Muir does not overrule DAERA officials
Andrew Muir did not make any decisions during his first year as Agriculture Minister, which contradicted advice from his department officials.
DAERA’s latest annual report states that Minister Muir did not issue any “ministerial directions” during the 2024/25 financial year.
This process is required within government if a minister wants to go ahead with a decision which is against the advice of senior civil servants.
“There were no ministerial directions issued to the DAERA accounting officer during 2024/25,” the department’s annual report states.
Corrie’s ‘leading ladies’ sell to £9,300
The annual “leading ladies” sale of in-calf heifers by Gareth Corrie from Newtownards was topped at £9,300 last weekend.
The sale topper was a Belgian Blue-Limousin cross heifer, born in January 2023 and weighing 850kg. She is due to calve at the end of October to the Limousin bull Trueman Idol.
Overall, the two-day online timed auction, which was run by Ballymena Livestock Mart, saw 27 lots sell to an average price of £5,374.
Options for orange and purple wormers
Using a group four (orange) or group five (purple) sheep wormer as a mid-to-late season dose can help manage resistance and support growth rates, an animal health expert has said.
Nerys Wright, who is a technical adviser to SCOPS, said the aim is to clear out worms that have survived earlier treatments of group one (white), two (yellow) and three (clear) wormers.
“These actives (group four and five) play a key role in slowing resistance development and clearing out persistent worm burdens, but timing is everything,” Wright said.
She said treatment decisions should be based on wormers administered to date, parasite burdens observed in recent weeks, and overall flock performance.
Wright said if lambs have not required any worm dose so far this season, then a break dose with a group four or five product may not be needed yet.
Rebanks to headline Fields Good Festival
English sheep farmer and author, James Rebanks is among the speakers at the Fields Good Festival, which is returning for a second year to The Sheddings at Glenarm Castle on 6 September. The main focus at the regenerative farming event will be managing soil, with talks to cover issues such as soil compaction, slurry, grazing and biological nutrition of plants. As well as the three speaker marquees, there will also be various demonstrations on the likes of fencing systems and composting, as well as over 40 trade stands and a new dedicated horticulture area. Tickets are £50 plus booking fee and camping is available. For more information visit https://fieldsgood.co.uk/.
UFU reminder on avian flu
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has reminded poultry flock owners about the need for heightened biosecurity given the threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Last Thursday authorities in the Republic of Ireland confirmed avian influenza had been found in a small backyard flock in Donegal. There have also been six recent cases in the England, while a wild bird in Co Down has also tested positive.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. Whether you keep a few hens in the back garden or manage a commercial unit, strict biosecurity is essential.
“It’s our first and best line of defence,” said UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy.
Kimmins to appeal A5 judgement
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed that her Department has instructed legal counsel to lodge an appeal against the decision made in the High Court in June 2025 which overturned permission to proceed with the A5 dual carriageway.
The £1.7bn project was given the green light by the Stormont Executive last October, but hit a further impasse in June when a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence the project complied with targets set out in the Climate Change Act passed by local politicians in 2022.
The appeal from Minister Kimmins has to be lodged by the deadline of Friday 8 August 2025.
August food fayre at Katesbridge farm
Shanaghan Hill Farm at Katesbridge in Co Down is to host a Lamb & Local food fayre on Saturday 23 August, which will celebrate sustainably raised lamb and the best of local artisan produce.
As well as 100% grass-fed lamb from Shanaghan farm, other local food producers being showcased include Ballydown Milk, Ballylisk of Armagh, Betty’s Ice Cream, Macha’s Orchard, Marshall Beekeeping, Simply Irresistible, and Sola Fide Farm.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union and the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Food Heartland are partnering in the event.
Muir rules out re-starting ANC payments
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir does not intend to re-introduce Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) payments for farmers in less favoured areas (LFAs).
In response to a written question from Sinn Fein MLA Declan McAleer, Minister Muir said there has been “no evidence of land abandonment to any significant extent” since ANC payments ended in 2017.
“Since the ending of ANC payments, there has been no significant change to agriculture in LFAs relative to the lowland in NI either in livestock numbers or farmed areas,” he said.
Green light for NI pork to Mexico
Karro in Cookstown, Cranswick Country Foods in Ballymena and the Interfrigo cold store in Antrim are among UK businesses to have received approval to export pork to Mexico.
The new export deal, announced by DEFRA, is expected to be worth up to £19m to the UK food industry. The deal has been welcomed by Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir, who noted the joint efforts of both DEFRA and DAERA, working alongside industry.
Ewe lambs sought for charity auction
Dee Heron from Raffrey in Co Down has organised an auction of breeding ewe lambs, to take place at Saintfield Livestock Mart on Friday 22 August at 7.30pm, with all proceeds going to Action Cancer.
A volunteer with the Moneyreagh and District Action Cancer fundraising group, Dee is calling on support from the local farming community.
“All money raised stays in NI and goes towards the charity’s cancer support services including its skin cancer detection service.
“However, we can’t hold an auction without the livestock so I am appealing to any farmers, local or otherwise to consider donating to the event,” he said.
Anyone interested in getting involved should contact Mark Irwin-Watson on 028 9080 3371 or email mirwin-watson@actioncancer.org.