The Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir, today (Friday, May 16) confirmed that he intends to extend the public consultation period on the proposed Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026 to 2029.
The consultation on the updated and revised NAP, which was launched on May 1, is now being extended to 12 weeks and will close for responses on July 24.
Minister Muir said: “I recognise that the proposals in the revised NAP have a level of complexity because of the detailed science and evidence underpinning them.
“Therefore, having listened to the concerns from farmers and industry about the need for more time to consider the consultation proposals, I am extending the consultation period by four weeks.
“I would encourage everyone to fully consider the proposals and engage with the consultation.”
NAP
According to Minister Muir the proposed NAP for 2026 to 2029, 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 farm.
There are also some actions included within the Lough Neagh Action Plan, which he said “will help to meet the objective of reducing water pollution from agricultural sources”.
But the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has also warned that the new NAP proposals could “devastate local farming”.
According to the UFU the new 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”.
Today Minister Muir said the extended consultation “is an important opportunity to respond to the proposals and present any alternative solutions, no final decisions have been made.”
“I am passionately committed to working with farmers and the agri-food sector to achieve a strong and sustainable future together,” he added.
Balmoral Show
Including the extension to the NAP consultation Minister Muir also announced his intention this week to roll out the first phase of a Farming with Nature Package (FwN) for Northern Ireland at the Balmoral Show.
The FwN Package aims to support farm businesses across all land types, to make “substantial contributions to environmental improvements and sustainability”.
Minister Muir said: “My ambition for the FwN Package is to scale up nature friendly farming. I want to see farmers being rewarded for delivering environmental public goods, alongside food production, with the FwN Package becoming a strong and attractive enterprise on farms.
“It will be introduced in phases to support farmers to turn the tide on biodiversity loss by increasing the quantity, quality and connectivity of habitats in the farmed landscape.”
In the first year, five actions will be available, with a range of items to support their implementation:
- Planting new hedgerow;
- Creation of riparian buffer strips;
- Farmland tree planting;
- Retention of winter stubble;
- Multi-species winter cover crop.
Separately the minister also announced at the Balmoral Show that Northern Ireland’s Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) will open for the fourth and final time in June this year.
Farmers in Zone 4 (Co. Antrim) and all other farm businesses, that have not yet registered are invited to apply.
According to Minister Muir there has been good uptake in Zones 1, 2 and 3, with over 90% of farms registered and over 400,000 fields tested for soil nutrients.
