The Farmers Fight

It’s mainly sheep farmers on small farms round here Davd49. You’re right, they often don’t see people for days, and they don’t all have wifi either. A lot of the older farmers aren’t married, and the younger ones don’t want that life.

foxie48 the big landowners like universities, Church of England, conglomerates etc., will not pay the new IT.

I am pondering here, but if farmers were to register as limited companies (assuming they qualify) then the farms could be handed down IT if their children/heirs were share holders for at least two years before death?

Casdon

Allira

Also a fact of life that youngsters from farming families choose not to take over the farm, and want to have a very different life- and not just in the UK. I have several farms around me, on both sides of the border. Only one has a son who is interested in taking over.

I do understand that, Fleurpepper

Children can see how hard their parents work, how stressful the life can be and to be so under-appreciated, as evidenced on this thread for a start, is enough to put any young person off perpetuating the lifestyle. ☹

For most of those I know, it’s the isolation of the job that puts them off more than anything else. Most farms only have hired help at their busiest times, and young people don’t want to live in remote areas not seeing people their own age all summer because they are working until it’s dark. One of my son’s mates is a farmer, and he isn’t available for anything social from May to September, which is really hard when you’re in your twenties.

It’s not only the youngsters, most of the jobs are on large farms or contractors where you literally work all the hours you can, that’s what is expected. So it’s 7 am till 9 pm at least 7 days a week, it’s not so bad these days because they are chatting on social media a lot, they can text and drive on a tractor.
The really lonely jobs are livestock farms where some don’t see anyone else for days

Allira I haven't seen much evidence of farmers being unappreciated, just arguments to support the view of why they are not being treated unfavourably with the change in IHT on agricultural land. Just as a balance there are lots of occupations that are of value to our society but agricultural land ownership doesn't necessarily mean that someone is engaged in food production.
I have a friend who's family is one of the biggest producers of game birds and supplies birds nationally, the birds are bred for sport, some arrive on the table for consumption but if I'm honest I could eat pheasant and partridge foc for the rest of my life because most are shot and left to rot where I live you can't give them away. If you tick the right boxes you can classify grouse moors as agricultural land. If you plant enough trees to screen your lovely home you can get a subsidy and it's classified as agricultural land. I really don't have a problem with people being wealthy as long as they pay their dues to society. Bil's brother had a very successful career in the city and bought a farm, he's no interest in it, he has a farm manager but he thought when he died he'd be able to pass it on to his children free of IHT. It just doesn't sit well with me.

Allira

^Also a fact of life that youngsters from farming families choose not to take over the farm, and want to have a very different life- and not just in the UK. I have several farms around me, on both sides of the border. Only one has a son who is interested in taking over^.

I do understand that, Fleurpepper

Children can see how hard their parents work, how stressful the life can be and to be so under-appreciated, as evidenced on this thread for a start, is enough to put any young person off perpetuating the lifestyle. ☹

For most of those I know, it’s the isolation of the job that puts them off more than anything else. Most farms only have hired help at their busiest times, and young people don’t want to live in remote areas not seeing people their own age all summer because they are working until it’s dark. One of my son’s mates is a farmer, and he isn’t available for anything social from May to September, which is really hard when you’re in your twenties.

Also a fact of life that youngsters from farming families choose not to take over the farm, and want to have a very different life- and not just in the UK. I have several farms around me, on both sides of the border. Only one has a son who is interested in taking over.

I do understand that, Fleurpepper

Children can see how hard their parents work, how stressful the life can be and to be so under-appreciated, as evidenced on this thread for a start, is enough to put any young person off perpetuating the lifestyle. ☹

Allira

GrannyGravy13

Don’t worry about our cheese Fleurpepper a quick walk round Borough Market shows how many varieties of British cheese and how delicious they are.

No need for foreign imports.

👏👏👏

Artisan cheese makers seem to be doing well.

In fact, a local soft cheese could knocked any French Brie into a cocked hat.

GrannyGravy13

Don’t worry about our cheese Fleurpepper a quick walk round Borough Market shows how many varieties of British cheese and how delicious they are.

No need for foreign imports.

👏👏👏

Artisan cheese makers seem to be doing well.

eddiecat78

How come the Government started off saying only farms over £1million would be affected but following the protests they are saying £3million? It's not surprising so many of us don't believe them

The million is for agricultural land and a married couple can pass their IHT exemption to their spouse when they die so £2m in total. The farmhouse is taxed the same as the rest of us and a couple can have an exemption of up to £500K each if they have a property worth £1million or more, so £1m if that exemption is passed on. Total £3million.

eddiecat78

How come the Government started off saying only farms over £1million would be affected but following the protests they are saying £3million? It's not surprising so many of us don't believe them

£3 million is assuming a married couple working the farm and, I think, owning it jointly.

How come the Government started off saying only farms over £1million would be affected but following the protests they are saying £3million? It's not surprising so many of us don't believe them

Freya5

madalene

I confess, I do eat meat.
Just not very much of it!

Farming is about more than eating meat though, isn't it??

One factor is also that more and more people are changing their lifestyle and their diet. More and more vegetarians and vegans, and also oat/almond/soja/hazelnut milks.

Also a fact of life that youngsters from farming families choose not to take over the farm, and want to have a very different life- and not just in the UK. I have several farms around me, on both sides of the border. Only one has a son who is interested in taking over.

Don’t worry about our cheese Fleurpepper a quick walk round Borough Market shows how many varieties of British cheese and how delicious they are.

No need for foreign imports.

So Farage is too scared of doing his job in Clacton- but quite happy to join mass protests on the streets of London. Really?

Actually Starmer didn't lie to ordinary farmers- as the vast majority will not be paying that tax as they are way below 3 million, and they can put in Trust for their family.

Never mind Farage, what about 'fromage'. I am a huge fan and ambassador for our amazing British cheeses- among some of the very best in the world. But exports are really down due to Brexit, and recently fabulously delicious cheeses could not win the prices they deserve, and the notoriety and sales that come with such prizes- because of ...

that massive elephant in the room.

Primrose53 I did post a correction immediately 🤣

My iPad has a mind of its own.

GrannyGravy13

Colin Rayner a farmer had this to say about the PM

Keir Starmer came and told farmers at the NFU conference that we would not have any tax rises

He sat in the hall in front of 3,000 NFU members and loved for an hour

^Keir Starmer is an incompetent, heartless, corrupt, compulsive liar. The man is not fit for office^

Should that read “lied for an hour”.

GrannyGravy13

escaped

It's called "solidarity."

Having seen how the French farmers protest, I think the U.K. farmers were extremely tame yesterday.

The little ones on tractors ...... all generations. After all, they are the future of the industry.

escaped

It's called "solidarity."

Having seen how the French farmers protest, I think the U.K. farmers were extremely tame yesterday.

It's called "solidarity."

vegansrock

The vast majority of farmers won’t be affected by this tax, but the likes of Clarkson and Dyson will- wonder why they are making so much fuss about it?

If the vast majority of farmers will not be affected by this tax, how do you explain why 20,000 + farmers protested in London yesterday?

Or are you suggesting that they are all multi millionaires?

As of April 2024, UK lamb was almost three times more expensive than New Zealand and Australian lamb.
I'm sure UK lamb is still cheaper than French lamb though! I nearly passed out at the 95 euros ticket on my leg of lamb last month. But I'm prepared to pay for the quality, and provenance I expect.

Quote vegansrock Wed 20-Nov-24 16:13:17
The vast majority of farmers won’t be affected by this tax, but the likes of Clarkson and Dyson will- wonder why they are making so much fuss about it?

Surely they are not thinking of themselves

The vast majority of farmers won’t be affected by this tax, but the likes of Clarkson and Dyson will- wonder why they are making so much fuss about it?

(that was re Annie's comment)

None, I'm supposing the parallel is in the break up of community and importing what once was done/made/grown/ in the UK.