Farmers protest outside Oxford Farming Conference

Farmers have held a protest outside the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) to outline their concern about changes to Inheritance Tax in the Autumn Budget. 

A group of local farmers had challenged Secretary of State Steve Reed to ‘come out and talk to real farmers' ahead of his speech at the OFC on Thursday (January 9).

The Minister had appeared at the event to outline the Government's long-term vision for farming, promising to put more money back into the pockets of British farmers.

READ NOW: Defra Secretary promises to put money back in farmers' pockets

However, Mr Reed's speech was disrupted by farmers who loudly beeped their tractor horns outside the venue.

Farmers blowing their horns to disrupt Defra Secretary Steve Reed as he takes part in a Q&A at the Oxford Farming Conference. 📍

FULL COVERAGE 🔗 https://t.co/uKK3CzpYYH pic.twitter.com/DUsV30rbcJ

— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian) January 9, 2025

Tractors had driven into Oxford High Street with signs telling Labour to 'stop the farm tax' and urging the public to support British farming.

READ NOW: Many farms will not survive to see the benefit of Defra's 'New Deal for farmers', says NFU

It follows protests around the country, with more events planned in the coming weeks to drive home the message to politicians of the damage proposed changes to Inheritance Tax will have on the farming community.

James Wright, Conservative Rural Forum director of policy and Exmoor farmer said: "I am in Oxford with family farmers from across the country to send Steve Reed a clear message, Labour's Family Farm Tax does not add up.

"It threatens to devastate farms and our nation's food security.

"Steve Reed should come out, meet these farmers and listen to their concerns."

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, Countryside Alliance director of external affairs, said the Defra Secretary should talk to farmers rather than at them behind a podium; while adding that 'generations of farmers' are 'terrified' about their future.

"If the Treasury, Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Steve Reed had actually spoken to farmers before they announced the family farm tax in the Budget, this would not be happening right now.

"There would not be pain and anxiety spreading throughout the countryside, families who have had farms in their families for generations terrified about the future, terrified about what it means for our nation's food security."

Councillor Liam Walker from Oxfordshire County Council is one of those in attendance.

"They are not very happy," he said, adding they were campaigning against the tax.

FARMERS ROLL IN TO PROTEST THE TAX 🚜🪧

Protesters have driven into Oxford this morning, urging Defra Secretary Steve Reed to ‘come out and talk to real farmers' ahead of his speech at the Oxford Farming Conference. 📣

READ MORE 🔗 https://t.co/uKK3CzpYYH pic.twitter.com/PLRNGuJaMk

— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian) January 9, 2025

"I really want to send a message to him [Steve Reed] that the family farm tax should be scrapped. It is going to damage rural communities, rural farming and clearly the Government have said that this will only impact a few farms. Well, we have got more than a few farms here in Oxford today. There were more than a few farms in London."

READ NOW: Inheritance Tax changes predicted to hit 19% more farmers due to inflation

Mr Walker added farmers did not just put food on plates but were 'custodians of our land'.

"They are digging in, and what is making us nervous is the lack of ability to accept they have got this wrong," he said.

He added they would get a lot of credit for listening and U-turning.

"The fact that they are digging in, essentially ignoring farmers, I think is going to cause them more problems. They have got a lot of MPs rep rural communities, I think the next general election is going to be a key topic.

"Farmers will not forget this."