Lincolnshire farmer says turning to solar is only way to survive

“This land here really doesn’t sustain wheat in a profitable way. So barley, especially for the malting industry, has been the mainstay of this farm.”

But the malting industry, which processes barley to make whisky and beer, is a “reducing market due to consumer changes”, Ward says.

“And with climate change making the last two summers so dry, it’s been really difficult.”

But surely a Lincolnshire farmer can find a crop that will grow in the county’s famously food rich soil?

“On soil like this, you just couldn’t grow potatoes without a water source,” he says, and after changes to an agreement with a water company, which previously meant cheap access to water, Joe says he is left with no other option but to join with a developer who wants to build a solar farm spanning 640 acres (220 hectares), which is the equivalent of 360 football pitches.

“I think it’s a good use of the land,” Joe insists. “Solar will be far more productive financially for the business.

“It will produce more energy in solar panels than it ever will trying to grow very small crops.”