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GET YOUR FREE "SAVE A FARMER" BUMPER STICKER AT LAMMA
As a family firm, at OPICO we are fully aware of the increased pressure farming businesses are now under following the proposed changes to inheritance tax relief outlined in last Autumn’s budget.
Whilst the fallout from Covid and the Russia vs Ukraine war gave UK farming a boost in 2021 and 2022, the long-term decline of margins from agriculture has now resumed. Even before the Autumn budget announcements British farm incomes were under significant pressure.
Despite poor returns, inheritance tax changes announced in the budget mean that farmers will now have a large tax bill to pay when they pass their businesses on to the next generation. For many that tax bill will exceed 10 years of farm income.
As a farmer’s son myself, I’m acutely aware of these issues and as a company we want to do whatever we can to support our customers. UK farmers have organised a number of events to highlight the potentially disastrous effect of the inheritance tax changes.
As part of the rural community, and the owner of two companies which supply farm machinery, I want to support the campaign in any way I can.
British farms of all shapes and sizes need backing from the people who benefit most from their hard work – the great British public. We need to make them aware of farmers difficulties.
It’s time to help “Save a Farmer” by buying British food and drink. Better still, we need to encourage people to buy local - from farm shops, independent butchers or direct from farms.
To help highlight this campaign we produced a series of free bumper stickers. We’ll be giving them out to visitors on our stand at the 2025 LAMMA Show (Hall 6 Stand 440).
"SAVE A FARMER" BUMPER STICKERS
Pick up your FREE Bumper Sticker at LAMMA Show and help “Save a Farmer”
British farmers are competing on a global scale with food produced by farmers who do not have the same environmental or welfare regulations as us and who benefit from significant government support. Our farm produce is amongst the most environmentally-friendly in the world but this comes at a cost. Despite this there is very little price differential and insufficient government support to justify the additional expenditure and investment required to keep up with these high standards.
Farming isn’t an industry where you can work from your office desk, it is a practical, hands-on line of work with skills, knowledge and experience passed down through the generations.
Whilst technology is helping farmers farm more efficiently, the specialist knowledge - often unique to each farming sector - is not something we can afford to let disappear. There will come a day when we cannot ship or fly food into the UK. Our country’s ability to produce food is part of our critical infrastructure. It is in the hands of fewer people than ever so it’s time to start supporting them.
James Woolway - Managing Director OPICO
