The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has announced it has secured cross-party political support in the Northern Ireland Assembly for action to address the escalating cost pressures facing farm businesses.
In a statement, the UFU said “all six political party leaders” have backed the union’s calls in a joint letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The letter, signed by Michelle O’Neill (Sinn Féin), Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party), Naomi Long (Alliance), Jon Burrows (Ulster Unionist Party), Claire Hanna (Social Democratic and Labour Party), and Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice), sets out what the UFU described as “the risks facing food production if action is not taken”.
The union said: “This unified political backing represents a significant step for the agri-food sector, underlining the scale of concern across Northern Ireland about rising input costs and the need for immediate government intervention”.
In its letter, the UFU set out five key actions for the UK government:
- The introduction of a targeted input support package to offset exceptional increases in fuel and fertiliser costs, including enhanced red diesel rebates and direct fertiliser support;
- Extension of energy cost relief schemes to agriculture, particularly for horticulture and intensive livestock sectors;
- Improved market oversight and transparency in fertiliser and fuel pricing to support informed decision-making at farm level;
- Measures to safeguard continuity of supply and prioritise agriculture in the event of input shortages;
- Formal recognition of agriculture as a priority sector in any future fuel rationing scenario.
UFU president William Irvine said: “This level of cross-party support sends a very clear message to the prime minister that the pressure facing farm businesses are very real, immediate and should not be ignored.
“Farmers across Northern Ireland are dealing with rapidly rising fuel, fertiliser and energy costs, driven by global instability.
“These are not costs that can be absorbed indefinitely, and they are already influencing production decisions on farms.”
The UFU president said the union has set out “practical, targeted and time limited measures that should be implemented now”.
“The political support behind this letter reflects the urgency of the situation that has so far gone unanswered,” he added.
Support
The UFU has been engaging with ministers, MPs, peers and industry stakeholders at Westminster in recent weeks to highlight the scale of the challenge and risks facing the agri-sector in Northern Ireland.
Irvine said: “Other European countries have already acted to support their agricultural sectors.
“In contrast, there has been no agriculture-sector specific response from the UK government, and that risks placing our producers at an even further competitive disadvantage.
“With limited parliamentary time remaining until the end of the session, there is a time to deliver meaningful support, and that time is now.
“Delay will have real consequences for production, food prices, the long term resilience of our sector, and food security as a whole.”
The UFU said that the measures are designed to provide immediate relief while maintaining production and “safeguarding the future of the sector”.
The union added that it will continue to lobby for action, stressing that “the cost of inaction will far outweigh the cost of intervention”.