Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill talks about the county’s proud farming heritage

There has been a huge reaction to the measures taken by this government in October’s budget and specifically the new laws which could negatively impact Lincolnshire’s small businesses and farming families, writes Martin Hill (Con), leader of Lincolnshire County Council.

We have a proud farming heritage in Lincolnshire, with our county home to the UK Food Valley. Our farmers and agricultural growers supply 30 per cent of the nation’s vegetables, 18 per cent of its poultry and has a total output of more than £2billion.

Most businesses in Lincolnshire are relatively small and will be affected disproportionately, they are the lifeblood of our local economy, spending money locally and positively improving the environment and social fabric.

Introduce measures which may damage them and you run the risk of damaging Lincolnshire’s economic growth and wellbeing.

From April 2026, changes to inheritance tax will mean that assets including land and equipment worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to be taxed at 20 per cent under these new laws.

This is an issue that could affect thousands of people living in Lincolnshire and it is an issue we want to bring to full council in a couple of weeks’ time.

We believe that the strength of feeling in the council chamber on this matter will echo that of the community at large and will be very strong. We need to consider what role the county council could play in supporting residents who may be affected.

Lincolnshire is home to many generations of farmers, those who have grown our food, cared for our countryside and passed on that responsibility to the next generation, so that they can continue to grow vital crops to feed our communities.

Since this budget announcement, local farmers are contacting me and fellow councillors to say they are worried that they may now not be able to pass on their land to their loved ones for fear of leaving them crippled with debt.

This could lead to many of them taking the decision of selling up, despite these farms having been in the family for generations.

Many local people will need to have expert financial advice on this matter. It is clear already that there are lots of pressures on the farming community and the anxiety brought about by these changes will only add to that.

By promoting our Keep Lincolnshire Growing campaign we can effectively signpost Lincolnshire businesses to vital support services including Business Lincolnshire, the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network and the Citizens Advice Service.

More information can be found at: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/KeepLincolnshireGrowing

The October budget also included an increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, a rise in the national living wage and further environmental and employment rules.

These measures taken together will, I believe, place massive extra burden on all business and could result in many more disappearing from Lincolnshire.