In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on the farming unions' meeting with Treasury to discuss the family farm tax, where farming leaders felt the door had been 'slammed in their faces' once again. Unions now say their focus is on getting more Labour backbench MPs including those in the inner cities to pressurise the Government ahead of the Finance Bill in Autumn. And in other news, the UK's borders have been called into question once again after 600kg of illegal meat was seized in Northern Ireland, and growers are being urged to be extra vigilant amid warnings that organised crime gangs are targeting rural properties
Farming groups including the NFU, CLA, Tenant Farmers Association and the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers met with the Treasury today
All four UK farming unions and member organisations from across the sector are due to meet with Treasury officials on February 18 to discuss the Government's proposed changes to Inheritance Tax
In today's Farming In Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on the PM being pressurised by the Conservative party to show his face at NFU conference next week to address farmers' concerns over inheritance tax changes, farming unions are due to meet with Treasury officials tomorrow, where they hope to voice their members concerns and hear some solutions, and egg prices are soaring in the US as the impact of avian influenza is felt across the country.
The Prime Minister is understood to have no intention of attending the conference, with Defra Secretary Steve Reed expected to speak
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said you cannot give a 'tax break' for farmers if you want to drive down NHS waiting lists and mortgage rates
It is understood NFU, TFA, CLA and the CAAV have been invited to a meeting next week (February 18) with Treasury officials. The devolved farming unions are also expected to meet in a separate meeting
Amanda Watson, from North Yorkshire, said on her family's upland beef and sheep farm land was everything and 'not an asset on paper', but the 'foundation' of their entire business
Helen is a fifth-generation farmer who farms with her family at Grey Leys Farm in the Vale of York. The farm comprises 162ha (400 acres) of grass, maize and wholecrop for their 240 pedigree Jersey cows plus followers
NFU encourages farming families to hand over pre-loved toys to Treasury to demonstrate how Inheritance Tax changes threaten their future