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Lincolnshire - Julie HoyesVice Chairman: to be confirmedSecretary: Janet Godfrey Treasurer: Jane North Dairy Representative: position vacant
Lincolnshire Quality meat scheme scoops national award - July 2008
Lincolnshire Show 18th & 19th June2008
 26 schools took part in the challenges which are designed to help children find out more about food and farming, some of them taking on several of the challenges. the winner of the secondary school category was North Axholme School whose project was to advertise the Lincolnshire Show. The winner of the primary school category was New Holland School whose 'Design From Nature' used a variety of plants that had been grown on the school grounds.  Rand Farm Park - 21st May 2008
Programme for 2008:
AGM
Epic Centre - 13th February 2008
 Members were very impressed with the structure and are keen to see what the building will look like when it is finished and topped out with its sedum roof. Farming & Countryside Open Day for Schools - 21st May 2008
Visit to Budgens - 23rd January 2008  Members enjoyed a very interesting visit to the Budgens store in Woodhall Spa hosted by the new store owner, Sunny Hundall. Sunny is young and enthusiastic about supporting local producers, although he still has a sensible commercial approach to business. He has just become the sole stockist of Myer's new Lincolnshire Tea Loaf.  Farmhouse Breakfast Week - 21st January 2008  Lincolnshire WFU celebrated the HGCA Farmhouse Breakfast week by taking breakfast to the Lincolnshire Forum for Agirculture and Horticulture on Friday, 25th January. Meryl Ward provided the sausage butties from her Farm Shop, Uncle Henry's. 
Janet Godfrey visited Scartho Infants School on January 22nd to talk to them in their assembly about breakfast and the difference between 'good' breakfast foods and 'bad' breakfast foods. Sally Elkington featured Farmhouse Breakfast Week on the Lincs FM Farming Programme on Sunday, 19th January which is now accessible on a Podcast. On Tuesday, 22nd January she is going to do breakfast for the cookery feature at Lincs FM and then on Friday, 25th January at Rutland Radio. Kettleby Foods - 26th September 2007
After lunch in a deli in Long Clawson, we enjoyed a very interesting tour of the factory followed by a tasting session in the kitchen. We were amazed at the variety of ingredients and dishes produced. Systems have to be accurately controlled in order to guaruntee no wastage and ensure profits. Visit to Neaves' Farm Shop and The Garden House, Saxby - 18th July 2007 - full report Select Lincolnshire at the Royal Show - July 2007
  Past WFU President, Janet Godfrey, explained the Select Lincolnshire branding to the minister. Janet was awarded her Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies at the show from Show President, The Countess of Wessex. Janet was made an Associate in 2002 for her work with WFU and upgraded to a Fellow for her continued work for the farming industry.  Lincolnshire Show - 20 - 21 June 2007
Land Network, Gainsborough - 16th May - full report
Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture Newsletter Astwoods - 18th April 2007 Members enjoyed a visit to Astwoods delicatessen and restaurant in Saltergate, Lincoln. Mark Astwood opened the shop in December 2006 and boasts a Michelin star chef. He specialses in quality local and regional produce sold in modern premises in the heart of Lincoln. Next month he is opening for breakfasts. One of his more interesting projects is "The Recipe Shop", where customers can choose their recipe and buy all the ingredients as a package to take away and cook themselves. They will even cook it for you if you haven't got time to do it yourself! All at very resonable prices. Members dined during their meeting and can vouch for the uality of the food.
Programme for 2007:
Annual General Meeting - 21st March 2007
Offcials gave their reports and Janet Godfrey reported on the work of the Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, including the development of the "Select Lincolnshire" branding and the application of the Lincolnshire Sausage Association for Protected Geographical Indication for Lincolnshire sausages. An outline programme for the year was planned and will be confirmed very soon. The branch will be supporting the Schools' Challenge at the Lincolnshire Show again this year. New officials were elected to the committee. It is hoped that as many members as possible will attend. If you are unable to attend, but would like a topic discussed, please let Minty know, in writing please. If you have any ideas for a meeting / venue / visit or a speaker for the 2007 year, please let Minty know. We would like a diverse programme for 2007 and would like to suit everyone’s tastes, where possible. Perhaps you have been somewhere that the rest of the branch would enjoy, or have heard of a good place to visit… just let Minty know. New Bioethanol Plant for Grimsby - 5th February 2007 Green Spirit Fuels (GSF) have announced plans to build a second bioethanol plant in Grimsby set to use around 650,000t of wheat and produce 200,000t of ethanol. GSF's other Henstridge bioethanol plant is expected to be running by autumn 2008 and produce 105,000t of ethanol. There are currently no bioethanol plants running in the UK and only a handful of biodiesel plants are in operation. UK biodiesel production accounted for 51,000t in 2005. Production capacity is estimated to have risen to 445,000t in 2006 (EBB, www.ebb-eu.org ). This compares with an estimated total EU capacity of over 6Mt, with Germany accounting for around half of this. Lincolnshire's Farmhouse Breakfast Week - 21st - 27th January 2007 Uncle Henry's Farm Shop - 25th January 2007 Lincolnshire member, Meryl Ward and her husband, Steve hosted the official opening of their new Farm Shop, Uncle Henry's, this week. They have spent much time in developig both the shop and the cafteria and it is well worth a visit to buy a fantastic selection of locally produced foods.  The Farm Shop has meeting rooms and is planning to develop its educational services to promote understanding of food and farming. Connecting to improve profit East Midlands Farm Management Association Annual Conference on Tuesday 9th January 2007, 10.00am to 4.00pm. Sutton Bonington Campus. "Connecting to Improve Profit". Speakers include: Richard Walters, Bidwells Agriculture; Freddie de Lisle, Quenby Hall; Charles Abel, Farmers Weekly; Baroness Hazel Byford, House of Lord". BASIS points will be awarded for the event. £35 per ticket to include 3-course lunch. Contact Paul Wilson on 0115 951 6075 for further details. Christmas Meeting - 13th December
Lincolnshire members enjoyed a delicious meal of local fresh produce on Wednesday evening at The Bell Inn in Coleby - note the clean plates!!
Food and Drink Fayre - 18th/19th November 2006 Lincolnshire Agriculture Society at the Lincolnshire Showground
Lincolnshire members handed out hundreds of samples of traditional British cheeses - Stilton, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cheddar to eager customers at the Food Fayre. Penny Lord explains the differences between the British cheeses on offer. For more pictures click here ..............
Lincolnshire footpaths improvement plan 13th October 2006 Lincolnshire County Council has just sent us their draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan with suggestions about how access in the county can be improved. NFU is keen to see incentives offered to land managers to improve access rather than farmers face compulsory purchase for new rights of way. The consultation is available from Lincolnshire County Council on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/rowip or by phoning 01522 782070. The County Council requires comments by 1 December. Lincoln Cathedral harvest festival Put Sunday 22 October at 3.00pm in your diary and come and join in a family celebration with a difference at Lincoln Cathedral. Refreshments served afterwards. See you there! Rural Matters - September 2006
Esca Food Solutions - 27th September Members enjoyed a visit to Esca Food Solutions in Scunthorpe where they make all the hamburgers for McDonalds. Full story and pictures here .............. ASDA goes Local in Lincolnshire - 20th September 2006 Asda have launched their local food producer initiative in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Customers in Lincoln, Scunthorpe and Grimsby will be able to buy produce from local producers of sausages, plum loaf, Haslet, pies, pickles, cakes, eggs and ice cream.  Lincolnshire farmer, Paul Davey is co-ordinating deliveries of local produce through a local food hub, Ideal Lincs. NISP Workshop
WiRE East Midland Newsletter August 2006 Jane's Day Out With the kind permission of Michael and Mary Davenport, the WFU visited the newly developed cheese operation at Cote Hill Farm, Lincoln Lane, Osgodby, Market Rasen LN8 3PD Full story and pictures here .............. Mmebers then headed to Walesby to Maps to Treasure for lunch in their tea room, where they had the chance to purchase a map. The visit concluded with a visit to Hazel Hammond’s Farm Shop at Tealby, which was opened in November 2005 and stocks the Cote Hill cheeses along with other carefully selected local and regional products. Most of their meat is home grown Sunnysideup produce butchered by their own in house butcher. The next visit is at 6pm on 27th September to Esca Food Solutions in Scunthorpe, folloed by supper at MacDonalds! Numbers are limited to 25. If you would like to attend, please contact Janet Godfrey. Lincolnshire was well represented at the Royal Show this year with an entire marquee devoted to promoting everything good about Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire council in the guise of Visit Lincolnshire, Tastes of Lincolnshire and Select Lincolnshire impressed visiorts with the quality and range of goods on show.
Lincolnshire Show 21st & 22nd June 2006 Lincolnshire WFU members helped out in the Discovery Zone at the Lincolnshire Show this year - supporting the schools that took part in the Schools Challenge. Each school took up a different challenge - some designing a healthy School meal and others taking up the Farmacy Potato Challenge to grow a crop of early potatoes.  Select Lincolnshire promotion at the show to producers and consumers Humberside joint ventures event - 19 June
Lincolnshire members will be supporting HGCA at Cereals by serving their teas!! WiRE East Midland Newsletter May/June 2006 The April 2006 issue of Rural Matters featuring developments in the delivery of the Rural Development Programme for North and North East Lincolnshire. The Lincolnshire Environmental and Agricultural Education Project (LEAEP) - April 2006 Newsletter Lincolnshire Sausages - 5th April 2006
There are several issues that first need to be resolved:
The Campaign has been supported by local MPs and Lincolnshire Pride magazine. Programme for 2006:
LINCOLNSHIRE FARM & COUNTRY BUSINESS WATCH Booklet LINCOLNSHIRE FARM & COUNTRY BUSINESS WATCH
Lincolnshire Branch Celebrate Farmhouse Breakfast Week Campaign for PGI status for Lincolnshire Sausages - 10th January 2006 WiRE East Midland Newsletter December 2005 Biodiesel plant being built at Immingham - 10th December 2005
The November 2005 issue of Rural Matters with information on Modernising Rural Delivery in Yorkshire and The Humber is now available on the Framework website at www.goyh.gov.uk. East Lindsey Food for Health Strategy
Associated British Ports - 21st September 2005
Members learnt about the vast amount of 'Agribulks' shipped in and out of Immingham port. Gleadell Agriculture Ltd is the port's sole grain shipper and has invested £1.25 million in a new ship loader for its grain export operation. The conveyor was in place for the 2002 harvest and loads ships of up to 28,000 tonnes at the rate of 1,200 tonnes an hour over a three day period. Totally enclosed, it meets all the latest stringent environmental controls, including dust suppression. The sole grain shipper in the port exports up to a million tonnes of grain through the port. The product is primarily wheat but also includes barley, rapeseed, linseed, peas, beans and oats. Markets a mainly in the EU and products are for human consumption as well as for animal feed.  Immingham is also home to two of the UK's largest animal feed importers. Imports are mainly from South America, the Far East and Europe and the commodities are mainly feedstuffs for cattle, pigs, poultry and pets. Up to 25 products are imported. Dutch company, Cefetra, regularly imports 20,000 tonne cargoes of soya and palm kernals through the port.  Norwegian fertiliser giants, Hydro Agri, have had a major presence at Immingham for over 50 years, their dockside factory producing over 600,000 tones of ammonia based fertiliser annually. However, in the summer of 2000, overcapacity forced the company to cease production at Immingham. The faciltiy now imports product in bulk from it's other European manufacturing units for bagging and blending prior to distribution to farms throughout the East of the UK. ABP took over the operating of the facility on behalf of Hydro Agri and now rovide stevedoring, bagging, warehousing and loading facilities to the company. They have provided a 100 tonne capacity mobile harbour crane on the quayside. ABP's Immingham Bulk Park continues to handle up to 200,000 tonnes of processed product each year. Fertiliser tonnages are supplemented by imports of pumice and gypsum. The evening ended with members enjoying a delicious meal at Caistor Wine Bar.
Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture
Farmers Weekly Agricultural Awards - 26th August 2005
Other Lincolnshire farmers who have reached the shortlist for the various categories are, Mark Ireland, Terra Arable Farmer of the Year, Nicholas Watts, Environment Agency Countryside Farmer of the Year, and David Hoyles in the Firestone Young Farmer of the Year category. Congratulations and continued success to you all. WiRE is a dynamic networking and business club providing a range of support to women setting up and running rural businesses and has recently secured funding to develop services in Lincolnshire and Rutland and the wider East Midlands. The WiRE East Midlands project aims to build upon the success of our existing Leicestershire network, which is already providing valuable support to women in rural business in the region. One of the guest speakers will be Sarah Helliwell from Derbyshire WFU. Further information about WiRE can be found on the website: www.wireuk.org The launch event is open to both WiRE members (or women interested in joining WiRE) and regional partners who have an interest in rural business issues. Click here for directions......... Lincolnshire Show 22nd and 23rd June, 2005 Lincolnshire members braved the heat to put on a fine display of Lincolnshire produce for visitors to the Food Stands at this year's Lincolnshire Show. The fine weather meant that attendance was way up on last year's rainy show and thousands of visitors passed through the fantastic displays of locally produced food.
Janet Godfrey, chairman of the Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture in front of the display of Select Lincolnshire produce outside the NFU stand. The Forum has invested in the development of a 'Lincolnshire brand' to put Lincolnshire on the consumers' map of places to find excellent quality food. The demonstration at the show was intended to persuade producers to sign up to the use of the brand. Pork Pies with Jill - 11th May 2005 Super demonstration by Jill Bourne on pork pie making - well that was what Jill called it but while it did contain pork it contained all sorts of other things - cointreau, apricots, prunes bacon, breadcrumbs (to soak up the juice instead of jelly) and the list of 'optional ingredients' was mouth-watering. We also had the opportunity to taste one made earlier which had orange, and other goodies in. If you were not there you missed a treat and many thanks to Jill who shared her secrets with us - I can see lots of scrumptious pork pies being made judging by the recipes handed out.
Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture
The LincFarms Project - 2nd April 2005 The retiring High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Mr Charles Welby, launched the LincFarms project on Friday as his final official duty. The theme of the project is "Connecting with the Countryside" and is aimed at giving farm access to all - on Lincolnshire farms. The aim of the project is for a cross section of school and community groups, with a focus on the disadvantaged, to gain an insight into the farming world and thus gain a better understanding of food production, sustainable land use and healthy lifestyles. The LincFarms Project is a joint venture with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society and the County Council and was initiated by Charles Welby. For more information about the project and to find out how your school can have a financially supported visit to the countryside, contact: Trafalgar Weekend October 21 - 23
New Members
If anyone has a potential new member, could you please let me know. I have some "new member" forms and it would be nice to send a welcome letter to new members from the branch. Don't forget, we now have an "under 30's" rate (first year only £15.00)
Members Worknet
WFU Website - www.wfu.gov.uk please have a look at the website, if it is available to you. Janet Godfrey works very hard to keep it up to date and there is always plenty of interesting reading. Please let me know if you would like the username and password for the members section. If you would like further information about anything mentioned in this newsletter, please let me know and I will try to help. If you have got this far, I expect you have read the rest!! So, Thanks for your time. Minty
Minty Willoughby - Chairman
WFU Conference 2005 - 14-16th March
Margaret Borrill gets into the spirit of the tea ceremony at the conference!! Branch AGM - 9th March 2005
New Chairman for LEAF - 10 February 2005
Branch Visit Waitrose - 9 February 2005 Members of the Lincolnshire branch visited the new Waitrose store at Lincoln on Wednesday evening.
Members were impressed by the vast quantity of excellent quality British produce on sale and the store's systems of traceability. However it was a shame to note that imported Tate & Lyle sugar is their preferred sugar, rather than the British Silver Sp[oon variety, much of which is produced locally. Members were also disappointed not to find more local Lincolnshire produce labelled, although we were sure it was there somewhere!
Members enjoy Waitrose's British wine, Lincolnshire Poacher cheese and Cox and russet apples. Select Lincolnshire 
'Select Lincolnshire' has been designed to help Lincolnshire's position as a key player in the supplying good food and other natural produce. By appearing on food packaging, distribution vehicles and advertising, Select Lincolnshire will establish a recognizable symbol for the consumer.
Following the recent introduction of its 100% English meat policy, Budgens has entered a partnership with pork processors, George Adams & Sons Ltd, and a group of English pig farmers to ensure a consistently high quality supply of fresh, home produced pork at an affordable price to the consumer that also offers a sustainable return to the farmer. |
Vanessa Lindley from Lincolnshire Rural Stress Network (RSN) spoke to members about her work to enlist the support of WFU in one of three areas - manning the Help Line, which takes calls and referrals; the Farmer Support Group, which liaises directly with people in need of support; or the marketing group, which raises awareness of the services that RSN provide and raises money to support its work. 15th - 21st October is Rural Stress Week when there will be a series of activities throughout the county to raise awareness and funds. Anyone wishing to get involved should contact Vanessa on 0845 123 2306.
Cereals - 14th and 15th June, Nocton Estate, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire members found the long journey to Cornwall for the annual conference this week very rewarding. Speakers were excellent and they were able to network with members from all over the country. For a full report of the conference click here ......... 
BUDGENS IN LINCPORK SCHEME TO ENSURE QUALITY ENGLISH PORK