Richard Heady, 37, was hoping to pass on his family farm down to his children, just as his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did before him.

For more than a century, his family farmed the same 1,000 acres of land near Milton Keynes, tending fields of wheat, barley, beans and oats and raising cattle. But following the Labor controversies fiscal raid for farmers, the future they envisioned—and worked their whole lives to achieve—is in jeopardy.

“We’re looking at losing 20 percent of the farm per generation,” says Heady. “It’s not going to be a viable business – the size of the farm really makes a difference to your economies of scale and whether you can make a living from it. To lose him inheritance tax it’s a massive blow.”

For some farmers, this tax capture is the final strawplunging those who are already toiling under difficult conditions into utter despair. Tragically, one farmer has already taken his own life as a result, according to his family. John CharlesworthThe 78-year-old was found dead at his 70-acre farm in Barnsley, Yorkshire, a week ago after being “eaten” by the prospect of losing the estate, his son Jonathan, aged 46 years, for The Telegraph. The incident, which took place 24 hours before the Budget, came amid fevered speculation over Labour’s plans.

Those already feeling the pressure have been advised to contact one of the many charities set up to support mental health of farmers and other rural workers such as Yellow Wellies and the Farming Community Network (FCN). But, as Wilson says, “in the end, talking won’t pay a million pound fee. Farmers are at breaking point.”