Farmers for Action (FFA) has written to 11 UK supermarkets in the wake of the organisation’s recent protests outside six Tesco outlets in Northern Ireland.

The correspondence asked the retailers involved to clarify their policy on a number of issues now impacting on agriculture throughout the UK.

These include the extension of inheritance tax to encompass agricultural land and farm assets, the retailers’ potential support for a UK-wide Farm Welfare Bill, and a commitment on the part of these businesses not to import ‘inferior quality’ food products into the UK.

FFA spokesperson William Taylor confirmed that the letters had been sent on behalf of all the farm lobby groups across the UK currently protesting to secure a sustainable future for all family farm businesses.

He continued: “Up to this point, we have received replies from five of the retailers that had been reached out to.

“Their responses have been quite vague in nature. It will take some to work through our own response to these developments.”

Meanwhile, FFA is supporting a campaign to have Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) payments re-instated in Northern Ireland, but only on the basis that the private members’ bill currently making its way through Stormont’s legislative process on this specific matter is wholly aligned to the provisions that would be contained within relevant farm welfare legislation.

“Both legislative processes fully complement each other,” Taylor said.

“Farmers for Action always support farmers in ANC areas.

“However, the point is that the small amount of money that would come from a bill targeting the needs of the less favoured areas would require farmers to do training courses and be treated like school children receiving pocket money at the end of it. 

“The problem is, for the small amount of money that would be involved, the conditions won’t warrant the farmers’ time: nor should it have to.”

According to Taylor, the biggest problem associated with the proposed ANC bill is be the Northern Ireland assembly’s ability to find the money required to support it.

This only leaves the option of the monies coming out of other farmers’ pockets, according to Taylor.

“Cereal growers are a case in point. They are receiving the same prices for their grains now as was the case 40 years ago,” he said.

“The key to all of this is for Stormont to take forward the proposed Northern Ireland Farm Welfare and legislation as emergency bills, reflecting the increased fuel costs and increased fertiliser prices now impacting on production agriculture across the board.”

Related Stories

FFA: April 6 ‘key date’ in inheritance tax judicial review

NI farmers stage inheritance tax protest outside supermarket

ALDI the latest retailer to reduce milk and butter prices

.editor-styles-wrapper .wp-block-acf-related-stories-block {
max-width: 960px !important;
background-color: var(–color-gray-default);
padding-inline: 40px;
padding-top: 8px !important;
padding-bottom: 20px !important;
}