Sinn Fein’s ANC Bill would rob lowland farmers to boost payments to large landowners – McIlveen

As the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee has concluded taking evidence and is now moved into deliberation of the Bill, in advance of Consideration Stage, the Strangford MLA said the absence of additional funding means the proposals can only be delivered by taking money from existing farm support payments.

Michelle McIlveen MLA said: “Sinn Fein is proposing a scheme which would take money from one group of farmers to give to another. That is not additional support for agriculture. It is simply redistributing an already stretched farming budget.

"The fundamental problem with this Bill is that there is no additional money to pay for it. The DAERA Minister has made clear that funding would have to come from top-slicing existing Farm Sustainability Payments.

"That means dairy farmers, cereal growers and lowland beef and sheep producers could see their support reduced to fund increased payments to large landowners in severely disadvantaged areas. This creates a hierarchy within farming which is absolutely disgraceful,” Ms McIlveen added.

"We have already witnessed a significant transfer of support towards larger landowners following the move to flat-rate area payments in 2015. Sinn Fein now wants to go further.

"Under these proposals, a small suckler farmer in a disadvantaged area could receive an increase of approximately £10 per acre, while large landowners could benefit by thousands of pounds annually. That raises serious questions about who this legislation is really designed to help.

"I am also concerned by attempts from some lobbying organisations to widen the scope of the Bill through amendments. Without guaranteed additional funding, expanding eligibility will simply increase the amount of money taken from existing farm payments.

"Vegetable and cereal farmers in my own constituency have endured an exceptionally difficult year, with dry weather and poor prices putting further pressure on already tight margins. The last thing they need is another reduction in financial support.

"Sinn Fein controls the Department of Finance. If the party genuinely believes this scheme is a priority, it should identify additional funding rather than expecting other farmers to foot the bill.

"The DUP supports fair and targeted assistance for farmers facing genuine disadvantages. However, we will not support a scheme that pits one section of the farming community against another or takes vital support away from productive family farms.

"Northern Ireland agriculture needs more investment, not Sinn Fein moving money from one farmer’s pocket into another’s.”