Do the active farmer test

Farming is a profession, not a lifestyle choice’ and, therefore, the Budget is unfair

- Minette Batters

MY plan this month was to write about my fundraising trip to Embu County in Kenya. It was humbling and inspiring in equal measure. I will write a full update next month, but I do want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored me doing the GROW for Good Challenge—my JustGiving page is still open.

However, there is only one discussion in farming circles right now and that's the recent Budget. The fiscal proposals by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on inheritance tax, agriculture property relief and business property relief are extremely worrying. Losing this tax benefit for genuine farming families has the potential to change the very fabric of the countryside, break up family farms and damage the nation's food security.

Defra Secretary Steve Reed has been defiant, saying that he's 'sick and tired of seeing our public services crumble while the rich and wealthy buy up huge estates, robbing young farmers of their dreams, just to avoid paying their taxes'. I've met Mr Reed and he's visited my farm. I don't believe he's setting out to do harm—quite the reverse—but there are serious questions to be asked as to whether the advice given to ministers is correct.