DAERA’s Norman Fulton addresses Sperrin farmers

Back row, Martin Scott, John Thompson and Sons, sponsor, Emma Semple, secretary, and Maurice Surphlis, sponsor. Front row, Harry Sinclair, chairman, Norman Fulton, DAERA, guest speaker, amd Ian Buchanan, vice chairman

Despite the terrible weather there was an excellent turnout of members and there wasn’t a spare seat in the hall.

The chairman, Harry Sinclair, read the annual report noting the current membership stood at 161, most of whom were active through the year, whether purchasing meal, requisites or marketing lambs to ICM in Wexford.

Secretary Emma Semple delivered the annual financial report which detailed a profit for the year.

Thanks were conveyed to the representatives of John Thompsons and Sons for sponsoring the supper and to L W Surphlis and Son for the evening’s membership draw.

Guest speaker for the evening was DAERA official Norman Fulton, head of food and farming group who gave a wonderful insight on what Brexit would mean for Northern Ireland farmers in exporting their produce and potential scenarios of how future farm payments could be justified.

He quantified what payments for “public good” could entail and that payments may be possible for environmental farming in the future.

He agreed that future environmental schemes could possibly be worked up in conjunction with the farmers on the ground as no one knew the land any better than they did.

The evening concluded with a question and answer session, with all questions well addressed.