Latest news with #NutrientActionProgramme
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Stormont's pollution plan presents poses ‘very significant challenge' to agri sector
Agri firm Fane Valley comes in at the number 30 spot in this year's Ulster Business Top 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2025, in association with KPMG The last 12 months have proved a mixed picture for Northern Ireland's agri sector. Last year began with poor weather, and farm gate prices, which created 'challenges' for customers and shareholders of diary co-ops and producers, such as Fane Valley, according to its chief Trevor Lockhart. 'As summer turned into autumn, the weather improved, and farm gate pries began to recover – that period through autumn into winter proved to be a positive trading period, for farmers,' he told Ulster Business. That helped it increase its sales and business performance. It's latest published turnover sits at £342.4m, for the year ending December 2023, with pre-tax profits of just over £10m. That puts it in the number 30 spot in this year's Top 100. Fane Valley remains one of Northern Ireland's largest dairy co-ops – with some 1,100 farming shareholders. '[There have been] positive farm gate prices, and demand has continued into 2025… farmers and businesses have benefited from that positive trading environment. 'We have 1,100 farmer shareholders and relatively steady turnover over the last 10 years... between £350m and £400m, before we include Ready Egg group. 'The strategy of the group has been to focus on investment in higher value-added activities. Turnover today is lower than it was 10 years ago, when we were heavily invested in red meat and dairy processing, but our profits have improved significantly.' It's also recently invested in the egg packaging and processing sector, with an interest in the Ready Egg group – another firm making this year's Top 100. 'That business packs 30 million eggs a week,' Trevor says. '[We are seeing] increased demand for egg, and egg-based products as consumers in various demographics seek to enhance protein in their diets. But challenges remain for the firm, and the wider sector. The big debate and concern among the farming sector is around Stormont's proposed Nutrient Action Programme (NAP). While in an early form, the proposals – which have been drafted by Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir – are linked to the Lough Neagh plan, with recommended revisions including making low emission slurry spreading equipment mandatory, and placing restrictions on the use of phosphorus fertiliser. 'The agri-food sector is very focused on the current NAP proposals,' Trevor says. 'The proposals in their current form present a very significant challenge to agriculture. 'The agri-food industry is very well aware of the issues that have to be managed, and very well aware of [working] towards solutions. But the proposals… are not properly grounded in science.' He said the plans don't take into account the impact they could have the industry. The primary concerns are centred around the level of surplus phosphorus, generated by the agri-sector, and how that is dealt with. 'In essence, most intensive farms in Northern Ireland – to comply in the current form – would require very significant amounts of land to sustain and be able to manage the waste or manure that arrives from farming activities,' Trevor says. As for wider market demands, Trevor says he believes there is a growing demand for natural-based products, as consumer demand for heavily-processed plant-based alternatives begins to plateau. 'I believe there's a reflection as consumers understand supply chains which support plant based alternatives, which [often] rely on products such as soya-based substrate for protein. The initial perception didn't fully match with expectations. 'People have a preference for natural and less-processed food – and that's playing out on aisles in our supermarkets.'
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nutrients Action Programme: Agri-food reps to review new water quality measures
More than 60 agri-food industry representatives have signed a letter, confirming they will take part in a group that will review controversial water quality also say they will now respond to the current consultation on the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) 2026-29 and encourage others to do described the NAP as "out of touch" when it went out for consultation in initial consultation period was extended by four weeks and finishes on 24th July. Last week, the Environment Minister Andrew Muir announced the formation of a stakeholder group that would review the consultation responses and formulate additional proposals ahead of a second consultation later this year. In a letter to the minister, the groups - including the Ulster Farmers' Union, the NI Meat Exporters Association, the Ulster Arable Society and Irish dairy co-operative Tirlán - say they "cautiously welcome" the added that "any developed policies must be genuinely workable at farm level", and that "policy must not place unfair regulatory burdens on the industry".The formation of a stakeholder group as proposed by the minister is described as "a necessary step in correcting the deficiencies in the current consultation and in building a collaborative path forward".They said the group will need "adequate time" and called for officials from the Departments for the Economy and for Infrastructure to be involved. What is the Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) A number of agri-food bodies had previously written to the minister, saying they were considering legal action if the consultation was not NAP was first introduced in 2007 and is updated every four initially led to improvements in water quality across Northern since 2012, those gains have largely been offset by the intensification of agriculture following the introduction of the Going for Growth consultation document says there has been a marked increase in phosphorus in soil and that 18 out of the 21 monitored lakes in Northern Ireland are classed as moderate, poor or bad trophic status due to the amount of nutrients and algae from agricultural sources is the main contributor to blue-green algal blooms in Lough industrial and septic tank pollution play a lesser role.
Agriland
06-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Almost 200 attend webinar launch of NI NAP impact calculator
Almost 200 farmers and other stakeholders from the agri-food industry attended an AgriSearch webinar this week to launch AgriSearch's NAP (Nutrient Action Programme) farm impact calculator. Opening the webinar, AgriSearch vice-chair Ian McCluggage outlined the considerable amount of work that AgriSearch had done in a relatively short timeframe to respond to the NAP consultation. This included presentations at an AgriSearch event at Balmoral Show. The vice-chair thanked Dr. Sinclair Mayne for the considerable amount of work he had put into helping AgriSearch respond to the consultation including an in-depth critique of the science behind the proposals. AgriSearch was coordinating its actions with key industry stakeholders. NAP farm impact calculator The NAP farm impact calculator has been developed by AgriSearch to help farmers assess the impact of the measures proposed for the 2026-2029 Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) NAP. The calculator is now available to download from the AgriSearch website. During the webinar AgriSearch strategy manager, Jason Rankin outlined the calculations that the tool performs and gave a practical, step-by-step guide on how to download and use the calculator and interpret the results. This includes a calculation of the organic nitrogen loading (using the updated figures for dairy cows) which will determine if a farmer falls into the 'intensive' category or will require a derogation. The calculator also determines the farm's proposed allowance for chemical N fertiliser and indicates if this is above or below the farm's current usage. Finally, the calculator works out the farm's phosphorus balance and indicates how many extra hectares or the extent of the stocking rate cut needed to achieve both the 10kg P/ha and 8kg P/ha limit. Rankin then went through a number of dairy farm case studies illustrating how different types of farm might be impacted by the NAP proposals. AgriSearch's agriculture manager John Morrow went through two examples of beef and sheep farming systems, which was followed by a questions and answer session. Closing the webinar Ian McCluggage said that AgriSearch would be working with industry partners to gather a number of farm case studies from across the ruminant livestock sector. These will be used as part of a wider economic impact assessment. He encouraged farmers to participate if approached and emphasised that all such case studies would be kept anonymous.
Agriland
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Opposition mounts against draft NI Nutrient Action Programme
Opposition continues to mount against the draft Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) proposals announced recently by Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir. Last month Minister Muir launched a public consultation on the NAP for 2026-2029, 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'. Ahead of next week's Stormont debate on Tuesday June 10, Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart is urging farmers to contact their local MLAs. She said: 'These complex measures will ultimately force destocking, push farmers to rent or buy more land, and set impossible targets which will have far-reaching consequences across the entire agri-food sector. 'This is not only a 'hammer blow' for farmers, it's an 'industry bombshell' which will jeopardise food security and have a devastating impact on the Northern Ireland economy. 'Farmers turned out in force at Greenmount last week, but they need to stand-firm by completing the DAERA consultation which ends on July 24, and continuing to lobby politicians and industry leaders. 'This week my DUP colleague Michelle McIlveen MLA, launched the online petition 'Scrap the NAP' and successfully secured a debate in the Stormont Assembly,' Lockhart added. The MP has urged people to sign the petition and make their voices heard by contacting their local MLAs to speak out and vote in favour of the motion which calls on Minister Muir to stop the process and start again with a co-designed scheme. Opposition to Nutrient Action Programme The DUP agriculture, environment and rural affairs spokesperson added: 'I want to be absolutely clear that I fully condemn any abuse directed at Minister Muir in recent weeks. Personal attacks are never acceptable and they are not the answer. 'However, I will continue to challenge the minister and vehemently oppose the 2026 to 2029 NAP proposals. I urge others to do the same. 'This is a disastrous policy. It contains 30 draconian recommendations which are disproportionate, unworkable at farm level, and include top-heavy enforcement and financial penalties.' Lockhart claimed that the timeframes for the proposals are contradictory as peer-reviewed scientific evidence has shown a time lag of between four and 20 years for water quality change in medium-sized catchments to be properly assessed. 'Yet changes to farming practices are expected to show improvements within 12 months, otherwise penalties will be incurred,' she continued. 'The minister and his DAERA officials cannot ignore industry calls, especially as they didn't engage with stakeholders prior to publishing the NAP document and launching the consultation. 'An economic impact assessment should be carried out in advance of this consultation. The rules surrounding EIAs [Environmental Impact Assessments] are clear, any major development project, or activities that may have a significant effect on the environment.' Lockhart said that every farmer and industry stakeholder who contributed to the event at Greenmount last week was 'respectful, but anxious' about what lies ahead in the wake of the fourth NAP review. 'Minister Muir continuously reminds us that he wants to work alongside farmers, but shying away from attending the NAP information event was the wrong thing to do,' Lockhart continued. 'The meeting was the perfect opportunity to engage with the agricultural community and listen to their genuine concerns.' The MP added that the NAP has been in place for almost two decades, and according to the recent NI Environmental Statistics Report, improvements have been made. She commented that farmers have contributed to a significant fall in river nitrate levels, with 100% of NI rivers meeting EU standards for nitrates. 'There has also been a decrease in greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions attributed to agriculture. It's obvious that farmers do care, and are striving to protect our waterways and enhance the environment,' the MP added. The report highlighted that during 2024, 1,886 water pollution incidents were recorded, with 887 (47%) confirmed as having an impact on water quality. 'It is outrageous that farmers are continually used as scapegoats. Northern Ireland Water and the Department for Infrastructure must be held accountable, especially as the province's outdated system is at breaking point,' Lockhart said. 'Earlier this week, Minister Muir described NI Water as a corporate polluter, and said it should be treated as such. He added, and I quote, 'giving NI Water a by-ball is not tenable. The system must be honest and fair to all'. 'Farmers and the wider agri-food supply chain are demanding a suspension of the NAP consultation. 'The figures are questionable, prompting wide-spread calls for calculations to be quantified. There needs to be effective, round-table discussions with stakeholders to reach a more acceptable way forward.'
Agriland
04-06-2025
- Business
- 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.
