Farmers united.

That was the abiding image from the Eikon Centre near Lisburn on Monday night as over 6,000 farmers and family members gathered for the Ulster Farmers’ Union protest rally over the proposed Inheritance Tax and Agricultural Property Relief changes from April 2026.

The farmers were joined by representatives of political parties, all of whom spoke with one voice in opposition to the UK government’s plans to introduce the tax above assets of £1million.

Hundreds of farmers made the journey from their farms across Fermanagh and the west of the Province to stand in solidarity with their fellow farmers.

The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and in addition to MLAs, there were MPs there too.

UFU President William Irvine, who chaired the event, said: “The decision we’re facing on APR is nothing short of devastating. It affects everyone, from the youngest child to the eldest member of our community, and it will shape the future of rural NI. This is not a one-off hit on our businesses, it will threaten every generation in the future. Politicians and representatives from the Labour Government are here tonight, and they need to hear our message loud and clear, this decision must be overturned.”

“The government’s claim that ‘£3 million in relief’ will shield us is utterly misleading. They’re talking about APR alone and ignoring Business Property Relief for the stock, machinery, and assets that make our farms run.

"By twisting the numbers, they paint a picture that 73 per cent of farms won’t be affected. This is not just wrong – it’s deceptive. The Labour Government is out of touch with the realities of farming, and we’re here to put the record straight and let them know that in no uncertain terms, this is unacceptable.”

He said it was not just farms on the line but impacted the country’s food security and the communities they cherished.

He told the large gathering that the government policy was unsustainable.

Local farmers Jessica Pollock and Lorraine Killen from the west of the Province spoke at the event, stressing the heartbreaking reality that farm families are now dealing with and their determination to overturn the Government’s decision.

Lorraine told the crowd: “For generations, we have poured everything into our farms - every penny, every ounce of effort, and made countless sacrifices. We’ve faced immense challenges, and some of us have endured devastating losses.

"Yet, we carried on. And now, we stand on the brink of losing it all.

“This entire farming community has been living under a very dark cloud of late. We are struggling to comprehend what this future holds and we are scared of what it means for our children. Those little ones who follow us around the yard, asking questions, learning, and dreaming of their own futures in farming - what will we tell them? That they have no choice but to give it all up? That their hopes and dreams have been stolen?"

During the speeches, there were calls of betrayal and insult as politicians lined up on the platform to condemn the government’s action.

The meeting began very late as the sheer volume of traffic going to the Eikon Centre created long delays on the roads.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said that anger and worry had been palpable in recent times and he has officially asked the government to reverse their decision on IHT.

He said his own Department’s analysis had laid bare the stark facts and he has asked DEFRA to face the reality that this would have a disproportionate impact on Northern Ireland farms.

Many of the local farmers travelled by buses to the Eikon Centre and many others packed cars and pick-ups.

One farmer who attended was Noel Graham, from a suckler cow and beef holding, Deerpark Farms, Kesh, leaving his farmyard around 6pm on Monday and not returning home until well after 1am Tuesday morning.

“It was a fantastic turnout. All the speakers were in support of each other for once,” said Noel, who works on the farm with his two sons.

He said it was sad to think that many farms handed down for generations would not be able to survive.

The government, he said, must make a U-turn.

“The farmer is the backbone of the countryside and a food producer and we all need food,” he said.