Farming in the 21st Century: A Young Farmer's Perspective on Challenges and Opportunities

Bridgette Baker, a 24-year-old fifth-generation farmer from South Somerset, discusses her passion for farming in an environment that often doesn’t recognize its complexities or rewards. Despite facing skepticism from her school peers about her choice to pursue agriculture, Bridgette values the intelligence and dedication required in the field. Working alongside her father and grandfather on their beef and arable farm, which includes selling home-made sausages, Bridgette has big dreams for her role in the farming community.

She expresses concern about recent government changes to inheritance tax beginning in April 2026 that could impose a 20% tax on agricultural assets over £1 million, potentially forcing family farms like hers to save funds instead of investing back into farming. Bridgette fears these changes could negatively impact their ability to operate sustainably and may lead to less competition with larger imports, ultimately affecting food prices for consumers.

In addition to tax concerns, she criticizes the government’s abrupt closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to new applicants, which provided vital support for environmentally focused initiatives post-Brexit. This decision has left farmers like Bridgette vulnerable, especially if they experience a struggling financial year.

Bridgette emphasizes the importance of experience in farming, learned hands-on through her work with animals like her prized pregnant pig, Dotty. Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about the agricultural sector’s future and hopes to explore agricultural journalism as a backup career path. She believes that the government must engage more with farmers to make informed decisions that will benefit the rural economy and preservation of family farms.