Meeting with former Defra minister aims at getting farmers ready for IHT changes
27th March 2025
Former Defra minister Sir Mark Spencer has invited farmers to join a meeting that aims at preparing them for the upcoming changes to agricultural property relief.
Farmers’ succession planning breakfast is set to kick off this year’s Nottinghamshire County Show. The meeting will be held at Newark Showground at 9am on 10th May.
The event, called the Next Generation Ready: Expert Advice on Farm Succession Planning, will be chaired by the former Defra minister Sir Mark Spencer.
The organisers said that the meeting will be open to anyone who has bought a ticket for the show and is part of the Newark & Notts Agricultural Society’s ongoing commitment to supporting local farmers and promoting the agricultural industry.
Among the issues being discussed during the morning will be how to broach the topic of succession planning with your family and how to minimise the risks to your farming business ahead of the introduction of the £1m cap to agricultural property relief on inheritance tax.
Nottinghamshire County Show
A number of experts, including Michael Ball, tax partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, land agent Charlie Bryant from Brown and Co, and Emma Carr, legal director at Shakespeare Martineau, will also be on hand to answer questions and offer advice.
The event is designed to kick off what is expected to be another busy county show, which is the biggest date in the Nottinghamshire rural calendar and attracts around 15,000 people to the showground every year, the organisers said.
Alongside its ever-popular livestock competition and equestrian events, the show will host the Young Farmers’ Clubs lawnmower race and a motorcycle stunt show in the main ring, as well as a dedicated section for agricultural trade stands, countryside games and a farriery competition.
Also new for this year’s show will be the final of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Young Shepherd of the Year competition, underlining the Society’s firm commitment to promoting the rural way of life.
Vital conversations
Sir Mark is a well-known figure in local farming and is the society’s deputy president this year.
He said: “There is a lot of concern about the changes that the government are making to inheritance tax relief for farmers, and so it’s vital that they have conversations about succession planning with their families now.
“The breakfast meeting is one way to help start that process by giving them the advice they need. It’s part of the Society’s work to support our county’s farmers, and I hope we get a good turnout.
“I’m very much enjoying being deputy society president, and I’m looking forward to the show. It’s a demonstration of all that’s good about rural Nottinghamshire, and there is something for everyone, whether they make their living from agriculture or not.”
Show manager Elizabeth Halsall added: “The county show is the Society’s biggest event of the year, and it’s become an extremely successful way for us to celebrate agriculture and farming across Nottinghamshire.
“The breakfast event underlines our commitment to supporting local farmers, who will receive complimentary refreshments and will then be able to enjoy the show itself.”
To register your place at the 9am breakfast event, please send an RSVP to lucy.kitchen@newarkshowground.com before 2nd May.
Tickets and information on how to become a member of the Society and enjoy exclusive access are available at www.nottinghamshirecountyshow.com
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