02/11/2024
Heather Rant - we can’t carry on like this…British Farming on the Edge: Government Policies Are Killing Our Farms—and Threatening YOUR Food
British farmers are on the brink, fighting to survive under ridiculous policies, and a government budget that’s pulled the rug out from under us. They’re paying us to “trap carbon” instead of grow food, cutting inheritance tax protections, and pushing us toward the cliff edge. Farmers face one of the highest su***de rates of any profession—yet those in power remain oblivious. I am not sure how much more can British farming take.
The Policy Disaster Destroying British Agriculture
The UK government has replaced the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), effectively paying us not to grow food. Then in this budget they cut Agricultural Property Relief (APR), a lifeline that kept many family farms going by protecting us from crippling inheritance taxes. Now, passing a farm down through generations could mean paying a 20% tax on land that’s barely breaking even. The answer will be that people have to sell part of the farm and then of course that makes the whole thing less viable… And what’s the government’s solution? Stop farming food and focus on “environmental schemes” instead. While these schemes may have immediate appeal for carbon reduction targets, they risk creating a system where the UK is less self-sufficient in food and more dependent on imported products with a much higher overall carbon cost. The policies, rather than reducing carbon emissions, are effectively exporting them – and at the expense of the farming families who have sustained food production for generations.
And where our food come from if we stop growing it? From cheap, imported sources often with abysmal standards, and less accountability. If that sounds insane, that’s because it is. We’re trading British food security for imported produce and pretending it’s a “green” solution.
Tenant Farmers Are Being Forced Off the Land
For tenant farmers, it’s even worse. Landlords, facing new tax burdens, are rethinking agriculture altogether, eyeing quick-turn options like development or carbon-offset schemes that push tenant farmers off land they’ve worked for generations. If they pivot, we’re out. No safety net, no backup—just forced out of our livelihoods by policies that couldn’t care less about food production.
British Farmers Are NOT the Problem
We’re painted as climate criminals, blamed for emissions, and told we’re poisoning our customers, all while competing with cheap, high-emission imports. The truth? We’re out here working to feed the nation sustainably, caring for the land we live on. WE ARE the solution to food security, not the villains.
Stand with British Farmers: How You Can Help
Want to fight back against this madness? Here’s how you can support local farmers and protect British food:
- Farmers’ Markets: Ditch the supermarket giants and buy directly from farmers. Every pound you spend at a market is a vote for local food and a message to keep British farms alive.
- Farm Shops & Online Boxes: Many farms now sell direct to the public—get your produce straight from the source, whether at a farm shop or with a subscription box delivered to your door.
- Independent Butchers & Grocers: Choose local butchers and grocers who know where their produce comes from. Ask them to prioritize British food and let them know you care about supporting local farms.
- And in Herefordshire, where I’m from, join the Herefordshire Food Alliance. This fantastic organisation is dedicated to promoting locally-sourced, sustainable food and supporting farmers like us who are working to feed our community.
- Write to your MP: Explain your worries about food security and British Farming.
Eat Seasonally, Buy British, and Demand Real Change
Want to make a real difference? Start eating seasonally. British farms produce incredible food—why import tasteless tomatoes in December when you could enjoy local, seasonal produce all year? Eating seasonally cuts down on food miles, supports farmers, and gives you fresh, high-quality food that supermarket chains simply can’t compete with.
British Farming Needs You—Before It’s Too Late
British farmers are working ourselves to the bone and being vilified in the process. With one of the highest su***de rates, mounting financial pressure, and policies driving us out of business, we’re asking for your support before it’s too late. Buy British, demand local produce, join organizations like the Herefordshire Food Alliance, and make it clear to policymakers that exporting our food and carbon problems is not the solution.
This is about more than just food. It’s about our communities, our countryside, and our nation’s future. Stand with British farmers—because if we go under, so does your food security.
