The UK farming unions including the UFU last week joined forces with colleagues from across Europe to demand that national governments co-finance any transfer of funds from the direct payments pillar of the CAP to the rural development pillar.

Ulster Farmers’ Union President Harry Sinclair would like to remind farmers that the deadline is fast approaching for farmers who have lost stock due to the recent severe weather and wish to submit a force majeure application for the 2014 Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA) scheme.

As summer approaches the Ards Group hopes to see a change in the weather for the better, many will be glad to see an end to the winter and spring of 2013 due to some of the most adverse weather conditions since records began, making life for farmers extremely difficult.

The UK National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (Plant Protection Products) was published by Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs in February 2013.

Ulster Farmers’ Union is pleased to be sponsoring the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster 2013 exchange programme offering long term placements to Australia, Canada and the United States of America to YFCU members.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union is pleased to announce that discounted Balmoral tickets are now available for members to purchase from their local offices and UFU headquarters.

The UFU met with the Regional Development Minister to discuss the latest developments around the A5 road scheme.

The UFU received a bumper number of entries for the 2013 Schools Competition which closed on 28th March 2013. Over 3,000 primary school children submitted artwork from over 100 Nursery, Primary and Special schools in Northern Ireland.

The UFU would like to remind farmers and rural dwellers that the closing date for the rural support emergency fund is 10th May 2013.

The European Commission has confirmed it will push ahead with a ban on the use of three widely-used neonicotinoids “to better protect bees”.

Ulster Farmers’ Union Deputy President Barclay Bell, UFU Policy Director Wesley Aston, UFU Group Manager David West, and UFU County Fermanagh Chair James Murphy attended a meeting this week organised by DARD, the PSNI, and the Northern Ireland Office about the G8 Summit, which is taking place at the Loch Erne Resort on the 18 and 19 June.

After a number of months of inconsistent weather, spring finally seems to have awakened from its slumber as we move into May - and South West Down members are gearing up for a busy few months in the fields.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has welcomed indications from the NIEA outlining steady improvements in water quality across Northern Ireland.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union Mid Down Group are organising an exciting three day trip for their members to Budapest, Hungary in October 2013.

This week UFU President Harry Sinclair welcomed Council members to the 2013 Annual General Meeting which included a tour of the new Balmoral Show site followed by the 2013 AGM at the Down Royal Racecourse.

NORTH Tyrone Group of the Ulster Farmers’ Union are looking forward to a busy and action packed summer with a host of events to suit all members.

Cattle electronic identification (EID) is already used by some keepers on a private basis for farm management purposes, although it is currently not an official means of identification.

The European Commission has released proposals providing transitional arrangements in 2014 for CAP rules, including the system of direct payments and rural development.

UFU Deputy President Ian Marshall is encouraging farmers in the Co Down area to return permission slips to AFBI, which will allow their staff to carry out a sett survey on their land.  DARD identified two 100km2 areas for the sett survey work. The first is between Banbridge and Rathfriland. 

The Ulster Farmers’ Union is offering a range of exclusive deals to our members, including an excellent deal on health insurance with BupaCare. UFU members can take advantage of up to 46% off BupaCare, which offers a private medical cover plan that is tailored to your needs.