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Your Holland (Lincs) county NFU update

Gabriella Gregory

Gabriella Gregory

HOLLAND (LINCS) & NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY ADVISER

This month we have been looking at balancing energy and agriculture: Lincolnshire at the Heart of the UK’s Green Transition

Lincolnshire is fast becoming a strategic centre in the UK’s renewable energy transformation.

From biogas plants and solar farms to battery storage and offshore wind connections, the county now hosts some of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in England.

While this growth supports national net-zero goals, it also raises pressing questions for rural communities and farmers. Large-scale developments, such as the Viking Link interconnector, Bicker Fen substation, and Beacon Fen solar park, aim to generate and distribute clean power nationally.

Yet many of these projects sit on highly productive farmland, sparking legitimate concern about long-term impacts on food security and land use.

91²Ö¿âhas consistently supported on-farm renewables as a route to resilience and diversification. But we also stress the need for proper planning, clear community benefits, and a balanced approach to protecting high-grade agricultural land.

As Lincolnshire’s energy landscape evolves, so too must the policies and conversations guiding it. Farmers are not just landholders – they are partners in the UK’s energy future. We need smarter, joined-up thinking that respects our role in food production while recognising our potential to power the nation.

Local news

Anglian Water Pig Green Cover Offer 2025

Anglian Water are offering a £110/Ha (£1100 max) incentive towards the cost of grass seed from Frontier (Kings Pig Mix) to sow up to 10ha of grass for outdoor pigs, plus an additional £750 to put in place or improve ways of resting and rotating grass paddocks.

  • Supporting the movement of pigs on to grass 
  • Supporting improved paddock grass retention

To take advantage of this offer access the application form via the link (completion takes around 10 mins)

An Anglian Water catchment advisor will then contact you within 7 days of receipt of your completed application to provide a unique code for you to quote when ordering through Frontier who will offer advice on suitable drilling rate etc for the seed mix.

Open to all farmers in Anglian Water surface water and groundwater catchments on a first come first served basis (catchment maps are shown within the application form)

Voucher codes valid until close of business on Friday, 29 August 2025
 

Local news

Anglian Water Event Grant 2025

Anglian Water welcome applications from farmers, land managers and land management/water quality advisers who would like to apply for a grant of up to £1000 toward the cost of facilitating a collaborative farming/land management/water quality related event in the Anglian Water region.   

Events should focus on improving soil health and raw water quality and delivery can be via a specialist speaker or peer to peer knowledge exchange. 

Local news

Anglian Water Training Grant

Anglian Water welcome applications for training that will improve water quality from across the Anglian Water area.

This training grant is available to better the knowledge / skills of those managing and working on farms within the Anglian Water region.

Past successful applications have included BASIS Foundation in crop management, FACTS, Sustainable land management, LANTRA Use of manures and fertilisers, Oxford Farming Conference attendance and independent soil health and "regen ag" workshops.

Surveys and questionnaires

Sustainable or Regenerative Farming Survey

Finlay Munro is a student from Lincolnshire, studying at the University of Liverpool, in his final year of study. As a part of my final year, he is completing a dissertation project on sustainable or regenerative farming in Lincolnshire. 

He would really appreciate your support in taking 10 minutes to complete his survey, please use the attached link 

Start date

23 July 2025 at 10:00am

End date

30 August 2025 at 12:00am

Surveys and questionnaires

Call for Participants: Advancing Fairness in the UK Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Sector – University of Leicester

Are you into fresh fruit and or vegetable cultivation in the UK? University of Leicester are conducting a study on advancing fairness in fresh fruit and vegetable sector and would love to hear from you!

Participation in the study involves farmers who are into the cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables in the UK and who are suppliers to large retailers in the UK.

All data collected will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and anonymity based on University of Leicester's guideline and used solely for academic purposes.

Start date

23 July 2025 at 10:00am

End date

31 December 2025 at 12:00am

Surveys and questionnaires

Exploring Resilience in UK Livestock Farming

This study is being done by Michael Thupayagale from the University of Leeds. The purpose of this research study is to explore lessons learned from COVID-19 by livestock farmers and will take you approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. 

If you would like to take part, please visit the link (T&Cs and further information can be obtained there)

Start date

23 July 2025 at 1:22pm

End date

12 August 2025 at 12:00am

Local news

Branch news

91²Ö¿âhas been alerted by Lincolnshire Police to farmers in the Boston and South Holland area, and possibly others further afield, being targeted by rogue traders offering free 'leftover' material. 

Members are encouraged to refuse all offers of free or cheap work, such as free gravel, tarmac and road plannings.

"These will never be free," said PC Martin Green of Lincolnshire Police.

"Once accepted, the threats and intimidation start until payment is made.

"The vehicles used are often cloned and telephone numbers restricted or pay-as-you-go."

Incidents must be reported to police on 101 if a non-emergency and to
.