< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Supporting the rural community Lincs worse affected as rural crime reaches eight-year high Lincolnshire has been hit the hardest as rural crime in England hits an eight-year peak, a report from insurer NFU Mutual has revealed. According to the report, this 9% in crime is costing businesses around £46 million, driven by organised gangs targeting expensive vehicles such as tractors and quad bikes. However, it isn’t only thefts of vehicles that farmers have had to endure, with livestock thefts spiking over lockdown. Indeed, the report revealed there has been a 15% rise in sheep rustling. Lincolnshire was found to be the region worse affected by the rise in rural crime with the county suffering a £2.8 million loss. The report said: “Well-organised gangs taking large numbers of sheep, which are thought to enter the food chain illegally, are driving the increase. A spate of sheep being slaughtered and butchered in farmers’ fields also contributed to the rise.” © Shutterstock /Eric Buermeyer Green light for ground-breaking bovine TB vaccine field trials World-leading bovine tuberculosis (bTB) TB cattle vaccination trials are set to get underway in England and Wales as a result of a major breakthrough by government scientists. These trials enable work to accelerate towards planned deployment of a cattle vaccine by 2025, in the latest milestone to eradicate this highly damaging animal disease. bTB is one of the most difficult and intractable animal health challenges that England and Wales face today. More than 40,000 cattle are slaughtered each year due to infection from bTB. However, a cattle vaccine could become a powerful tool in the battle against the disease following the necessary testing and subsequent approvals to ensure its safety and efficacy. It is one of several key elements of the long-term bTB strategy to eradicate the disease in England by 2038. Measures include plans to phase out intensive badger culling in England, improve the cattle testing regime and vaccinate more badgers against the disease and improved testing to intercept bTB earlier. The field trials will be conducted over the next four years on behalf of Defra, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government, following 20 years of ground-breaking research into bovine TB vaccines and diagnostic tests. “Bovine TB is a slow-moving and insidious disease which can cause considerable trauma for farmers as they suffer the loss of highly prized animals and valued herds,” said Environment Secretary George Eustice. “This scientific breakthrough is a major step forwards in our battle to see the disease eradicated from this country. As wider preventative measures like cattle vaccines are introduced, we will accelerate other elements of our strategy and start to phase out badger culling in England, as no one wants to continue the cull of a protected species indefinitely.” News News © Shutterstock /Sara Winter 48-50.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 14:40 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 FARM & COUNTRY LINK - AGRICULTURE The agricultural sector doesn’t hold the monopoly on hard times this year, but it perhaps does for the sheer variety of challenges faced. The food sector is of enormous importance to Greater Lincolnshire – it’s the third biggest sector and, as the LEP points out, it contributes £2.5 billion every year to the area’s economy. Their vision is to double its economic value by 2030, and through a host of support and funding opportunities, and the skills of farm managers in locating opportunities, but the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown will have slowed this somewhat. Even so, Lincolnshire remains one of the heartlands of UK agriculture, and although the Lincolnshire Show and other farming shows had to be cancelled this year, the industry hasn’t slowed down too much. Luckily, agriculture isn’t a career where social distancing is too difficult – especially when you’re on opposite ends of a field in harvesters. For farm managers there is now a huge raft of aspects to consider. The efficiency of the farm is obviously paramount, since profits must come before other considerations, but short-termism in decisions made on that can have lasting consequences. Some farms are being plagued by such where new farm managers feel they need to make an impact too quickly, and perhaps don’t intend to stay at the farm for more than ten years. In those cases, as they will not have to deal with the consequences, it’s easy to see why shortcuts might be taken to increase yields. That’s not to say that bonus yields aren’t possible, and the sugar beet yield last year was considered quite the bumper within Lincolnshire. But good © Shutterstock /Aleksandar Malivuk for farming A strange year 52 Á 51-53.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 14:42 Page 152 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK - AGRICULTURE farm management doesn’t just think of the upcoming harvest, but rather how the farm will operate for the following four or five, perhaps even longer. The health of soil must be considered, as fertiliser will only go so far and over-farming can rob nutrients from the soil, reducing future yields and potentially leading to fields being left fallow for many years. Of course, those farming livestock will have their own concerns, particularly the ever-difficult balance between efficiency and ethics. Are animals allowed to roam free and do the benefits of this outweigh the opportunity costs? Consumers are increasingly aware of the treatment of animals and several scandals lately – thankfully rare in Lincolnshire – have only encouraged more anger against suppliers. Those found to mistreat animals, or more dangerously those `believed` to mistreat animals (whether it is true or not) can find themselves in a storm of problems. Security has also become an issue of late, too, and for numerous reasons. Farmyard robbery remains one of the most prevalent in the county, especially with the cost of such expensive tools and machinery, and the relative distance most farms have with neighbours. Beyond that, however, there have been arson attacks on straw bales, and an outbreak of hare coursing that the Lincolnshire and Humberside Police have taken an immediate stance against. It may all seem like bad news but it’s also par for the course for many farmers. Our farmyards far away from villages and towns have always been ripe picking for thieves, and the pandemic hasn’t helped the police any in chasing them down. It’s no excuse to let it slow the sector down, however, and Lincolnshire has been carrying on with dogged determination. The constant barrage of factors has influenced markets, though, especially when it comes to machinery. Tractor sales in April were the lowest seen in the last two decades – and that’s tough news considering most in the industry love their machines. Put a new piece of machinery on the market normally, especially one that can make the job more efficient, and farmers will snap it up in a moment. It’s that pro-active attitude towards making things work better which ensures the UK market can still compete with our European neighbours, who often pay less in terms of wages and other associated costs. A pro-active attitude can’t on its own beat down a pandemic, however. Instead, farmers are more commonly looking to outside companies to provide for them, be it coming down to harvest and bale or renting machines. It’s not perhaps the © Shutterstock /Red Confidential © Shutterstock /Syda Productions 51-53.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 14:42 Page 2LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 53 FARM & COUNTRY LINK - AGRICULTURE “For those times when you need a helping hand on farm or on land” KEVIN JOHNSON AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS 4 Church Road | Wittering | Peterborough | PE8 6AG Tel: 01780 782924 | Mobile: 07860 608825 enquiries@kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk www.kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk Kevin Johnson Agricultural Contractors provide a wide range of contract services to farmers and landowners in Cambridgeshire. Creating partnerships with landowners and farmers is an important part of our business. Whether you require a single service such as baling / straw stacking, or a more complete crop or farm management service, Kevin Johnson Contracting can help! If you are interested in a more comprehensive agricultural management program, we will be happy to advise on the most efficient way forward for your farming requirements. www.mjp.supplies Tel: 01406 362325 Mobile 07702293727 MJPSupplies mjpsupplies For the purpose of importing and selling Algifol™ biostimulant products to farmers and growers of specialist crops Watch your profits grow Small quantities Amazing results way it was always done, but as a stopgap measure it’s finding traction and may even become the way of the future. There are advantages to leaving it to another company after all, not just in time saved but the fact that a company whose sole business if farm machinery will likely have the best equipment and plenty of experience. Plus, they get to stomach the cost of any repairs themselves. The NFU have recent launched their 2020 Harvest Survey after what they’ve aptly called a `season of extremes`, and while it would have been nice to bring statistics on that, the results aren’t out at the time of writing. One expectation is that the precarious position of British oilseed rape will be highlighted, and the NFU are hoping the Government will take notice. The extremes of the last few months have been piling up, be it lockdown, panic buying causing extreme demand for eggs, milk and flour – all the way down to the extreme heat of the last few weeks causing harvesters to spontaneously catch fire. Perhaps the entire year of 2020 will be renamed `the year of extremes`. Despite that, yields remain promising and the sector is expected to contribute £3.5 billion to the UK economy, which is more than can be said for many sectors on furlough. Special offer on 1 litre bottles bought direct from our website 51-53.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 14:42 Page 354 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY September is such a historical month for schools in the county and yet the entire world has changed – how are people coping? People may be sick and tired of hearing about coronavirus and lockdowns by now – it’s certainly a trend reflected here at Lincolnshire Today – and yet to be in lockdown as we move into September is a monumental issue for the education industry and also the students within it. This is the time when students would be moving up to new years and others would be moving on – either from primary to secondary or secondary to university. It’s hard to think of a more exciting and also frightening time in a child’s life as going to a new school. New friends, new experiences, new lessons and teachers. Except that now, everything is up in the air and many of our children are left in limbo. Will university happen? What will come of A-Levels and exams? Is it safe to go to university? What happens to those already halfway through – will they get their tuition fees slashed? We somehow doubt the latter. The expected decision (as of the time of writing) is that students will be allowed to use their predicted grades for important exams – mostly A-Levels – and will not have to sit in cramped and potentially dangerous testing conditions. This can be a good or a bad thing depending on the student as it does mean a grading averaged out over the year and less stressful exam conditions, but it also removes the chance to revise and prepare. While no one wants to admit it, we all remember that school was for the most part playing around and having fun, then a lot of cramming before exams. Some students may well have lower predicted grades than they would realistically achieve in the exams and are now being robbed of the opportunity to bolster their scores. With the way lockdown is, some students and parents are also beginning to question the viability of university. There’s a lot of noise being made about this, with a recent survey suggesting that 62% of post-graduates feel that their degree has not helped them in their careers. A study of 2,042 UK adults commissioned by the personal finance experts at Money.co.uk, reveals that as many as 62% believe that gaining a university degree will not increase an individual’s lifetime financial value. However, Money.co.uk also launched a Degree Valuation Calculator, combining its survey data with salary data from the Institute of Fiscal Studies, to reveal the true value of higher education. The data proves that for the vast majority of graduates, a degree has a significant impact on lifetime earnings. The average graduate will earn 23% more over their lifetime than those who do not study at September in lockdown 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 14:43 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 55 EDUCATION © Shutterstock /Lincoln Beddoe university. According to the calculator, the average university graduate earns £582,532 over their lifetime, which is £107,532 more than those with a minimum of five A-C grade GCSEs. This would initially seem to nip the thoughts in the bud, but it is worth noting that certain degrees have more “employability” than others, and so may add more value to this – sciences, medicine, veterinarian and engineering degrees, etc. The bigger questions in the minds of students and parents should be on the type of degree being pursued, and it’s worth looking up how employable certain degrees are compared to others. As an example, medicine and dentistry has a 97.5% employment rate within one year of graduation, while veterinary has 93% and teaching degrees have 91%. On the other hand, degrees in social sciences, humanities and liberal arts tend to have scores in the low 80’s, while communication and media scores at only 83% and politics is only 82% - proving the old adage there that it’s not what you know but who. Taking time to think carefully on the employability of certain degrees and understanding the hard truths of others can mean the difference between a successful degree and a wasted one. On lockdown and coronavirus itself, there’s no denying the mental impact the isolation is having on students and that is sadly not something that can be waved away. Social interaction is at an all-time low, though our generation is fortunate that with the internet and social media, they have some remaining. Much has been said about the harm of social media, and we agree on some points, but it’s better than having nothing in a situation like this. The circumstances are no better for schools either that are genuinely doing their best to cope with a frankly historical situation. It’s been a hundred years since a similar pandemic and it’s worth taking a moment to remember that our local schools are stuck with governmental guidelines, limited and changing information and also demands and expectations from parents. While the circumstances are undoubtedly trying for students and parents alike, spare a thought for teachers within the industry who are working their hardest. The job is already stressful enough without parents blaming them for their children not being able to attend. © Shutterstock /T imothy Kuiper Hull College ready to help those impacted by Covid-19 Working across the Greater Lincolnshire area, HCUK Training delivers free, Level 2 courses to people aged over 16 and in work including micro and small to medium enterprises in the area. Based at Riseholme College and with training partners throughout the area we work closely with the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver to priority sectors including Manufacturing, Health and Care and Visitor Economy. Whether you are an individual or would like to look at upskilling your team we are here to help. To find out if you are eligible, further information or to sign up to one of our free online courses call Lucy Oliver on 07944271103. You can also find daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram by searching for HCUK Training. Are you facing redundancy due to the Covid-19 Pandemic? Call us today and find out how we can support you! 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 14:43 Page 256 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING By the time you’re reading this, around two months will have passed since car dealerships were given the green light to re-open. As any financial analyst will attest, a two-month period is hardly conclusive when it comes to extrapolating data and drawing meaningful conclusions. However, it does offer the opportunity to identify sales patterns and potentially glean the shape of the motor retail industry both in the present and to make predictions for the coming months. With dealerships open once more, it’s no surprise that there has been an increase in sales, but concerns remain over the pace at which new registrations are picking up. During lockdown when dealerships were closed, new car The motor industry remains in a precarious position with dealerships open and mandatory MOTs resuming, but the full impact of the coronavirus is likely still to be felt. False 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 15:49 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 COUNTY MOTORING registrations dropped to their lowest monthly level since 1946, with only 4,000 cars registered in April compared to more than 161,000 for the same month in 2019. Although registrations are rising, progress will be slow due to stock limitations and lead times and, of course, how long the demand that built up over lockdown will last. What Car? has been polling over 6,000 would-be buyers each week, and its data suggesting that there is a pipeline of interest that stretches well beyond this autumn. Though this will no doubt be welcome news for car sellers, demand beyond that is hard to quantify and predict at present. One of the solutions that could help to drive demand is a new scrappage scheme. Polling from What Car? highlighted that twenty-nine percent of buyers were holding off in expectation of a new scrappage scheme being introduced. Indeed, with the opening of dealerships, leaked details of a stimulus package emerged. However, the government has since changed its stance. “We have no current plans to change the existing incentives or to introduce a © Shutterstock /SeventyFour 58 Á 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 15:50 Page 2Tel: 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 58 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY scrappage scheme,” the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said in a statement to Autocar. Now that some stability has returned to motor retail and more drivers are returning to the roads, MOTs have once again become mandatory. Readers will notice that this falls short of the original six-month test exception introduced by the government during the pandemic. The exception was originally introduced on 30 March in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19, leading to MOT test volumes falling from the 7.2 million recorded in April and May 2019, to 2.2 million. Restrictions had been introduced as part of lockdown measures to restrict the use of car use. When these driving restrictions were lifted back in May, concerns arose that, without MOT testing in place, many vehicles could be unsafe. The government therefore prematurely ended its testing exception. Although there are fears of bottlenecks, with garages booked up for weeks – if not months – the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that ninety percent are now open. Elsewhere in the motor industry, fuel duty revenue fell by £2.4 billion in April and May compared with the same period in the previous year, the latest figures from the RAC show. The findings show that revenue from the duty on diesel was hardest hit, with the duty down by forty-nine percent during this period, resulting in 31.5 billion in revenue, down from the £2.9 billion in the previous year. This same 2019 period saw petrol duty generate £1.6 billion in revenue but, in during the 2020 lockdown, generated only £634 million. To put that into perspective, that breaks down as less than the average duty petrol has brought in each month since 1990. The lockdown has come with a silver lining for motorists, however, with industry data showing that the cost of motor insurance has reached an almost four-year 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 15:50 Page 3MAIN DEALER SERVICING. INDEPENDENT PRICES. SOPER OF LINCOLN Are you in the market for a high-quality servicing for your MINI but don’t fancy paying main dealer prices? We hear you. That’s why going with us won’t cost you the earth and you’ll have all the peace of mind that the job is in safe hands with a main dealer service history will protect the value of your MINI. • MOT – £46 • Small service – £166 • Large service – £286 Had a bump or hit a kerb? Why not book your MINI in for a cosmetic repair? • Alloy Wheel Refurbishment – £60 • Diamond Cut Alloy Wheel Refurbishment – £105 • Light Scratch Removal - from £25 • Bumper Corner Painting - from £120 TO BOOK CALL 01522 688889 OR VISIT WWW.SOPERMINI.CO.UK LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 59 COUNTY MOTORING low. In short, insurers are passing lockdown savings onto motorists. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that between April and June, drivers paid an average of between £460 for comprehensive cover. This was down £14 on the previous three months and, the ABI says, is the lowest quarterly figure since July-September 2016. As the economy stabilises, levels will likely rise to their pre-pandemic levels. Despite the industry figures we’ve touched on, which would seem to convey the impact of the coronavirus on the motoring industry, most analysts, industry professionals and commentators predict that the full impact won’t start to unfold in earnest until September when the furlough scheme comes to an end and mass redundancies will become a likely necessity for the industry. © Shutterstock /Kostenko Maxim 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 15:50 Page 4Next >