During the meeting, held at Gop Farm, Trelawnyd, members in attendance put forward their own scenarios of what could happen to their farms if the proposed changes around inheritance tax go ahead. Those in attendance also pressed home the importance of sustainable food production, with food being produced to the highest standards, whilst continuing to enhance and care for the environment, needing to be at the top of the government’s agenda.

Farm background

Meilir Jones, who farms at Gop Farm with his wife and three children, told Ms Gittins that he purchased the farm after a tenancy had come to an end at their previous farm; they still have a mortgage to cover as well as ensuring their business is moving forward. He has a beef finishing unit and utilises products such as brewer’s grains and Trafford Gold. All cattle is sourced locally and are EID tagged to aid in recording daily liveweight gains. Having already diversified, Mr Jones has a livery and renewables on the farm. He has also invested heavily in the business for the future and has utilised Welsh Government grants to ensure the farm is compliant with water quality regulations.

NFU Cymru Clwyd Vice-County Chairman Guto Davies said: “I’d like to thank Becky Gittins MS for taking the time to meet with us to discuss this very important issue. It was a very emotional meeting, with members sharing their own family farm stories.

Discriminatory

“We made it clear that the proposed changes to inheritance tax are discriminatory and there is a lot of pessimism in the industry currently, which is being reflected in the reduction in stocking numbers. A true reflection of current asset value must be recognised and a pause on inheritance tax reform is vital, with the need for a full and comprehensive consultation and impact assessment.”