The Farmers Fight

Farmers are cash poor and asset rich. Most of their wealth is tied up in the actual farm and buildings, so a 20% inheritance tax will force them to sell the farm rather than for family to continue farming. Leaving land fallow and growing no crops will leave farmers without an income so they would not be able to do it.

Allira

^I read the police will arrest farmers driving tractors into London tomorrow.^

On what grounds?

If they do start arresting farmers for a peaceful protest then it is definitely two tier policing.

David49

What I think will happen is that farmers will reduce production, by growing crops every other year thereby reducing the cost of chemicals and fertilizers. Rents will fall less machinery and labour will be needed, maybe that’s what the government want, as long as the replacement food can be imported there won’t be a shortage.

Traceability, food miles and welfare standards go out of the window.

This doesn’t make sense to me. How would farmers survive financially and what about mixed farming?

but I've lived enough years in rural France

They know how to block a road or two in France with tractors 😀

25Avalon

Idk Allira. Obstruction? inciting public disorder. They can find something - when they want to and on instructions from above.

Maybe they will use the softly, softly approach shown to Just Stop Oil protesters etc when clogging up the roads.

They're allowed to be driven on public roads; it wouldn't take much effort to be causing an obstruction.

We often meet a tractor or two round here, even in the countryside there is often a queue of traffic behind it waiting patiently to overtake.

Good for them! I hope they deposit tons of manure on the doorstep of Downing Street.

I'm not knowledgeable on farming, but I've lived enough years in rural France and Devon to understand somewhat. Looking at it from the human angle, farming has always held a place of importance in our national consciousness. I hate to see traditions eroded which will inevitably bring numerous problems to an already suffering industry. Not just financially in terms of livelihoods, but emotionally too. We know suicide in the agricultural sector has already grown in recent years. Does the government really want to add more stresses and pressure to the lives of these hardworking people?

What I think will happen is that farmers will reduce production, by growing crops every other year thereby reducing the cost of chemicals and fertilizers.

I'm trying to work out the logic behind this. Are you saying that farmers can earn enough in one year to support them through a non earning year? That rather contradicts the narrative of farmers barely able to subsist on what they earn over a year.

Are farmers working at a loss or are they not?

Of course, that would only apply to arable, wouldn't it. They couldn't 'rest' livestock for a year...

Allira

GrannyGravy13

Totally agree Sarnia

It is always good to remember *NO FARMERS, NO FOOD*

NO FARMERS, NO FOOD

Absolutely agree Sarnia

So shortsighted.

The other problem she is creating is the impact the increased Employers' NI is going to have on hospices.
They are frightened they will have to cut the services they offer to the terminally ill and to children in need of hospice care who may end up in hospital in future.

Does she think things through properly? 😡

GrannyGravy13. I agree with you. I wonder if she is so keen to come across as a forceful Chancellor who gets things done that she makes important decisions without consulting specialists in that particular field or looking at the bigger picture for those affected by it.

Idk Allira. Obstruction? inciting public disorder. They can find something - when they want to and on instructions from above.

I read the police will arrest farmers driving tractors into London tomorrow.

On what grounds?

One farmer I know says Labour won’t get in next time so he only has to live 4 years. The Government are alienating older people, hospitality businesses and farmers amongst others. I read the police will arrest farmers driving tractors into London tomorrow. Bit harder than investigating hate crimes.

With all Milliband’s pylons and solar farms good farmland isn’t producing food. We need more farmers not less.

GrannyGravy13

Totally agree Sarnia

It is always good to remember *NO FARMERS, NO FOOD*

NO FARMERS, NO FOOD

Absolutely agree Sarnia

So shortsighted.

The other problem she is creating is the impact the increased Employers' NI is going to have on hospices.
They are frightened they will have to cut the services they offer to the terminally ill and to children in need of hospice care who may end up in hospital in future.

Does she think things through properly? 😡

What I think will happen is that farmers will reduce production, by growing crops every other year thereby reducing the cost of chemicals and fertilizers. Rents will fall less machinery and labour will be needed, maybe that’s what the government want, as long as the replacement food can be imported there won’t be a shortage.

Traceability, food miles and welfare standards go out of the window.

Totally agree Sarnia

It is always good to remember NO FARMERS, NO FOOD

I agree Sarnia.