Tractor protest targets BBC’s coverage of farming issues

Around 40 tractors gathered outside BBC South’s office in Southampton, organised by Farmers to Action (FTA) to protest at what they view as the broadcaster’s failure to adequately cover critical issues affecting the farming community.

The protest, on Tuesday 30 April, was primarily aimed at highlighting concerns over upcoming changes to farm inheritance tax (IHT), the sudden closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to new applicants, and the financial pressures caused by supermarket trading practices.

FTA members argue that these issues are having a devastating impact on the future of British agriculture and the mental health of farmers, but the BBC is failing to provide adequate coverage to the public.

See also: Video: Farmers To Action stages ‘Say No to Labour’ protests

The key issue driving the protest was the government’s October 2024 decision to cap IHT relief for farms at £1m, due to take effect from April 2026, which farmers say could force thousands of family farms out of business.

Protesters claim the BBC, despite airing popular rural programming such as Countryfile, has not given sufficient coverage to these pressing issues, including the financial strain caused by IHT changes and the push towards net-zero policies.

© Farmers to Action

FTA protest organiser Kurt Morton said: “The farmers today came to Southampton to show their anger over the failure of the BBC to cover the issues that are impacting farmers, their families and communities.

“Government policies that affect IHT along with rising costs are having serious consequences on family run farms.”

The protesters also raised concerns over unfair supermarket practices, alleging that exploitative pricing and contract terms are further damaging farmers’ livelihoods.

They emphasised that these issues, combined with government policies, are worsening mental health problems within the farming community.

“We are not just fighting for our livelihoods, we are fighting for the future of food security in this country,” the FTA spokesperson added.

“The public deserves to understand what is happening to the farmers who feed them.”

BBC responds to criticism

In response, a BBC spokesperson said the corporation has “a broad range of farming and rural affairs programming”.

The spokesperson added: “BBC News has a dedicated rural affairs correspondent and producer to report on issues which affect farmers’ lives and livelihoods across the UK.

“Further to this we have an executive editor [that] co-chairs the BBC’s Rural Advisory Committee which includes rural stakeholders and shares insight from across farming communities.”

Farmers To Action is a recently formed grassroots organisation of farmers and other supporters lobbying for the farming community and the broader public.