'Full implementation of rural development programme needed' for Northern Ireland's farmers
The Ulster Farmers' Union has listed ways to ease the financial crisis that has plauged Northern Ireland's farmers for over a year, including implementation of the rural development programme.
The UFU has been adamant that the rural development programme must deliver support for farming businesses, with a total funding allocation of £623 million.
The Northern Irish union had its first formal meeting with the new Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) minister, Michelle McIlveen.
Topping the agenda were the financial pressure farmers are under, and the Brexit negotiations.
Speaking after the meeting the UFU President, Barclay Bell, said there was "no escape from reality."
"The number one issue for the 12,000 farming families the UFU represents is financial pressure, which they have been under for more than a year, across all commodities," said the UFU president.
"We used this meeting to cover actions that could help address this income crisis.
"These included full implementation of the rural development programme, led by the farm business investment and agri-environment schemes, advance CAP payments and payment of agreed support to farmers affected by last winter’s flooding," said Mr Bell.
Other issues
Also discussed was the distribution of the latest EU agricultural aid package, Brexit, BSE Negligible Risk Status, Bovine TB, the future of ANC support, the development of an environmental prosperity agreement and the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board which the UFU has long argued as "irrelevant in an era of minimum and national wage legislation."
The UFU also underlined its key objectives for the Assembly, as highlighted in its 2016 Manifesto for the election.
These include securing greater fairness along the food supply chain, driving the 'Going for Growth' strategy, easing the path of young people into the agriculture, opening new markets and ensuring the direct CAP payments farmers rely on reach them as quickly as possible.
