In an effort to ease tensions with the farming sector, Environment Secretary Steve Reed is set to confirm a five-year extension of the UK’s seasonal farm worker scheme.
The announcement, due at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) conference, follows weeks of discontent sparked by inheritance tax changes in the spring budget.
Under the extended scheme, which was previously scheduled to expire in 2024, an annual quota of 45,000–55,000 visas will remain available to foreign workers for up to six months. This arrangement provides farms with a consistent seasonal workforce, particularly for labour-intensive fruit and vegetable harvesting. The NFU has repeatedly argued that without this scheme, British agriculture would face severe labour shortages, with an estimated £60 million worth of produce wasted in the first half of 2022 due to unpicked crops.
Reed’s announcement comes amid fierce criticism from farmers and industry bodies over the government’s inheritance tax (IHT) overhaul, a measure introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Critics claim the new rules threaten family-run farms, many of which have relied on long-standing reliefs to pass businesses on through generations. Some tax experts counter that loopholes had to be addressed, but leading figures at the NFU accuse ministers of breaking promises with what they deem a “morally wrong” policy.
Speaking at the NFU conference in central London, Reed will attempt to reassure farmers that the government intends to boost profitability in agriculture. “I will consider my time as secretary of state a failure if I do not improve profitability for farmers,” he is expected to say. “Ensuring farming becomes more profitable is how we make businesses viable for the future—and secure the long-term food security this country needs.”
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