Farmers take tractors to supermarkets in IHT protest

Hundreds of frustrated British farmers are taking their tractors to supermarket car parks across the country today (Friday 17 January) in a bold display of frustration over government policies they argue will cripple their livelihoods.

The national protest, co-ordinated by the five farmers behind the November London Farming Rally (Olly Harrison, Clive Bailye, Martin Williams, Andrew Ward and James Mills), aims to raise public awareness about the government’s plans to introduce farm inheritance tax (IHT) in April 2026, alongside a raft of other measures they say are “anti-farming”.

The tractors will make their way to dozens of supermarkets, where farmers will park their vehicles in car parks and engage with the public to raise awareness.

Organisers have estimated that about 500 supermarkets could be visited today by roughly 2,500 farmers.

See also: ‘Don’t include Morrisons’ in public awareness day, say organisers

But the organisers have urged farmers not to include Morrisons in their visits, as the retailer came out in support of farmers this week in their fight to reverse damaging IHT measures.

Asda has become the second supermarket after Morrisons to voice its support for farmers on their calls for government to rethink inheritance tax policy. 

An Asda spokesperson said: “Farming is a vital part of our supply chain. We need a confident farming sector which is able and willing to invest in its future.

“We have been raising our concerns with government and will be supporting the NFU’s campaign calling for a pause in the implementation of APR [agricultural property relief] to allow for proper consultation.”

© Simon Orson

At Sainsbury’s in Leicester, Simon Orson, chairman of Midland Farmers, handed a Sainsbury’s worker a letter urging the retailer to follow Morrisons’ lead and show its support for farmers in their bid to reverse the government’s inheritance tax policy.

Similar letters are also being delivered by hand from farmers to retailers across the UK.

The IHT plans are the latest in a series of government policies that farmers claim will increase the financial strain on the industry.

Farmers are also battling drastic cuts to essential farm support, increases in employer national insurance and minimum wage rates, as well as impending tax hikes on fertiliser double pick-ups.

Together, these changes have prompted outrage within the agricultural community, which is already beset by rising costs and a cashflow crisis.

“We would love chancellor Rachel Reeves and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to start engaging with farmers about the IHT plans,” Staffordshire farmer and protest organiser Clive Bailye told Farmers Weekly.

“But the realistic aim we are trying to achieve today is to get more similar statements in support of farmers from the likes of Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl, as Morrisons have offered.

“All the other major supermarkets will see tractors on their car parks in a non-disruptive way today. We would like to see their support for farmers.”

Mr Bailye said he planned to visit his local Tesco at Lichfield with other farmers to raise awareness among the public about the uncertain future facing farmers.

“I don’t think I have ever seen farmers as united over a common cause,” added Mr Bailye, reflecting on his conversations with farmers at the Lamma event over the past couple of days.

“There’s a long way to go yet, but we are starting to see the kind of unity that this industry has lacked over decades to get changes made.”

Fairer prices

Farmers are also using the protests to demand fairer prices for the goods they produce, which they claim are not reflected in supermarket prices.

Many feel that supermarkets are taking advantage of the hard work of farmers, while their profits continue to soar.

“It’s all about fairness,” said Andrew Ward, a key organiser and arable farmer based in Lincolnshire.

“We’re not asking for handouts – we’re just asking for a fair price for the food we produce. If supermarkets can’t pass on a fair price, they need to answer for it.”

With the future of British agriculture on the line, the farmers hope to garner widespread support for their cause and force the government to rethink its policies.

“We won’t stop until our voices are heard,” added Mr Bailye defiantly.

On Good Morning Britain, culture secretary Lisa Nandy defended the government’s farm IHT plans.

She said farms valued up to £3m would not be exempt from paying IHT, arguing that smaller farmers would not be impacted.

Ms Nandy also emphasised the need for shared responsibility in addressing the UK’s economic challenges, citing underinvestment in public services.