Farming 'all I've known' for Cambridgeshire farmer amid doubts over future
Luke Abblitt has been farming near Ramsey since 2011
A Cambridgeshire farmer has raised concerns if his future in the industry is secure.
Members of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) came together yesterday to urge both the public and MPs to support them.
But changes to inheritance tax for landowners remain a threat to some family farms and long-term food security.
"I don't know what the future holds, whether I'm going to end up being a farmer to be honest," Luke Abblitt said.
"It makes me feel worried I might not retire as a farmer; it' something I've wanted to do since I was four, five-years-old, it's all I've known."
Luke looks after around 400 acres of land owned by Cambridgeshire County Council near Ramsey, and produces the likes of potatoes, wheat, sugar beet and barley.
The inheritance tax plans - set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves - come into effect from next April, where landowners will have to pay the tax at a rate of 20% for properties worth over £1 million, payable in instalments over 10 years interest-free.
Since 2022, the NFU say Luke has spoken to more than 1,500 schoolchildren about how British farming works and where food comes from as part of being an NFU Education farmers for schools ambassador.
But it's unclear how Luke will be affected by the tax move in future.
'Keep my head down' mentality
"I can make all the plans in the world, but until we know what's going to happen, it is a worry and the uncertainty within the industry, everything is up in the air," he said.
"Until everything's come into fruition, I'll have more of an idea what's going on so at the minute, my mentality is to keep my head down, keep producing food and keep going."
Ms Reeves previously told us almost three-quarters of farms will pay no extra inheritance tax under the Government's plans.
"Some of the biggest land owners and larger farms will have to pay a bit more, but even for them it'll be half the rate that middle class families face at just 20%," she said.
"I think this is a fair package, protecting smaller, family farms, but asking some of those bigger land owners to pay a bit more in tax."