< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LiNCHigher Q&A What is the best part about the work that you do? LiNCHigher, as a Uni Connect Partnership, are one of 29 aspiration- raising programmes nationally, funded by the Office for Students (OfS). Our work is centred around providing opportunities for young people to access all of the information they need, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future. We’ve been running since 2017, and in that time, we’ve worked with over 25,000 young people across Lincolnshire. We run our project based on a number of factors, we attempt to identify students who live in postcode areas meaning that they are typically less likely to enter Higher Education (HE). We also support students from underrepresented backgrounds in HE, such as Service Children, BAME, Gypsy Roma and Traveller Students, Young Carers, Estranged and Care Experienced individuals. The best part of our work is that we know that it makes a difference. We meet with so many young people who have a lot of potential but struggle to know what their options are, and which of those options is best suited to them. We generate a lot of data to evaluate the effectiveness of our work, and from this we can identify the number of young people we work with who then progress onto university, both within Lincolnshire establishments and beyond the county, which is always rewarding. Tell us more about the education opportunities to be found in Lincolnshire. We’re really fortunate at LiNCHigher to be partnered with the fantastic education institutions in Lincolnshire. We’re passionate about letting young people know about the varied and truly exciting opportunities in our county. People are often surprised to learn about the facilities that our partners host, such as: • University of Lincoln – Two TV studios, one with an audience capacity of 135 and an area of over 2,500 sq ft. Features include high definition 1080i studio cameras, extensive studio lighting, sound desk, autocue and audio and video software connectivity. • Bishop Grosseteste University – A Sleep Lab (DrEAMSLab), an on-campus Sleep Lab as part of the Psychology department, used to explore sleep- related cognition. • Lincoln College – A Complementary Medicine Clinic. To provide graduates with the ability to become competent and confident practitioners of clinical herbalism. • Boston College – The IRB 1100 Robotic Arm, which was created to solve small-part assembly challenges faced by electronics and pharmaceutical manufacturers. • Grantham College – Stonebridge House at Grantham College holds their Institute of Technology, with IT design studios, digital technology suites, and Engineering robotics facilities. • Stamford College – Hosts an Animal Studies Unit, which is an RSPCA- accredited, immersive learning environment; housing over 100 diverse and exotic animal species, from meerkats to pythons! • Skegness TEC – An Automotive Centre, providing hands-on experience in Q&A LiNCHigher We speak to LiNCHigher about their work in promoting education opportunities to young people across Lincolnshire. LiNCHigher Learning when the pandemic hit to stream to vast numbers of students to continue their learning. Do you provide any additional support? Often, we find that where young people are able to access information, a barrier can sometimes be Parents/Carers not having access to the same support. We tackle these barriers through supporting Students, Parent/Carers and also Teachers. This enables us to provide each key party with accurate and up-to-date information to best support this generation of young people. Our website, thefuturefocus.co.uk, acts as a hub of information for our entire audience. We list upcoming events, news updates, free resources and guidance to assist anyone in Lincolnshire hoping to learn more about our educational landscape. We hope to provide the best information to anyone in Lincolnshire who wants to learn more about Higher Education and any other pathways best suited to them. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 61 LiNCHigher Q&A our industry-standard workshops, where students work on a diverse array of modern vehicles, including the latest electric models. • Riseholme College – Centre for Agri-Food Technology, as part of the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology, Riseholme hosts a hub for the latest agricultural technologies. Designed for students to learn the latest techniques and how to leverage equipment, including satellite technology, to achieve the best results with the smallest environmental impact. What would be your advice to young people considering their options? We have seen a shift in interest towards apprenticeships, and this is absolutely a great option for some people to gain skills and earn a wage, however it’s important to understand the complexities of applying for an apprenticeship. The increase in interest has also increased the competitivity of these opportunities. Young people should build themselves a portfolio of their skills, abilities, and achievements. We recommend keeping a CV up to date, building a professional online presence, making use of networking tools such as LinkedIn. Young people’s views on university have also shifted. There is increasing concern over the cost of university and how to afford the associated living costs. We often reassure people through informing them about the nature of Student Finance loans, there are a lot of misconceptions about student debt, and we aim to dispel this. We also encourage having a part-time job whilst studying as this can help to build skills in preparation for entering employment. You’ve done a lot of work since 2017, what are some of your highlights? We’ve had the pleasure of running some amazing projects, we’ve had the LiNCHigher Bus travelling across the county, The Future Focus Pop-Ups, Lego STEM sessions, and huge celebration events. Some of our favourite moments are when we can attend graduation ceremonies at Lincoln Cathedral, knowing that our work helps young people to access these opportunities, they’re truly wonderful events for young people and their families. Over the years, we’ve partnered with motivational speakers to help raise the aspirations of young people, and give them some inspiration for their future paths. We have created fantastic programmes such as The Future Focus Programme, Study Skills Masterclasses, From Here to Career, and LiNCHigher X TILG Industry Workshops. We even created bespoke content via LiNCHigher Live and 62 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LinkLincoln experts help assess potential for robotics and automation to alleviate labour shortages in UK food chain Specialists from the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology at the University of Lincoln, UK, have contributed world-leading expertise to assess how the rapid roll-out of robotics and automation technologies could alleviate labour shortages in the UK’s food supply chain. The UK Government announced a series of measures intended to advance the adoption of automation in crop packing and harvesting to reduce the UK’s dependence on seasonal labour. The University of Lincoln is at the forefront of industry-aligned research and development to drive forward innovations in the sustainability, efficiency, and productivity in the UK’s £100bn+ food and farming sector. This track record has been recognised with awards including the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education in 2023. Professor Pearson remarked: “The announcement today is a significant and welcomed intervention from the Government to drive productivity in the critical UK horticulture sector. The intervention supports the long-term sustainability of the sector and underpins the production of affordable and healthy fresh produce for all. In addition, it will help upskill our workforce with state-of- the-art robotic and automation technology.” Rural expert urges East Midlands communities to help bolster farmers’ mental wellbeing A rural insurance expert is calling on East Midlands residents to step up their support for local farmers, amid growing concerns over their mental health. Vince Kelly of rural insurance broker Lycetts has issued his appeal during Mental Health Awareness Week, when the spotlight turns to the pressures faced by different sectors of the community. For farmers, the combination of economic instability, market volatility, red tape, a changing subsidy regime and climate change not only threatens their livelihoods but also risks impacting their mental wellbeing. “Farming is not just a business, it’s a way of life that demands resilience in the face of the myriad of evolving challenges,” said Kelly. “But even the most mentally resilient can struggle under the weight of financial and economic uncertainty. It’s important that residents support the local agricultural sector to help keep their rural communities alive.” Kelly highlighted several ways in which people can make a difference. “Minor changes in shopping habits can make a big difference,” he said. “From buying local farm produce to help ensure farmers have a steady income to patronising local restaurants that champion local fare.” In recent years, many farmers have been thrust into diversified enterprises in a bid to survive. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of farm businesses in England introduced some form of diversified activity in 2022/23, according to Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) – from farm shops, cafes and glamping sites to B&Bs, wedding venues and petting farms. “Residents can help support these new ventures, not only by visiting them, but also by promoting them to friends, family, colleagues and on their social media channels,” Kelly added. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 63 Supporting the rural community Weather patterns cause annual elderflower picking to begin early Bottesford-based Belvoir Farm has called on community spirit across Lincolnshire to pitch in and pick elderflower a little earlier than expected this year, thanks to weather patterns that have accelerated flower growth. With this year’s annual elderflower harvest celebrating 40 years, the crucial four week picking window usually kicks off at the beginning of June, where local people are paid to pick the many wild elderflowers growing across Lincolnshire and that go on to become the company’s now world-famous cordial. However, this year’s harvest had to be brought forward and started from 20 May, with farmers at the country’s largest producer of elderflower cordial opening up its weigh-in centres almost two weeks earlier than expected to capitalise on the abundance of flowers that have already started to appear. Pev Manners, founder of Belvoir Farm, said the deluge of rain in the earlier months of the year, coupled with a short, sharp warm spell this month had brought forward the harvest and quest to pick and produce the flowers they need to make their cordial and get it out onto supermarket shelves. “It’s always a challenge when we start our harvest, as it’s so weather dependent, but the recent burst of warm sunshine this month has really encouraged the flowers and we’ll be ready to start the big annual pick much earlier,” he said. New support group for Lincolnshire farmers met for first time Assisted by officers from the county council, a group of around 25 members from the industry met on May 17th to give insight into local agricultural and horticultural needs and issues, that can be fed back to national policymakers. Nominations for a chairperson took place at the first meeting. To coincide with the launch, advice, guidance and help on offer for farmers and growers in Lincolnshire is being highlighted through a new campaign – Keep Lincolnshire Growing. Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy, environment and planning at the county council, said: “This is a vitally important sector - for Lincolnshire’s economy and the nation’s food security. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support the set up of this new forum to make sure that our farmers and growers have a strong voice. “The council supports farmers in multiple ways – from supporting with legislation and compliance, to training and business advice. We’ve now brought all of that together in one place in our bid to protect this sector and see farming businesses thrive and excel.” Agricultural shows struggling with rising costs and red tape Show organisers of agricultural events from outside the county have spoken up about the increasing costs of agricultural shows and the impossible strain it is putting on them to run them. Show organisers have cited not only rising costs, but increasingly demanding risk assessments for anywhere up to 100,000 visitors, as well as expensive training for volunteers and stewards. Hunts for sponsors to help fund shows has become difficult as well, with many sponsors being forced to pull out due to their own financial difficulties brought on by a weak economic climate. If this continues there are fears that agricultural shows might become unsustainable in the future, which would be a serious problem as events like these across Lincolnshire and the country as a whole serve to connect farming communities to the general public. They are used not only for business, but also to educate and bring communities together. Losing them would be a great loss for the country as a whole. © stock.adobe.com/pavlobaliukh © stock.adobe.com/Baillie Photography64 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM AND COUNTRY LINK © stock.adobe.com/Gill Lincolnshire’s favourable climate, fertile soil, and signature stretches of open space birthed a tradition of arable farming and animal husbandry that predates even Roman occupation and continues to flourish. The region’s agricultural prowess was evident early on, with substantial exports of grains and cattle to Europe catching the attention of invaders. Over the centuries, the county has continually evolved, embracing technological advancements and agricultural innovations to become a cornerstone of England’s farming industry, contributing an impressive 12% of our nation’s food. As Lincolnshire’s farming landscape has evolved over the centuries, so too have the challenges and opportunities facing its agricultural and local communities. The transition from Roman settlement to the era of villa farms meant a pivotal shift towards large-scale agricultural operations, laying the groundwork for centuries of innovation and adaptation. However, the Middle Ages then saw a departure from arable cultivation in favour of sheep farming, driven by the interests of wealthy landowners. This shift, while economically beneficial for some, sidelined traditional crop cultivation for a time. The modern landscape of Lincolnshire reflects its legacy of adaptation and diversification in the face of adversity. Many farms have followed this historic trend, adapting as holiday homes or housing estates, sanctuaries for wildlife walks and activities, or as bases for renewable energy farming alongside their crops and animals. Certain farms change up their output with the movements and phases of industrial and public demand. However they’ve survived, many are thankfully still here. This county continues to grow large stores of versatile produce such as oilseed rape, barley, wheat and sugar beet, and South Lincolnshire’s nourishing soils are particularly renowned for growing potatoes, onions, cauliflower and cabbage, among other common crops. Even the technological innovations sweeping through some farms, unfortunately leaving some behind, are just modern reflections of historical patterns. 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But this era also saw the emergence of tensions between progress and tradition, as small-scale farmers grappled with the implications of mechanisation. Despite the initial opposition, the adoption of machinery revolutionised agricultural practices as it became more widely accepted. Fast forward to the present, and Lincolnshire’s farming community continues to navigate a landscape shaped by technological advancements. Except today, the most concern is rooted in environmental issues, as small local providers once again fight to keep up with market preference towards larger farms which can more easily integrate new processes, tech and machinery, including robotics. The challenges of climate change, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss loom large, prompting a renewed focus on sustainable farming practices and conservation efforts. Yet, the transition to eco-friendly farming methods often demands substantial expenses and access to sophisticated equipment. While larger farms are better equipped to embrace these changes, smaller operations encounter obstacles stemming from resource constraints and a lack of technical expertise. The process of obtaining certification as an environmentally friendly farm can also be more intricate and resource-intensive than a small business model allows for. 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Initiatives like the Sustainable Farming Incentive have lately begun supporting smaller farms by providing more realistic goals for financial rewards. The SFI pays farmers for actions such as improving soil health, managing moorland, maintaining hedgerows, implementing integrated pest management, enhancing farmland wildlife habitats, establishing buffer strips, and managing low input grassland. Unlike previous schemes, payments under the SFI 2023 are made quarterly, providing a more practical source of income, and enabling farmers to put their sustainability actions into practice on a rolling basis throughout the year. Additionally, the SFI allows farmers to receive payments for environmental land management actions while also participating in other schemes, like Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery, as long as they’re not being paid for any single action twice. Community farming is becoming more popular too, because it brings people together to learn new skills, and improve their overall health and © stock.adobe.com/shaunwilkinsonLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 69 Lincolnshire Show 18th&19th June2024 NEXTSHOW : BRIGG-CORRINGHAM-HALSHAM-KIRBYMISPERTON-LOUTH-SELBYBRIGG-CORRINGHAM-HALSHAM-KIRBYMISPERTON-LOUTH-SELBY PEACOCK&BINNINGTON PREMIERAGRICULTURALDEALERFORLINCOLNSHIREANDYORKSHIRE @pandbmachinery @peacock_binnington 01652600200 WelookforwardtowelcomingyoutoourLincolnshire Showstand,tocelebrateour130thyearsupporting Lincolnshire'sAgriculturalCommunity KeepingFarmersFarmingfor130years Standno 3-21 CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS To find out how to get your business on the up visit www.dextersharpe.co.uk Offices in Boston, Bourne, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth & Skegness We pride ourselves on providing a pro-active, friendly and accessible service. 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As community farming gains momentum, it promotes stronger communities, a sense of belonging, and environmental stewardship. Industrial farming trends are increasingly turning to new techniques to reduce energy usage and waste, alongside environmental impact. Precision agriculture techniques, including GPS, variable rate technology, remote sensing, and automated machinery, are used with agroecological principles like crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, and agroforestry to promote sustainability and avoid crop loss wherever possible. Advances in scientific research and technology are further driving innovation in farming practices, from the development of drought-resistant crop varieties, to the use of drones for crop monitoring and management. Even the plant life, wild animal and insect populations of farmland itself are being recentred, the restoration of hedgerows and wetlands supporting biodiversity from the ground level and up. On a local scale, Lincolnshire’s farming community is at the forefront of efforts to address these pressing challenges while also embracing new opportunities. From agri-tourism ventures and farm-to-table initiatives, to renewable energy projects and community-supported agriculture schemes, farmers in Lincolnshire are exploring innovative ways to sustainably manage their land and livelihoods. Perhaps the best lesson amidst all this urgent change, is that resilience and adaptability have always shaped Lincolnshire’s farming heritage. By embracing an approach that blends scientific advancements with traditional wisdom, and communities working together, anyone who grows in Lincolnshire can safeguard the future, while serving people and planet in harmony.Next >