Your Holland (Lincs) county NFU update

Gabriella Gregory

Gabriella Gregory

HOLLAND (LINCS) & NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY ADVISER

As we move into July, harvest is beginning to gather pace across South Lincolnshire, with many growers making good progress following a prolonged spell of warm, dry weather.

Winter barley is already being cut on several farms, with oilseed rape and other crops expected to follow earlier than usual.

While the conditions have provided an excellent opportunity for timely fieldwork, the continued lack of meaningful rainfall is becoming an increasing concern.

South Lincolnshire is home to some of the country’s most productive and high-value agricultural businesses, with vegetables, ornamentals, potatoes, sugar beet and combinable crops forming the backbone of our local farming economy.

As irrigation demand increases and growers carefully manage water resources, the season serves as another reminder of the importance of resilient farm businesses and policies that support sustainable food production in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Save the date: Holland (Lincs) Branch and County AGM

Please save the date for the combined branch and county annual general meeting, taking place on Wednesday, 18 November, from 5.30pm, at Ye Olde Red Lion, Bicker, PE20 3EF.

The AGM is an opportunity to reflect on the past year’s activity, receive updates on NFU work across the county, elect branch and county officeholders, and discuss the priorities that will shape our work over the coming year.

Hot food and refreshments will be available on the evening and I hope as many members as possible will be able to join us. Further details and booking information will be circulated in due course.

NFU Member Advice Clinic – Spalding Branch

Thursday 23 July, 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Spalding Branch members are invited to book a 30-minute one-to-one appointment with their chosen adviser at our upcoming NFU Member Advice Clinic.

Appointments are available with:

  • Richard Wordsworth, senior adviser, support schemes, NFU
  • Carl Holmes, partner at Wilkin Chapman Rollits, specialising in commercial and contractual disputes, litigation, and legal advice for farming businesses

This is an excellent opportunity to discuss individual business queries and receive expert advice tailored to your circumstances.

Please book directly with the Spalding branch Telephone: 01775 765579 or email: [email protected]

Keeping your membership up to date

A reminder that I am always happy to help members keep their NFU membership records up to date.

Whether you need to update your organisation’s details, send membership invoices to accounts contact, add family members or colleagues to your membership, or review your communication preferences to ensure you’re receiving the most relevant sector updates, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact me at [email protected] / 07587 037035.

Local news

Anglian Water Pig Green Cover Management Offer 2026

Anglian Water are offering a £110/Ha (£1140 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 £1000 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 4 September 2026.

Take part

Local news

Anglian Water Farmer Training Grant

The grant is available to all farm/amenity land management businesses in the Anglian Water region.

It's aim is to raise knowledge of land management practices, with a focus on improving water quality, with particular focus on:

  • soil management
  • nutrient use efficiency 
  • reduced pesticide use / IPM e.g. FACTS, knowledge exchange events such as Groundswell

One grant of 50% of the training / event cost, up to a limit of £600 is available per farm / amenity land management business.

T&Cs - applications must be approved before course / event is booked and payment made.

  • One application per business for a single attendee from that business
  • Excludes legally required training e.g. PA courses and NRoSO annual update courses
  • Successful applications will be notified within 2 weeks of application being received
  • Successful applicants contact details will be shared securely with Ricardo Ltd to enable payment
  • Proof of payment must be submitted to Ricardo Ltd before 1st March 2027 or grant funding may be lost

Application closing date 18 January 2027. The grant is budget restricted and will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis for relevant applications, and could be closed at any time.

www.anglianwater.co.uk/business/help-and-advice/catchment-services 

Take part