Joseph Nickerson

Joe Nickerson (born April 1914 Thoresway, Lincolnshire - died 1990 Palm Beach, Florida) was a highly successful farmer, entrepreneur and countryman.
Founder of Nickerson Seed Company in 1940 and based in Rothwell, Lincolnshire he introduced 80 cereal varieties and winter barley to the UK. Sold to Shell in 1970 and subsequently Groupe Limagrain, Nickerson Seeds still accounts for a large proportion of UK cereal.
In 1960 he founded Cherry Valley Farms Ltd, leading supplier of duck breeding stock and exporting globally. At its height it produced over 10 million ducklings per year, becoming the UK’s leading duck producer in the 1980s.
In the 1970s, Rothwell was becoming well known as a top pheasant shoot - HRH Prince Charles visited annually, also Captain Mark Phillips, Viscount Whitelaw, Lord Prior and Lord Forte.
Nickerson was awarded the Queens Award three times for his businesses and was knighted in 1983 for services to agriculture. He had two daughters; Louise and the journalist Rosie Whitaker née Nickerson.
Published works.
Author of a Shooting Man’s Creed a field memoir with a forward by the Duke of Westminster published in 1989 Quiller Publishing.