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While I appreciate the IHT changes could potentially bring some benefits by forcing early conversations around succession planning, those with no time to change their plans or who experience an unexpected death, are going to pay a very heavy price. Let’s hope our united efforts in the weeks and months to come, support a better understanding of the reality and importance of farming and food production in the UK #Budget24 #FamilyFarmTax #SaveBritainsFamilyFarms

Farmers need their development rights back, which they collectively surrendered after the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act for continuation of guaranteed food prices in the 1948 Agricultural Act following the Second World War. A policy of Urban Containment that kept private land ownership, but stripped Freehold of the freedom to build on your own land, and until 1954 with an extension of rationing. The denial of development rights that in the UK is misnamed "planning". Farmers need more freedom to develop land than the piffling planning approval for "farm shops", as Rishi "I've got your back" Sunak laughably promised. Farmers need the freedom to sell their redundant land as a New Town, thereby solving the problem of land availability for twenty-first century housing that can be built for sale or rent at prices that can be afforded by those on average wages. However, the National Farmers Union doesn't want to liberate Farmers to sell their land for development any more than the planners do. Their pursuit is the extension of subsidised environmental schemes of "stewardship", not the "sprawl" of settlement.

Social media today has been bombarded with support messages for our British farms and rightly so. As someone from a farming family (though I sensibly left the actual graft to my brother and father), I’ve watched over the years how the policies seemingly miss the mark for British farmers. The latest budget announcement felt like another hit to an industry which is already stretched to breaking. For the first time, farmland inheritance is no longer tax-exempt, a change that will make passing down family farms far harder for many and could ultimately drive small, generational farms to sell up. With rising costs for feed, fuel, and labour, the reduction in support will make it harder for our NI farms to survive. Many could be forced to scale back operations, reduce investment in sustainable practices or even close. This budget shift threatens not just the livelihoods of our farming families, but also the future of local food production and our rural communities. Today, I stand with these worn, bruised and cut hands who get up every morning at 0400; 365 days a year in order create a legacy for our next generation; my father. Today I support my own family farm alongside every other family farm throughout the UK. #SaveBritainsFamilyFarms #FamilyFarms #Budget #InheritanceTax #APR #FarmLife #Agriculture #Farming #FarmersWeekly #NFU

BUDGET 2024 | Part 1 | Agricultural Property Relief   The dust squalls are still spinning after Rachel Reeves’ Budget announcement last week. The first Labour #Budget in 14 years knocked certain sectors for six, not least the farming community which has been left reeling after changes to #AgriculturalPropertyRelief. Here is our brief analysis from our rural departments.   The headline announcement dominating rural office chat is the planned change to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief. This has resulted in a rallying call to London by the NFU (National Farmers' Union) urging the Government to overturn this new policy. To date a petition has already achieved over 100,000 signatures and counting, with social media campaigns by major lobbyists (The CLA and #NFU) and members of the farming community gathering major traction. (Jeremy Clarkson, gareth wyn Jones, Robbie Moore MP)   As it stands, from April 2026 #APR may be applied at 100% to the first £1m of assets, with 50% applied thereafter (with a net effective rate of 20%). For many, this is a huge red flag for small and fragile family farms, with a knock-on for food production and national food security, along with threats to farmers’ and their families’ livelihoods. Careful – and swift - strategic tax and succession planning will be key, exploring options such as trusts and transfers, and we wait with bated breath to see if the Government will bring in changes to the Potentially Exempt Transfer scheme or the creation of Trusts in order to combat these mitigation measures. Simmons & Sons are well placed to provide valuation and strategic asset management advice – please contact our Rural Teams in both our Henley and Basingstoke offices. Jonathan Greaves, Fergus Hodge, Kerry Clarke, Edward Dixon, John Strickland, Jack Thurley, Antonia van Deventer. Call 01491 571111 (Henley) and 01256 327711 (Basingstoke). #foodandfarming #Budget2024 #agriculture #ruralproperty #jeremyclarkson #supportourfarmers #robbiemoore #backbritishfarming #foodsecurity

Please get in touch with Simmons & Sons to see how we can assist in navigating bumpy waters after the #Budget!

Devastating. That’s the only word for it. I own a farm and like many farmers across the UK, the Chancellor’s decision to change Agricultural Property Relief and Inheritance tax, has left us reeling. How can this be allowed to happen? Have they run the figures? Rt Hon Rachel Reeves says the changes are designed to protect family farms – but when the average farm is 88 hectares, the land alone is going to be valued at more than £1 million! Our entire family-led farming community is being treated shamefully. This isn't just about numbers on a balance sheet. It's about real people, real families, and a way of life that's being threatened. Farmers now face the horrifying prospect of having to fund IHT within just six months of losing a senior family member. For many, this could mean the end of their farming legacy. Families who have dedicated their lives to feeding the nation are now having their lives upended. I spend a lot of time in London, a lot of time abroad and much of my time on my rural farm, pictured below by our shepherd, in Warwickshire. I’m pretty sure the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have spent a lot of time in London, a lot of time in Westminster, and very little in rural communities. So here’s my invite: Come to our farms, speak with us, understand our challenges. Only then can you make informed decisions that don't threaten the very fabric of rural Britain. In the meantime, we’ll come to you – I’m joining the NFU (National Farmers' Union) rally on November 19  - our voices need to be heard. This isn't just about preserving tradition; it's about protecting a crucial sector of our economy and ensuring food security for future generations. We must find a better way forward. #Budget2024 #farming

Reflecting on the journey at Barton Place Farms, I am reminded daily of the delicate balance between tradition and innovation that defines modern agriculture. But today, it’s hard not to feel despondent and disheartened by the Chancellor’s new budget. This policy seems like an outright attack on British farming—an attempt to dismantle what generations have worked tirelessly to build. Farmers never simply look at the here and now; we plan for future generations. The sacrifices, the late nights, the early mornings, and the constant battles against weather and market fluctuations—they are all worth it because we believe in the bigger picture. We believe in building something enduring. But the new inheritance tax (IHT) changes have robbed us of that vision. My father perfectly encapsulated this sentiment in his piece published in The Times today, 4/11/2024. His words resonate deeply with all of us who know that farming is more than a business—it’s a commitment to future generations. It’s difficult to see how policies that undermine the future of British farming can align with the values of sustainability and long-term stewardship. The new IHT rules threaten to erode the foundation that allows family farms to pass their legacy down, compromising the hard work that has spanned lifetimes. These changes make it feel as though the very essence of what we work for is under siege.

Today, thousands of #farmers are in London protesting changes to taxes that threaten the future of family farming in the UK. Since the early 90s, family farms have been passed down tax-free under Agricultural Property Relief to support #foodsecurity and keep farming viable. The new budget changes this. The #government claims it will only impact 500 farms, which will raise £200M for our broken "public" services. However, experts warn the effects will be far-reaching, forcing many farmers to sell their assets just to cover these taxes. What a joke! It’s a bigger problem than it appears, and one that deserves attention. Along with many of these broken "public" services and unconstitutional taxes in the UK. You may not realise it, but farmers own well over 50% of the total land mass in Great Britain. This means that not only do they play a crucial role in securing your food supply, but they also help control economic and social structures. No wonder the State want to shaft them. Raising awareness today for our farmers is the least we can do for the people who quite literally put food on our tables. Let’s raise our voices for a future where family farms thrive and we support them! If this resonates, please like and share! #FarmersProtest2024 #SupportFamilyFams

Our director Ian Parker shares his insights on the effects of Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget on farmers and rural communities. From new tax breaks to land use concerns, discover the impact of the Spring Budget on the countryside. Explore the latest commitments to farming and what they mean for you. Find out more here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ei9ESBaC #springspotlight #APR #ltaxbreaks #holidaylettings #springbudget

The 2024 Autumn Budget introduced significant changes to the UK farming sector, sparking concerns and raising critical questions about its long-term impact. Proposed reforms, particularly those affecting Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR), have created uncertainty, leaving many farmers uncertain about how these changes will affect their businesses and families.   This period of transition underscores the importance of proactive planning for farming families to navigate the challenges ahead effectively.   Gareth Marland has outlined key considerations in his latest blog and provided guidance on several areas to help plan for the future in light of the budget announcement. These include: ☑️Reviewing Wills ☑️Reviewing land ownership ☑️Reviewing partnership accounts and the partnership agreement ☑️Consideration of new partners entering into prenuptial or postnuptial agreements ☑️Evaluating whether to transfer land or farm assets https://lnkd.in/e_768ei2 #familybusinessuk #familybusinesses #autumnbudget2024 #farmingfamilies