Mid Suffolk District Council pledges unanimous support for farmers

31/01/25

Councillors from across Mid Suffolk’s political divide have come together to pledge their support for the district’s farmers, in the face of challenges that could undermine the farming sector and threaten the nation’s food supply.

At its Full Council meeting last week, councillors agreed unanimously to consider all reasonable and practical measures to support local farming communities, and to urge Suffolk MPs to push for a review of recent changes by the Government, which they fear could lead to a crippling ‘Family Farm Tax’.

Proposing the motion, Cllr Harry Richardson, ward member for Thurston said:

“Family-run farms and businesses are the backbone of our local economy. Our local farmers are food producers, employers, custodians of the land, and play a vital role in nature restoration and flood alleviation.

“Farming businesses in our region find themselves in a precarious financial position, as the costs of production have risen over recent years, whilst farm gate prices have stayed the same or gone down. We must strongly object to the changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) announced by the Labour government in the Autumn Budget and join with Suffolk County Council in condemning them.”

The National Farmers Union warns that 75% of working farms could be at risk from the 'Family Farm Tax,' putting both key sources of employment and food production in jeopardy. There is also added difficulty for businesses to invest given the downgraded expectation of future interest rate cuts, accompanied by predictions of sluggish economic growth in the remainder of 2024/25 and beyond.

Mid Suffolk’s leader, and former farm manager, Cllr Andy Mellen – who donned his ‘farmers uniform’ of a checked shirt, tweed jacket and flat cap to second the motion – said:

“Many local farmers I have spoken to are unhappy. They are facing difficult financial challenges whilst also being in the front line of climate change – already bearing the brunt of severe weather. For some, the Chancellor’s changes could be the straw that breaks the cow’s back.”

Cllr Mellen will now be writing to Suffolk’s MPs asking them to push for the changes to APR and BPR to be reviewed. Meanwhile, cabinet members will discuss with representatives from the NFU, Suffolk Agricultural Association and the Chamber of Commerce how the council can further support local farmers and businesses within the district.