• Tax ‘betrayal’ of farming families • Government unveils finance bill • Ministers refuse to discuss plan Industry leaders have again warned that imposing inheritance tax on farming families will fail to achieve the government’s aims. The NFU issued the warning as the government laid out draft legislation for... Read more
Tax threatens fields that feed us
Opinion 05/08/2025
At a time when the government claims to champion a resilient, sustainable food system, its inheritance tax reform proposals risk undermining the very foundation of that vision: Britain’s family farms. Draft legislation, due to take effect in April 2026, would see a 20% inheritance tax levied on farming assets... Read more
Future of family farms under threat
Opinion 09/07/2025
Without government support, family farms will be driven out of existence, says Clodhopper One attack by Rachel Reeves was more than enough. But the Chancellor and the Labour government seem hell bent on destroying family farms. The Chancellor has repeatedly pulled the rug of financial support from farmers –... Read more
• Big increase in farms taking part • 200,000 people visit local farms • Good for getting message across More than 270 farms hosted Open Farm Sunday visits this year – a 20% increase on 2024, say organisers. The nation’s flagship annual event celebrating British farming is seen as... Read more
Rapid technological change and ongoing labour challenges are reshaping the future of the UK’s agriculture and horticulture sectors, says a report. As automation and digitalisation accelerate, the nature of jobs is evolving, shifting demand towards higher-skilled, specialist roles and reducing reliance on low-skilled and seasonal labour, says the study.... Read more
• Plan sooner rather than later • Help on hand for best options • Business structure important Communication, compromise and common sense will be crucial in family discussions to safeguard farming businesses ahead of tax changes, say experts. Michael Horton, of the rural management team at land agent Savills,... Read more
A sharp rise in antibiotic usage on Danish pig farms highlights the importance of disease management following the 2022 zinc oxide ban, say researchers. Due to be published in the July issue of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, the study by the National Food Institute tracked antimicrobial use (AMU) across Danish... Read more
Why smart testing beats blanket dosing
Livestock 09/07/2025
I recently travelled the country and noticed growing interest in a parasite called Haemonchus contortus, or Barber’s Pole worm, writes Nerys Wright. I’ve encountered it before in the south and east, recent queries have come from the Midlands and the north of England – suggesting it may be spreading... Read more
How to increase forage resilience
Livestock 09/07/2025
• Keep surplus stocks for winter • Factor in risks to be shockproof • Ensure feed strategy is timely Forage should be top of the list for livestock farmers wanting to build resilience to insulate against shocks caused by climate change. A dry spring and record-breaking June heat have... Read more
How to capitalise on store cattle trade
Livestock 09/07/2025
All-time-high for UK cattle prices Beef farmers wanting to capitalise on record-high store prices are being advised to creep feed cattle to get them to market sooner. Store cattle prices have been at all time high recently – and producers with spring calving suckler herds have been looking to... Read more