Farmer Focus: Supply chains are vulnerable to farmer protest
© Jim Varney Tell me if this sounds familiar: we are a family farm – I’m fourth generation teaching the fifth. From 1919, each generation has developed this business, improving it for the next.
The blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this endeavour are immeasurable.
I have spent my farming life achieving scale so we can compete on a free-trade world market.
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My intention has been to pass it onto the next generation if they are interested, which they are, only to have my legs chopped out from underneath me, by this spiteful and vindictive Labour government.
I had an inkling this was coming and took professional advice from my accountants and solicitor.
As a family, we are very open about succession and tried to limit our exposure, the thinking being that they would touch agricultural property relief or business property relief, but not both.
How wrong we were.
Although I have limited my exposure, the inheritance tax burden will only be mitigated if we all die in the right order.
My thoughts at this time are to push on and build a war chest if the worst was to happen.
The unification that this outrage has caused is good to see within the farming community, but let’s see what the march on Westminster achieves.
This is just the start, and we have the upper hand, as we can soon escalate the stakes.
The whole supply chain relies on “just-in-time delivery”, and suppliers and processors in some commodities are already stretched to the limit (caused by underinvestment in agriculture).
It wouldn’t take much to empty the shelves. Would the threat alone cause panic buying?
Like me or loathe me, this is my final Farmer Focus article. I’m moving on within Farmers Weekly.
I’ve enjoyed every minute of the six years, sharing the ups and downs of horrendous weather, price volatility, ongoing war and five prime ministers.
From a beef point of view, the liveweight price is what the deadweight price was six years ago, and right across the board, suppliers are trying to guarantee supply, contrary to what the government is trying to impose with net zero.
I’ll leave you with this: whatever happens, don’t let the bastards get you down.