19 January 2012 Last updated at 06:41 ET

Lincoln university says Riseholme college 'key' despite changes

The University of Lincoln has said it is still committed to farming after it decided to hand over further education courses at an agricultural college.

Officials said it had decided to concentrate on running only degree courses from Riseholme college.

Another education provider will be sought to run the other courses from the next academic year while the university would remain as landlord.

It added that teaching agriculture was a "key part of the county".

Dominant industry

Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Andrew Atherton, said the change was "strategic" and vocational training could be provided by others.

He added: "We are not removing ourselves from agriculture. We work closely with the (further education) provider to encourage people to continue to study agriculture at degree level.

"As far as we are concerned, we are at Riseholme and are offering a degree course for the future. It is a key part of the county."

Lincolnshire's economy is dominated by agriculture. A Defra survey found it was the UK's largest producer of potato, wheat, poultry and cereal.