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Newtownards, Northern Ireland – During a recent visit to the Lakeland Dairies complex in Newtownards, Secretary of State Hilary Benn was urged to reconsider proposed inheritance tax changes that farming leaders say could have damaging consequences for rural communities—particularly in Northern Ireland.
Executives at Lakeland Dairies, a major cross-border agricultural co-op based in County Cavan, voiced their deep concerns during Mr Benn’s tour of the site, which is part of a wider operation spanning 16 counties across Ireland and supporting 3,200 farm families. The co-op is a major exporter, trading in over 80 international markets, and plays a pivotal role in both the Northern and Southern rural economies.
Inheritance Tax Threatens Farm Succession
Farmers are warning that the proposed inheritance tax reforms could disrupt the traditional transfer of land and farms across generations—particularly in Northern Ireland, where smaller farms are the norm and often remain within families for decades.
“A mother or father transfers the farm to their son or daughter to build upon their successes,” said Keith Agnew, Vice-Chairman of Lakeland Dairies.
“The current inheritance tax system has the potential to seriously damage the family farm model and the generational renewal essential to keeping our world-class sector alive.”
Mr Agnew said that Lakeland’s message to the Secretary of State was clear: reforms must support, not undermine, the long-term sustainability of farming in Northern Ireland and across the island.
Cross-Border Trade & Windsor Framework Discussed
Beyond tax, the delegation raised urgent concerns about post-Brexit trade, with specific focus on the Windsor Framework and the need for a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and EU.
The dairy industry relies heavily on frictionless cross-border movement of goods, and officials fear that any disruption could have a severe knock-on effect for producers and consumers alike.
“Our economies—north and south—are deeply intertwined, especially in agriculture. A clear SPS agreement is vital to maintain that connection,” added Mr Agnew.
