The future of farming

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 6 Dec 2024 Parliament page
The agricultural sector is experiencing a period of significant change as it transitions away from a legacy direct payments regime towards nation-specific farming schemes. The future of farming inquiry will provide consistent scrutiny of the issues facing the sector as it transitions. It will focus on farmers, farming communities and … Read more
11 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
29 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 41 events
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
20 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
20 Jan
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
20 Jan 2026
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Baroness Batters DL
16 Dec 2025
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EFRA Committee; EFRA
Dame Angela Eagle MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Gareth Baynham-Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Mike Rowe · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
1 Apr 2025
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; EFRA
Colin Faulkner · Seafish Daniel Zeichner MP · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Janet Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
14 Jan 2025
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dame Tamara Finkelstein · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Jonathan Baker · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
11 Dec 2024
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
David Sturrock · Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) Dr Arun Advani · Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) Jeremy Moody · Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) Robert Martin · Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) Stuart Maggs · Howes Percival LLP Tom Bradshaw · National Farmers' Union (NFU) Victoria Vyvyan · Country Land and Business Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - The Government’s vision for farming HC 906 16 May 2025 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
11 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Ample time available for Government to consult on tax reform alternatives
Several alternatives to achieve the same goals, or mitigations to protect vulnerable farmers, have been proposed. We are not in a position to assess the merits of each and propose an alternative, but there is sufficient time between now and … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation for further consultation on alternative proposals, stating that the reforms to agricultural and business property relief will proceed from April 2026 as planned, and that sufficient engagement with stakeholders has already taken place.
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12 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Stakeholder concerns hinder agricultural vision; pause in tax reforms advisable
Stakeholder concerns around the Budget’s taxation proposals have made it difficult for the Government to articulate and deliver its wider vision for agriculture. It has also strained the relationships with those who will be responsible for helping to deliver that … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to pause taxation reforms, affirming that the changes to agricultural and business property relief will take effect from April 2026 as planned, stating the approach and timescale are appropriate after listening to stakeholders.
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13 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Delay final APR and BPR reforms until October 2026 for consultation and assessment
The Government should delay announcing its final APR and BPR reforms until October 2026, to come into effect in April 2027, to provide more time for farming businesses to conduct succession planning and seek appropriate professional advice. The Government should … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects delaying APR and BPR reforms, confirming they will take effect from April 2026 as announced in Autumn Budget 2024, citing the need to repair public finances and stating that its consultation and approach are appropriate.
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Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 11 classified
Accepted 5
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 2
Rejected 3
Total 11 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 29 letters
3 Mar 2026 Correspondence from National Sheep Association relating to seasonal workers visas, dated 20 February 2026
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3 Mar 2026 Correspondence from British Wool relating to seasonal workers visas, dated 15 February 2026
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3 Mar 2026 Correspondence from the National Pig Association relating to skilled workers visas, dated 23 February 2026
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence to Lizzie Wilson, CEO, National Pig Association, on any implications that the planned changes to Skilled Workers visas could have on the industry, dated 11 February.
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence from Harry Bowell, Director of Land & Nature at National Trust, refuting the claims made by Baroness Minette Batters about Landscape Recovery, dated 23 January 2026
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence to Andrew Hogley, Chief Executive, British Wool, on any implications that the Home Office’s decision to not renew the seasonal concession for non visa nationals could have on the industry, dated 11 February
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence to Phil Stoker, Chair National Sheep Association, on any implications that the Home Office’s decision to not renew the seasonal concession for non visa nationals could have on the industry, dated 11 February
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28 Jan 2026 Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural affairs following on from the evidence session in December 2025, dated 28 January 2026
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28 Jan 2026 Correspondence from Wendy Chamberlain MP regarding the EFRA Committee holding an inquiry into milk prices, dated 15 January 2026
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28 Jan 2026 Correspondence from Mike Tapp MP, Minister for Migration & Citizenship, regarding Seasonal Workers Visas, dated 22 January 2026
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6 Jan 2026 Correspondence from the Secretary of State, Defra regarding the Farming Profitability Review, dated 17 December 2025
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6 Jan 2026 Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State, Defra, regarding the reforms of agricultural property relief and business property relief, dated 23 December 2025
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9 Dec 2025 Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of Trade, Dept for Business and Trade, regarding the Government’s Section 42 report on the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, dated 27 November 2025
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25 Nov 2025 Correspondence from the Chair of the Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee regarding plans to introduce a ban on the sale of compost containing peat, dated 17 November 2025
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18 Nov 2025 Correspondence from Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee regarding their report Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and Opportunities, dated 11 November 2025
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21 Oct 2025 Correspondence from NFU regarding the UK-US Trade Negotiations and the Dairy Sector, dated 18 September 2025
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2 Sep 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding recent farming activity by Defra, dated 1 September 2025
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24 Jun 2025 Correspondence to the Minister for Nature regarding Land-Use Framework, dated 17 June 2025
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18 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding his evidence to the Committee on 1 April, dated 11 June 2025
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23 Apr 2025 Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs following up on his evidence to the Committee on 1 April, dated 23 April
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1 Apr 2025 Correspondence from The Wildlife Trusts regarding natural carbon capture and farming policy proposal, dated 27 March 2025
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1 Apr 2025 Correspondence from British Wool regarding its work and 75th anniversary, dated 21 March 2025
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25 Mar 2025 Joint correspondence from Red Tractor Assurance, Scottish Quality Crops and Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), relating to NUTS2 and Accreditation, dated 13 March 2025
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25 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Tom Langton FRSB relating to Bovine TB, dated 12 March 2025
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11 Feb 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding strategy for farming, dated 10 February 2025
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11 Feb 2025 Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury regarding inheritance tax reform, dated 7 February 2025
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23 Jan 2025 Correspondence to the Prime Minister regarding Inheritance tax relief reforms contained within the Autumn Budget, 23 January 2025
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22 Jan 2025 Correspondence to the Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to the future of farming inquiry, dated 22 January 2025
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7 Jan 2025 Correspondence from Family Business UK regarding the Future of farming inquiry, dated 9 December 2024
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