Mr Jones will be addressing farmers and supply chain representatives gathered at the NFU Cymru Conference at The Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, many of whom are still shocked and concerned at the ‘family farm tax’ changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) put forward by the UK Government. The changes in last week’s budget announcement are contrary to assurances given to farmers by senior figures in the Labour Party in the lead up to this year’s General Election.
'Threat to our family farm structure'
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones will say: “There is no doubt that the decision by the Chancellor in last week’s budget to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation will leave many farmers with neither the means, confidence nor the incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“The changes announced are not only a threat to our family farm structure and our tenanted sector but also to our nation’s food security. This from a government who, just a few short months ago, told us that ‘food security is national security’.
'Tax reform must be reversed'
“Let me be clear: taxation on land for the production of food should not be allowed. This misguided and ill thought-out tax reform must be reversed.”
Amid the ongoing challenge to UK Government following its budget announcement last week, NFU Cymru is also calling for Welsh Government’s upcoming draft budget announcement to provide the sector with some much-needed stability. Mr Jones will add: “While the past week has been dominated by the Westminster budget, our attention is also very much focussed on December’s draft budget in Cardiff Bay.
“Last week’s budget announcement confirmed that the funding for agriculture from 2024-25 has now been baselined in each devolved government’s block grant, which we understand to mean that around £340m should be forthcoming from the Treasury block grant to Welsh Government for agricultural support. In NFU Cymru’s view, this very much puts the ball in the Welsh Government’s court when it comes to setting its draft budget next month including, of course, the provision it makes for agricultural support. We now look to see the budget cuts made to the Rural Affairs budget last autumn reinstated in full, maintaining the BPS at current levels for 2025, alongside a range of interventions to support the industry to meet the significant investment costs required to meet our environmental responsibilities.”
NFU Cymru Lobbying work - Budget
NFU Cymru President meets with Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales
NFU Cymru President meets with Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales following the NFU Cymru letter requesting an urgent meeting to discuss Agricultural Property Relief.
NFU Cymru writes letter to Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales
NFU Cymru writes a letter to Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales - Agricultural Property Relief & Request for an urgent meeting
NFU Cymru expresses its fears for the future of the family farm following the changes to APR and BPR announced in the Autumn statement.
‘Misguided and ill-thought-out reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will not only lead to lasting damage to Welsh farming and the break-up of family farms, but will also leave farmers with neither the means, confidence nor the incentive to invest in the future of their business,’ says NFU Cymru. Read NFU Cymru's views here
UK Autumn Budget 2024
The UK Autumn Budget 2024 is announced.
NFU Cymru writes letter to Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales
NFU Cymru writes a letter to Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales ahead of the budget announcement.
NFU Cymru writes joint letter to Chancellor ahead of Budget
NFU Cymru along with the NFU, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers’ Union writes a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves following recent speculation that Inheritance Tax Reliefs (IHT), including Agricultural Property Relief (APR) as well as Business Property Relief (BPR), are to be reviewed in the Budget. Read the letter here
NFU Cymru writes to MPs ahead of Autumn budget
NFU Cymru writes a letter to all 32 Welsh MPs ahead of the new government’s first budget, setting out its position on agricultural support funding and also making the case as to why there should not be any changes to Agricultural Property Relief. Read the letter here
Farming budget tops agenda as NFU Cymru meets Welsh Government heads
NFU Cymru meet with Eluned Morgan, First Minister of Wales, alongside Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies. Top of the agenda was funding for agriculture and progress on the development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme. Read more here
NFU Cymru writes letter to Chancellor ahead of Budget
NFU Cymru at the Conservative Party Conference
NFU Cymru joined the NFU at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. NFU held a fringe panel event discussing the future agriculture budget.
NFU Cymru at the Labour Party Conference
NFU Cymru joined the NFU at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. NFU Cymru used this as an opportunity to push forward our key ask of Government; that is an agricultural budget that allows us to be able to meet our ambitions to be world leading in the production of climate friendly food against a backdrop where nature is thriving on our farms. Read more here
NFU Cymru meets with Defra Minister of State, Daniel Zeichner MP
NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader was pleased to welcome Defra Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner on to her farm. This visit gave the Minister an opportunity to look at some of the issues and challenges facing agriculture, specifically those non-devolved matters such as future UK Government funding for the sector and the UK’s national food security. Read more here
Budget top of the agenda at County Shows
Throughout July & August the budget was discussed at County Shows across Wales.
Budget top of the agenda at NFU Cymru General Election hustings
NFU Cymru members across Wales had the opportunity to quiz their parliamentary candidates at county General Election hustings.