‘No farm will be left behind’ pledge welcomed by Agriculture Committee

The committee received an update on how the Future Agricultural Policy Framework is progressing, on Thursday followed a statement from the Minister on Tuesday 17 November, in which he outlined his vision for the policy and for future support payments.

Speaking after the meeting, the Committee Chairperson Declan McAleer, MLA said: “The Committee very much welcomed today’s briefing and the statement from the Minister earlier this week. As we approach our exit from the EU and the uncertainties this brings, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that any future agricultural policy here is robust and fit for purpose. It is vital that we get this right, as the decisions we make now will impact and shape how our farming sector operates and develops for a generation.

“The importance of the current basic payment scheme to our farmers cannot be overlooked; it underpins the very survival of many of our smaller farmers, particularly those who farm in less favoured areas. We are somewhat encouraged today, that the Minister and his Department have committed to doing all that they can to ensure the same level of financial support from the UK Treasury, at least for the lifetime of the current UK Government.”

Mr McAleer continued: “We are also pleased to note that the framework places an emphasis on environmentally sustainable farming, as well as seeking to create and develop mechanisms to improve resilience within the industry. The Committee looks forward to seeing these plans and measures in greater detail and to having an input into how they are shaped and rolled out over the coming months and years.

“It is crucial that we continue to recognise the importance of the farming sector to our local economy and that it remains a viable and attractive career option for our young people. The Minister has also pledged that no farm will be left behind and this is very welcome news upon which to build future policy decisions.”

Earlier this week Minister Poots updated the Assembly on his intention to change and improve how his Department creates policy across the food, agricultural and environmental spectrum.

Minister Poots said: “Leaving the EU provides for an unprecedented level of regional discretion and flexibility with regard to future agricultural support in Northern Ireland. This is the most significant change in policy affecting the agricultural sector in over 40 years. It means that our policies do not have to be constrained by the EU CAP Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 construct – we need to move to something new which better addresses the needs of Northern Ireland agriculture.

“Going forward I want to devise support schemes that provide opportunities for all of our farmers, no farmer should be left behind. Schemes and support are needed to help farmers develop their businesses, no matter where they farm, to become more efficient and to maximise the sustainable returns they can achieve from the assets at their disposal.

“These assets include the environmental assets on the farm, and I believe that farms, especially those in the hills and other disadvantaged areas, are well placed to play a major role in delivering more of the environmental outcomes the people who live here want and that we owe future generations.

“I want to make a difference and I want to make early changes that start to move us in the desired direction. I therefore, asked my Department to review our approach to the current schemes and implement improvements and simplifications wherever possible that are in keeping with the longer term direction of travel and which can be taken forward under the Agriculture Act.

“Therefore with this in mind from the 1st of January 2021, I have decided to implement the following changes:

- Remove the Greening requirements for the 2021 scheme year and incorporate the Greening Payment into Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) entitlement unit values. The evidence is strong that the Greening requirements of Crop Diversification and Environmental Focus Area retention have very limited relevance to NI. If anything, they seem to have been counter-productive by reducing the area of cropping and thus the diversity of land cover and habitat.

- On capping of payments, given that the changes for 2021 do not have a primary aim of altering the amount of funding farmers receive in 2021, it is my intention to make a technical adjustment to deliver a neutral solution on capping.

- For 2021, I am limiting the number of entitlements that can be allocated or topped up from the Regional Reserve in respect of applications from Young Farmers and New Entrants to 90 for each application.

I have also asked my officials to review the approach to the application of Cross-Compliance penalties as soon as possible. My aim is to ensure that penalties are proportionate and reflect the seriousness of the non- compliance identified.”

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) says it has a vision for a productive, profitable and progressive farming sector in Northern Ireland (NI), and wants to work with Government to achieve this by having a manageable transition to new farm support schemes.

UFU president Victor Chestnutt said: “We are now in a time of unprecedented change which presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of NI agriculture and we want to work with Government and other industry partners to realise this. We need flexible devolution to adapt a policy to suit the differing regional needs of farming. Work has begun within UFU and the wider industry to feed into this process.

“At the very least the existing level of support and investment in NI farming needs to be maintained and a sufficient delivery implementation transition is required. This is vital to give individual farm businesses the necessary time to adapt and support being targeted at those who actively take risks in primary food production.

“The UFU is involved in ongoing discussions about how and why we should utilise public policy and investment to support our local farming sector, and the answer is obvious. Food and farming are at the core of NI and it affects everyone. The agriculture industry is a major contributor to the NI economy and delivers for the environment but the reality is, if we have a policy that doesn’t support NI agriculture we could end up with a farming and food system that functions poorly. Local food security and the price of food for consumers would be hit and basic living costs in NI could increase as a result.

“The demand for food at home and abroad is increasing day on day and our farmers need to be equipped to be able to deal with it. Support systems have to be put in place so that they can continue to protect the environment and tackle climate change while increasing their production of high-quality food produced to world leading standards. Standards that they are proud to uphold and that matter to our consumers.”

The UFU has welcomed the clarification by the DAERA Minister to revise and improve the governing rules intended for direct support in 2021 including the farm inspections process as NI will no longer be constrained by the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy.

“The Agriculture Minister is making the right call on farm inspections. The inspection regime system needs to be reevaluated to create a more effective, risk-based inspection system that is more efficient and better suited to NI.

“Balance is the key issue that needs to be addressed and the limits for maximum penalties needs to be reviewed. The use of the ‘yellow card’ approach for minor offences also needs to be looked at so farmers have the chance to resolve the issue in question,” said Mr Chestnutt.