Each farming sector in NI is making its own case for how it should be supported under a new agricultural policy.

Proposals on future support for the beef and sheep sector in NI have been compiled by Leicestershire-based consultancy firm the Andersons Centre and have been sent to Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots for comment.

The report was a joint initiative between the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), and the NI Meat Exporters’ Association (NIMEA).

The UFU are also involved in a separate report, also being taken forward by the Andersons Centre, on future support for the NI dairy sector.

A third set of proposals is being currently pulled together by the UFU’s cereals, potato, and vegetable committees about new support schemes for arable farmers in NI.

“Each sector is coming forward with an investigation into how best they could retain the payments that are coming into their sector,” said UFU deputy president David Brown.

In an online meeting with members from Co Fermanagh, Brown said that the UFU will eventually bring forward the views of its members “collectively” to DAERA before a new system of farm support is decided.

Badger cull

Also speaking at the meeting, UFU president Victor Chestnutt was fiercely critical of DAERA’s current approach to bovine TB.

In particular, Chestnutt called out “inaction” by the department in not addressing the TB reservoir in wildlife by introducing a widespread badger cull.

“Hopefully, the minister that we have at the minute has the guts to introduce something. We don’t need it in just a small area. We need to move quick on this,” he said.

Example

The UFU president gave the example of a new entrant to dairying who has been in milk production for two years but has now lost 70 of his 100 cows to TB.

“We have been pressing for this scourge of a disease to be tackled wherever it is found, both wildlife and cattle. We cannot go on any further with this inaction of DAERA staff just tackling 50% of the problem,” Chestnutt said.

Powerful environmental groups in NI

Groups which campaign on environmental issues in NI are exerting significant influence over local politicians, according to UFU president Victor Chestnutt.

“It is seen as a vote winner. Every party is greener than they used to be,” he said. Chestnutt described the green lobby in NI as “huge” and “well organised”.

He gave the example of a recent meeting with DAERA officials where environmental campaigners were represented by the former head of the NI civil service David Sterling.

“I couldn’t believe that they had got him captured so soon after retiring, and put into a meeting with DAERA,” Chestnutt said.