Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Farmers Guardian's chief reporter Rachael Brown reflects on the multiple reviews and consultations going on in Defra right now, and questions whether the department has the resource and budget to deliver effective change

Extending potentially exempt transfers (PETs) to a longer period than the current seven-year gifting rule, and a possible wealth or land tax cannot be completely ruled out

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on the top stories from this week, including the Chancellor being accused of using Ministers as 'human shields' over Inheritance Tax changes, farmers take fate into their own hands by abandoning their SFI applications early despite waiting for offers to be made by the Government, APHA appoints former police chief as new chief executive, and Baroness Minette Batters asked to lead a review into farm profitability. Next week the latest on Donald Trump's trade tariffs and the impact on agriculture, new details revealed for the next stage of Johne's disease plan, and a petition to get farming on the curriculum aims to get 100k signatures

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on the appointment of APHA's new chief executive, former chief constable of Dyfed-Powys and Cleveland Police, Richard Lewis. She also reports on the latest wildfire warnings from across the UK, with 146 blazes reported in Northern Ireland since last Thursday. And young farmers vote on the impact of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Inheritance Tax changes on the next generation of farmers

Speaking on Farmers Guardian webinar, fifth-generation mixed farmer Clare Wise Chapman said: "I cannot plan my way out of this and it is not for want of trying"

The CLA has written a letter to Sir Keir Starmer claiming that changes to APR and BPR have caused a 'collapse' in investment, which will result in the Exchequer receiving less revenue

Farmer Richard Watts said: "Rising costs in wages, National Insurance, and energy are putting immense pressure on small and family-run farms"

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

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