End of BDG payments confirmed

DAERA has confirmed that payments to farmers worth up to £490/year for attending business development group (BDG) meetings are to end from the start of April.

“BDG events will continue as normal after March 2018. It is just the annual payments which will stop at the end of March,” a text message circulated among BDG participants this week read.

The plan is for the £560 payment for hosting an on-farm event to remain for BDG members, as well as other incentives such as a limited number of free soil and silage analyses.

However, it is understood that farmers will still need to attend at least five out of eight meetings each year to remain part of their BDG.

Over 2,200 gorse fires in NI last year

The NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended 2,231 gorse fires last year at an estimated cost of over £500,000, according to a consultation document published on Tuesday.

According to DAERA and the Department for Justice, the majority of wildfires in NI are started deliberately and, between 2005 and 2010, £35m was spent fighting these fires.

The two departments are seeking views on a strategy to reduce the number of wildfires occurring in NI. They also want views on how to reduce the impact on the environment and communities when incidents do occur.

The consultation is an online survey and is open to responses until 16 March 2018.

Moy Park owners wary of Brexit deal

The US-based owners of Moy Park have said that Brexit could “adversely impact” the poultry processor if the UK does not retain access to EU markets after Brexit.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation’s annual report was published last week. “If the UK were to significantly alter its regulations affecting the food industry, we could face significant new costs,” the report read.

Net sales

Pilgrim’s accounts showed net sales of $10.77bn and operating profit of $1.39bn last year, with NI-based Moy Park responsible for 18.2% of the corporation’s net sales.

The Colorado-headquartered firm acquired Moy Park from Brazilian meat processing giant JBS in September 2017 for £1bn, with JBS also holding a 78.5% stake in Pilgrim’s.