Latest news with #NFUCymru
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Family farm 'turmoil' over inheritance tax
Inheritance tax changes announced by the chancellor last October have thrown Welsh family farms into "turmoil", a farming union has said. The plans to tax inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m at a rate of 20% were announced in Rachel Reeves' first Labour Budget. NFU Cymru President Aled Jones told MPs, on Wednesday, there was a need for "compassion" as "vulnerable people" were in the "eye of the storm". He suggested there was another way the Treasury could raise the £2bn a year involved. The UK government has defended its inheritance tax reforms, describing them as "vital". There were protests across the UK after the Budget announcement, in October, that inherited agricultural properties worth more than £1m would be subject to inheritance tax at 20% - half the usual rate - from April 2026. The UK government has said the changes will only affect the wealthiest 500 farms each year, but farming groups argue as many as 70,000 could be affected. How are the inheritance tax rules changing? Labour concerns on farm tax changes in Wales grow 'Nonsense' to base farming funding on population Mr Jones told the Welsh Affairs Committee farming families were "going through some very difficult conversations, particularly when there are older members at a stage of life who find it very difficult to deal with these issues". "The announcement last October has thrown lots of these family businesses into turmoil," he said. "I ask for compassion for these people - they need to be taken from the eye of the storm." Mr Jones said farming union leaders had suggested to the Treasury an alternative approach, the introduction of a "clawback mechanism" on money raised from selling land when it is not to be used for food production. "That money should, in my opinion, be taxed. "If you like, tax it at 40%, rather than 20%. These are the mechanisms that are operational in other countries. "A farmer transferring from one generation to the other, there's not a single penny that arrives in their pockets. "It's something really to continue that farm business for generations to come." The UK government maintains that under its changes three quarters of estates would continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter would pay half the inheritance tax that most people pay. Ministers say that that payments could be spread over 10 years, interest-free. Senedd Welsh Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Samuel Kurtz said: "Labour's family farm tax threatens lives and livelihoods in rural Wales undermining generations of hard work and threatens the breakup of the family farm."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Inheritance tax: Family farms in 'turmoil' over changes says NFU
Inheritance tax changes announced by the chancellor last October have thrown Welsh family farms into "turmoil", a farming union has plans to tax inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m at a rate of 20% were announced in Rachel Reeves' first Labour Cymru President Aled Jones told MPs, on Wednesday, there was a need for "compassion" as "vulnerable people" were in the "eye of the storm". He suggested there was another way the Treasury could raise the £2bn a year UK government has defended its inheritance tax reforms, describing them as "vital". There were protests across the UK after the Budget announcement, in October, that inherited agricultural properties worth more than £1m would be subject to inheritance tax at 20% - half the usual rate - from April UK government has said the changes will only affect the wealthiest 500 farms each year, but farming groups argue as many as 70,000 could be affected. Mr Jones told the Welsh Affairs Committee farming families were "going through some very difficult conversations, particularly when there are older members at a stage of life who find it very difficult to deal with these issues". "The announcement last October has thrown lots of these family businesses into turmoil," he said."I ask for compassion for these people - they need to be taken from the eye of the storm." Mr Jones said farming union leaders had suggested to the Treasury an alternative approach, the introduction of a "clawback mechanism" on money raised from selling land when it is not to be used for food production."That money should, in my opinion, be taxed."If you like, tax it at 40%, rather than 20%. These are the mechanisms that are operational in other countries."A farmer transferring from one generation to the other, there's not a single penny that arrives in their pockets."It's something really to continue that farm business for generations to come." The UK government maintains that under its changes three quarters of estates would continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter would pay half the inheritance tax that most people say that that payments could be spread over 10 years, interest-free.
Pembrokeshire Herald
5 days ago
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
NFU Cymru urges faster action on bovine TB strategy
Union says policy progress welcome, but pace must accelerate to end disease's toll on Welsh farms NFU CYMRU has called for a significant acceleration in the Welsh Government's bovine TB eradication efforts, warning that while recent policy improvements are welcome, they fall short of delivering the scale of change needed to tackle the disease effectively. The comments come following a statement by Welsh Government updating Senedd Members on its TB Eradication Programme. The farming union acknowledged that positive steps have been made—particularly in partnership working and procedural changes influenced by union proposals—but warned that hundreds of Welsh herds and family-run farms continue to face devastation from the disease. Roger Lewis, Chairman of the NFU Cymru Bovine TB Focus Group, said: 'Welsh Government's new bTB governance structures are now fully operational, and NFU Cymru welcomes the opportunity to sit around the table with other stakeholders from the Welsh cattle industry, Welsh Government and APHA to discuss TB policy. 'We appreciate that these new structures need time to bed in, but the scale and pace of progress cannot be overstated. For those living with bovine TB every day, progress towards eradication often feels painfully slow or even non-existent. That's why we continue to push for a comprehensive strategy that addresses the disease wherever it exists.' Over 13,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2024 after testing positive as TB reactors—the highest number ever recorded in a single year. While NFU Cymru acknowledges that this figure partly reflects more sensitive testing, including wider use of gamma interferon tests, the human impact must not be ignored. 'Behind each number is a farming family dealing with emotional and financial hardship,' said Mr Lewis. 'We welcome the Deputy First Minister's recognition of the severe toll this disease takes on Welsh farmers. Whether TB is already on a farm or looming nearby, the scars run deep across our industry.' The union also highlighted policy shifts achieved through its ongoing engagement with government. Among them is a change in rules around on-farm slaughter of TB reactors, particularly heavily pregnant animals, which many members had found particularly traumatic. Since the policy change, 111 herds have opted to delay on-farm slaughter. Another key development is the government's revised approach to managing 'resolved' Inconclusive Reactor (IR) animals. NFU Cymru had called for tighter controls on such cattle, citing scientific evidence of their increased risk of becoming reactors in future. 'We believe it is sensible to remove this risk from the marketplace to protect other herds,' said Mr Lewis. 'However, we've also made the case that in some situations—such as tenancy changes—farmers may need to move these animals. We now await detailed guidance from Welsh Government on how the new policy will operate in practice.' He added that NFU Cymru stands ready to support clear communication of the changes and their scientific basis to the wider industry.
Powys County Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Future of Powys tenant farmers to be discussed at meeting
Concerns about "significant" consequences on some farmers whose council tenancies are ending imminently will be discussed at a public meeting next week. Powys County Council's farm estate is the largest of its kind in Wales and the fifth largest in the UK, with 133 holdings and more than 4,000ha of land. Kerry Community Council is hosting a meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, May 27, at Sarn Village Hall amid local concerns over the management of the Powys farm estate and the future availability of tenancies. NFU Cymru, which will have representation at the meeting, said it would like to see some clarity from Powys County Council for the sake of affected tenants and those whose tenancies are ending imminently, particularly those in the final 18 to 24 months of their current lease. A spokesman for NFU Cymru said: 'Council farm tenancies offer an important opportunity for new entrants and young farming families to make their first step on the farming ladder. For many years, these farms have been considered the jewel in the crown of a local authority property or asset portfolio and a well-managed estate also holds the potential to help a council deliver on its economic, environmental, climate and social obligations. 'Just like no farm can stay the same forever, NFU Cymru recognises that council farm estates will be subject to change. However, we would have significant concerns if there was a contraction of any council farm estate with assets sold and not reinvested in the farm estate. 'Given the level of local concerns, it is important that Powys County Council clearly communicates with its tenants and provides some clarity on its overall strategy for the future of its farm estate. If a situation unfortunately arises where a tenant is served notice for a property that will be sold, it's crucial that the council provides provisions to support these tenants, with the ambition of supporting the tenant to continue their farming journey.' The public meeting on Tuesday, which will be available to attend online, will include background about current concerns by Kerry Community Council's chairman and a presentation from Powys County Council. People who would like to ask specific questions or address the meeting are asked to get in touch with the Kerry Community Council clerk before the meeting by sending an email to clerk@ A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: 'The council is undertaking a strategic rationalisation of its property estate including its commercial and county farms portfolio in line with its Corporate Asset Policy, which has been agreed by Cabinet. This is to ensure that our assets are managed efficiently, sustainably and aligns with the evolving needs of our communities. 'By reviewing and streamlining our property holdings, we aim to reduce maintenance liabilities, improve operational efficiency, and release capital from underutilised or surplus assets. 'The capital receipts generated through this process will be reinvested to support the delivery of the council's priority projects – enhancing essential services, modernising infrastructure and driving forward our long-term vision for a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Powys and that we become more sustainable.'
Western Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Doubts over Welsh Government's 2041 bTB-free target
Wales saw a 27% increase in the number of cattle culled due to TB in 2024, with more than 13,000 cattle slaughtered; this represents a record high in any 12-month period. But chief veterinary officer Richard Irvine said this reflected 'strategic use'' of high-sensitivity gamma interferon blood testing in conjunction with standard testing – used to identify infected animals in breakdown herds. While this increases slaughter numbers, the goal is to cut infection rates and prevent recurring breakdowns, he explained. 'Our goal remains clear: better detection now means less disease in the future,' said Dr Irvine. According to the Welsh Government, Wales is making positive progress with its TB eradication programme, through partnership working and changes to government policies. These include on-farm slaughter changes and movement restrictions for inconclusive reactors (IRs). The government said feedback on the change to on-farm slaughter had been positive with a quarter of the animals that would have been affected avoiding on-farm slaughter in the past year. New movement restrictions are to come into force too for IR cattle, probably this autumn. These animals will be restricted to their herd with only licensed movements permitted direct to slaughter, or into an approved finishing unit. This is because there is evidence that resolved standard IR cattle are at higher risk than other cattle as a larger proportion of them go on to become TB reactors at a later point, according to the government. 'Currently this risks such resolved standard IR cattle with undetected infection being moved and spreading TB to other herds – a key concern raised by industry,' said rural affairs minister Huw Irranca-Davies. A strong partnership approach between vets and farmers is also understood to be strengthening TB control in Pembrokeshire. A similar initiative will now be launched in North Wales in the lower TB incidence area. NFU Cymru said further significant change was still needed, although it acknowledged that improvements to partnership working and targeted revisions to government bovine TB policy were encouraging. Its bovine TB focus group chairman Roger Lewis said the scale and pace of progress required 'cannot be overstated''. 'For those people who are dealing with bovine TB on a daily basis, progress towards eradication feels slow and often non-existent,' said dairy farmer Mr Lewis. 'That is why NFU Cymru continues to call for a comprehensive eradication strategy that deals with this disease wherever it exists.''
