In today's Farming in Five, head of news and business Alex Black discusses the warnings from the dairy sector to not let the opportunities offered by new contract legislation pass them by, Aldi pledges to maintain standards despite new trade deals and a look ahead to the new series of Clarkson's Farm.

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian

This is your Farming in Five daily news update, from Farmers Guardian.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Government Ministers have been implored to 'open their eyes' to the realities of Inheritance Tax changes and its impact on the health and well-being of farmers.

Conservative MP Victoria Atkins told Defra Secretary Steve Reed in Parliament last week that farmers had taken their own lives due to the 'worry' they felt regarding impending changes to Inheritance Tax announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget.

The Shadow Defra Secretary said she was told of the news that 'several more' farmers had taken their own lives last week due to proposed taxation reforms to inherited agricultural assets in 2026.

Ms Atkins had previously addressed the issue back in December when she told Parliament a farmer had taken his life just weeks before Christmas because he did not want to be a 'financial burden' to his family by leaving an Inheritance Tax bill.

Inheritance Tax concerns have been raised since the General Election 2024, with former Farming Minister Mark Spencer having previously said the issue could 'devastate' family farm businesses and warned that Labour would seek to make amendments if they won the General Election, which was later proved to be correct.

Yorkshire beef and sheep farmer Jonathan Charlesworth said changes to Inheritance Tax were the 'last straw' for his father, John Charlesworth, who had taken his own life at Broad Close Farm in Barnsley on October 29, a day before the Autumn Budget was announced.

Mr Charlesworth said his father had been seeking tax advice prior to the Autumn Budget due to concerns he had about passing on the farm to the next generation.

"18 months is not a long time to put anything in place," he added.

"I think Inheritance Tax is divisive, not only in agriculture. The value of the land is insignificant to us. We are just looking after it for the next generation.

"It got really bad in the last few weeks; we had been talking about the implications [of Inheritance Tax] and trying to get round it.

"The night before, we were talking about it – but I never thought he would do that [take his life]. He was proving a point – he was not prepared to risk it.

"I think he thought: ‘I am not prepared to have the taxman take the farm."

Last week, arable farmer Olly Harrison launched a petition urging the Chancellor to show 'humanity and compassion' by introducing a 12-month amnesty for elderly and ill-health farmers who have been placed in a seemingly 'impossible position' in which they were choosing between life and death to save their families the 'burden' of a tax bill.

Ms Atkins had questioned the Defra Secretary on whether he would tell the Prime Minister about the impact Inheritance Tax changes were having on farmers' mental health, and if not, whether he would resign from his ministerial position in Government.

However, the Defra Secretary rejected the claims put forward by Ms Atkins, and instead argued she was 'weaponising' and 'politicising' Inheritance Tax.

However, Ms Atkins said she was simply confronting the Defra Secretary on the 'realities' of the Government's policy on farmers' health and wellbeing.

And that was your farming in five update. You can find more stories and features like this one by subscribing to Farmers Guardian. Visit: FarmersGuardian.com to find out more.

Thanks for listening, look after each other, and goodbye.

#inheritancetax #familyfarmtax #autumnbudget #rachelreeves #mentalhealth #britishfarming #stevereed #victoriaatkins #ollyharrison

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian

In today's Farming in Five, we hear from US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins who says the US has failed to dispel the 'myth' of chlorinated chicken, as she seeks to defend her country's farming practices. Concerns have also been raised over zero tariffs on US bioethanol which domestic businesses say threatens to wipe out UK production. Arable farmers are being urged to be vigilant in the face of a new yellow rust strain but there is good news for poultry farmers as housing measure are relaxed and finally, NFU president Tom Bradshaw pays tribute to director general Terry Jones as he announces he is stepping down after a decade.

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian

In today's Farming in Five, head of news and business Alex Black discusses Defra's decision to allow those with in progress SFI applications starting since January 12 to continue with their applications, following a legal threat from the NFU asserting proper notice had not been given and Cranswick has launched an investigation after undercover footage reveals alleged 'abuse' at pig farm

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian

This is your Farming in Five, daily news update, from Farmers Guardian.

I’m your host Chris Brayford.

Farmers have reacted with frustration and dismay to the announcement of a US-UK trade deal agreement, adding that cheap beef imports could 'devastate' their businesses.

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have declared a trade agreement was reached between the UK and US on Thursday (May 8), where they announced details of a deal on trade regarding agricultural products including beef, ethanol and machinery.

The Department for Business and Trade said, as part of the deal, the UK will create a preferential duty-free quota of 13,000mt for US beef to enter the country, with the same details being reciprocated for UK exports to the US.

And the UK will offer a preferential duty-free tariff rate quota of 1.4 billion liters for US ethanol to enter the UK.

Sir Keir said British farmers' high standards will not be compromised in the trade agreement, and added it could offer the UK agricultural sector new market access and further export opportunities.

However, farmers have reacted with frustration and disdain to the announcement of the deal.

Liz Webster, founder of campaigning group Save British Farming, said UK farmers will be left paying the price of a trade deal with President Trump.

Cornwall tenant farmer Rob Halliday said the trade deal puts UK farmers at the bottom of a 'steep hill', and added UK businesses will be competing with a country that does not hold the same rigorous environmental and welfare standards set by British farmers.

Poultry producer Sam Hall, of Sam's Hens Free Range Egg Farm in Croxden, said the deal was a disaster for British farming.

"The new trade deal will mean American beef will eventually end up on our plates, probably through the wholesale food sector, undercutting high quality British family farmed produce,” Mr Hall added.

"British consumers will be eating US beef and other agricultural products unknowingly, as it eventually ends up in the food service sector.

And politicians like Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch said the deal was far from 'historic', as Sir Keir has said, and rather has left British farmers feeling 'shafted' and undermined.

Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins said she felt British farmers would be left at a 'disadvantage' by the trade deal over 'uncertainty' regarding the availability of American beef in UK supermarkets, shops and restaurants.

Ms Atkins said: "Whilst we have a reciprocal arrangement on beef, we need absolute assurance that our market will not be flooded with meat that's far cheaper to produce with lower standards to meet.

"This looks like a two-tier agriculture policy that puts our farmers at a disadvantage.

"When Labour negotiates, Britain loses

Tim Farron, Rural Affairs Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said despite the deal being agreed, he argued British farmers are 'not out of the woods' when it comes to understanding the implications of the deal, adding that the devil will be in the details.

While Defra Secretary Steve Reed said the Government has and always will act in the 'national interest' to protect British farmers, their businesses and jobs across the economy.

"The deal we signed on Thursday [May 8] will also protect British farmers and uphold our high animal welfare and environmental standards," Mr Reed added.

"Food standards matter so much to us in Britain."

"I have always been clear: no hormone-treated beef, no chlorinated chicken. As promised, these products remain illegal in the UK. That will not change."

That was your Farming in Five update. You can find more of th

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian

This is your farming in five, daily news update, from Farmers Guardian.

Farming dominated the headlines after US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a breakthrough had been agreed on a long awaited trade deal between the two countries.

President Trump confirmed the deal will include 'new market access' for US farmers to export more goods to the UK including ethanol, beef, machinery and other agricultural products.

Sir Keir said the historic agreement with the US will slash tariffs which delivers for farmers, carmakers and steelworks by protecting jobs and providing stability for exporters.

The Prime MInister added it was a win for both nations, with new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a quota for 13,000 metric tonnes.

But he said there will be ‘no weakening’ and ‘no compromises’ made on the very high food standards on imports with a sanitary and phytosanitary red line written into the agreement.

However, President Trump was much more optimistic about the deal’s benefits for his country, adding that it could add $5bn to the US economy.

When challenged on lower welfare animal standards entering the UK, President Trump said it will be the 'choice' of consumers to decide, despite indicating it could be 'cheaper' for consumers to buy.

US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was also present at the announcement and reiterated how big the deal was for US farmers.

"This is a big deal to US farmers," Ms Rollins added.

"American beef is the safest and the best quality [meat]. It is the crown jewel of American agriculture to the world.

"I have [however] never known an industry which has been treated so unfairly as agriculture."

While most farming unions have welcomed the deal, farmers themselves have been far from happy and seen through the cracks of what it could mean for the sector if more US beef is on supermarket shelves.

Some have already called out the deal as selling out British farming, another kick in the teeth for UK agriculture, and uncertainty that words speak larger than actions, and could sacrifice their high standards.

With the finer details of the deal yet to be announced, the Farmers Guardian team will be exploring what the deal will mean for farmers.

In a VE Day special, Peter Lomas, who was born in 1936 in Bakewell, reflected on growing up during the Second World War and how farmers played an integral part in keeping the nation fed.

Peter was nine years old on May 8 1945, and he said farmers’ contribution to the war effort, and to food security, made farming families like his very proud.

He speaks about the community bonds forged during the war, along with the sadness many would have felt with the uncertainty many would have felt not knowing if their loved ones would return home.

And the first trailer of Clarkson’s Farm series four has dropped online.Jeremy is taking on his most ambitious project yet, setting out to buy a pub that will reignite his Farm to Fork restaurant vision, the Farmer's Dog. But the road to becoming a landlord isn’t exactly straightforward, and with new faces, new livestock and new machinery arriving at the farm, life at Diddly Squat is busier than ever.

You can receive all this and more with news and features aplenty, by subscribing to Farmers Guardian. Visit, Farmersguardian.com to find out more.

Thanks for listening, take care, and goodbye.

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian

In today's Farming in Five, head of news and business Alex Black discusses calls from the Tenant Farmers Association for a rethink on Inheritance Tax changes in the light of the local election results, why food security is so important 80 years on from the ending of World War II and the Government has announced details of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian

In today's Farming in Five, news and business reporter Jane Thynne discusses the news that the UK has reached a 'landmark' deal with India, the Efra committee has questioned Baroness Hayman on biosecurity amidst the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Europe and talks about the findings from AHDB's latest crop development survey.

Your daily update from Farmers Guardian