THE Herefordshire branch of National Farmers' Union heard that agriculture and horticulture had been rocked to the core following the autumn Budget, at its annual general meeting.

The union’s deputy President David Exwood called for farmers to continue to stand together against the ‘family farm tax’.

Mr Exwood in addressing more than 70 NFU members called for farmers to look after one another at what was a difficult time.

Mr Exwood spoke about government’s planned changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief which threaten the future of family farms and the rural economy.

He said: “This is one of the most challenging times I’ve known in farming. Now we need to stick together on this and I know what we said was heard - the NFU is busy working with its members on what happens next. The NFU is here to lead the industry pushing for that change in Westminster.”

The government announced in the recent Budget that it will reform both the farming relief funds from April 2026. This will mean farm businesses will need to pay a tax rate of 20 per cent of agricultural assets valued over £1 million.

The meeting also heard from Fownhope farmer Martin Williams, the chairman of NFU Herefordshire who said: “I must say it has been quite a year and we will continue to make the case strongly for Herefordshire farmers and growers.

“This family farm tax threatens livelihoods, threatens food security, threatens the good environmental work done and the future potential on our farms and sometimes you have to take a stand, which is exactly what the NFU, its members and the industry is doing.

“We need to engage all parties on this, put pressure on our MPs as well as engage and inform Herefordshire people.”

The NFU rejects the government’s claims that around three quarters of farm businesses in England will be unaffected by the changes in the agricultural and business property relief.

Herefordshire members also discussed other issues that included the rise in the National Living Wage and seasonal labour availability in horticulture and the accelerated phaseout of support payments from next year.

Despite speaking in support of the county’s farmers, North Herefordshire Green MP Ellie Chowns did not vote to oppose the government’s planned tax rise on farms last Tuesday (December 4).

However, during the debate in Westminster Dr Chowns said: “What we need is a significant ramping up of Government support for farming. We need far more investment in environmental land management schemes, as well as the long-term certainty that farmers need to make decisions to put land into those schemes.”

Mr Williams, a constituent of Dr Chowns’, said that he welcomed the debate and subsequent vote, and observed that 69 Labour MPs had abstained from voting.

“This sent a powerful message” he said and added: “There is still huge anger in the countryside over this issue. It seems so short-sighted of the government not to listen to the figures they’ve been given. But they asked the wrong question.”