Climate change and farm policy dominate roadshow discussions

CLIMATE change and future farm policy were just two of the topics that dominated the annual UFU Presidents’ Roadshow that rolled into Omagh last week.

The event was staged in the Silverbirch Hotel and was well-attended by farmers keen to hear the thoughts of the UFU leadership team on a whole myriad of matters that are likely to impact on their businesses in the future as well as the present.

Not surprisingly climate change, future agricultural policy, Covid-19, the Northern Ireland Protocol and trade deals and the ongoing issue of Bovine TB dominated proceedings.

The UFU team included president Victor Chestnutt, deputy presidents William Irvine, David Brown and chief executive, Wesley Aston.

The farming industry is facing a period of significant change and future policy will be driven by the need for agriculture to reduce the impact it is having on the environment in the production of food.

Future payments will be geared towards protecting and enhancing the environment and reducing emissions.

Some attending the meeting expressed their concerns around the impact on production and subsequently the viability of farm businesses, while others were of the opinion that farming held many of the solutions to slowing down, or indeed, reversing climate change.

There are currently two climate change bills being discussed by the Northern Ireland Executive – one proposed by Clare Bailey of the Green Party and the other by Agriculture Minister, Edwin Poots – and these have both set ambitious targets for a major reduction in greenhouses gases.

Those attending the roadshow were given some indication on the future shape of farm payments, which are likely to change in 2025 and again these will feed into the ongoing drive towards a cleaner, greener environment and higher welfare standards.

The leadership team said farmers held the key to creating a better climate and insisted those toiling the land needed to become much better at telling their story.

Also discussed at the meeting is the significant increase in input costs currently impacting on farm business, in particular fuel, feed and fertiliser.