Everything is yet to be played for in developing a new Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) for Northern Ireland, according to Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president, William Irvine.
Speaking at this year’s Clogher Valley Show, he said: “We still have to see the terms of reference for the new stakeholder forum.
“The appointment of an independent chairperson will be extremely important within this process.”
According to the UFU president, the direct appointment of a chair by Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir is not acceptable.
Irvine added: “Such an approach cannot be considered as being an impartial process. The farming and food industry stakeholder groups must have a role in the appointment of the chairperson, whose job it will be to drive forward the work of the new forum.
“Minister Muir says that he wants to see a new NAP agreed that will not harm the future prospects for food production.
“The UFU will be holding him to this commitment.”
UK finance bill
Irvine has also confirmed that getting key changes to the recently published UK finance bill will remain a key priority for the UFU during the period ahead.
This legislative measure is the parliamentary vehicle through which the chancellor can introduce changes to Inheritance tax.
The UFU president explained: “We want to come up with a solution that meets the unique circumstances that confront farmers here in Northern Ireland.
“However, all the UK farming unions are at one on this fundamentally important matter.”
According to Irvine, the union will make every effort to lobby politicians from all parties in the UK government on the inheritance tax issue over the coming weeks.
It is anticipated that these measures will include a meeting with the chancellor, Rachel Reeves.
Meanwhile, an alternative inheritance tax proposal has been drawn up by the UK farming unions and the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).
If implemented, proposal would see potential inheritance tax liabilities reduced by a seventh every year for seven years after an agricultural holding is passed on to the next generation as a working farm business.
According to Irvine: “It’s an approach that would mean that no inheritance tax would be paid on land and assets that are retained as part of a working farm business.
“But at a more general level, the envisaged measure would act to draw in more tax for the exchequer than the proposals that are currently on the table.”
