UK extends seasonal farm worker scheme for five years as inheritance tax row rumbles on

In an attempt to alleviate tensions with the agricultural sector, the Minister of Environment Steve Reed is scheduled to emphasize a five -year extension of the UK workers' plan in the United Kingdom.

The advertisement, which is due at the National Union of Farmers (NFU), follows weeks of discontent raised by the tax changes of inheritance in the spring budget.

Under the expanded plan, which was previously scheduled to expire in 2024, the annual shares of 45,000 and 55,000 indications will remain available to foreign workers for up to six months. This arrangement provides farms for consistent seasonal workers, especially for the harvesting of intense fruits and vegetables in workers. NFU has repeatedly argued that without this scheme, British agriculture will face a severe shortage of employment, as an estimated £ 60 million of products is lost in the first half of 2022 due to unintended crops.

Reed's advertisement comes amid strong criticism from farmers and industrial bodies about the government's inheritance tax reform (IHT), a procedure presented by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Critics claim that the new rules threaten the family -run farms, many of which relied on long -term inscriptions to pass companies over generations. Some tax experts contradict that the vulnerabilities had to be addressed, but the leadership of numbers in NFU accuses ministers of cutting the promises of what they consider to be “morally wrong.”

Speaking at the NFU conference in central London, Reed will try to reassure farmers that the government intends to enhance profitability in agriculture. “I will consider my time as minister of the state to fail if I do not have a good profit for farmers,” he is expected to say. “Ensuring that agriculture becomes more profitable is how to make companies that are viable in the future-and secure the long-term food security that the country needs.”

However, industrial leaders, including NFU Tom Bradesho and CBI Rain Newton-Smith President, warned of the consequences of long-term policy. They say that the new IHT rules risk undermining the smaller farms that are struggling to stay standing on their feet, especially when many already struggle with the high costs of inputs, supply chain disorders and continuous work challenges.

In addition to dealing with a lack of employment, Reed will reveal an investment of 110 million pounds in agricultural technology, which aims to develop more advanced and automated ways. Although the government hopes to eventually reduce robots to rely on seasonal workers, widespread publishing is still in its cradle. Currently, many farmers continue to rely on human picnic, especially for intense crops in employment that technology cannot deal efficiently.

Reed will also announce the establishment of a new national security center. The facility focuses on the treatment of animal diseases such as foot, mouth and Bluetongue, and the facility indicates

Through this extension of the seasonal workers ’plan, the government is betting on the average land approach: reducing the immediate shortage of employment while paving the way for a more technical agricultural future. This measure may move somewhat towards frustration of the industry, but whether it can really fix the broken relationship between Whitehall and the agricultural community – especially given the tax debate of hot heritage – can be seen.

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