With just one year left until the UK leaves the EU, UK Prime Minister Theresa May visited Northern Ireland on Thursday, where she met with the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU).

May is on a tour of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and included a farm visit in her itinerary in NI.

Not knowing what trade arrangements will be in place or how it will be supported makes that impossible

There has been continuing debate over the future of arrangements on the issue of the Irish border post-Brexit and the UFU impressed upon the prime minister the need to come to clear conclusions on the issue.

"The government has been hinting that it will do the right things, but farming is a long-term industry that has to plan. Not knowing what trade arrangements will be in place or how it will be supported makes that impossible", UFU president, Barclay Bell said.

For Brexit to be a success, a smooth transition is essential

The UFU also raised the issue of future farm funding, with farmers in the UK concerned about the level of farm funding they will receive once CAP support is withdrawn post-Brexit.

"I believe the prime minister and her cabinet want to make a success of Brexit. But with the CAP [being] such a large proportion of farm incomes, we need to know how we will move from that to a new policy designed to deliver for UK agriculture. For Brexit to be a success, a smooth transition is essential," said Bell.

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