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Farmers in NI face more TB testing and changes in how they buy dosing products under new EU rules.
Addressing Tyrone UFU members at the President’s meeting on Tuesday, chief executive Wesley Aston explained that under the NI protocol within the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, NI must follow EU law.
“Yes, we will have to adhere to those rules as part of the EU regulatory zone,” he said.
From April 2021, EU animal health law will require farmers to TB-test an animal either before or after it moves on to another herd, unless both the animal and the herd of origin were tested in the previous six months.
The new regulations will still allow merchants to stock dosing products
And from January 2022, new EU rules on wormers come into force which would require farmers to have a prescription from a vet before buying dosing products. At present vets, pharmacists and suitably qualified persons in licenced agricultural merchants can sell these products.
The new regulations will still allow merchants to stock dosing products, but a prescription will be necessary to show that a vet has been consulted.
When asked about the potential for increased TB testing, UFU president Victor Chestnutt said he would find the change “hard to swallow”, and that his organisation’s position remains that DAERA must first tackle the TB issue in wildlife before introducing any new rules.
A public consultation from DAERA on a new long-term TB strategy is understood to be imminent.
Opportunities
The majority of questions at the UFU event on Tuesday related to Brexit. Chestnutt said that change will bring opportunities for farmers, and NI was potentially in a good place given that we have unfettered access to both the market in the EU and in Britain.
But he said he was “fearful” that civil servants could end up limiting those opportunities by tying the industry up in red tape.
An example of that is the movement of livestock from Britain to NI. “We don’t know how this is going to work at the minute,” acknowledged Chestnutt.
Aid
On the issue of aid for farmers in the northwest affected by floods and landslides in August 2017, Chestnutt said that he remained “very hopeful” that there might be a positive outcome in the new year.
He is also confident that aid will come from the Stormont COVID-19 support scheme for broiler breeders early in 2021, but is less optimistic the fund will cover losses due to the low price of wool.
Income support
When asked about whether farmers should apply for the third tranche of the UK government’s Self Employment Income Support Scheme, Chestnutt warned farmers to be “very careful”. The grant will cover 80% of average profits for a three-month period up to a maximum of £7,500. Claims can be made up to 29 January 2021.
Given that prices across most sectors have been relatively strong this autumn, Chesnutt said that anyone considering applying should speak to their accountant
The scheme requires that businesses “must have had a new or continuing impact from coronavirus, which you reasonably believe will have a significant reduction in your profits”.
Given that prices across most sectors have been relatively strong this autumn, Chesnutt said that anyone considering applying should speak to their accountant.
“The last thing we need is agriculture coming under scrutiny for taking advantage of something they didn’t really need,” he said.
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