The NFU organised the meeting with MP for Worthing West Dr Beccy Cooper on a predominantly arable South Downs farm, near Worthing, which has been farmed by the Heath family for almost 100 years.
Concerns over the government’s planned changes to inheritance tax and other issues were discussed, ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget.
Dr Cooper said: “We had a frank discussion about the issues around inheritance tax and I have promised to take these back to my colleagues in the Treasury.
“The government is making difficult decisions to shore up our public services and I support this, but it is also my job as MP to make sure that all voices are represented and that we are being fair, including to our small and medium-sized farms.”
The meeting with Dr Cooper was organised as part of the NFU’s ongoing lobbying work with all political parties to secure a positive future for British food and farming.
Support for abattoir campaign
Dr Cooper also backed the NFU’s calls for more support for small and medium-sized abattoirs which play a vital role in the food supply chain but are closing, nationally, at a rate of 10pc a year, threating the future of many livestock farms.
The NFU is calling for actions including a government-led independent review into the Food Standard Agency’s (FSA) cost structures, workforce management, and use of contractors to identify areas for improvement and implementing key performance indicators for FSA services to ensure that abattoirs receive value for money and are not penalised for delays or inefficiencies beyond their control.
Dr Cooper said: “We discussed the closure of local abattoirs across Sussex, leaving just one in Henfield.
“If this closes, local farmers will have to take livestock on much longer journeys, which is not good for animal welfare or our carbon footprint.”
NFU West Sussex Council Representative Caroline Harriott, who attended the meeting, said: “We appreciate MP Dr Beccy Cooper taking the time to meet with us on farm and we are delighted to have her support in raising our concerns on the family farm tax and pushing for more support for local abattoirs.
“We look forward to working with her further on these important issues in the future.”