NFU Deputy President David Exwood called for farmers to continue to stand together against the ‘family farm tax’ and for all to check in on those feeling overwhelmed and under pressure.
Mr Exwood addressed more than 70 NFU members at the Herefordshire NFU annual general meeting, at Newton Court, at Leominster, on 3 December.
He said agriculture and horticulture had been “rocked to the core” following the Autumn Budget and with a long winter ahead called for farmers to look after one another at what was a difficult time.
At the packed NFU meeting he said he was “incredibly proud” of how thousands of farmers and the public came together in London to deliver a clear message to Government but now it was vital for the work to continue.
He spoke about government’s planned changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) which threaten the future of family farms and the rural economy, alongside other measures outlined in the Budget.
Mr Exwood said: “This is one of the most challenging times I’ve known in farming.
“I felt so proud of how everyone came together in London.
“I thought it was an incredible day and we delivered a clear message to the Government, in the right way, with the public on our side.
“Now we need to stick together on this and I know what we said was heard – the NFU is busy working with its members on what happens next.
“The NFU is here to speak to and listen to its farmer and grower members, lead the lobby and lead the industry pushing for that change in Westminster.
“There is much more to be done but we will not give up or let this go away.”
The government announced in the recent Budget that it will reform APR and BPR from April 2026. This will mean farm businesses will need to pay a tax rate of 20% of agricultural assets valued over £1 million.
The NFU rejects the government’s claims that around three quarters of farm businesses in England will be unaffected by the changes to APR and highlights the contradictions between different government departmentsi.
Mr Exwood told the meeting a lot of farmers were feeling the strain following unprecedented challenges over the past year.
“While it is time to stand together, it’s also time to look after one another as the pressures are immense and the industry has been rocked to the core,” he said.
“I have seen hundreds of farmers over the past few weeks and some are really struggling so please think about your neighbour and those you know and reach out to them.”
The meeting also heard from Fownhope farmer Martin Williams, NFU Herefordshire chair, and other county delegates and officeholders on industry news.
Members also raised the rise in the National Living Wage and seasonal labour availability in horticulture, the accelerated phaseout of support payments from next year, water management, infrastructure, the supply chain, engaging the next generation and public, and a host of other issues.
Mr Williams, who helped organised the complementary farmer rally in London, said: “I must say it has been quite a year and we will continue to make the case strongly for Herefordshire farmers and growers.
“This family farm tax threatens livelihoods, threatens food security, threatens the good environmental work done and the future potential on our farms and sometimes you have to take a stand, which is exactly what the NFU, its members and the industry is doing.
“We need to engage all parties on this, put pressure on locally with our MPs and at the highest level of Government as well as engage and inform Herefordshire people.”
