草榴社区

The UK's Premier Agricultural Machinery and Technology Show

20鈥�21 January 2027, NEC, Birmingham

Event Details

Conservative Party Conference: Debate sparks question on whether landowners should be taxed for taking farmland out of production for solar

Governments present and past have told farmers they are custodians of the countryside for the work they do to maintain landscapes and safeguard food security. But the drive for Net Zero and the number of solar developments in the countryside has led to farmers wondering if they are now going to be custodians of solar?

Chris Brayford
clock 鈥� 4 min read
"We do not want to be property developers and we do not want to stewards of solar. We want to be farmers."
Image:

"We do not want to be property developers and we do not want to stewards of solar. We want to be farmers."

Taxing landowners who take productive land out of production for solar could help to even up access to affordable farmland for young farmers, food producers have claimed. During a fringe event at the...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to 草榴社区 Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Join Now

听

More on Politics

Labour MP calls on government to completely scrap family farm tax
Politics

Labour MP calls on government to completely scrap family farm tax

With the Autumn Budget approaching, the Government has been urged to U-turn on its inheritance tax changes

Mia Willemsen
Mia Willemsen
clock 01 October 2026 鈥� 3 min read
Rural Britain must be included in plans for country's economic renewal, says Labour MP
Politics

Rural Britain must be included in plans for country's economic renewal, says Labour MP

The chair of the Labour Rural Research Group said rural Britain was 鈥榚conomically constrained' when it comes to housing, connectivity, transport and infrastructure

Rachael Brown
Rachael Brown
clock 01 October 2026 鈥� 3 min read
Brexit has done "more harm than good" as PM vows to explore closer relationship with the EU
Politics

Brexit has done "more harm than good" as PM vows to explore closer relationship with the EU

Andy Burnham said he hopes to find consensus on Britain's future relationship with the European Union

Rachael Brown
Rachael Brown
clock 29 September 2026 鈥� 2 min read