Latest news with #NutrientActionProgramme
Agriland
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
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.'
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
FFA requests meeting with NI agriculture minister on NAP
Farmers for Action (FFA) has requested a meeting with Stormont agriculture minister, Andrew Muir to discuss Northern Ireland's new Nutrient Action Programme (NAP). The organisation has welcomed the four-week extension to the public consultation, now underway, where the proposed suite of environmental measures are concerned. FFA spokesperson, William Taylor, told Agriland: 'We wrote to the minister with regard to NAP a number of days ago. Receipt of the letter has been confirmed.' According to Taylor, one third of Northern Ireland's active farmers are located within the Lough Neagh catchment area. He said: 'We will be making four main points to the minister. First of all, his department must adequately support all farming businesses regarding the final NAP measures that are implemented. 'In practical terms, this means introducing FFA's proposed Farm Welfare Bill. This has been designed to guarantee farmers sustainable prices on an ongoing basis allied with the capability of further investing in their businesses.' FFA is also calling for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to ensure that sufficient advisers are made available to work with farm businesses on an individual basis when it comes to the calculation of phosphate and nitrate loading levels across production agriculture. Taylor explained: 'The principle of DAERA being used as an enforcement agency in the first instance is fundamentally flawed. 'It is the job of department officials to work with farmers, advising them how to reach whatever NAP targets are agreed in a co-ordinated manner. 'These are matters which can only be addressed in the long-term – there is no short-term fix. And this fundamental fact must be realised by DAERA.' Organic manure And, finally, FFA wants the policies implemented where the use of organic manures are concerned, to be totally overhauled. 'In the first instance, there are large tracts of agricultural land across Northern Ireland that would actually benefit from an application of slurry. 'And this fundamental fact must be recognised by Minister Muir,' Taylor said. Significantly, FFA recognises that surplus quantities of farm manure are generated by agriculture in Northern Ireland. 'Solid materials, including poultry litter, can be exported back to those countries supplying the large tonnages of grain and other animal feed materials coming into Northern Ireland on an annual basis,' Taylor suggested. 'The boats delivering these grains in the first place can be used to export back the solid manures, on the basis that their cargo areas are suitable lined.' Taylor makes the point that countries like Brazil are short of organic manures needed to retain indigenous soil fertility basis. 'Receipt of the manures would ensure that countries like Brazil would be less likely to cut down virgin forest in order to maintain grain output levels. 'I see no reason why Brazil could not be asked to part fund the export of solid manures from Northern Ireland. 'Other financial contributors would include the members of the Northern Ireland's Grain Trade Association and the food processing sector,' Taylor said.
Agriland
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
UFU: NI NAP proposals ‘could devastate local farming'
New proposals contained in Northern Ireland's Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) could 'devastate local farming', the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) warned today (Friday, May 9). Earlier this month the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, 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. According to Minister Muir research shows that around 62% of the high nutrient (phosphorus) levels in Northern Ireland's waterbodies 'come from agricultural sources'. 'I also recognise that agriculture is not the only sector impacting on water quality. Wastewater treatment is also a significant source of nutrient inputs which are a key cause of poor water quality. It is important that all sectors play their part in improving water quality,' the minister added. But he said also stated that it was 'essential to review NAP and consider additional measures to reduce the overall phosphorus surplus in our agricultural system'. UFU 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. It has claimed the move is a 'backdoor attempt to shrink herds and flocks'. John McLenaghan, UFU deputy president, said, 'We're being blamed based on percentage phosphorus figures that aren't even properly measured – they're modelled by computers. These models are only as good as the data they're given, and this data, the accuracy of which is a concern, is now being used to hammer our farmers. The proposed phosphorus limits are just one element of DAERA's sweeping changes under the NAP consultation. We're urgently assessing the full economic impact with our committees, but the outlook is grim. According to the UFU there are in the region of 30 new measures proposed by DAERA but its key concerns revolve around: Compulsory uncultivated buffer strips for arable and horticulture farms; Strict phosphorus limits for 3,500 farms; Mandatory Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment (LESSE) by 2030. The UFU has also criticised what it has describe as a 'lack of genuine consultation' and claimed today that key stakeholders have been blindsided by the scope and timing of the proposals. 'Unlike previous NAP consultations, there's been a lack of engagement with the industry prior to the consultation being released. 'Many of the measures and timelines that have been proposed, have come as a surprise to the UFU and our members. Had there been genuine engagement, a more balanced approach that is workable for farmers could have been adopted,' McLenaghan added. Separately the Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has also criticised DAERA's NAP and said it highlighted how 'out of sync the minister is with grass-roots farming in Northern Ireland'. The MP added: 'I have been contacted by concerned dairy farmers who see the NAP proposals as another plot to drive them out of business. 'A leading milk producer has told me the figures just don't add up. To maintain his current system in line with incoming NAP regulations, he would need three times more land or be forced to significantly reduce cow numbers. 'Feelings are running high, with many suggesting DAERA is on a path to decimate livestock farming and cull farm animals. If this is the case, agriculture, jobs and food security will be severely jeopardised.'
Agriland
08-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Lakeland concerns over pace and direction of policy for NI dairy
Lakeland Dairies has voiced its 'serious concerns' about the pace and direction of political policy in relation to the Northern Ireland dairy sector. The processor outlined its views in a letter to Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir this week. The co-op, made up of 3,200 farm families, said it is grateful for the 'openness' shown by the minister to Lakeland Dairies since he took office, adding that his 'willingness to listen and engage is genuinely appreciated'. Lakeland However, Lakeland told Minister Muir that due to political policy 'it often feels as though we are farming and planning with blindfolds on and one arm behind our back'. 'The dairy industry has succeeded not because of political policy, but in spite of it. That situation is simply not sustainable in the long-term,' the co-op said. The letter highlights the following 'five key areas that need to be addressed': The 'paralysis in investment and development' caused by an 'overly bureaucratic and sluggish' planning system; A 'real lack of clarity' on how farm emissions reductions will be delivered without additional funding; Uncertainty around bovine tuberculosis (TB) control plans, while progress on the TB consultation 'has been glacial'. With the Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) at consultation stage, the co-op said 'there are growing concerns that if implemented fully, many of our farms could face a significant reduction in stock numbers, with many more being forced into derogation'. Farmers are required to 'do more than ever with a decreasing budget given inflationary pressure and what appears to be a diminishing level of influence at a national level'. While acknowledging it is outside the control of Minister Muir, Lakeland also highlighted the Agricultural Property Relief (APR) inheritance tax issue, which 'remains a huge concern for farm families'. 'These issues and the overall lack of clarity risk inflicting lasting damage on an industry that is the bedrock of our rural economy and one of Northern Ireland's true international success stories. 'Dairying is not only a vital source of employment and food security but also a cornerstone of our export economy. 'We urge you to act with pace and purpose to bring the necessary policy clarity and delivery that the sector needs. 'We stand ready to work with you to help realise the full potential of Northern Ireland dairying,' the letter said.
