Ben Aveling, a 39-year-old father of three and owner of Radmore Farm, feels attacked by the government's recent policies that threaten the future of British farming. He believes that the 20% inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million will force farmers to sell their land, leading to a decrease in food production and an increase in reliance on foreign imports.
Aveling argues that farmers are not paid enough for their produce, making it difficult for them to afford the inheritance tax. He suggests that the government should pay farmers a fair price for their food, which would allow them to pay their taxes and keep their farms running.
Aveling also worries that developers and renewable energy firms will buy the land sold by farmers who are unable to pay the inheritance tax. He believes that this will lead to a decrease in food production and a loss of British farmland.
The Environment Secretary has stated that the government is committed to strengthening food production. However, Aveling remains skeptical, believing that the government's policies will ultimately harm British farming.
6 Comments
Rotfront
“Aveling seems to think that paying farmers more magically fixes everything, which isn’t realistic in today’s economy.”
Matzomaster
“It’s too simplistic to say that any tax will lead to developers taking over farmland – market forces are far more nuanced.”
Karamba
“Radmore Farm and others like it are the backbone of our nation. We can’t let shortsighted policies destroy them.”
Matzomaster
“These policies are a slap in the face to every British farmer who’s been feeding the country for decades.”
Noir Black
“It sounds like he’s blaming the government for problems that require modernization across the whole agri-sector.”
Raphael
“Instead of crying foul, why not embrace new opportunities in renewable energy and modern farming methods?”