A note from the CEO
This is my first Milk Digest since joining RABDF earlier this month. In just a few weeks I’ve been impressed at the breadth of activity this small charity undertakes and have enjoyed spending time with the dedicated and talented team of people who work here. Having had just a taste of RABDF’s great work on behalf of dairy farmers, I’m excited to help shape the organisation and drive positive changes that will ultimately contribute to a vibrant future for British dairy farming.
In the weeks and months ahead as I settle in, I look forward to meeting members, trustees and stakeholders to gather a wide range of views and to share my ambitions for the future of RABDF.
Please come and say hello at the events we’re hosting, or reach me directly by emailing office@rabdf.co.uk if you have any concerns or feedback on what more RABDF can be doing for you.
I look forward to working with, and on behalf of, you all.
Hayley Campbell-Gibbons
Chairman’s Update
The main topic of conversation among farmers right now and something I’m equally concerned about, is the £1 million threshold for Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) announced in the recent budget.
RABDF joined forces with Conservative MP Harriet Cross and over 100 MPs, Lords and industry groups in writing to the Chancellor to oppose the measures, which will significantly affect genuine family farming businesses across the country. I felt it vital to put our name to the letter, which calls for urgent reconsideration of the tax reforms before they come into effect on 6 April 2026.
The government has justified its move by claiming that the changes will only affect the wealthiest estates, yet the government’s analysis relies on historical data that includes smaller holdings rather than accurately reflecting modern-day, commercial family farms.
In reality, if these changes come into force, many families may be forced to sell parts of their working farm to cover the tax bill, fragmenting long-standing family businesses and placing more agricultural land in the hands of large corporations.
It seems madness to me to introduce such potentially damaging tax reforms for agriculture at a time when food security couldn’t be more important.
We’ll keep you updated on this as it progresses and continue supporting efforts across the industry, such as the mass protest by the NFU, to emphasise the impact this has on farmers.
Robert Craig