THE younger generation will be hardest hit by planned changes to inheritance tax laws, a vet and farmer has claimed. 

Aoife Ferris, of Lakeland Vets, said the controversial changes will add to a long list of pressures facing young farmers, all of which are driving people away from the industry. 

"This is change is going to affect my generation probably more than anyone," said Ms. Ferris, who was a panellist at the event organised by The Impartial Reporter and The Farmer's Voice. 

"Our generation is the generation of emigration. Many farmers sons and daughters are working alongside the farm and are farming at weekends and in the evening. 

"I see this every day when out on farms; oftentimes the vet is the only person the farmer sees during the everyday, especially for the older generation of farmers.

"It's not surprising; farming can be exhausting profession, both physically and financially, and there aren't many incentives for young people. 

"I do feel that the appeal for young farmers to farm is being reduced year on year. The wage goes back into the farm trying to improve things. TB is a massive massive issue, and there are other diseases coming though that are of grave concern, such as Blue Tongue.

"Then we have low farm prices, the cost of land and lack of land whether, renting or buying. Now we are looking at a tax for farmers on what they have built up for generations, for their kids to have. 

"This really will be detrimental for farmers."

During this discussion, BBC Journalist and host, Elaine Mitchell, described the family farm tax as "the straw that broke the camels back."

 "Farmers have taken a lot of hits, TB is a massive issue, and we saw how they were treated during the pandemic," Mrs. Mitchell remarked. 

Addressing Ms. Ferris, the journalist asked: "Many have said this is an attempt by the government to try and dissuade farmers. Aoife; if you had known this was going to happen before you took on your enterprise, would you have gone into it with the same excitement?"

"I think so!" Ms. Ferris responded. "I think every farmer will agree that farming is a way of life, maybe an expensive hobby. 

"I would still have gone into it with the same enthusiasm. Farming is something you are born into. Its a way of life, a very enjoyable way of life, but also a very testing way of life at times."