2025 01 Spring with bleed - Flipbook - Page 47
DOWN ON THE FARM
With Trudy Herniman of Cornish Mutual
So things are hotting up over the farm gate, everyone
voted for change at the last election and be careful what
you wish for as Kier Starmer (known as the Farmer Harmer)
is not afraid to stir the pot. He along with Rachel Reeves have decided that a
change in the Inheritance Tax Threshold (IHT) is a way of building the much
needed coffers, claiming that this farmers9 tax would be funding the National
Health Service.
Farmers from across the country (including here in
Devon4see pictures) have been to Westminster, along
with their tractors, to rally about this. Interesting, if it9s
called a protest than the Police can get involved and
make arrests. But the government say it9s only a rally…..
farmers aren9t protesting, therefore they are not taking it
seriously, and so there9s a stalemate.
Hot on the heels of this, now the Sustainable Farm
Incentive (SFI) has been withdrawn with no planned
replacement. This is like a nail in the cofon for farmers.
SFI replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) , where
farmers were paid according to how many acres they
farmed.
The idea behind SFI (which was just beginning to get some traction) was to
pay farmers not only for food production but for looking after the land4
including environmental beneots, tree planting and managing the soil.
Farmers, consultants and lobbying groups are looking to re-group,
wondering how to respond to this news as conodence in the government is
at an all time low.
Jeremy Vine had a phone in recently, about declining mental health in the
farming community. I spoke about the challenges and what to look out for
alongside Stephenie Berkeley (Farm Safety Foundation).
Aside from all the challenges and uncertainty, farming continues. Lambs
being born and the ground is being ploughed and planted with crops.
Until next time!
Warmest regards
For a transcript of Trudy talking on
Trudy
the Jeremy Vine show, go to p 72,
and hear the interview on the
website.
To read online—www.kingsnymptononline.com/latest-edition
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