Sun shines on the Lincolnshire Show
Thousands of people descended on the Lincolnshire Showground today for the 129th Lincolnshire Show . Chris Kiddey reports
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In pictures: Day one of the Lincolnshire Show 2013
It's the first day of the Lincolnshire show. We've complied a selection of pictures from the opening day.
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Lincolnshire Show begins
The 129th Lincolnshire Show begins today. The agricultural show lasts two days and includes farming and equine displays along with an appearance by Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex. For more details click here.
Preparing for the Lincolnshire Show
Hundreds of traders have been setting up for the Lincolnshire Show today as the final preparations are made ahead of the two day event which kicks off tomorrow.
Organisers of the show say they are hoping for a record turnout this year to show support to farming communities, who have been faced with extremely testing times over the last few months. Kate Hemingway reports.
Preparing for 129th Lincolnshire Show
Organisers of the Lincolnshire Show say they're hoping this year will be bigger and better than ever, especially to support local farmers who've faced extremely challenging circumstances over the last few months.
The agricultural show, which takes place tomorrow and Thursday, is in its 129th year.
The Countess of Wessex is due to visit this year. There will also be a display from the Red Arrows, and a flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Dakota on Thursday.
"The Lincolnshire Show is undoubtedly a county institution and we are immensely proud that 129 years on the show is bigger, better and more diverse than ever., " said Jayne Southall , Show Director.
"However we are still incredibly aware of our roots and the society's commitment to supporting agriculture.
"The recent couple of years have been incredibly challenging for many of Lincolnshire's farmers therefore we are working hard to ensure that this year's show will be even more of a success than ever before for them."
Showground prepared for 129th year
Organisers of the Lincolnshire Show say they're hoping this year will be bigger and better than ever, especially to support local farmers who've faced extremely challenging circumstances over the last few months.
The agricultural show, which takes place tomorrow and Thursday, is in its 129th year.
The Countess of Wessex is due to visit this year. There will also be a display from the Red Arrows, and a flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Dakota.
– Jayne Southall, director of the Lincolnshire Showground and the Lincolnshire Agricultural SocietyThe Lincolnshire Show is undoubtedly a county institution and we are immensely proud that 129 years on the show is bigger, better and more diverse than ever. "However we are still incredibly aware of our roots and the society's commitment to supporting agriculture. "The recent couple of years have been incredibly challenging for many of Lincolnshire's farmers therefore we are working hard to ensure that this year's show will be even more of a success than ever before for them."
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Farmers' concern over potentially poor wheat harvest
There is concern our region's farmers could be in for another bad harvest. A survey by the National Farmers' Union is predicting less wheat will be grown because of bad weather during the winter affecting planting.
It has been one of the main talking points at a large agricultural event in Lincolnshire from where James Webster reports:
Winter damages wheat harvest
There's a warning that wheat harvests could be badly hit by a winter of bad weather.
On the day thousands of farmers from across the UK travel to Lincolnshire for a major farming convention, the National Farmers Union says yields could be as much as 30 percent down, because of flooding and snowfall which affected the winter planting. Simon Fisher is from the National Farmers Union.
Bad weather hits wheat harvest
Flooding and severe snowfalls over the winter are likely to affect this year's wheat harvest, reducing it by almost 30% on last year. The National Farmers' Union says figures show the area planted with winter wheat was down by a quarter on the previous year. Bad weather has had a further impact.
If the results of the snapshot poll are repeated nationally, wheat production will be below average for the second year in a row. A separate NFU survey revealed 45% of arable farmers are less confident about the prospects for their farm businesses in the next 12 months compared with last year.
– Andrew Watts, National Farmers' UnionOur poll is a snapshot but it is extremely worrying that planted area remaining viable for 2013 harvest on those farms looks set to be 29% smaller than last year. If this plays out nationally, we will be below average production for the second year in a row. The saving grace in past years has been crop protection technology which can help maintain yield potential and all important grain quality by guarding against pests and ensure crops are more drought and flood resistant.
But lobbying has forced restrictions on the use of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, which are being banned over concerns about their impact on bees, and fungicides known as triazoles are also facing potential restrictions which could further impact on yields.
NFU warns to expect lower wheat harvest
The National Farmers' Union says this year's wheat harvest is likely to be smaller than last year's due to extreme weather. Figures show the area planted with winter wheat is down a quarter on the previous year.
The warning comes on the day that many of the region's farmers head to a major arable farming event in Lincolnshire. Cereals at Boothby Graffoe near Lincoln includes an Arable Conference where some of the biggest issues to affect crop farmers will be discussed.
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