Government officials are being urged by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) to include an emergency aid package for NI farmers in contingency plans for a possible no-deal Brexit.
“We have urged government to prioritise contingency planning.
"However, in addition to this practical and logistical planning, to prevent the total collapse of our farming industry farmers will need separate and additional funding,” UFU president Ivor Ferguson said.
He maintained that the agri food industry would effectively face a trade embargo on the export of UK animals and animal-based products in a no-deal Brexit.
“A number of sectors would face particularly high customs tariffs on exports,” Ferguson said.
The sheep sector would be the worst-affected farming sector in NI.
We are talking about twice the number of lambs being sold into 60% of the market
Over half on NI lambs were slaughtered in southern Irish plants last year and the EU is a key sheepmeat market for NI processors.
An industry source indicated to the Farmers Journal that NI processors are confident that all NI lambs could be slaughtered in local factories if there is no Brexit deal, but the issue would be selling the product and the subsequent impact on price.
“We are talking about twice the number of lambs being sold into 60% of the market,” the source said.
The actual details of the contingency plans that are being developed by government officials in both London and Belfast for use in the event of a no-deal Brexit remain unclear.
On enquiry, a DAERA spokesperson said that civil servants have been developing plans on a “reasonable worst-case scenario” basis.
“Contingency plans will be under constant development over the coming months as we engage with key stakeholder groups.”
In the Republic of Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed on Tuesday that requests to European Commission for emergency no deal Brexit aid for Irish farmers have already been initiated.
In NI, several industry stakeholders have expressed dissatisfaction at the UK government’s approach to no-deal Brexit planning.
“For some time now we have been raising our concerns to government. Although it has only been recently that it has started to engage with us,” Ivor Ferguson said.
Read more
Watch: Brexit 'emergency aid' for beef, dairy and fishing requested – Taoiseach
Listen: 'WTO tariffs will add €1.7bn to Irish exports' - Minister Creed
Government officials are being urged by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) to include an emergency aid package for NI farmers in contingency plans for a possible no-deal Brexit.
“We have urged government to prioritise contingency planning.
"However, in addition to this practical and logistical planning, to prevent the total collapse of our farming industry farmers will need separate and additional funding,” UFU president Ivor Ferguson said.
He maintained that the agri food industry would effectively face a trade embargo on the export of UK animals and animal-based products in a no-deal Brexit.
“A number of sectors would face particularly high customs tariffs on exports,” Ferguson said.
The sheep sector would be the worst-affected farming sector in NI.
We are talking about twice the number of lambs being sold into 60% of the market
Over half on NI lambs were slaughtered in southern Irish plants last year and the EU is a key sheepmeat market for NI processors.
An industry source indicated to the Farmers Journal that NI processors are confident that all NI lambs could be slaughtered in local factories if there is no Brexit deal, but the issue would be selling the product and the subsequent impact on price.
“We are talking about twice the number of lambs being sold into 60% of the market,” the source said.
The actual details of the contingency plans that are being developed by government officials in both London and Belfast for use in the event of a no-deal Brexit remain unclear.
On enquiry, a DAERA spokesperson said that civil servants have been developing plans on a “reasonable worst-case scenario” basis.
“Contingency plans will be under constant development over the coming months as we engage with key stakeholder groups.”
In the Republic of Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed on Tuesday that requests to European Commission for emergency no deal Brexit aid for Irish farmers have already been initiated.
In NI, several industry stakeholders have expressed dissatisfaction at the UK government’s approach to no-deal Brexit planning.
“For some time now we have been raising our concerns to government. Although it has only been recently that it has started to engage with us,” Ivor Ferguson said.
Read more
Watch: Brexit 'emergency aid' for beef, dairy and fishing requested – Taoiseach
Listen: 'WTO tariffs will add €1.7bn to Irish exports' - Minister Creed
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