Muir to set out TB plan in ‘next few weeks’

New proposals for addressing bovine TB in NI are being finalised and will be published in a public consultation, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said.

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Speaking at Stormont on Monday, Minister Muir confirmed that the plan will contain options for “potential wildlife intervention”.

“I expect to launch that consultation in the next few weeks,” he said.

The Alliance MLA told MLAs that stakeholders and the wider public will be able to respond to the proposals in the consultation.

“The responses received will help to inform my decision on the way forward. As I have said previously, any decision that I make will be guided by the science and the available evidence. There is no preferred option at this juncture,” the DAERA minister added.

NI agri-food in King’s Birthday Honours

A number of prominent people within the NI agri-food industry have given awards in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours.

Receiving an MBE for services to agriculture are the former chief executive of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, Wesley Aston, along with the former director of agricultural policy in DAERA, Dr Rosemary Agnew.

Co Derry arable farmer Robert Moore also gets an MBE, as does George Fleming, the chair of Fleming Agri and Harry Geddis, the co-founder of Avondale Foods.

Former researcher at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Dr Stephen Jess, received a BEM for services to agriculture.

Factories put pressure on NI lamb trade

Factory agents put pressure on the NI lamb trade at the start of this week by cutting quotes by 40p/kg.

With the best base quote at 840p/kg, it left a lamb at £176.40 at the 21kg weight limit. The downward pressure was reflected in the trade at local marts on Monday and Tuesday.

However, the live trade was improved in Ballymena by Wednesday.

Example prices from the sale include 19.5kg half weights which made £173, a pen at 20kg went for £173.5, and heavier lambs at 22.5kg half weight sold for £187.

200 farmers sought for CAFRE groups

CAFRE is aiming to recruit a further 200 farmers to join its Business Sustainability Groups programme.

Now in its second year, the initiative has been opened to a second tranche, with applications to be made by 4pm on Monday 29 June 2026.

Farmers in the programme get £786 for hosting a meeting and an annual learner support allowance of £445 for collecting and sharing their farm performance data with fellow group members.