Latest news with #OllyHarrison
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Arable farm boasts 14 income streams
An English farmer is proving there's more than one way to squeeze every cent out of an arable operation. Lancashire's Olly Harrison has become a successful farmer and entrepreneur as well as being a popular YouTuber since leaving school at 16 after struggling with dyslexia. He's grown his farm from 70 hectares to 600ha and used earnings from his YouTube channel — OllyBlogsAgricontractfarmer — which has nearly 150,000 subscribers, to build up his machinery fleet. Over the past month, he's put out posts about "flailing off" a roadside verge, inspecting emerging millet and canary grass crops in a drought year, oil leaks in a tractor and the minutiae of farming life. His farming business has 14 different income streams including cropping, dog walking fields, chipping tree waste for biomass, sunflower mazes and office and holiday rentals. The farmer always seeking new ways to commercially get the most out of his land and assets will be one of the main speakers at Foundation for Arable Research's (FAR) two-day two-yearly conference at Lincoln University from June 30. Mr Harrison will be outlining his farming journey via video link. The conference theme of Show Me the Money,will tackle the ongoing concern of profitability as farmers balance greater costs with trying to bring in more income. A range of international and local speakers will combine with FAR staff to outline ways farmers can reduce costs, improve productivity, diversify into additional income streams and adopt new tools and technologies. FAR spokeswoman Anna Heslop said growers provided regular feedback on the financial challenges of increasing input costs, flat crop contract prices, increased regulatory compliance and extreme weather events. Keynote speaker will be New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy and Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr. He will be accompanied in the lineup by South Australian grain grower James Venning talking about how to make technology pay. Over varying soil types, he uses a wide range of technologies to help his decision-making and to micro-manage areas in his cropping programme focusing on productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness. The chairman of his local grower group Northern Sustainable Soils, is a board member of the Hart Field Site Group and a grower director of Grain Producers South Australia. Also appearing via video link will be the founding director of the Centre for Evidence Based Agriculture at Harper Adams University in England, Prof Nicola Randall, to discuss whether regenerative agricultural systems add value. Farmer discussion panels will provide examples of different approaches and technologies growers are adopting to improve their farm business performance. A conference dinner will double as a farewell to FAR chief executive Dr Alison Stewart, who steps down at the end of June. Who is Olly Harrison? United Kingdom farmer and entrepreneur Olly Harrison is the face behind popular YouTube channel OllyBlogsAgricontractfarmer. Daily videos starting in the Covid-19 lockdown provide an insight into the challenges and triumphs of farming, marked by humour and diversification stories to fund his "tractor addiction". His online presence reaches an audience of more than 350,000 followers across his social channels, with 110,000 of them on YouTube. The farmer's 1500-plus videos have been watched more than 77 million times with his content resonating with farming enthusiasts and urban people curious about rural life. Mr Harrison was named the International Agricultural Influencer for YouTube by the German Agricultural Society and recognised by the National Farmers' Union as a Community Farming Hero. His ability to explain the complexities of farming in straightforward language has made him a regular contributor on BBC News and BBC Radio 4. By last year his farming business had 14 different income streams, including a merchandise operation grossing more than £100,000 in 2023. After vowing he would own a brand new combine harvester by the age of 40, and achieving the goal, he decided to drive his Claas Lexion combine from John O'Groats to Land's End for charity. His charitable contributions so far total more than $1 million from events ranging from tractor runs through Liverpool to YouTube fundraisers. He has promised to leave a farm to each of his three children as he continues to build his farming business.
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Farmers face losing harvests under Starmer's Brexit reset
Farmers have said they face losing harvests because crucial agricultural chemicals will be banned under Labour's deal with the European Union. The UK will have to ban almost 30 widely used pesticides and fungicides after Sir Keir Starmer committed Britain to following EU laws. Growers warned that removing them could lead to significant falls in food production, further eroding their already tight profit margins. A raft of products will have to be taken off shelves, including treatments to prevent potato blight, which threatened crops during last year's wet winter. The move will be yet another blow to struggling family farmers already reeling from Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid. Olly Harrison, a cereal farmer in the North West, said he would have lost his entire potato crop last year had the treatment for potato blight been banned. 'It would be devastating if we had to ban all these products,' he said. 'The UK has taken a more science-led approach since Brexit on pesticides, whereas EU regulation is often based on emotion and green lobbying. 'We need to paddle our own canoe when it comes to food security.' James Wright, a farmer from Exmoor who stood as a Tory candidate at the last election, said many of the pesticides available in Britain are 'cheaper than in the EU'. 'There's a lot of worry, particularly in arable farming at the moment, because the margins are really tight,' he said. 'The arable guys are really struggling at the moment, prices are way down, and this is just another kick.' Britain now faces having to ban the chemicals because previous Tory governments took a lighter touch approach to regulation than the EU after Brexit. The deal Sir Keir agreed with Brussels - under which he also allowed EU fishermen access to British waters for 12 years - explicitly states that pesticide regulations will be covered by the agreement. A paper setting out the 'common understanding' says that the pact 'should ensure the application of the same rules at all times by providing for timely dynamic alignment of the rules applicable to and in the United Kingdom acting in respect of Great Britain with all the relevant European Union rules'. The dossier adds that 'where necessary to ensure the European Union's level of food, sanitary, and phytosanitary safety' this should be done 'through the immediate application of the relevant European Union rules' in the UK. The deal includes scope for Britain to negotiate 'limited exceptions' to following EU regulations, which would have to be agreed with Brussels. But it makes clear these will only be acceptable where they do not 'lead to lower standards as compared to European Union rules' and that they respect the principle that only animals and goods compliant with European Union rules move into the EU. Brussels is renowned for being heavy-handed on pesticides, with farmers accusing the EU Commission of becoming captive to green lobbying groups. As a result a wide gap has grown between the two sides' laws, with the UK allowing the use of 28 existing and new products that the EU has not permitted. Earlier this year, Christophe Hansen, the EU's agriculture commissioner, suggested that Brussels would take a tough line on pesticides in the talks. Addressing farmers in Dublin, he vowed to introduce 'stricter' import controls on crops grown with chemicals banned by Brussels. 'This is something farmers do not understand, consumers do not understand either, and we have to be bolder on that,' he said. In return for Britain following its rules, the EU will drop almost all import checks on agricultural produce, slashing costly red tape for exporters to the continent. Farmers have widely welcomed the improved market access, with the border controls and bureaucracy put in place since Brexit negatively affecting many growers. But they have also warned that dynamic alignment will come with major pitfalls, particularly on pesticides, which are vital to the industry. Hazel Doonan, the head of crop protection and agronomy at the Agricultural Industries Confederation, said one benefit of Brexit had been the UK's nimbler approach to pesticide regulation. She said that four new active substances - two herbicides and two fungicides - had come onto the market in Britain that are still awaiting approval in the EU. Rules on weedkiller She also said there were questions over whether Britain will now have to apply EU conditions on products that are authorised for use. In particular, owing to the UK's wet weather, farmers in the north and west often use glyphosate, a weedkiller, to dry out their crops pre-harvest. The practice helps with harvests and reduces crop drying costs, but it is now banned in the EU. 'We have and will highlight to Defra that if we are to lose some active substances that are currently available then that could mean that growers face, in some areas and for some crops, very few alternatives to tackling weeds, pests and diseases,' she said. Environmental groups welcomed the move as a 'massive win for human health, nature and British farmers' and described the pesticides as 'harmful'. The Pesticide Action Network has compiled a list of 28 products that are banned in the EU but not in the UK, and 15 of them are actively marketed in Britain. Josie Cohen from the charity said: 'The agreement to align with EU pesticide standards is a massive win for human health, nature and British farmers. ' The reset deal draws a line under the past five years during which the UK government has been quietly weakening our national pesticide standards.' Downing Street did not deny that Britain faces having to ban more pesticides, but said the new EU agreement will give ministers input into EU policy making. A Government spokesman said: 'Our new agreement with the EU will support British farming by opening up access to EU markets and making agrifood trade with our biggest trading partner cheaper and easier. 'It will cut red tape and costs, benefitting British producers, retailers and consumers. We will be having detailed negotiations with the EU, and it's important not to get ahead of those discussions.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Farmers' protest live: Huge combine harvesters arrive in London for Pancake Day rally after police tractor ban
Huge combine harvesters have arrived in London for a 'Pancake Day rally' after police banned tractors from the capital. Thousands of farmers are expected to descend on London today for a protest from Whitehall towards Parliament at midday over inheritance tax changes. The Met Police has banned all 'mechanically propelled vehicles' from London following protests last month that saw hundreds of tractors disrupt traffic across the city. A small number of farming vehicles have been allowed into London with prior permission from the police. It is unclear if the three four-metre tall combine harvesters parked in Whitehall were approved. The march is the latest action being taken by farmers who are unhappy over Labour's plan to bring in a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1m. Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs 'the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake'. The Lib Dems and the Conservatives have urged Labour to scrap the changes, which are due to come into force from April 2026. Protesting farmers turn up in huge combine harvesters Farmers could be arrested if they drive tractors at rally, police warn Farmers to gather in London for pancake day protest against inheritance tax Third Labour MP speaks out against inheritance tax plans 11:28 , Alexander Butler Labour is pressing ahead with a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1m, essentially scrapping an exemption which meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms. Farmers say that it will force land sales, stall investment, and hurt families lacking succession plans. But the Government has stood firm, calling the move a 'fair and balanced approach'. The Lib Dems and the Conservatives urged Labour to scrap the changes, which are due to come into force from April 2026. 11:08 , Alexander Butler 11:00 , Alexander Butler 10:52 , Alexander Butler Dozens of tractors and harvesters have started driving onto Parliament Street, Alex Croft reports. The huge vehicles were parked off the main thoroughfare this morning. It is not clear if they have permission to be there or not. The Met Police banned all 'mechanically propelled vehicles' from London following protests last month that saw hundreds of tractors disrupt traffic across the city. However, a small number of farming vehicles have been allowed into London with prior permission from the police. 10:39 A third Labour MP has broke ranks with the party to oppose the government's plans for inheritance tax. Henry Tufnell, MP for South and Mid-Pembrokeshire, warned it was not only wealthy landowners who would be affected by the decision to levy inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m. "It's affecting the fabric of the society within those rural communities and that's why we were elected," Mr Tufnell told Sky News. 09:57 , Alexander Butler Protesting farmers have turned up to London in gigantic combine harvesters. A huge Grimme sugar beat harvester towered over two smaller vehicles outside Whitehall this morning. A self-propelled Claas Jaguar 970 forage harvester was parked next to it, alongside a Claas combine harvester. The Met Police has banned all 'mechanically propelled vehicles' from London following protests last month that saw hundreds of tractors descend on the city. Some vehicles have been allowed into London with prior permission from the police. 09:40 , Alexander Butler Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, said: 'We don't need any tractors, this is on foot. 'We are going to have some kit to show to the MPs to explain the levels of investment. 'We've sorted all that out, you just get yourself there on foot,' he told those taking part. 'Let's explain the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake.' 09:27 , Alexander Butler A Government spokesperson said: 'Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast. 'This Government are investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country's history. 'We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production. 'Our reform to agricultural and business property reliefs will mean three quarters of estates will continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter will pay half the inheritance tax that most people pay, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free. 'This is a fair and balanced approach which helps fix the public services we all rely on.' 09:20 , Alexander Butler Labour is pressing ahead with a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1 million. The move essentially scraps an exemption that meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms. The plans are due to come into force from April 2026. 08:39 , Alexander Butler Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who is commanding the policing operation, said: 'Two previous protests have taken place in the same area, with the same organisers, in recent months. 'The second protest saw a significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles. Whitehall was blocked for much of the day and there were lengthy significant delays on surrounding roads. 'It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don't cause serious disruption to the life of the community and we've used our powers under the Public Order Act to ensure that does not happen on Tuesday. 'We have been in regular contact with the organisers to explain our decision making and I'm grateful for the positive and collaborative approach they have taken.' 08:37 , Alexander Butler Why are Britain's farmers protesting? 07:59 , Tara Cobham Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, said: 'We don't need any tractors, this is on foot. 'We are going to have some kit to show to the MPs to explain the levels of investment. 'We've sorted all that out, you just get yourself there on foot,' he told those taking part. 'Let's explain the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake.' 07:51 , Tara Cobham Farmers could be arrested if they drive their tractors at a march in central London, police have said. Conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act preventing demonstrators from bringing tractors, other than a limited number already agreed by the organisers to demonstrate the costs of such specialist equipment, the Metropolitan Police said. Deputy assistant commissioner Ben Russell, who is leading the policing operation, said last month's protest saw a 'significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles'. He said there were lengthy road delays, adding: 'It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don't cause serious disruption to the life of the community.' Scotland Yard warned that it is a criminal offence to breach the conditions or to incite others to do so, and that anyone doing so may face arrest. 07:45 Farmers say that it will force land sales, stall investment, and hurt families lacking succession plans. But the government has stood firm, calling the move a 'fair and balanced approach'. 07:41 , Tara Cobham The government has stood firm in the face of strong opposition to the move, insisting its approach is 'fair and balanced'. A government spokesperson said: 'Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast. 'This Government are investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country's history. 'We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production. 'Our reform to agricultural and business property reliefs will mean three quarters of estates will continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter will pay half the inheritance tax that most people pay, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free. 'This is a fair and balanced approach which helps fix the public services we all rely on.' 07:39 , Tara Cobham The Lib Dems and the Conservatives urged Labour to scrap the changes. Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins called the move 'vindictive'. 'Once again, rural communities will gather in Westminster to show their united opposition to Labour's vindictive family farms tax. 'Our rural communities have warned repeatedly that Labour's tax hike is stopping investment, inflicting an enormous emotional toll on farming families and will break family farms,' she said. She also argued that introducing this tax puts domestic food production and security at risk. Tim Farron, the Lib Dem environment spokesman, said: 'British farmers are the best in the world. We need them now more than ever to restore nature, provide food security, tackle climate change and support the rural economy. 'The Government must reverse this disastrous family farm tax and instead provide farmers with the support and funding they need to do what is best for the country and for future generations.' 07:37 , Tara Cobham Labour is pressing ahead with a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1 million. The move essentially scraps an exemption that meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms. The plans are due to come into force from April 2026. 07:34 , Tara Cobham Farmers will return to central London to protest inheritance tax changes with a 'Pancake Day rally' on Tuesday. Attendees will march from Whitehall at around midday towards Parliament, with the demonstration due to end at 3pm. The protest will be largely on foot as police are allowing only a limited number of tractors after last month's demonstration caused traffic delays. Farmers who bring tractors in breach of the conditions could face arrest. Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs 'the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake'.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why are Britain's farmers protesting over Labour's inheritance tax changes?
Thousands of farmers are set to head to London for the latest in a series of protests as the 'Pancake Day Rally' against Labour changes to inheritance tax gets underway. Farmers and their allies will begin to gather from midday on Tuesday for speeches outside Parliament. Industry leaders say the plan put forward by chancellor Rachel Reeves during her first Budget last October, is 'marching the UK into a food crisis'. Police have warned attendees that they face arrest if they bring unauthorised tractors to Whitehall, as has been seen at previous events. This marks the first time such a warning has been put in place, with several tractors hitting the streets on central London in recent months. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'It is a criminal offence to breach the conditions or to incite others to do so – anyone doing so may face arrest.' However, a limited number of agreed tractors have been authorised. Organiser and farmer Olly Harrison has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs 'the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake'. Here's everything you need to know about the issue: Previously, farming businesses qualified for 100 per cent relief on inheritance tax on agricultural property and business property. But now the tax is being imposed on farms worth more than £1 million, with an effective tax rate of 20 per cent on assets above the threshold, rather than the normal 40 per cent rate for inheritance tax. The Government says that the actual threshold before paying inheritance tax could be as much as £3 million, once exemptions for each partner in a couple and for the farm property are taken into account. The government has said 'difficult decisions' had to be made to fill a £22 billion fiscal hole it inherited from the Conservatives, and it is targeting the agricultural inheritance tax relief to make it fairer. It said figures showed that 7 per cent of the wealthiest estates account for 40 per cent of the total value of agricultural property relief, costing the Treasury £219 million. According to the Treasury, some 27 per cent of estates claiming agricultural property relief (APR) were above the £1 million threshold in 2021/2022, suggesting that nearly three-quarters of farms would not fall within the scope of the charges. The Treasury says around 500 estates a year are expected to pay inheritance tax under the changes. However, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) says farm businesses have also qualified separately for business property relief, which can cover things such as harvested grain and livestock, machinery and diversified businesses such as camping on a farmer's field. Now the two are combined, with a single £1 million allowance before inheritance tax is levied, which could mean more farms are in scope. The NFU points to figures from the Environment Department (Defra) showing that 66 per cent of farm businesses in England have a net value of more than £1 million. But the government has countered that analysis, saying that looking at asset value alone does not necessarily mean the farm will be affected, as it depends on individual circumstances. According to the NFU, while farms may have a high nominal asset value – the value of their land and business assets – the returns from farming are often very low, so farming families may not have the reserves to pay for inheritance tax liabilities without selling off assets. The NFU's president Tom Bradshaw said the change had left elderly farmers in the 'cruellest predicament', as they may not live for another seven years to take advantage of exemptions for gifting assets, or to hand over assets in a way that qualifies for the gifting exemption. He has also warned the changes could undermine investment as farmers will be wary of increasing the balance sheet as they will be liable to pay inheritance tax on it. There are also concerns that it could affect tenant farmers if landowners no longer benefit from having a tax exemption for farmed land. Mr Bradshaw said there was a feeling among farmers that the Government did not understand food production.
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Why are Britain's farmers protesting over Labour's inheritance tax changes?
Thousands of farmers are set to head to London for the latest in a series of protests as the 'Pancake Day Rally' against Labour changes to inheritance tax gets underway. Farmers and their allies will begin to gather from midday on Tuesday for speeches outside Parliament. Industry leaders say the plan put forward by chancellor Rachel Reeves during her first Budget last October, is 'marching the UK into a food crisis'. Police have warned attendees that they face arrest if they bring unauthorised tractors to Whitehall, as has been seen at previous events. This marks the first time such a warning has been put in place, with several tractors hitting the streets on central London in recent months. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'It is a criminal offence to breach the conditions or to incite others to do so – anyone doing so may face arrest.' However, a limited number of agreed tractors have been authorised. Organiser and farmer Olly Harrison has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs 'the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake'. Here's everything you need to know about the issue: What are the changes to farm tax? Previously, farming businesses qualified for 100 per cent relief on inheritance tax on agricultural property and business property. But now the tax is being imposed on farms worth more than £1 million, with an effective tax rate of 20 per cent on assets above the threshold, rather than the normal 40 per cent rate for inheritance tax. The Government says that the actual threshold before paying inheritance tax could be as much as £3 million, once exemptions for each partner in a couple and for the farm property are taken into account. Why have the changes been brought in? The government has said 'difficult decisions' had to be made to fill a £22 billion fiscal hole it inherited from the Conservatives, and it is targeting the agricultural inheritance tax relief to make it fairer. It said figures showed that 7 per cent of the wealthiest estates account for 40 per cent of the total value of agricultural property relief, costing the Treasury £219 million. How many farmers will be affected by the changes? According to the Treasury, some 27 per cent of estates claiming agricultural property relief (APR) were above the £1 million threshold in 2021/2022, suggesting that nearly three-quarters of farms would not fall within the scope of the charges. The Treasury says around 500 estates a year are expected to pay inheritance tax under the changes. However, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) says farm businesses have also qualified separately for business property relief, which can cover things such as harvested grain and livestock, machinery and diversified businesses such as camping on a farmer's field. Now the two are combined, with a single £1 million allowance before inheritance tax is levied, which could mean more farms are in scope. The NFU points to figures from the Environment Department (Defra) showing that 66 per cent of farm businesses in England have a net value of more than £1 million. But the government has countered that analysis, saying that looking at asset value alone does not necessarily mean the farm will be affected, as it depends on individual circumstances. Why do farmers say the changes are a problem? According to the NFU, while farms may have a high nominal asset value – the value of their land and business assets – the returns from farming are often very low, so farming families may not have the reserves to pay for inheritance tax liabilities without selling off assets. The NFU's president Tom Bradshaw said the change had left elderly farmers in the 'cruellest predicament', as they may not live for another seven years to take advantage of exemptions for gifting assets, or to hand over assets in a way that qualifies for the gifting exemption. He has also warned the changes could undermine investment as farmers will be wary of increasing the balance sheet as they will be liable to pay inheritance tax on it. There are also concerns that it could affect tenant farmers if landowners no longer benefit from having a tax exemption for farmed land. Mr Bradshaw said there was a feeling among farmers that the Government did not understand food production.
