Greening not relevant to NI farming

The Greening element of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has had little environmental benefit in NI, a senior DAERA official has acknowledged.

“Greening itself hasn’t had much of an impact or benefit for NI. It was largely to deal with very intensive grain growing areas, which we are not,” DAERA deputy secretary Norman Fulton said.

Greening was introduced in 2015 and grassland farmers automatically qualify for the payment.

Around 300 arable farmers in NI are required to comply with the three-crop rule element of Greening, although they are exempt in 2020 due to the wet winter.

Fulton told Stormont’s agriculture committee that it is likely Greening will not be retained in post Brexit agricultural policy in NI.

“There are probably better things that we could be doing,” he said.

South Down closure

It is understood that Rathfriland based South Down Feeds has closed, with the loss of around 15 full-time jobs. The business operated a small feed mill, alongside a shop offering general agricultural supplies.