The unprecedented decision by the Executive of the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) to pass a unanimous vote of no-confidence in DAERA last Wednesday evening highlights just how much frustration there currently is towards policy making within the department.

The long list of issues raised by the UFU include the lack of a cull of wildlife in TB hotspot areas, the failure to deliver a sheep support scheme and the impasse around planning.

There are also unattainable climate change targets, a disastrous initial rollout of proposed changes to the Nutrients Action Programme and what looks like a consistent focus from DAERA Minister Andrew Muir on the environment rather than farming.

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In recent weeks the minister has made clear he wants an independent environmental protection agency, to replace much of the functions of the NI Environment Agency. He also recently apologised to farmers for the 2013 Going for Growth strategy and the negative impact it has had on water quality in NI.

That in particular, was a curious move given that the strategy really focused on adding value and any growth since then was driven by market forces. It was something that would have been better left unsaid.

But at the same time, we must recognise there has been good work done. Farm payments were out again in September and there has been a very useful top-up made in October. The minister has also made a strong case for more farm funding and for changes to be made to Labour’s proposed inheritance tax reforms.

Challenging

Irrespective of who is in charge, we also must accept that these are really challenging times for DAERA, with NI left in a post-brexit limbo, still part of the UK internal market, but following EU rules for goods and trying to manage a new EU border at local ports.

The department has also been left to develop its own farm policies and write its own laws. As an industry, we spent decades blaming the bureaucrats in Brussels for rules we didn’t like. Now we have no-one else to blame, but our own policy makers.

Danger

While the UFU put across many valid concerns last week, there is also a danger that their vote of no confidence plays into the hands of those who think the institutions at Stormont should be consigned to history.

What we have isn’t perfect, but at least we have local decisions made by people we elect. We can’t totally ignore the bigger picture in this part of the world.