NI NAP proposals labelled ‘challenge' to farmers' way of life
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician Lord Tom Elliott has said that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) approach through the Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) proposals to farmers appears an 'out and out challenge to their way of life and livelihood'.
Earlier this month, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir launched a public consultation on the NAP for 2026 to 2029, which he said contains 'additional measures which have been developed based on scientific research'.
The main additional measures include further restrictions on use of chemical phosphorus fertiliser and a farm phosphorus balance limit for more intensive farms.
Lord Tom Elliott said: 'We are aware that in many areas of life, including agriculture much action is required to improve the environment.
'I have always encouraged the minister to do that in cooperation with the farming sector, as opposed to direct confrontation.
'The farming community have already made significant progress towards reduction of nutrient and other positive environmental matters. However, they need the minister and DAERA to work with them as opposed to resistance of farmers.
'I agree with Dr. Sinclair Mayne, who is former CEO [chief executive] of the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute [AFBI] and former departmental scientific adviser for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that it is essential that proposed new measures are based on robust science, based on peer-reviewed scientific papers, rather than subjective assessment,' Lord Elliott added.
The UUP chairperson stressed that this was the basis for the first action programme agreed with the European Commission in 2007 and subsequent reviews.
Elliott claimed that Dr. Mayne has detailed a number of areas where DAERA has not presented the appropriate scientific evidence base for the proposals.
'DAERA [has] done little to even attempt to persuade farmers of the merits of these most recent proposals; they seem more intent on pushing the farming community beyond what it can achieve, with little cooperation or working together,' he continued.
'I repeat my earlier calls, before it's too late for the minister to work with the farming sector, as opposed to him being seen by many farmers as an enemy to their way of life and someone who seems to many as set on destruction of the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland.
'The farming sector has so much to offer the entire society, it is vital that the DAERA and the agricultural community work together.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
Farming group ‘not ruling out legal action' over NAP proposals for NI
The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) is 'not ruling out legal action' in relation to new proposals contained in Northern Ireland's Nutrient Action Programme (NAP). The Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, launched a public consultation on the NAP for 2026 to 2029, last month, which he said contains 'additional measures which have been developed based on scientific research'. The main additional measures include further restrictions on use of chemical phosphorus fertiliser and a farm phosphorus balance limit for more intensive farms. According to Minister Muir research shows that around 62% of the high nutrient (phosphorus) levels in Northern Ireland's waterbodies 'come from agricultural sources'. But the UFU believes these new proposals could 'devastate local farming' – a view it conveyed during meetings this week with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA) and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in relation to the new NAP proposals. According to William Irvine, president of the UFU, the organisation also told Minister Andrew Muir this week during a meeting that the consultation process around the new NAP proposals has been 'deeply flawed'. (L-R) UFU president William Irvine and UFU deputy president John McLenaghan at Stormont Source: UFU Irvine added: 'There has been no economic impact assessment and no thorough engagement was carried out with stakeholders ahead of the consultation publication. 'The farming community acknowledge the need to improve water quality and we will play our part in a holistic approach, but we feel totally blindsided. 'Our members are frustrated that proposals of such magnitude have been brought forward without thorough analysis of the real-world impact on farm businesses, food production and rural livelihoods.' NAP According to the UFU the new NAP proposals could impact on thousands of farmers across Northern Ireland and result in many having to find more land for slurry spreading or cut their livestock numbers. Irvine has said the next step for the UFU is to its next 'course of action'. ''We are not ruling out legal action. 'Our members expect us to stand up for them, and that's exactly what we intend to do,' Irvine added.
Agriland
2 days ago
- Agriland
Deadline looming for NI farmers to use up old ID tags
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA) is reminding all livestock keepers they have less than four weeks to use any remaining stocks of 'UK' prefixed livestock identification (ID) tags that they hold. From the June 30, 2025 only 'XI' prefixed tags can be used to identify newborn cattle, sheep, and goats. A DAERA spokesperson said: 'DAERA facilitated a 12-month transitional period to allow livestock keepers time to use up stocks of 'UK' prefixed livestock tags. 'However, this transitional period will end soon and from June 30, 2025, any unused 'UK' prefixed tags will become obsolete and keepers will not be able to use them to identify their animals.' DAERA continues to recommend that 'XI' prefixed tags are applied to newborn animals that may be exported to outside the UK in the future. Otherwise, they may have to be re-identified prior to export. There is no requirement to re-identify animals with 'XI' tags, if identified in Northern Ireland, with 'UK' tags prior to June 30, 2025, if they will remain in the UK. However, livestock keepers, will need to check the identification requirements for animals destined for the EU, which is available on the DAERA website. The change to the prefix code on livestock tags, which is a legal requirement under EU Animal Health Law, will ensure continued unfettered access to both EU and UK internal markets for NI livestock and agri-food products. DAERA has stated that this is subject to normal export eligibility requirements. Since June 24, 2024: All new cattle tags issued in NI begin with 'XI 0', replacing 'UK 9'. This will allow the whole tag number to be encoded on electronic identification devices in future; All new sheep tags issued in NI begin with XI 17 replacing 'UK 17'. From June 30, 2025, all sheep being exported to the Republic of Ireland must be identified with 'XI' tags prior to their export,. This includes any previously identified with 'UK' tags with the re-identification being recorded in the flock register. Keepers may wish to consider identifying all sheep going to market with 'XI' tags to ensure they are eligible for purchase for export. However, cattle identified with 'UK' tags prior to June 30, 2025 can still be exported to Ireland after this date without being re-identified with 'XI' tags. Currently all livestock exported to continental Europe must be identified with 'XI' tags prior to their export. Any such animals previously tagged with 'UK' tags must be re-identified with 'XI' tags. For cattle, this must be done under veterinary supervision.
Agriland
6 days ago
- Agriland
MP: ‘Farmers have been crippled by bureaucracy'
The DUP's agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart has called for the Department of Agriculture, Enterprise and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to engage with industry over the Nutrients Action Plan (NAP). Speaking at the NAP information event at the Greenmount Campus, Co. Antrim this week (May 2025), the MP said the Minister for Agriculture, Enterprise and Rural affairs, Andrew Muir is 'not willing to face farmers or listen to their concerns'. She said: 'These proposals will decimate the very cornerstone of our economy. The gross output from NI agriculture is worth £2.87 billion (€3.4 billion), but the minister is on course to destroy it. 'Potentially, NAP will have a bigger impact on family farms than inheritance tax. The minister risks leaving a trail of destruction as a lasting legacy of his term at the helm of DAERA.' 'The message is clear, the proposals are unacceptable and unachievable. Tensions are running high, farmers are being pushed to the brink, and the meeting is a nail in the coffin for the NAP proposals,' Lockhart added. MP Carla Lockhart The DUP MP said she supports farmers, and that she will continue to speak out against the NAP proposals. 'Farmers work 365 days a year to put fully traceable and nutritious food on our tables, yet they have been crippled by bureaucracy and used as scapegoats for far too long. Enough is enough,' Lockhart said. 'The livelihoods of over 3,500 farm businesses are at stake, especially those in the dairy, pig and poultry sectors,' she claimed. According to the MP, civil servants should go out and visit farms to 'witness' the daily struggles faced by the farming community. She explained: 'Farmers are custodians of the land and vital for thriving rural communities. They are not shying away from their environmental responsibilities. The general consensus is that NAP is disproportionate and severely out of touch with reality 'I stand united with farmers and the wider agri-food supply chain as they call for a stop to the NAP consultation. It's time to refocus and go back to the drawing board.' 'The figures are questionable and we've heard very little in the way of credible answers today. DAERA needs to stop flying solo and learn to engage with stakeholders and farmers who are the experts on the ground,' she added.
