You really don’t need to put farmers up on a pedestal, they are mere mortals too!
If you choose to only see Farage jumping on yet another opportunity then that’s on you I’m afraid. There are plenty of other spokespersons you could listen to and really learn something from those who are doing the job day in day out.
Clarkson has shown with his program how difficult farming is and how much you need to do to make any money. He’s very open about who he is, but highlights what farming is like.
I live in a rural area, mainly dairy, beef and/or sheep. The work carried out by farmers is above and beyond any 9-5 job with very little rewards. Most round here have a partner who goes out to work to bring more money in.
The whole working ethos on a farm is totally different to having a job. They’re family run, usually three generations - the older ones still retaining some jobs whilst their children take over the running of the farm and teach their children who will eventually take over from them. Talk to a farmer and very often you’ll find that they feel they are guardians of the land, for the next generation to keep going, producing food for the country. It’s often a heartbreaking tough job, and like I said three times as many farmers commit suicide than the average. They were born to farm though, and for many it’s the only life they’ve ever known.
A farm might have a high value, but that doesn’t mean the farmer sees anything like a real income from it. They have to have expensive machinery - tractors, a car that can pull a trailer full of cows, a milking parlour, all of which add to the value of the farm, and all taxed just like everyone else pays. In terms of income (still taxed by the way) it tends to be lower than the national average.
We need farmers, without them we’re relying on foreign imports that often don’t meet our health and safety standards. We are an island, destroying farming (as this could do) is a pretty stupid thing to do. We leave ourselves very vulnerable.
Someone on the first page commented that yes there are some very wealthy farmers but that’s like assuming all business owners are Alan Sugar! It’s such a ridiculous and harmful assumption.
Around me a typical sized farm plus assets might be worth around £4m, but the average take home pay (if you need a figure) is likely to be well under £20k. Paying off IHT even over 10 years would be impossible. Sell off land to pay it and you have an unviable farm. What happens then? Yet another farm is sold to wealthy people to play at keeping a few sheep amongst their horses. It will never be farmed again.
Even suggesting that farmers put their farms into trust 7 years before they might die is difficult. For one it’s very expensive to organise, for another it takes an awful lot of trust to put your livelihood into someone else’s name, even if it is your son/daughter. Your whole life is tied to the farm in a very unique way.
I do understand that for those who have never farmed or who never go near the countryside it’s a difficult concept, but it’s frustrating reading comments from people who have no idea what it’s like to be a farmer, how hard they work and for so few rewards! Honestly if you were doing a job that had long hours and constant on calls on an income that was less than minimum wage you wouldn’t stick it out! At some times of the year like harvest, silage, calving, lambing, and so many others, the hours go up and the money stays the same.