Weekly round up: Prime Minister under fire as he pits Inheritance Tax changes against NHS waiting lists

In today's Farming In Five, head of news and business Alex Black talks about Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's comments that the UK can have a 'tax break' for farmers or bring down NHS waiting lists. The comments caused anger across the industry. It comes ahead of meetings between farming organisations and HM Treasury next week. And in Mind Your Head Week, farmers have been urged to take a break during a busy spring schedule for their mental health.

Alex Black

14 February 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five: Chancellor's Spring Statement, Defra Secretary visits only 4 farms, Royals show their support for agriculture, and Farming Minister takes questions on SFI suspension from Efra Committee

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown looks back at the top news stories of the week, including the Chancellor's Spring Statement, the Defra Secretary facing criticism for visiting only four farms since Labour's General Election win, concerns around the end of funding for Producer Organisations within the soft fruit sector, and King Charles and the Prince of Wales out and about supporting British farming. She also looks ahead to next week, when the Farming Minister will make his first appearance before the Efra Committee to answer questions on the SFI suspension and ongoing industry concerns

Rachael Brown

28 March 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five

March 27: Chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to back down on family farm tax and National Insurance hike in Spring Statement, and Defra Secretary has only visited 4 farms since Labour won the General Election

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown unpicks the Chancellor's Spring Statement after she stood firm on the family farm tax, Defra Secretary has only visited 4 farms since Labour's General Election, with his ministers for flood and nature not visiting any, and livestock farmers are being encouraged to sign up for free vet visits through the TB Advisory Service (TBAS) before the service’s funding ends

Rachael Brown

27 March 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five

March 26: Farmers Guardian survey reveals 84% of farmers feel their mental health has been affected by the Autumn Budget and Red Tractor says farmers are the 'absolute priority' as the body agrees to implement all 56 review recommendations

n today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown analyses the results from a Farmers Guardian survey looking at how farmers' mental health has been impacted by the Autumn Budget, Red Tractor promises to implement all 56 recommendations from the farm assurance review and ensure farmers are the 'absolute priority', and the Government's new Food Strategy Advisory Board is criticised for its lack of farmer representation.

Rachael Brown

26 March 2025 • 1 min read