More than 1,500 farmers sent out a clear message to their MPs at the NFU rally this week, demanding the family farm tax to be stopped, and for the policy to be properly consulted on by those in the farming sector who it directly affects, rather than Treasury civil servants.
'Warm words'
Speaking to her local Labour MP John Whitby, upland Derbyshire farmer Jane Bassett said while he ‘listened' to the group's concerns, by the end of the meeting they felt it was just ‘warm words'.
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She said: "We made it clear to our MP we are in it for the long haul, and that it really matters to us, to our homes, families, businesses and wider rural economies – which sits on the back of farming being viable."
Ms Bassett said the data behind the policy change must be ‘revisited'.
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At the farmer-organised rally, William Murray, who farms near Edinburgh, said he had travelled to London because he wanted to see the future of British farming continue.
"I hope there is going to be a serious discussion on what happens regarding Agricultural Property Relief," he said, adding he hoped politicians actually thought about what was at stake.
'Not just landowners'
"It is not just people who own farms, it is tenancy farms, businesses which are supported by farms. It is everybody, not just landowners."
Mark Wainwright, a mixed farmer from North Yorkshire, said it was a ‘multi-pronged attack'.
Confidence
He said: "The subsidies have gone away at an accelerated rate, the whole confidence is out of the industry, so why would I want to blow more money in? It is the exact opposite."
North Devon sheep and beef farmer Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin said the Budget proposals were the ‘last straw for the farming community'.
She said her message to her local Conservative MP was to ‘speak up for us'.
"Give us a voice, do not agree with what we are saying, but give us action."
Next generation
Cumbrian dairy and sheep farmer Barbara Fell said she had made the journey to ‘try and safeguard the farm' for her son, who would be the fifth generation.
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She said under the current proposal he would face a bill of at least £100,000.
She said: "You do not make a fast fortune on milk with the milk price. You cannot amass money to pay the Inheritance Tax. We have only got small margins to work with.
Family farms
Robert Padfield and his two children James and Grace travelled to the rally from their cereal farm in Essex.
Ms Padfield said: "We hear to support other farmers to get our word out and get everyone to listen."
"It effects what we want to do as the next generation.
Lucy Tyler a mixed farmer from Wiltshire said as farmers 'we look after our land from generation to generation' not to sell it.
"Everything we do 24/7, 365 days a year we are doing because we want to pass that on to the next generation."
'More noise from opposition'
David Sowry, a 4th generation mixed farmer from North Yorkshire was originally a tenant farmer then bought his farm 10 years ago. He said he was hoping to pass his farm on to the next generation, but said that it was not going to be possible anymore.
"This policy must be reversed. But we need a bit more noise from opposition. I know the [Government] have a majority, but it is important they voice our opinions."
