There will continue to be area-based payments to farmers in NI for the foreseeable future, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots told MLAs at Stormont this week.

“Area-based payments will remain: let us be clear about that. That will always be a proportion of the payments,” confirmed the minister in response to a question from West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer.

However, speaking in the Stormont chamber, the minister said that he was considering all types of support that could be available, and whether some of the budget might be used to encourage production-based activity, particularly by young farmers.

They are likely to be similar to the limits under the CAP, which currently range from 8% to 15%

He also maintained that his aim is to encourage people who want to farm, not the people who want to own land. But he acknowledged that the NI protocol within the EU/UK Withdrawal Agreement will effectively put a limit on how much of the budget can go on coupled payments.

“They are likely to be similar to the limits under the CAP, which currently range from 8% to 15%,” he said.

As an example, 15% of the total NI budget works out at a payment around £180 per suckler cow.

Tough decisions

Minister Poots also used the session in the Assembly Chamber on Monday to try to get MLAs on board for his plan to deal with TB in wildlife, pleading with MLAs to back him in a targeted cull of badgers in TB hotspot areas.

He put it to MLAs that if they are really concerned about the welfare of wildlife, then they should want to remove animals that are infected and spreading disease.

“That involves making tough decisions, maybe controversial decisions.

“Nonetheless, they are decisions that will improve the welfare of the wildlife population and the bovine population and, at the same time, reduce the spend from the public purse.”

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