News in brief:
August 2025

For many farmers, it has been a harvest they will remember for all the wrong reasons.

After the driest spring and summer in nearly 70 years, most will be glad to see the back of summer ’25. Hazy summer days combining usually provide a welcome break from Westminster politics, but that wasn’t to be the case this year, with discord surrounding the government’s proposed changes to Inheritance Tax continuing to dominate kitchen table conversations and farming press headlines.

A harvest to forget?

It wasn’t a stellar year for most, but that doesn’t mean it was all bad news. The oilseed rape harvest looks set to break records, with yields predicted to exceed 4.0 t/ha for the first time. United Oilseeds credit this bumper harvest to factors including improved seed genetics, reduced pressure from cabbage stem flea beetle and favourable growing conditions. James Warner, managing director of United Oilseeds, said: "For those prepared to give the crop the focus it deserves, oilseed rape continues to prove why so many still regard it as the number one break crop. We’re optimistic that this will encourage more growers to bring OSR back into their plans for the season ahead.”

Parliamentary Inquiry into devolution launched

A powerful cross-party group of MPs launched the first-ever parliamentary inquiry into how devolution could shape life and business in rural Britain. Their goal is simple: to make sure that countryside communities reap the benefits as more decision-making powers shift from Westminster to local areas. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse is inviting farmers, business owners, community leaders, and other stakeholders to share their views on the opportunities and challenges devolution brings for rural businesses. Findings will be brought together in a report offering practical recommendations for local authorities. John Milne, MP for Horsham and chair of the APPG, said: “Recent government changes have only reinforced what rural communities have long felt: that those in power lack a true understanding of the unique challenges they face. Through our work, we want to bridge this gap and create a powerful advocate for rural interests in Parliament.”

Inheritance Tax discord continues

Resentment towards the government’s proposed changes to Inheritance Tax continues to simmer amongst the farming community. The Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) published a report in August claiming that plans to cut inheritance tax reliefs will largely protect family farms. The report estimates that around 30% of farm estates would be impacted by the reforms, which includes around 200 estates per year that are family farms valued at less than £5 million. It claims that almost half (49%) of all impacted farm estates would see a tax increase of less than five percentage points. CLA President Victoria Vyvyan said: "Labour's favourite think tank has decided that a Labour Government's policy is fundamentally good. That is no shock. Just like Treasury Ministers, however, CenTax has used a tiny amount of data to justify its view, and failed to speak to a single farmer or family business owner. If it had, it would understand - and I hope, care more - about the devastating consequences of the policy on the economy."

Call for flexibility to help farmers cope with climate change

The government is being called upon to include greater flexibility for grazing derogations in future environmental schemes following this year’s drought. Prolonged dry conditions have resulted in minimal grass growth, leading to farmers in some areas of the country struggling to graze their animals while topping up winter forage stocks. Last year, following extreme wet weather, Defra granted farmers derogations on land in agri-environment schemes without financial penalties, however this has not been offered this summer. NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton said: “There’s a real disconnect between what’s happening on the ground and how government is responding. Farmers are doing everything they can to protect animal welfare and deliver environmental outcomes, but we must have some flexibility and support.”

Shortage of skilled workers puts milk supply at risk

A shortage of skilled workers is having a tangible effect on British farming, Arla Foods UK has warned. The co-op’s annual on-farm workforce survey of its farmers revealed that around five in every six who tried to fill vacancies received very few qualified applicants – or none at all. The survey suggests that this is already impacting production, as 6% of farmers surveyed have cut output, and 13% say they will leave farming within the next year if conditions do not improve. “What we’re seeing is the real impact of these workforce shortages on our farming industry, whether that’s in higher costs or lower milk production,” said Bas Padberg, managing director of Arla Foods UK. "The effect of this is ultimately going to be seen in the price and availability of products on the supermarket shelves, affecting the millions of people that rely on dairy as a source of nutrition in their diet."