The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has urged the Northern Ireland Executive to provide long-term financial certainty for agriculture in its budget for 2026-2029/2030.
It also called on ministers to protect funding needed to deliver environmental and economic sustainability.
In its submission on the draft budget, UFU said it highlighted the “growing expectations being placed on the agri-food sector”, from food production and environmental improvement to ammonia reduction, water quality enhancement, and climate targets.
The organisation stressed that these ambitions have to be matched with stable and protected financial support.
William Irvine, UFU president said: “Northern Ireland agriculture is being asked to deliver more than ever before, economically, environmentally and socially.
“If the government expects farmers to meet these ambitions, it must provide long-term certainty and the necessary financial backing to make that possible.
“Policy ambition must be aligned with financial commitment.”
The UFU’s response called for continued protection of ring-fenced agricultural funding beyond the current three-year guarantee and full security of funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Programme.
The organisation also pushed the need for continued investment in nutrient efficiency and recovery measures.
“Any reduction in funding linked to environmental transition measures would undermine progress on ammonia reduction and water quality improvement,” the UFU said.
Animal health
The UFU called for bovine TB compensation to remain at 100%, while also urging the government to address all factors involved in disease transmission.
Irvine said: “Farmers cannot continue to carry increasing burdens, whether that is environmental compliance, disease costs, or regulatory pressures without clarity and stability from the government.
“Protecting agriculture’s budget is not about special treatment; it is about ensuring that one of Northern Ireland’s most important homegrown industries can continue to deliver for the economy, the environment and rural communities.”
The UFU said it also reiterated the need for meaningful support for generational renewal, highlighting the absence of a clear successor to existing young farmer schemes.
Related Stories
Slurry processing ‘a promising solution’ for surplus P – AFBI
Open call for farmer safety, health and wellbeing projects
NARGC to criticise lack of rural engagement at committee meeting
.editor-styles-wrapper .wp-block-acf-related-stories-block {
max-width: 960px !important;
background-color: var(–color-gray-default);
padding-inline: 40px;
padding-top: 8px !important;
padding-bottom: 20px !important;
}
