MPs and industry leaders have backed Farmers Guardian's campaign to Save Britain's Family Farms. Supporters include Love British Food, ex-rugby referee turned farmer Nigel Owens, Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, and former Defra Secretary Rebecca Pow.
An important part of the campaign is getting the issue in front of MPs and encouraging them to take a stand against the measures announced in the Budget.
The NFU will be lobbying MPs directly in London on November 19.
Readers are encouraged to call on their own MPs to back FG's campaign, by sending the letter drafted below or downloading a copy of the letter.
Dear ___________________________________________,
My name is _______________________________________ and I am one of your constituents in ____________________________________.
I am writing to you today to raise my concerns over changes to Agricultural Property Relief in the Autumn Budget. These changes will have an impact on family farms across the country and our agriculture industry – I urge you to stand with British farmers.
British farmers are the backbone of our rural communities and provide food produced to high standards for all of us. Despite the Chancellor and Defra Secretary's assertions that the changes will protect small family farms, number crunching from those within the industry shows quite clearly that many family farms will be affected.
The changes will make it significantly more difficult for farmers to pass on their farms to the next generation. Tenant farmers will also be badly affected as landlords review the options for their land. It comes at a time when farmers are already facing pressure from every side – from high input costs and the increased cost of doing business, to the challenges of the climate.
Losing family farms will impact food security, the environment and the country, which relies on British farms to produce high-quality, nutritious, affordable food.
I urge you to vote against the legislation and write to the Chancellor on behalf of your constituents to persuade her to overturn the family farm tax. The future of family farms in Britain relies on your support, and I call on you to stand with British farmers and back Farmers Guardian's Save Britain's Family Farms campaign.
Thank you.
