Minister urged to back local farmers

Minister urged to back local farmers

21 February 2024

NEW Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has been urged to support farmers who are at the backbone of the local and wider Northern Ireland economy.

The appeal has been issued by South Down MLA Colin McGrath who met recently with senior officials from the Ulster Farmers’ Union.

He met with the organisation’s deputy president William Irvine and Alexander Kinnear at Stormont to discuss not only the challenges facing those in the farming sector, but opportunities as well.  

Mr McGrath said with a new Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs minister in place, it is important he recognises the essential contribution farmers and the fishing industry makes to the  economy, and supports them to meet the challenges of a changing world.

“Food cultivated on our farms is among the finest anywhere,” said Mr McGrath.

“I am always delighted to see people coming from foreign shores and enjoying our local agri-food offerings, but the sad reality is that farms are under massive pressure at present. Only last year we saw farmers lose over 18,000 cattle to TB, yet we appear to be doing nothing to root out this illness and prevent livestock from contracting it.”

Mr McGrath said healthy wildlife helps healthy livestock but, unfortunately, badgers are passing on TB, with brown hares and hedgehogs impacting on bumblebees. 

“It is evident that something must be done to address this,” the Assemblyman continued.

“Our farmers are continually adapting to this changing world, in particular in response to climate change. 

“However, this is not being reciprocated sufficiently from the government to allow them to do their job properly. They are continually being constrained and need to know that the government is working with them and not against them.”

Mr McGrath added: “Given their massive export levels and contribution to the local and wider economy, support for the local farmer has never been more critical.”