Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner and Northumberland North MP David Smith met almost 20 members at former Northumberland County Chair James Drummond鈥檚 farm, near Alnwick.聽
Concerns around Inheritance Tax dominated the conversation, alongside the delivery of SFI and members conveyed their worry about future planning. They also discussed food security and about recognising the need for local processors and how much agriculture adds to the local economy.聽
Farmers took along produce to the meeting for the minister to sample, which demonstrated the quality and variety that Northumberland has to offer.聽
Jane Dungait, Northumberland County Adviser, said: 鈥淭he members really appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Minister and their local MP and strongly voice their concerns to them directly.
鈥淭hey were listening and seemed to take on board what we said. They agreed to take the points raised about Inheritance Tax and SFI back to the Treasury for discussion.
鈥淚t was good that members were able to get in front of both of them. Thank you to everyone who attended and for James Drummond for hosting the meeting.鈥澛�