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- Farming -
Farming in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a prime agricultural county with a tradition going back hundreds of years in most aspects of farming, animal husbandry and horticulture.
According to information from the East Midlands National Farmers' Union, Lincolnshire exports flower bulbs to Holland and every year thousands of daffodils are air-freighted to Canada for the Canadian Cancer Society's Appeal.
Lincolnshire is Britain's largest potato producing area, mainly due to the richness of the Fenland soil, which is known as the Golden Mile.
Sugar beet is another important crop, with British Sugar factories still in operation at Bardney and Newark.
They process most of this crop into products such as granulated sugar, ice cream toppings, a variety of syrups and specialised sugar for jellies, biscuits, cakes and soft drinks.
Lincolnshire farmers are the country's largest cereal producers, growing wheat, winter and spring barley, oats, mixed corn, rye and triticale harvest each year.
Crops are the mainstay of the agricultural economy, but Lincolnshire is a national leader in poultry production. Dairy herds and beef producers, including the famous Lincoln Red breed, provide quality meat from animals under 30-months-old.
The county is also famous for its pig herds from which high quality bacon, ham, pork and other products come. Flocks of sheep provide finest quality lamb and mutton.
Fruit, vegetables and flowers are produced mainly in the south of the county where they benefit from the rich Fenland soils.
Lincolnshire is a leader in vegetables and more than a quarter eaten in this country come from the region.
Flower and bulb production is around a third of the national total.
Agriculture is the county's largest industry and carries a proud heritage of high quality and dedication to the nation's food.
Farming Statistics
51.7 per cent of cereal land in the East Midlands is based in Lincolnshire.
81 per cent of cereal land in Lincolnshire is for wheat production.
68.6 per cent of agricultural holdings in the county are cereal holdings.
42 per cent of agricultural land in the East Midlands is based in Lincolnshire and more than a quarter of vegetable land in England is in the county.
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