Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president William Irvine has referred to 2025 as being a turbulent year for agriculture.
He expressed this sentiment courtesy of his speech to the organisation’s 2026 annual dinner, adding that events had conspired to test the resilience of the farming industry to its limit.
Irvine said: “Much of this stems from government’s lack of understanding and recognition regarding the role played by farming and food at the very heart of society.”
According to Irvine, the inheritance tax introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, courtesy of her October 2024 Budget lies at the very heart of this issue.
“What followed was 14 months of torture for every farm family in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
“And despite the changes and amendments introduced to the new inheritance tax measures up to December last year, the reality is that a significant proportion of farm businesses in Northern Ireland remain exposed to its remit,” he said.
Production potential
Looking ahead the UFU president wants to see the full production potential of agriculture in Northern Ireland fulfilled.
In this context, he is adamant that a new Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) must fully reflect this objective.
The union’s president also highlighted the need for Northern Ireland’s politicians to agree planning regulations that are fit for purpose, citing the current stalemate in this regard as hindering production agriculture to meet its climate change commitments into the future.
“In addition, the current climate change targets are in need of urgent review,” Irvine said.
“The reality is that 25% of the UK’s home produced food now comes from Northern Ireland.
“The reality is that the UK with the second largest population in Europe has a frighteningly small agricultural industry.
“Currently the UK has a monthly £250 million net food import bill to meet. And, in my opinion, this is a staggering and unsustainable figure.”
The UFU president highlighted the role played by farming families at the very heart of Northern Ireland’s agricultural industry.
He commented: “The recent farm families’ event held at Stormont was a tremendous success with politicians from all the parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive in attendance.
“And we want to build on this for the future.”
Irvine noted that resilience was the term selected as the theme for the Stormont event.
“It is so appropriate given current circumstances,” Irvine continued.
“Farming has just come through one of the wettest winters in living memory.
“And the rain just keeps on falling. Ground conditions remain extremely poor with the result that very little spring field work has been undertaken up to this point.”
