revesby Country Fair, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to increase our bursary offering for young people across Lincolnshire and support them in their early careers. Growing up and starting work in a rural area can be difficult, but we need to do all we can to encourage the next generation of rural and agricultural workers.” © stock.adobe.com/Air Video UKGivingyourbusinessahelping hand Tofindouthowwecanhelpbuildyourbusinessvisit www.dextersharpe.co.uk Officesin Boston,Bourne,Horncastle, Lincoln,Louth&Skegness CHARTEREDCERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS Accounts-TaxReturns TaxPlanning-Book-Keeping Audits-BusinessAdvice BransbyHorses.co.uk Find us at LN1 2PH • 01427 788 464 For more information on opening times, call, ̰QGXVRQOLQHRU follow us on social media. Charity No: 1075601 Terms and conditions apply. All bookings require 24 hours notice. Please contact cafe @ bransbyhorses.co.uk to book. 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Your Ifor Williams Trailer Distributor Trailers from small domestic 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 T: 01526 860317 W: www.scott-trailers.co.uk E: office@scott-trailers.co.uk Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8am-5pm Sat 9am-12 noon Horsebox Commercial Livestock Unbraked54 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Supporting the rural community Man handed suspended jail term for illegal waste site in Lincolnshire The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a man for running an illegal waste site at Thorpe Farm, Skendleby, in East Lindsey. At Lincoln Crown Court, Matthew Berry, who verbally abused an Environment Agency officer during a site inspection, received a suspended sentence of 36 weeks. This is on condition that he stays out of trouble and abides by a curfew between 9pm and 5am for a 3 month period. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 in costs and a surcharge of £154. Berry’s company, SBR Foxhills Limited, was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,626.35 and a £190 surcharge. The defendant and company also have a confiscation order imposed of £45,000, representing the recovery of the proceeds from the crime. Berry was warned that he faces up to 12 months in prison if that sum remains unpaid after 3 months. In sentencing Berry, Her Honour Judge Sjolin Knight told him that he had taken an “arrogant and bullish approach.” She noted that he had run his business in such a way that he “violated strict environmental laws that are there to protect the environment for everyone.” Both Berry and his company entered not guilty pleas at a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court in June 2022. However, shortly before their trial was due to start, in November 2023, they changed their pleas to guilty. They were finally sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 7 May 2025. Unique wildlife walk expanded in Lincolnshire Three more sections have been opened at a unique wildlife walk in Lincolnshire, making it one of the most accessible countryside areas of the UK. Lincolnshire’s section of the national King Charles III England Coast Path is a 124-mile-long walking route that runs from Sutton Bridge to Barton-upon-Humber, opening up the majority of the iconic Wash coastline to walkers. The route gives legal access to an incredible section of British coastline, and the wildlife around it, for the first time. Walkers can now enjoy more than 90% of our county’s coastal path with the latest sections added ranging from Mablethorpe to Tetney in addition to the new North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire sections to the Humber Bridge. This opening creates an almost continuous coastal route, with just two small gaps where a bridge is required near Gibraltar Point as well as a section around Immingham Dock. © stock.adobe.com/veronique Sale set for £10m mixed-use farming estate An 878-acre mixed-use agricultural estate straddling Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire has been listed for sale at nearly £10 million. The property includes Cowsland Farm and Lea Marsh Farm and is being marketed by Bidwells. It is available as a whole or split into four lots. The estate features a combination of arable land, pasture, a residential farmhouse, and commercial buildings currently generating income. It has been under long-term ownership and professionally managed through local farming agreements. The land is arranged in two main blocks: one near South Leverton in Nottinghamshire, and the other south of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, alongside the River Trent. James Wood, partner and head of rural agency at Bidwells, said: “Cowsland Farm and Lea Marsh Farm offers a buyer the opportunity to acquire a mixed portfolio of high yielding and well-presented assets. The farm has been put together, and managed, with meticulous care and attention over decades of ownership. This is an exciting opportunity for either farmers or investors looking to acquire a block of commercial farmland alongside high yielding commercial buildings and a handsome farmhouse.” © stock.adobe.com/Aerial MikeDIRECT GASKETS LIMITED Contact us today on 01482 219655 or visit our website www.direct‐gaskets.co.uk For over 35 years we have been market leaders in the manufacture of Gaskets. Established in Hull, we play an important role in the city’s manufacturing sector. 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We are here to ensure you receive the very best service & at a time that suits you. As a member of the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers you can be sure of a safe service every time with quality of product also assured. We pride ourselves on our prompt delivery services as well as our competitive prices.56 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK W ith leading innovation centres shaping the future of food production and agricultural roots that run deep into the past, Lincolnshire is a county renowned for farming. Humans have been living and farming in Lincolnshire since at least the early Neolithic period, with settlers arriving in the UK finding healthy soil and a temperate climate. By the time of the Romans’ stronghold, agriculture was already well established, with exports to the continent commonplace and providing a key reason for invasion, while by the late Medieval period, as a largely agrarian society, Lincolnshire was one of England’s most prosperous counties. This reputation would continue, and as the Industrial Revolution brought dramatic changes to farming, Lincolnshire stood at the forefront of progress, even becoming one of the leading producers of agricultural machinery. Enabling an increase in production, this would allow the county’s farming prowess to continue into the 20th and 21st centuries. From pig, poultry, duck, and cattle production, to cereals, fruit and vegetables, today Lincolnshire’s farms are diverse, and central to the nation’s food security. However, a raft of challenges is putting these farms in jeopardy. With the family farm tax, climate change-induced floods and drought, diseases like bird flu, poor payment for their efforts, and struggles finding workers, farmers are fighting a multitude of battles all while trying to maintain the country’s ability to feed itself. It is no surprise, then, that farm business confidence deteriorated in the National Farmers’ Union’s (NFU’s) annual survey, reaching the lowest levels since the Farmer Confidence Survey began 15 years ago. It comes at a time of crumbling trust between farmers and the government, as protests take place throughout the country concerning adjustments to inheritance tax that could sever the ties of family farms. Planned to be introduced in April 2026, ending decades of exemption for farmland, the changes will see inheritors of agricultural assets worth over £1m subject to a 20% tax — half the standard inheritance tax rate. The changes are being made in a bid to A prosperous past, battle-filled present and future of revolution Farming has famously shaped Lincolnshire’s landscape over thousands of years, and remains of vital importance to the county today. But as intense challenges put our farms in jeopardy, what is being done to ensure their future? A prosperous past, battle-filled present and future of revolution LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 FARM & COUNTRY LINK © stock.adobe.com/Colin & Linda McKie discourage the rich from buying land in a loophole to avoid tax, and to stabilise public finances. Farmers, however, who stand in a situation of being asset rich — due to their land, property, and equipment — yet cash poor, note that the plans in reality threaten the future of multi-generational family farms. Families across the country own farms worth a lot on paper, but in actuality earn less than the minimum wage. With many family farms not generating sufficient profits to be able to pay inheritance tax, farmers are highlighting that they may be forced to sell, with no guarantee the land will be used for food production. Following intense uproar, major improvements in how the government develops farming policy have been demanded by a cross-party committee of MPs. The Efra Committee’s report calls on the government to delay announcing its final plans for inheritance tax until October 2026 (to come into effect in April 2027), to allow better formulation of tax policy, consideration of alternative reforms, provide the government an opportunity to create a positive long- term vision for farming, and give vulnerable farmers more time to seek professional advice. The fear and frustration caused by inheritance tax has only been compounded as a key funding scheme was suddenly closed in March. Paying farmers for nature-friendly practices, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has since been forced to reopen the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to around 3,000 applicants after farmers threatened litigation over its closure without notice. Funding gaps, however, remain. With challenges mounting, Lincolnshire County Council has announced it will be funding advice sessions for county farmers. Cllr Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Farming is the heart and soul of Lincolnshire and times have never been tougher for those working in agriculture. We allocated this funding to support all of those struggling with a series of national government policy decisions that have potentially disastrous consequences for farmers. We must 58 Á58 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK Gates, Fencing, Garage Doors, Auto Gate Systems, Sawmill, Structures, Hardwood, Softwood, Treated Softwood, Decking, Cabins, Garden Furniture, Aged Oak, Building Timber, Sheet Materials, Tools & Firewood. t: 01522 754207 • e: sales@b-knightandson.co.uk www.b-knightandson.co.uk 30 Main Road, Langworth, Lincoln, LN3 5BJ B Knight & Son Ltd Timber Merchants & Manufacturers Family Business Bringing Timber To You Since 1874 British farmers, including extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years to give farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. A boost is also set to come from new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products from local farms, and a new National Biosecurity Centre improving resilience against animal disease to protect farmers. A £110m investment in technology is also being opened to farmers, with Farming Innovation Programme grants worth £42.5m supporting research and development of agri- technology, focusing on themes including precision breeding and net zero. £46.7m worth of Farming Equipment and Technology Fund grants are additionally being made for the purchase of new equipment that can enhance productivity, manage slurry or improve animal health and welfare, from seed-planting robots which decrease costs, to pesticide spreaders which help reduce chemical use. Simultaneously, a new ADOPT fund is providing £20.6m for farmers looking to test new technologies on their farms, to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application. This will be welcome as farming witnesses a new technological revolution, at which Lincolnshire stands at the forefront with its highly regarded institutions, with the likes of robotics and protect Lincolnshire’s countryside and agricultural way of life, which is clearly under attack, including from large-scale infrastructure projects like solar farms and pylons. This is not just a matter of local livelihoods, but our nation’s food security.” The picture for farmers is not all negative, though, as efforts are made to increase profits and bolster production. In February, the Environment Secretary revealed a reform package of new policies to put money into the pockets of © stock.adobe.com/Paul burzynskiLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 59 ALL LAND ROVER VEHICLES 1948 - 2025 ALL RANGE ROVER VEHICLES 1974 - 2025 AI, for example, reducing the need for manual labour and increasing productivity by accomplishing tasks such as planting and harvesting, weeding and spraying, and offering monitoring to give farmers real- time insights into crop health and soil conditions, as well as enabling smarter and more sustainable farming practices. It comes as extra funding is announced to address core problems for rural communities, to better protect them from crimes such as equipment and livestock theft and enhance flood protection. The National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit will receive over £800,000 to continue their work tackling rural and wildlife crime, while 400,000 hectares of agricultural land across England will receive further flood protection thanks to £16m in additional funding for internal drainage boards, to make rural flood assets more resilient or replace them. The impact of floods is well known across Lincolnshire, with South Lincolnshire farmers braving rising floodwaters to rescue people in their community only months ago when winter storms battered the county and left their land underwater. Looking to the future, lasting change is being sought as a Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill is proposed to parliament and Defra plans a 25-year Farming Roadmap — said to be the most forward- looking plan for farming in our country’s history. But while the future holds so much potential for farming, the critical challenges of the present remain, leaving a complex, mixed picture of hope and fear for our farming communities. © stock.adobe.com/Fotoluminate LLCNext >