Farmer ‘humbled’ by public support after tractor seizure

Devon arable farmer Steve Webber says he has been “humbled” by the public’s response after his tractor was seized during last week’s Budget Day protest, with more than £16,000 raised and any surplus destined for two farming charities.

The fundraiser, launched by Lincolnshire farmer Taron Lee, surpassed all expectations within 24 hours, but the identity of the second farmer whose tractor was also seized in Trafalgar Square remains unknown.

Once that farmer is found and reimbursed, the remaining funds will be shared between the Farming Community Network (FCN) and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi).

See also: Tractor protest seizure fundraiser hits £16,000 in hours

Mr Webber, who farms near Exeter, told Farmers Weekly he was grateful to Mr Lee for launching the fundraiser and thanked the public for their “incredible” support.

“It was very humbling,” he said. “People recognised what happened in London as being two-tier policing.

“Farmers can’t strike and we can’t set our own prices – yet when we ask politicians to apply some common sense to the farm inheritance tax situation, the government keeps saying no.”

He said the support should reassure farmers who often feel unsure whether the public is behind them. “We’re in a bit of a pickle in this country. Farmers have got to show we’re there for the public, too,” he added.

Mr Webber’s Fendt Vario 720 was impounded despite, he says, a police officer telling him earlier that he could park outside Canada House, near Trafalgar Square. Some 200 tractors were also parked in the area.

“I don’t blame the police or the recovery firm,” he said. “They were just following orders. But I think what happened was absurd.”

Mr Webber travelled home to fetch his paperwork and returned to London the next day to pay £448 to release the tractor. He will send the invoice to Mr Lee, though he won’t claim for other costs incurred.

© John Young

John Young, a fifth-generation farmer from Northumberland, began a Facebook Live stream when he realised police intended to impound the tractor. He alerted farming social media groups, which quickly reached Mr Webber. The two have since become friends.

Mr Young, who visited Mr Webber at his Devon farm last week to check on him, said: “I do a lot of work around mental health and wanted to help Steve.

“The tractor is his livelihood. There was some unnecessary heavy-handedness.”

Rabi grateful

Rabi’s head of fundraising, Paul Pirie, said the charity was grateful for the remaining funds once all farmers are reimbursed.

“This donation will help us continue providing practical, financial and emotional assistance to farmers, including professional wellbeing support,” he said.

Anyone who knows the identity of the second tractor owner is urged to contact Farmers Weekly. Email philip.case@markallengroup.com