Farmer Writes: inheritance tax change a looming disaster

As Christmas approaches, we seem to spend our time planning who does what to the animals, who cooks dinner and in which household are we having it.

Having three married daughters, we have to share them alternatively with their in-laws, so this Christmas it’s our turn.

Alongside all the planning for the festivities and the struggle of what presents to get for an ever-growing family, we mustn’t lose sight of the ongoing farming matters, such as will there be enough silage with some left over, how much land will be need to rent for silage and has the correct amount of fertiliser been ordered?

Rented land is the difficult one, since this year we rented a large block of land next to a town. It wasn’t until the day the mowers went in, I realised it was a haven for dog walkers.

I kept my silence until we had our first abortion diagnosed as neospora. My daughter was surprised. It’s difficult since she and her husband are taking over the farm after a career in teaching.

The problem is, as I keep telling them, “I don’t know what they don’t know”. But I still have to transfer knowledge sensitively as I keep saying they only learn when things go wrong and when that happens it is all too easy for them to feel guilty and go on the defensive.

And I sometimes unkindly say when things go wrong “I’m paying for their education”.

Plans for next year

Looking forward to next year, we can assess the results of reseeding some of our old permanent pastures and then, with a bit of experience, hopefully we’ll be more successful next time.

Another project is to reroof the cowshed - this is used for calf rearing and it’s starting to leak after 70 years. It was constructed in the mid-1950s - state-of-the-art, two-row, 56-cow tie-up on a green field site.

When it was built, my grandmother would not take out a loan and instead sold a farm that was two miles away from the large expanding town of Swindon.

It is now on the edge of Swindon and 7,000 houses are about to be built on it. A hard lesson in economics about appreciating assets.

I have to console myself with the thought that if many millions were dumped on the family, it would probably create more problems than it solved - farming families being what they are.

Inheritance tax

Tractors gathered to perform in London last week. I do hope they make a difference, otherwise farming is about to be decimated. I am sure the proposed inheritance tax will be heavily discussed on every farming family over the Christmas dinner.

It is a looming disaster for British agriculture and has to change. When I think of the parade in London, I think back to the countryside marches that tried to save hunting. The cry then was “listen to us”.

There will be a similar cry now, but I sincerely hope they are more successful in getting the ear of the government and affecting change.

In the past, farming has always adapted as necessary to the difficult circumstances it is presented with, but this is one change it can definitely not afford.

Keir Starmer is obviously a very intelligent man, but has a total lack of charisma and judgement. He is about to see the annihilation of the Labour government, mainly because he appointed a chancellor of the exchequer who embarked on a vengeful course about the perceived landed gentry.

She is about to learn the wisdom of the Chinese proverb 'when you embark on revenge, dig two graves first'.

Unfortunately, English politics is in such a mess that if and when Labour is ousted, we will temporarily get the Farage Reform Party as they try to prove a false negative over Brexit.

This will be swiftly followed by a coalition with members who have learned you only rule by the will of the populous. I am not alone in these thoughts.

PS: it’s brilliant that Jeremy Clarkson has set up a helpline specifically for farmers. Text 'Hawkstone' to 85258 (only in the UK) anytime of the day or night.