There were around 20 events in eight counties over the weekend as part of the campaign from Newark to Warwick, and Hereford to Buxton.
Over the weekend events were covered by ITV Central, BBC Midlands Today and BBC local radio, Greatest Hits and others with reporters on site from print and online press – there were around 100 pieces of regional coverage over the two days.
Farmers were at Newark Town Hall and Morrisons, in Gamston, to bring the message to Nottinghamshire shoppers with a tractor and trailer and campaign banners.
Public interest
While in South Lincolnshire NFU members were at Bourne, Long Sutton and Boston markets engaging shoppers and talking about rearing livestock, growing food and British cut flowers alongside the impact of inheritance tax changes.
Simon Gadd, South Lincolnshire NFU chair, said they spoke to hundreds of members of the public on the day including local councillors, county mayoral candidates and others.
He said: “I was at the Boston event where we must have spoken to around 300 people about what we do to produce food and the devastating impact the family farm tax will have on rural businesses, communities and the wider economy.
“Quite a lot of people came up and wanted to talk to us and find out more, we had really positive feedback and they were genuinely interested in what we were up to.
“This will seriously damage generations of work and also our efforts to protect and enhance the countryside.”
NFU South Lincolnshire chair Simon Gadd
“This government policy will have a huge impact on our ability to produce the high-quality food that South Lincolnshire people want as well as hitting those businesses that supply some of the best British flowers in the country.
“This will seriously damage generations of work and also our efforts to protect and enhance the countryside.”
Events across the Midlands
In Hereford High Street hundreds gathered for a display in the market square including a JCB, tractor and banners, and at Worcester Livestock Market councillors and MPs accepted the NFU’s invitation to a breakfast meeting.
There were also events at Colliers Farm Shop at Clows Top and at Tesco in Evesham and Morrisons in Kidderminster.
Tractors could be seen strategically positioned on private bridges at Earls Croome, Grafton Manor and sites at Frankley.
Elsewhere in Derbyshire, Morrisons in Chapel-en-le-Frith and Buxton welcomed NFU members, a pick-up and trailer so farmers could speak to their shoppers, and the Co-op in New Mills, High Peak, hosted a county group.
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Buxton's Day of Unity event
A large gathering in Boston
A strong presence outside Morrisons, East Bridgford
Telford's Day of Unity event
Members gather in Lichfield
Farmers were also on the Ragged School Chapel car park, in Chesterfield, giving out mini pork pies and other products from Moss Valley Meats, engaging with the public and handing out campaign leaflets.
A mini robot that helps with planting joined farmers at Stafford Market Square where modern and vintage tractors were on display and food was donated to the Hearts and Minds food bank.
Morrisons Store Festival Park, in Stoke, and the Market Square, Uttoxeter, also welcomed farmers with machinery on display, milk handed out to the public and the campaign discussed.
“The Farming Day of Unity event held in Ludlow was a demonstration of how deeply these tax changes will impact real farming families across South Shropshire.”
NFU Ludlow branch chair Becky Morgan
A united farming community
Shropshire farmers put on a show at Morrisons, in Lawley, Telford, with the NFU Midlands regional display trailer containing Shropshire grown produce and a livestock trailer parked up in Castle Square, Ludlow to allow farmers to speak to people about their work and the campaign.
Becky Morgan, Ludlow branch chair, said: “The Farming Day of Unity event held in Ludlow was a demonstration of how deeply these tax changes will impact real farming families across South Shropshire and from the many conversations had with the public on the day, it is clear we have their full support.
"The government’s claim that most family farms will be unaffected is completely at odds with the reality we’re facing. These changes have already shattered confidence in farm investment, and many of us are now questioning whether we’ll have viable businesses to pass on to our children.
"This issue has united the farming community in a way that I’ve never seen before and we will not rest until the government recognises the devastating impact this policy will have on food security, the environment, and our rural communities."
Finally Warwickshire farmers, who liaised closely with the police, put on a strong display with a convoy of 50 tractors and farm vehicles meeting at Warwick Racecourse before heading off in timed groups for Warwick High Street before driving down The Parade in Royal Leamington Spa.
NFU member and farmer at Hillborough farm John Baylis said: “The government needs to work with family farms like ours to achieve its food security and nature restoration goals – but those goals are now seriously at risk.”
“It’s not that we don’t want to pay tax. It’s that this tax is unaffordable,” his wife Ann added.
