Muir wants slurry planning rules relaxed

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir wants NI farmers to be able to construct slurry stores without the need to apply for full planning permission.

At Stormont on Monday, Minister Muir said he has had “significant engagement” with NI Environment Agency officials on the issue of planning rules for slurry stores. “They are coming to a conclusion on the future of slurry stores and how to get into a situation in which, hopefully, permitted development rights are associated with them. That is where we need to get to,” he said.

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AD motion support

All the main political parties at Stormont have supported a motion calling for the NI Executive to develop a strategy for anaerobic digestion (AD) and biomethane production. The non-binding motion from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) stated that biomethane has the potential to address environmental pressures and improve energy security in NI.

In his address to MLAs, Robbie Butler from the UUP said AD plants should primarily be used for utilising food waste and surplus nutrients.

“It is not about growing crops for profit at the expense of food production. If we get that bit wrong, we will create a new problem instead of solving the one that we have,” he said.

During the debate, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins confirmed that a public consultation on “a cross-departmental biomethane policy” is planned for later this year.

Beef and lamb prices similar to salmon

The substantial increase in beef prices over the last 18 months has opened up a gap of around 400p/kg to pigs and poultry and left beef and lamb comparable with salmon, Michael Haverty from Andersons told last Thursday’s IFJ / LMC spring conference.

He warned that the gap adds to the potential that consumers might be tempted by cheaper offerings.

“Food spending has remained quite resilient. But there are some concerns around whether it can continue, particularly due to higher energy costs coming for consumers,” he said.

See more on page 12.