The government needs to reverse budget decisions which are undermining the future of family farming, says Cath Crowther, East regional director for the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

The government claims to back farmers but their words seem hollow against a backdrop of tax rises, a cut in real terms to the agriculture budget and a speeding up of the end of direct payments.

Failure to increase the agriculture budget will leave farmers unable to deliver on food security or the government's environmental commitments. It will hit sustainable food production and undermine improvements to wildlife habitats, flood management and access to nature. 

Meanwhile, ministers are still saying that capping vital inheritance tax reliefs only affects the wealthiest, but the chancellor’s tax grab may endanger as many as 70,000 farms – from the average family farm up to our biggest food producers.

This week's rally in London has demonstrated the scale of anger felt by farmers and rural businesses across the country. Those who travelled to the capital feel betrayed by a government that has forced them to speak out and take action. 

MPs must now get out of Whitehall and into the countryside to listen to the hard-pressed farmers who are facing a catastrophic drain on their businesses. 

Since the budget, the CLA has held meetings with Defra secretary Steve Reed, and with the Treasury, to provide evidence on how their decisions will have a serious impact on family farms.  

Thousands of our members joined a CLA campaign to send a letter to their MP calling for the decisions in the budget to be reversed.

It will be very difficult for MPs to ignore such a strong strength of feeling and we believe that this will lead to more pressure on the chancellor for a U-turn. 

The changes to inheritance tax announced in the budget have created more questions than answers. You can find a "frequently asked questions" document on the CLA website which provides some straightforward guidance and clarity on what it all means for rural businesses.

There is a wealth of other information on the site too which aims to keep our members informed of the very latest developments.

The CLA will continue to call on the government to reconsider its decisions in the budget which risk undermining the future of family farming across the country.