With soaring costs and harmful government policies, the plight of British farmers exposes a deeper crisis threatening the UK's fragile economy, endangering Britain's food security.
I spend many hours on farmland in East & North Yorkshire.
Had a truly ironic conversation last week with 82 year old farmer with 2 farms & 2 sons but he still owns the farms. Mostly good arable.
If the inheritance tax comes in he will owe £300,000-£400,000. Maybe his bank will cover this. Maybe not.
But - luckily for him/family - one of the farms is adjacent to a substation & the energy blob will need the land for battery storage. What can you say?
Very interesting! I think the current government policies treat farming as an afterthought, rather than a high-priority industry. If the UK’s approach to trade is updated to support domestic industries, then we may see a more favourable environment for those actively using farmland, however, for now, many are understandably tempted by the higher valuations that the same land can get when used for other purposes, so more farmers leaving the industry is likely in the years ahead.
I spend many hours on farmland in East & North Yorkshire.
Had a truly ironic conversation last week with 82 year old farmer with 2 farms & 2 sons but he still owns the farms. Mostly good arable.
If the inheritance tax comes in he will owe £300,000-£400,000. Maybe his bank will cover this. Maybe not.
But - luckily for him/family - one of the farms is adjacent to a substation & the energy blob will need the land for battery storage. What can you say?
Very interesting! I think the current government policies treat farming as an afterthought, rather than a high-priority industry. If the UK’s approach to trade is updated to support domestic industries, then we may see a more favourable environment for those actively using farmland, however, for now, many are understandably tempted by the higher valuations that the same land can get when used for other purposes, so more farmers leaving the industry is likely in the years ahead.