The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has announced that it is holding six tractor runs, one in each county, in Northern Ireland, next month.
The demonstrations are part of a UK wide day of action on Saturday, January 25 in protest against the inheritance tax changes.
As part of the UK budget on October 30, 2024, it was announced that Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) combined at 100% would be restricted to £1 million from April 6, 2026.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU), NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru, will also be holding events in their regions, in what is being described as “a solid display of unity and strength”.
UFU
The UFU said that this activity is part of a wider plan to highlight the detrimental damage that the “family farm tax” will have in the lead up to the UK government’s spring statement in March 2025.
The union said that while the activity taking place across all parts of the UK is likely to differ slightly, the key unified message is the same: unless the UK government halts its deeply flawed family farm tax proposals, they will damage and threaten family farms and, in turn, undermine UK food production
UFU president William Irvine urged members of the union to participate in their local rally.
“Almost half of NI family farms could be affected by APR and BPR and we must make it crystal clear to the Labour government that we are not backing down on this issue.
“These rallies are simply the next step, with more action to follow in the lead up to the spring statement,” he said.
“Government need to take a long hard look at what they are on the brink of doing and fully grasp the consequences of what the changes to APR and BPR will do, not only to UK farming, but to UK society.
“Having access to high-quality nutritious food is critical to our wellbeing, and yet, the Labour government continues to play with fire.
“NI produces enough food to feed over ten million people, six million of whom are in Britain and we export local produce to the Republic of Ireland and beyond.
“The family farm tax as it stands will destroy our agri-food industry, everything we have built up over decades,” he added.
Irvine said the UFU, alongside the other UK farming unions, “are committed to doing whatever it takes until government does what is right for farm families and rural communities”.
“No one is forgetting about the family farm tax, not on the mouth of Christmas and not in the New Year.
“This only stops when changes are made that uphold our proud farming legacy and the family farm structure that defines us.
“Early in January we will share more information regarding the specific details about the NI tractors rallies and the locations, and how members can get involved,” he said.
