Investment in beef facilities crucial to local economy, union says

Investment in beef facilities crucial, says the Ulster Farmers' Union

A farming union has said that investment in new beef facilities is crucial to ensure that the industry is competitive post-Brexit.

In particular, the union said that expanding and upgrading the facilities at both the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is of importance.

Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) beef and lamb policy chair Crosby Cleland said that the Northern Irish beef sector is a major contributor to the local economy.

“It is crucial that we ensure it remains one of the key pillars of our agri-food industry. Post-Brexit it is even more important that we support this sector so that it can deal with the challenges it will undoubtedly face in the future.”

Key goal

Mr Cleland said improving the profitability and competitiveness of beef farms continues to be a key goal; as is tackling issues relating to climate change, animal health and reducing anti-biotic usage.

“In order to deal with these challenges we need local research and a slick service for transferring practical solutions down to a farm level. High quality beef facilities must be constructed to replace the existing ones at AFBI and CAFRE which are out of date.”

The UFU has welcomed the investment in the sheep facilities at CAFRE’s Glenwherry farm and are now calling on the government to commit funding to serious infrastructure projects for beef.

“The ‘Progressive Beef Production’ conference held back in November highlighted that there is a real appetite for innovation in the sector.

“We must build on this enthusiasm by putting the tools in place to deliver the research and knowledge transfer the sector requires to drive it forward,” says Mr Cleland.