Thousands oppose tax changes for farmers

About 1,000 people a day have been signing an Ulster Farmers' Union petition against tax changes announced in the Budget.

In nine days, almost 9,000 signatures have been added in protest at the plan to cap Agricultural Property Relief for Inheritance Tax at £1m.

The union has also written to all members to encourage them to take part in planned protest action next week, both in Northern Ireland and at Westminster.

Deputy President John McLenaghan said the response to the petition showed the "serious concerns" the announcement had raised in the agricultural community.

"This is a powerful opportunity for us to stand united, make our voices heard, and demand that policy makers address the significant threats this policy poses to our farms, families and future," Mr McLenaghan said.

In the first Labour budget in 14 years, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that while there would continue to be no inheritance tax due on combined business and agricultural assets worth less than £1m, assets above that would be taxed at 20% from April 2026 - half the general rate of inheritance tax.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has said the majority of farms in Northern Ireland will be unaffected by the changes.

But last week, Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir told the Assembly that "many" farms in Northern Ireland would be affected by the change, particularly the dairy sector.

He said research by his department indicated that 75% of dairy farmers would fall above the tax threshold.

Muir met the secretary of state to urge him to reconsider the tax policy as well as the decision to no longer ringfence funding for agriculture.