Latest news with #UlsterFarmers'Union
Agriland
5 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Agri-politics to the fore at Ballymena Show 2025
The current cut and thrust of agri-politics in Northern Ireland was very much a talking point at Ballymena Show 2025. The days running up to the event had seen large numbers of farmers expressing their opposition to the latest Nutrient Action Plan (NAP) proposals, unveiled in May by Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir. Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) deputy president, John McLenaghan, spent the day at the Ballymena Show, where Agriland spoke to him about the proposed revisions to the NAP. McLenaghan said: 'NAP is all about improving water quality. And farmers across Northern Ireland totally buy into this principle. 'In fact, they have already achieved significant improvements where this matter is concerned over recent years. 'However, the current NAP proposals are unworkable. More than that, Minister Muir failed to liaise properly with all the relevant stakeholder groups prior to the commencement of the current public consultation. According to the UFU deputy president, this is a 'fundamentally flawed' approach. 'What's required now is for the minister to go back to the drawing board and develop a set of realistic NAP proposals with all the farming bodies and stakeholder groups,' he said. 'By taking this approach, it will be possible to come up with realistic solutions that everyone can agree on.' Ballymena Show 2025 competition classes Beef classes As is always the case, the show rings at Ballymena were graced by large numbers of elite dairy stock, beef cattle, and sheep. Deerpark Shakiraenjoyed a superlative showing career as a young pedigree Limousin heifer. And it seems that she is continuing where she left off as a young cow. She entered the show ring at this year's Ballymena Show with her October 2024 bull calf, Shakira Viking,at foot – looking every bit the champion. And so it turned out. Shakira won the Limousin breed championship in the morning, going on to secure the Ballymena 2025 Inter-Breed Beef championship later that afternoon. She was exhibited by Connor and Ryan Mulholland, from Co. Antrim. Noted Simmental and Limousin breeder, Cecil McIlwaine, judged the inter-breed beef classes at the event. McIlwaine said: 'The winning animal has got everything: great length, shape, and overall beef character. 'And the fact that the young cow has a calf at foot adds to the appeal.' But there were plenty of other high class pedigree animals taking part in the beef classes scheduled for Ballymena Show 2025. 'The Simmental champion is another exceptional young cow in the making. And the fact that she has twin calves at foot, again, adds to her appeal,' McIlwaine said. This year's Ballymena Simmental championship was won by Ballinalare Farm Nikita,exhibited by Alan Wilson from Newry. Dairy classes Meanwhile, the competition in the dairy rings was equally strong at Ballymena. The Dairy Pairs' champion team at Ballymena Show 2025 The Dairy Inter-Breed Championship was won by Stewartstown breeder, Jason Booth with his eye-catching Holsteinfourth calver: Beechview Hurricane Primrose EX93. Jason said: 'She produced 12,500L of milk in her last lactation at 5.6% butterfat and 3.4% butterfat. 'The cow calved for the fourth time last December and is due to calve again later in November.' Primrose is homebred and continues to perform tremendously well. Philip Jones from Co Wexford judged the dairy inter-breed classes at Ballymena Show 2025. He described his Holstein champion as an excellent example of the Holstein breed. 'The cow has tremendous dairy character. This includes a tremendous mammary system in tandem with tremendous locomotion,' Jones said. 'The overall quality of the dairy stock entered for this year's show was exceptional.' Sheep at Ballymena 2025 An exceptional entry of 800 sheep took centre stage at Ballymena Show 2025. And the man with the immense task of judging them all was Alan McCalymont, from Scotland. Glenn Baird, from Armagh, won the Sheep Inter-Breed Championship and the Ram Lamb Inter-Breed Championship at Ballymena Show 2025 At the end of a very long day's keen competition, McCalymont selected a Charollais ewe from the flock of the Co. Armagh breeder, Glenn Baird, as his Inter-Breed Champion. McCalymont explained: 'The ewe is a tremendous example of her breed. She looked an absolute picture in the ring.'
Agriland
6 days ago
- 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.
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
UFU: ‘Alarming absence' of clear communication on A5 project
The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has highlighted the challenges and 'prolonged disruption' faced by farm families due to the ongoing A5 Western Transport Corridor project. The UFU addressed the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) and the Committee for Infrastructure at Stormont yesterday (June 3). It said that it recognises the significance of the project, particularly its potential impact on road safety and regional connectivity. However, the UFU has concerns regarding the scheme's impact on agricultural business, land vesting and the 'dire lack of communication' from government departments and contractors. A5 project The UFU's technical and communications manager, James McCluggage believes that there is an 'alarming absence' of consistent communication from all parties involved. McCluggage said: 'Farmers and their appointed agents are reporting a significant communication breakdown. There are few 'liaison officers' on the ground, leaving landowners without a direct point of contact for their numerous questions and problems. 'Also, road contractors are consistently failing to inform landowners about works affecting their land, leading to frustration about construction schedules, access arrangements and business implications.' The UFU also told the committees that it has concerns about the vesting process and compensation. 'Landowners are demanding transparency on the vesting price, with a clear rationale provided by the district valuer. Many have seen their land vested and works commence, yet they are still awaiting any compensation or even a valuation,' McCluggage explained. 'This is simply unacceptable. We are also deeply concerned about the economic impact this is already having on farmers, with a noticeable decrease in production this year.' According to McCluggage, there was 'significant' confusion for some farmers when updating their maps before the Single Application Form (SAF) deadline on May 15. He said: 'There needs to be some form of force majeure provision for these landowners this year, as mistakes may understandably have been made due to the ongoing disruption. 'We stressed the urgent need for clarity on the planning of essential permanent infrastructure, such as new farm sheds, at an early stage, with the full authority of the Planning Service NI. 'The current method for calculating process contributions in planning applications, particularly for upgrading or replacing existing agricultural infrastructure, is flawed.
Belfast Telegraph
03-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Agriculture has long been woven into the fabric of life in NI, forming the backbone of rural communities and local economies
Today's farmers are facing an increasingly complex set of challenges — from climate change and rising input costs to labour shortages, environmental regulations, and shifting market demands. Extreme weather events and changing rainfall patterns are putting added pressure on productivity and land use, while consumers and policymakers alike are demanding higher standards of animal welfare, traceability, and environmental stewardship. In response, many farmers across Northern Ireland are adapting by investing in precision technologies, improving soil health, diversifying income streams, and adopting more sustainable practices. These efforts are not only helping to future-proof their businesses, but also contributing to a more resilient, climate-smart food system for the region and beyond. Agriculture has long been woven into the fabric of life in Northern Ireland, forming the backbone of rural communities and local economies. It's a heritage built on hard work, deep knowledge, and respect for the land. But as the world changes, so too must farming — evolving to meet shifting consumer expectations, embrace new technologies, and navigate the growing demands of a global market. In line with this vision, Bank of Ireland — now in its 200th year — will again be partnering with the Ulster Farmers' Union as the headline sponsor of its annual awareness initiative, Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend. The free-to-attend event will run from June 13 to 15 across 20 working farms throughout Northern Ireland and is expected to attract up to 15,000 visitors. The theme for this year reflects both the legacy of agriculture in Northern Ireland and the path forward for the sector. From dairy and beef to poultry, vegetables and arable, the farms in each county involved represent the diversity and depth of Northern Ireland's agri-food industry. Visitors will have the chance to go behind the farm gate and experience everyday farming life — to learn about the work involved in food production, explore new technologies being adopted on farms, and better understand the future skills, infrastructure and thinking that will be essential to the next generation of farmers. One such example is Littlebridge Farm Fresh, located just outside Coagh, Co Tyrone. This 90-cow Jersey dairy farm is a modern operation where cows are milked using a Lely robotic system. The farm also runs a popular farm shop, selling its own produce alongside locally sourced goods — including fresh Jersey milk from a self-serve vending machine. Littlebridge Farm Fresh is a prime example of how farms are embracing diversification, innovation, and direct engagement with consumers as they plan for the future. And it's only one of the many ways farms are thinking ahead — demonstrating how Northern Ireland's agricultural sector is actively shaping the future of food and farming through innovative practices, forward-thinking approaches, and a commitment to sustainability. Farming in Northern Ireland is not only a cornerstone of our economy — it's a living part of our society. This year's Open Farm Weekend theme challenges us to reflect on that heritage and ask what comes next. Our farmers are already thinking ahead, and this event gives the public a unique opportunity to join that conversation, meet farming families, and better understand the future of farming and food.
Belfast Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
UK's reset of its relationship with the EU will open up real opportunities for Northern Ireland
Next, on Monday, the UK played host to the first-ever UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London as we set out to build a new partnership with the European Union. In recent years our relationship with the EU has — at times — been strained, but in an era in which global instability is rising, it makes sense to build stronger ties with our European friends and neighbours. And then, on Thursday, we marked the anniversary of the referenda on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement held in Northern Ireland and Ireland. By voting 'yes', the people chose and secured a chance for peace in Northern Ireland; a peace which has lasted in the almost three decades since and helped pave the way for Northern Ireland's transformation. It was an agreement which remains to this day proof of the power of courageous political leadership, and people's willingness to compromise in hope of a better future. The agreement with the European Union will help to create growth and lower household bills across the UK as a whole. It is a particularly good deal for Northern Ireland. Our economy is already vibrant — think of our aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing, and film and television industries — and this agreement will further help Northern Ireland which experienced stronger growth than the United Kingdom as a whole last year. Peace has delivered real economic benefits. Of particular significance will be the deal we reached on agrifood and plants, which will smooth flows of trade, ease the frictions for businesses and protect the UK internal market. Applying the same rules across the UK will give businesses greater certainty, and mean we can eliminate paperwork and mandatory identity and physical checks on goods moving under these arrangements. All of this will save up to £1 million a month for those firms using the 'red lane' and we'll see a real difference in garden centres, with bans on so-called 'high risk' plants being eliminated — a commitment made in Safeguarding the Union — and plants being able to move within the UK without barriers. This deal will also maintain Northern Ireland's unique access to both the UK and EU markets and the advantages that the Windsor Framework offers to businesses and the economy. So, it's no surprise that businesses have welcomed it. The Ulster Farmers' Union called it 'a major step forward for Northern Ireland's agri-food industry'. The Horticultural Trades Association have said that their sector will save millions. And big name retailers such as Asda and M&S have praised the removal of frictions too. The message is clear from business — this is good news for Northern Ireland and good news for you. The other outcomes of Monday's summit are also good for Northern Ireland. Our new security and defence partnership with the EU will support our national security and the aerospace, defence and space industry which is already home to more than 9,000 jobs in Northern Ireland. Our closer law enforcement relationship with the EU will help prevent crime. Closer cooperation on decarbonisation and energy will lower prices and make our country greener and more resilient. And it'll become easier to travel to mainland Europe through e-Gates. Northern Ireland's prosperity is intrinsically linked to its strong relationship with the rest of the UK, and it can only benefit further from our new partnership with the EU. The steps we are taking will bring practical benefits, and Monday's summit makes me even more confident that Northern Ireland's economy will continue to flourish as a thriving and growing part of the UK.
