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'Tax changes will wipe out family farms'

Louise Cullen
BBC News NI agriculture and environment correspondent
BBC Walking along the farm in a row holding hands is (from left to right) Thomas Dunlop wearing black overalls and a black hat, Jennifer Dunlop wearing pink wellie boots, blue jeans, a white top and a denim jacket. She is wearing a blue scarf and red glasses, Mrs Dunlop also has short hair. Next to her is three-year-old Maisie who is wearing patterned tros, brown boots and black zip-up fleece, she has short brown hair with a fringe. Her father Andrew, and Jennifer's oldest son holds her hand, he is looking down at her as he holds a white bucket in the other hand. He wears a black 'JCB' hoodie, black work tros and brown boots. In the background is hay, fields, the side of a green piece of machinery and a grey metal gate.BBC
Thomas and Jennifer Dunlop run their family farm along with their son, Andrew, and with help from his daughter Maisie

"Baby moos" are keeping three-year-old Maisie and her grandmother Jennifer busy on their family's 200-acre farm in County Antrim.

But thoughts of the future are on Jennifer Dunlop's mind.

From April 2026, a 20% inheritance tax rate will apply to agricultural assets over a £1m threshold.

"If this continues, if they carry out what they said in October, I fear for the farming community," said Jennifer.

"I fear for farmers on the ground. I fear for their mental health."

She is not alone.

'Can't really see a future'

Gyles Dawson has short brown hair and is wearing a navy body warmer and white checked shirt. He has short dark hair, blue eyes and no facial hair. He is smiling as he stands in front of two 'rural ' signs.
Gyles Dawson from Rural says the number of counsellors has increased to match demand

A charity that offers services to farmers is recruiting more mental health counsellors to meet the increasing demand.

In just six years, the number of counsellors at Rural has increased from just two to more than 20, as calls have surged.

Gyles Dawson, the director of programmes, said the capping of tax relief had added to everything farmers were already facing, like financial pressures, animal diseases and the health diagnoses that an ageing population faces.

"The resilience tank already was at a very low ebb and it's taken very little to push a lot of farm businesses mentally and financially over the edge," he said.

"And because of the inheritance tax announcement a lot of people can't really see a future now, is there a future for my son or my daughter in farming":[]}