Stormont Executive yet to support Muir on EPA

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has not yet received a green light from ministers around the Stormont Executive table for his plans to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in NI.

Answering a written ministerial question from his party colleague, Danny Donnelly MLA, Minister Muir pointed out there has been two Assembly motions endorsing a new EPA in 2020 and 2025. In addition, an independent panel appointed by the Minister to look at the issue, recommended in October 2025 that the enforcement work currently done by the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) should be moved into a new body.

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“Despite this context and the clear and significant damage that failed environmental governance is having on our environment, our economy, people’s livelihoods, and crucially public trust and confidence, I am still seeking Executive support, in principle, to establish an independent EPA in NI,” said Minister Muir.

NI scheme finds soil pH averaging 5.8

The average soil pH across the first three zones of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) was 5.8, an AFBI has said.

Alex Higgins said there was a general decrease in soil pH from east to west which was likely due to more rainfall and leaching in western areas.

“For many farms the average pH sits below the optimum crop levels which would be most effective at maximising nutrient uptake.

“For intensive grass or silage fields, lime applications are one of the quickest and most cost-effective methods to increase nutrient use efficiency,” he said.

AFBI have also found that on many farms soil phosphorus (P) indexes are above the optimum target of index 2+ for intensively managed grassland.

The average soil P was index 3 in the first SNHS zone, index 2+ in the second zone and index three again in the third zone.

“Farmers are encouraged to carefully consider their P applications to reduce surplus soil P, as this plant available form is also very susceptible to loss to waterways,” Higgins said.

Ireland agrees nitrates derogation with EU

Irish Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon confirmed on Tuesday that the Republic of Ireland has secured its nitrates derogation for a further three years, following a positive vote in favour at a meeting of the EU Nitrates Committee.

It means that around 7,000 farms in ROI will be able to continue in a derogation which allows them to operate at a stocking rate of 220kg manure nitrogen (N) per hectare - above the normal 170kg limit. In NI, the derogation limit is still set at 250kg manure N/ha.

However, as part of the process of agreeing a new derogation, some additional requirements are to be put in place for ROI farmers in certain river catchments, including a 5% cut to the maximum rates of fertiliser N that can be applied. Derogation farmers will also have to adhere to larger buffer zones when spreading fertiliser and slurry close to watercourses. These rules will apply from 2028.

GrassCheck December deadline

AgriSearch has reminded farmers that anyone interested in taking part in its GrassCheck programme has until Friday 19 December to apply.

Up to 50 livestock farmers are being sought from across NI.

An information pack is available from the AgriSearch website.

EU deforestation law delayed again

For the second time, the EU has agreed to delay the implementation of its deforestation regulation, with implementation of the rules now put back to 30 December 2026.

The regulation aims to ensure that products such as soya, palm oil, coffee, wood and beef being exported to the EU have not been associated with deforestation in the country of origin.

However, concerns have been raised about the impact of the rules on supply chains, especially for the likes of soya.

Those concerns have now been allayed, with the EU also agreeing to review the deforestation rules early in 2026.

Irwin steps down from Stormont

Newry and Armagh MLA, William Irwin has confirmed he is to step down from the Stormont Assembly at the end of the year.

An MLA since 2007, the Co Armagh dairy farmer has also been a long-standing member of the Agriculture committee at Stormont and served as committee chair from September 2014 to March 2016.

Paying tribute, DUP leader Gavin Robinson described his party colleague as “an authentic voice” representing farmers and the wider agri-food industry.

Cattle excluded from Winter Fair

The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society confirmed on Monday that there would be no cattle classes at this year’s Winter Fair.

Up to that point, organisers had said classes would continue, but with no exhibitors from the Temporary Control Zones in Co Down or from the Republic of Ireland.

“As widespread testing is continuing for bluetongue and due to our very close proximity to the temporary control zone, it is our priority to protect the welfare of the province’s top dairy stock,” said Rhonda Geary from the RUAS.

BVD hotspot areas in border counties

There are “concerning and high levels” of BVD appearing in counties along the border, two industry led bodies have said.

In a statement, Animal Health and Welfare NI and Animal Health Ireland said current hotspot areas are within Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Monaghan.

The two bodies have launched a joint campaign to encourage farmers to protect their herds from BVD.

Drugs in NI lakes and rivers

A study led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) has revealed the presence of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and illicit drugs in NI’s lakes and rivers.

Samples were taken from 50 sites across five major freshwater bodies, with opioid pain-killer tramadol (91%), cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine (91%), caffeine (80%) and the anti-depressant venlafaxine (76%) among the most frequently found.

However, compared with other regions in Britain and Ireland, water bodies in NI were found to be less contaminated overall.