UFU welcomes £25m support package for NI farmers

Ulster Farmers' Union president Ivor Ferguson. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

The money has been set aside to aid the farming and horticultural industries in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Ferguson said: “Our farmers will be glad to hear that £25m has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry. This is a successful outcome for the UFU as we have been lobbying DAERA Minister Edwin Poots, on behalf of our members to gain support for farming families since the COVID-19 outbreak began and are pleased that he has taken our requests on board. Minister Poots has displayed a strong understanding for the needs of our farmers at this difficult time and now we urge DAERA to try and seek extra funding for our farmers.

“We would also ask DAERA to get discussions with industry stakeholders underway as soon as possible. This is vital as DAERA is responsible for allocating the support appropriately between agriculture commodities ensuring that individual farm businesses in Northern Ireland can benefit from this package.”