There is a growing belief that the British Government in Westminster will review its decision to extend the remit of inheritance tax to farm land and assets.
This specific point was made by Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president, William Irvine while attending the recent Northern Ireland Farm Family Day.
The event was held at Stormont, with a range of farming and food stakeholders as well as families from rural areas in attendance.
Irvine’s more upbeat perspective on the inheritance tax issue was added to by the news that the Westminster government has appointed former National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president, Minette Batters, to head up a UK-wide farm profitability review.
In his presentation to the Stormont event, the UFU president said that agriculture in Northern Ireland currently accounts for 20% of the total food output produced in the UK.
Irvine added: “Farmers here in Northern Ireland are currently feeding 10 million people. And we want to build on this for the future.”
Attracting young farmers
Specifically, Irvine wants farming and food to be included as a more mainstream subject within the curriculum taught in schools across Northern Ireland.
“Only in this way will all our children learn about the significance of agriculture across our entire economy and society.
“Such an approach will also encourage greater numbers of young people to follow a career within the farming and food sectors,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Stormont First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, has confirmed that the entire membership of her Executive recognises the key role played by farming and food at the heart of Northern Ireland’s economy.
Moreover, she said a strong commitment exists to ensure that the farming sectors in the north can look forward to a sustainable future.
These sentiments were endorsed by deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Both politicians spoke at the Farm Family Day.
The deputy first minister specifically referenced the issue of food security for the UK, making the point that the matter should be placed on a par with national security in terms of the overall priorities set by the current Westminster government.
Inheritance tax
The theme for the celebration of farming and food in Northern Ireland at Stormont was ‘nurturing young farmers for the future’.
In her presentation to the event, O’Neill highlighted the iniquity of the decision made by the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, last autumn to extend the scope of inheritance tax to farm land.
She confirmed that every effort would be taken by all members of the Stormont Executive to have this decision amended.
Stormont’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee chairperson, Robbie Butler, also spoke at the Farm Family Day.
Butler said: “Stormont fully supports farming in Northern Ireland, particularly at this critical moment in time.
“We are facing the crisis that is the Labour government’s Family Farm Tax. I know, having spoken to many farmers across Northern Ireland that this issue is causing deep, deep concern.
“This core message must be communicated to Westminster where the tax changes that everyone wants to see will be effected.”
The AERA Committee chairperson stressed the vital role of Northern Ireland farmers amid the current geopolitical tensions.
“Given the recent tariff announcements made by [US President] Donald Trump, the global market for food products is about to become smaller.
“In terms of how we source our food, the role of farmers in Northern Ireland is set to become more important.
“Local agriculture is best in class,” Butler added.
