Baroness Minette Batters to Lead Government Review on UK Farm Profitability

The former National Farmers’ Union president begins a six-month effort to address systemic challenges in agriculture, following backlash over inheritance tax reforms and subsidy cuts.

• Baroness Minette Batters, a former NFU president, has been appointed to lead a UK government review on farm profitability, with recommendations expected in six months.
• The review aims to tackle deep-rooted issues in agriculture, including economic viability, food security, and rural livelihoods.
• Farmers have criticized recent inheritance tax reforms and the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, which have caused financial uncertainty and job losses.
• The government has announced measures like planning reforms and faster grid connections to help farmers diversify income streams, but tensions persist.
• Baroness Batters has emphasized the complexity of the task, stating there is no single solution but expressing hope for meaningful progress.

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