< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING Croissant Bake Ingredients * 20g Butter, at room temperature * 8 Croissants - preferably 1-2 days old * 6 Eggs * 400ml Milk * 200ml Double Cream * 150g Caster Sugar * 1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt * 1 Vanilla Pod * 1 jar of Opies Black Cherries with Kirsch * Icing sugar for dusting Method: * Take a dish about 20cm x 30cm and 7cm deep and liberally coat with the butter. * Halve the croissants and lay them, cut side down. * Beat the eggs in a large bowl. * Combine the milk, cream, caster sugar and salt in a medium pan. Split open the vanilla pod and scrape out the seeds and add both the pod and seeds to the saucepan. * Over a medium heat, bring the liquid to just under the boil, then remove from the heat. Pour onto the beaten eggs, whisking all the time. It’s best to start with a small, slow stream to prevent the eggs from curdling with the hot milk. * Once all the hot liquid has been added, remove the vanilla pod and use a ladle to slowly spoon the custard over the croissants. If any of the croissants stand proud above the custard, gently press down. Leave to soak for an hour. * Preheat the oven to 170°C / Gas 3. Sprinkle the pudding with almost all the cherries (reserving a few for decoration) and bake for 45 minutes. To ensure an even bake, rotate the dish after 25 minutes. The finished pudding should be golden brown, springy and moist, but with no visible liquid custard. * Leave for 10-15 minutes before serving warm, dusted lightly with icing sugar, and with the remaining cherries. Hints and Tips: Swap out the black cherries with slices of stem ginger in syrup. Serves 6 Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 45 minutes Allergens:Gluten, Eggs, Dairy LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 Woolliss & Son Butchers –– AWARD-WINNING LINCOLNSHIRE BUTCHERS –– LOOKING FOR A TOP QUALITY BUTCHERS IN LINCOLNSHIRE? Look no further, we have a proven track record when it comes to providing top quality cuts of meat and home made pastries at a competitive price. We are proud of our locally sourced produce and our 5 star hygiene rating. 29-31 Mercer Row, Louth LN11 9JG. T: 01507 603230 E: orders@woolliss-butchers.co.uk W: woolliss-butchers.co.uk Sweet & Sour Pork Ingredients: * 3 balls Opies Stem Ginger in Syrup, chopped * 500g Pork Fillet, cubed * 350g Canned Pineapple Pieces * 1 medium onion, chopped * 1/2 red pepper, de-seeded and cubed * 1/2 green pepper, de-seeded and cubed * 1 glass Sherry * 4 tbsp Light Soy Sauce * 30ml Red Wine Vinegar * 30ml Ginger Syrup (from the jar) * 1 tbsp Brown Sugar * 1 tbsp Tomato Pureé * 1 tbsp Sunflower Oil * 1 tbsp Cornflour Method: * Heat oil in a pan and cook the onion, pork and peppers for 3-4 minutes. * Combine pineapple pieces and juice, chopped ginger, ginger syrup, sherry, vinegar, tomato purée and light soy sauce. * Add to pan and cook gently for 8-10 minutes until pork is cooked. * Blend cornflour with a little water to form a smooth paste, add to pan stirring continuously until sauce thickens. * Serve with rice or noodles Hints and tips: Swap the pork with chicken or tofu for a vegan option. This month’s recipes provided by: www.bennettopie.com @OpiesFoods Serves 4 Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Allergens: Soy FOOD & DINING52 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LinkGovernment backs Bill to clamp down on livestock worrying Tougher powers to tackle livestock worrying have taken a significant step forward, with the announcement of government backing for new legislation. Livestock worrying - when dogs chase, attack, or cause distress to livestock - can result in significant injury and suffering and in the worst cases, the death of the animals involved. These incidents are also distressing for livestock keepers and can have significant financial costs. Since the original 1953 Act was brought in, the number of livestock in England and Wales has doubled with more people visiting the countryside. The Bill would modernise existing legislation to ensure it remains fit for purpose, including extending the livestock definition to include alpacas and llamas and widening locations where enforcement can be taken to roads and paths. The Bill will also address current enforcement challenges and give the police more powers to seize dogs after serious incidents and greater powers of entry, as well as the power to take evidence samples from livestock and dogs to help investigate these crimes. Egg production under threat because there’s no money in it One in four egg producers is considering pulling out of the business because they can’t make a profit – and the same’s true for 15% of broiler producers, they’ve told the NFU in a survey. They say the future of many businesses within the sector remain in the balance without greater government support and supply chain reform. The NFU’s Poultry Intentions Survey polled members on the impact of the past two years on poultry production and farmers’ intentions for the next two years. It found that almost a quarter of egg producers and 15% of broiler producers were either unlikely or unsure if they would still be producing poultry beyond November next year. The main reason cited for this was a lack of profit. The NFU is calling for greater fairness in poultry supply chains, for poultry producers to be included in the Energy Intensive Industries Scheme, and for a long term strategy from government to be set ahead of any future outbreaks of avian influenza. © stock.adobe.com/ geargodz Long-term resilience in farming will be challenged amid cumulative inflationary pressure and the ongoing impact of the cost of living on consumer demand. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s latest agri-market outlook has highlighted cumulative inflation of more than 30% in agricultural inputs since 2019, coupled with market stresses and policy uncertainty, as the key drivers behind the threat to long-term resilience in the industry. It also revealed markets, food businesses and consumers are still battling with the ongoing challenges of inflation, fuelled by the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine and shortage of labour. Recent developments in the Middle East represent additional risk to the global economy and UK inflation. Farmers are likely to feel the effects of cumulative inflation in inputs. Combined with energy and interest rates, this is continuing to pressure businesses and consumers, fuelling an ongoing price-sensitive consumer market for their produce. This has the potential to significantly impact trends in food consumption in 2024 and beyond. Sarah Baker, AHDB Head of Economics and Analysis, said: “Farmers saw input costs rise significantly during 2023, putting pressure on farm business margins, with the cost of fertiliser being a prime example. While some input costs are falling, they remain above pre-inflation levels and are likely to remain risky due to linkage to energy markets and instability around the world. Coupled with market stresses and policy uncertainty around burgeoning environment schemes and the budgets that underpin them, long-term resilience will be put under pressure. “With the current level of uncertainty on multiple fronts, markets, businesses and consumers are now operating in a short-term bubble, which poses a risk to long-term resilience and inward investment. Without long-term certainty and the recovery of consumer confidence, challenges are likely to persist for the industry in 2024.” © stock.adobe.com/ValentinValkov © stock.adobe.com/Aris Suwanmalee Inflation and cost of living put long-term resilience of farming under pressure in 2024 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 53 Supporting the rural community B Knight & Son Ltd celebrates 150 Years in Business! B Knight & Son Ltd has been trading since 1874, being in the Knight family for 150 years, passed through the generations delivering a personal and knowledgeable service committed to quality and professionalism. Situated in the village of Langworth on the A158 between Lincoln and Wragby, the company is currently under the family leadership of John, Ben and John’s daughter Helen. The company is a traditional sawmill and business supplying manufactured timber items including fencing, handmade gates, bespoke structures, garage doors, treated timbers, hard and softwoods, garden furniture, firewood, ironmongery and treatments plus many more timber items to the retail and trade sectors, anything timber considered. To commemorate their 150th anniversary, B Knight & Son Ltd are inviting customers to visit them and enter their free prize draw for a chance to win a £150 voucher plus a hamper! To find out more visit www.b-knightandson.co.uk Thousands of applications made for Sustainable Farming Incentive More than 10,000 farmers across England have now applied for the improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) since it opened in September, Defra has announced. Four months after applications re-opened, the scheme, which has been developed with feedback from farmers, is proving popular, with one-in-eight eligible farmers having now submitted an application. This is on top of the 32,000 Countryside Stewardship agreements which are already in place. SFI, which pays farmers for taking actions that support food production, farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing environment, has attracted applications from farmers in every part of the country, with every type and size of farm business represented. Farmers have taken up actions through the scheme to deliver tangible environmental benefits alongside food production. As of January, 174,000 hectares of arable land is now being managed without insecticides, 71,000 hectares of low input grassland is focused on improving sustainability, and almost 15,000km of hedgerows are under management. New research looks to improve future for UK wool industry A new project is set to further the UK sheep farming and wool industries’ productivity, sustainability and resilience through exploring opportunities to improve fleece quality. Joining together with industry partners, the National Sheep Association (NSA) is involved in the 12-month wool focused research project, Fabulous Fibre, that will look at increasing the value of wool through breeding and genetics. The project goal is to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of reducing micron count of finer wool quality UK sheep breeds to increase productivity, sustainability and resilience for sheep farmers and the wool industry. Wool quality is measured by testing wool fibres to establish a micron value. Lower micron wool is softer to the touch in fabrics and more highly valued for textiles requiring this attribute such as high- quality suits or layers worn next to skin, the lower the micron, the greater the value per kilogram. Fabulous Fibre brings together a consortium comprising NSA, British Wool, the Centre for Excellence in Livestock, Langrish Farmers and the Wool Testing Authority Europe. © stock.adobe.com/ Dave © stock.adobe.com/ JackF54 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK A critical juncture A critical juncture LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 55 FARM & COUNTRY LINK © stock.adobe.com/ Anthony Brown Recent developments, particularly concerning border checks and import procedures, have raised concerns about the nation’s ability to maintain a stable and reliable food supply chain. The government decision to conduct import checks inland rather than at the point of entry, with upshots including raised transport costs and slowed trade, has increased our reliance on cheap imported goods to manage the expense. This shift in priorities has inflamed the fears of the farming industry, signalling threats to the future of British farming, as well as food availability catastrophes. Because our country relies on imports for over 45% of its food needs, any disruptions or delays in the import process can have far- reaching consequences, which may even lead to major food shortages and empty shelves in supermarkets. These concerns are compounded by the introduction of a post- Brexit border check system, which has already begun to impact trade dynamics. European hauliers are reportedly more likely to avoid work in the UK due to the confusion and paperwork demands of the new system, while EU businesses look elsewhere to avoid the inflation in trade costs. Meanwhile, food campaigners Sustain found in 2022 that UK farmers made less than 1p profit from their produce and food goods. Some may view these challenges as merely part of the Brexit process. However, they represent a significant obstacle to our farming and national-grown food security. UK farmers remain undercompensated, while being increasingly sidelined in favour of short-term economic solutions. Brexit supporters initially touted reduced imports as a boon for UK farmers, anticipating increased domestic demand for their products. However, the reality has been far from optimistic, with ill-conceived government funding and aggressive pricing tactics by supermarkets eroding the viability of domestic agriculture. In sectors such as pork and apple production, UK farms have recently found themselves unable to compete with their European counterparts, leading to a sharp decline in domestic production. This not only threatens the livelihoods of farmers but also undermines the UK’s self-sufficiency, as the nation becomes increasingly reliant on imports to meet its food needs. Farmer-led protests across the UK, mirroring similar movements in the EU, serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for policy interventions to address the imbalance in the market and protect domestic producers from unfair competition. The agricultural community is asserting that a series of poor decisions is slowly and quietly demolishing the UK’s farming sector, and protesting by taking actions such as tractor blockades at major ports. Despite generous subsidies being granted to farmers who take up to 280 actions to make their farming more environmentally friendly, these funds are unlikely to reach those most in need of financial support. Building sustainable farms often means integrating new technologies and planting systems for soil conservation, water management, biodiversity provision, and more concerns besides. When considering the Four years after leaving the EU, the UK finds itself at a critical juncture regarding its food security. As the country’s key fruit and vegetable producer, Lincolnshire bears the burden more than others. 56 ÁALL THE PARTS YOU NEED www.rimmerbros.com sales@rimmerbros.com +44(0)1522 568000 Visit us @RimmerBrosTV for How-To Tutorials, Product Information and Show Videos 56 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK cost involved for farms which are already struggling, it’s easy to see how subsidies can fall short in serving the everyday needs of farms and farming businesses. Poorly designed programs then lead to market distortions, incentivising overproduction or favouring certain crops over others. When problems like these lead to looking overseas for cheaply farmed products, they make agriculture an unjust competition for supremacy, rather than the community effort it should represent. Moreover, the introduction of this Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) by the government has raised concerns about its impact on food production. Critics argue that the SFI, while aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, incentivises farmers to prioritise environmental goals over food production, further exacerbating the decline in domestic agriculture. The government’s denial of the SFI’s negative effects does little to allay fears within the farming community, with many calling for urgent action to address the crisis facing UK agriculture. As trade struggles persist and poorly planned subsidies continue to undermine domestic producers, the future of UK farming hangs in the balance, necessitating decisive and effective policy responses to safeguard the industry and ensure the nation’s food security. When acted on in an inclusive and directly supportive way, farm subsidies play a vital role in sustaining agricultural production by providing financial support to farmers, stabilising food supplies, backing rural development, and mitigating the impacts of market volatility and natural disasters. Funding plans which are developed to serve farms who hope to invest in modern farming techniques, infrastructure upgrades, and sustainable practices, serve as lifelines for these small businesses and enable them to invest in their future, enhancing productivity and resilience. Furthermore, investing in technology and innovation can help businesses streamline their operations and enhance efficiency in the face of regulatory complexities and logistical challenges. Automation, data analytics, and supply chain management software can improve visibility and traceability across the entire supply chain, enabling businesses to identify and mitigate potential bottlenecks and disruptions proactively. As it stands however, current funding © stock.adobe.com/ GillLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 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. B Knight & Son Ltd Timber Merchants & Manufacturers Bringing Timber To You Since 1874 Celebrating 150 Years t: 01522 754207 • e: sales@b-knightandson.co.uk www.b-knightandson.co.uk 30 Main Road, Langworth, Lincoln, LN3 5BJ KEVIN JOHNSON “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 •Fertiliser Spreading 12m to 36m •Lime Spreading •Maize Drilling •Grass Mowing with Triple Mowers E: marcus@mjpsupplies.co.uk W: www.mjpsupplies.co.uk Suppliers of a range of liquid storage tanks for: • Oil • adblue • Water • Fertiliser Stockists of Portek Bird Scarers Watch your profits grow For the purpose of importing and selling Algifol™ biostimulant products to farmers and growers of specialist crops availability exacerbates inequalities within the farming sector, disproportionately benefiting large-scale producers at the expense of smallholders and marginalised communities. Vulnerable farmers have largely been abandoned by Brexit reformations, struggling to compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Even in such fraught times, collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the farming community can provide valuable insights and support in navigating regulatory hurdles and advocating for policy reforms. Participating in industry associations, trade groups, and government forums can help farms and other businesses stay informed about regulatory changes, exchange best practices, and collectively address common challenges facing the farming sector. Farm diversification has also been noted as key both post-Brexit and pandemic, patching some gaps in pay as small-scale farmers band together to advocate for reforms to farm subsidy programs. In the latter case, it’s critical for larger and more successful farms to step in and use their privileged status in the market, as their compliance and product losses have the heavyweight influence most likely to sway government policy. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the farming community, alongside advocacy for reforms to subsidy programs, are essential for addressing inequalities and building resilience in the face of ongoing challenges. But it’s only through holistic and compassionate policies that the UK farming sector will thrive and contribute to a resilient and sustainable food system for all. © stock.adobe.com/ GillThe first two months of the year can often feel a little slow on the new motors front, but we bring you a few more offerings for personal pleasure, family, or fleet purposes. 58 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING Spring motors Spring motorsBMW Z4 Handschalter Muscular roadster proportions with M-specific design features; two seats and a classic soft-top roof; a free-revving six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, sending its power to the road through the rear wheels: this formula has seen the BMW Z4 M40i establish itself as the archetypal purist’s sports car. Adding to this driving experience is the manual gearbox, deftly harnessing the 340hp output from the straight-six engine. The interior of the BMW Z4 has been crafted for the enjoyment of unfettered driving pleasure in a space with a modern and sophisticated sports car feel. The driver-centric cockpit design and model-specific sport seats with integral head restraints both help to achieve this goal. The cabin combines clean lines that seem to surge forward with trim surfaces concentrated in just a few areas. 60 Á LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 59 COUNTY MOTORINGNext >