Belfast accused of 'riding roughshod' over farmers due to lack of farm minister

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has accused Northern Irish government officials of using the absence of a minister to 'ride roughshod' over farmers.

The farming union has said the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is ignoring concerns about how some policies are being implemented.

Northern Irish farmers are facing a delay for help to combat pressing issues they face because there is currently no Executive and no farming minister.

The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed after deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.

This triggered the Northern Ireland Assembly election on 2 March. However, political parties could not reach an agreement to form a coalition agreement, with talks having been going on for months.

With the Assembly remaining vacant, hard-pressing issues in agriculture are starting to worry farmers.

'No movement'

The comments were made by UFU president Barclay Bell after negotiations to find solutions to problems with the Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FBIS) ended in deadlock.

There is a risk of some applications being rejected under Tier 2 on the basis of cumulative ammonia levels across Northern Ireland.

Mr Bell claims farmers are feeling frustration at DAERA.

“We have been trying to work with DAERA and Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to find a solution. We want to work with them on the extent of the problem and how to tackle it, but there seems to be no movement within the Department.

“Some of the science and models being used are at best questionable and at worst fundamentally flawed and this is not helping to reassure farmers,” said Mr Bell.

'Unaware of the issue'

NIEA are seeking to tackle ammonia emissions by adding requirements to the agricultural planning process.

The UFU said they would have more support from farmers if they addressed the problem directly with industry.

“Many farmers are unaware of the issue, because DAERA has failed to tell them about it. There has been no communication and no guidance,” said Mr Bell.

The UFU believes this lack of communication is why farmers are angry.

“Many have jumped through NIEA’s hoops, paying out thousands for ammonia modelling. But NIEA is refusing to give credit for the many steps taken to tackle ammonia emissions.

“These include trailing shoe/dribble bar tankers, biomass boilers in poultry houses, farmyard management and major diet improvements.”

'Competitors are blazing ahead'

Northern Irish farmers have called for an elected farming minister to be in place, who would oversee the work of DAERA and NIEA.

“The FBIS is part of the government’s ‘Going for Growth’ plan to develop and expand the industry. NIEA’s refusal to budge means many Tier 2 applications are now in jeopardy,” said the UFU president.

“That puts the Going for Growth strategy at risk. Funding will go unspent and progress will stagnate.

“Our major competitors are blazing ahead, while we are held back by civil servants with no understanding of business or what it will take to make this industry deliver growth and jobs in food processing,” said the UFU president.