While the start of payments for the 2017 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme will boost hill farm incomes, deep concerns remain about the agriculture department's plans to close this valued scheme.
Spring is a costly time of the year on all farms, said Ulster Farmers' Union hill farming chairman Ian Buchanan.
"But it's even more expensive on farms in severely disadvantaged areas where cold weather and wet conditions restrict grass growth and stock turnout," he said.
"This drives up costs, and that is why ANC payments are so important for cash flows."
That makes cuts to the scheme in 2018, and plans to then end it completely, a body blow for farmers in these areas.
Losing money
Mr Buchanan said the Northern Ireland department for agriculture believes a modest increase in basic payment to severely disadvantaged areas will offset the loss of ANC payments.
"In reality this could not be further from the truth," he said.
"Many Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA) farms are already losing money from the Basic Payment transition process.
"There will also be income lost as agri-environment agreements end and the timeline for the roll out of the new Environmental Farming Scheme means that there will be a considerable break before new payments will be received.
Severely Disadvantaged Areas
Statistics from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) included in their 2016 ANC consultation showed that between 2008 and 2013 SDA farms were £115/ha worse off than lowland farms.
The UFU is now pressing for these figures to be updated to take account of planned changes in support.
"Farms in hill areas make a major contribution to our economy, the environment and wider rural community," Mr Buchanan said.
"This has been recognised for decades by the EU.
"European legislation provides additional support, in recognition of the difficult conditions in these areas. DAERA officials cannot ignore these harsh economic facts - and when devolution returns this has to be a priority for the new minister," said Mr Buchanan.
