William Irvine reflects on his time as UFU president

William has returned to the family farm in Mountnorris, where the seventh-generation farmer is once again working alongside his son, David.

“Life has definitely got a lot quieter,” he said, reflecting on the adjustment.

“You walk into the AGM as president of the union and you walk out as a member. It's quite a sudden change.

“But I suppose the adrenaline had run down and I was fairly well exhausted and ready to step back.”

For William, inheritance tax changes were a major challenge in his time as president, and no issue united Northern Ireland's farming community quite like it.

“I've never in my whole lifetime seen anything that galvanised rural support like inheritance tax did. It was on full display at the mass rally in the Eikon Exhibition Centre.

“Six and a half thousand people were counted through the door and nobody knows how many were turned away because the roads simply couldn't get them there.”

Looking back, it remains one of William’s proudest memories.

“There were babes in arms and there were people over 80 years of age. It really reinforced our message that this was going to destroy family farms. It was a proud moment for the union.”

Despite repeated suggestions that nothing would change, William remained optimistic, traveling to Westminster more than any other president before him.

“I consistently said we'd get something. I couldn't predict what, but we'd get something.”

When changes to the proposals were announced before Christmas 2025, William believes they transformed the outlook for many farming families, although the work is not yet done.

“For the vast majority of family farms in Northern Ireland, it was a game changer,” he said.

Inheritance tax wasn't the only challenge on William's agenda as president.

The Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) proposals announced in spring last year, would have devastated local farming.

“What has been achieved in the intervening months with NAP allows productive agriculture to continue and thrive in a way that protects the environment.

“I think everyone within the union and the wider industry who were in that room deserve credit for that massive piece of work that was done around NAP.”

One challenge William wishes he could have made more progress on is bovine TB.

“If I could have left TB in a better place, it would have been a major box ticked for me. But the issue of TB rumbles on.”

Looking ahead, William remains confident about the future of farming despite the challenges facing the industry.

“People still need fed. The world is getting more uncertain and food security must be front and center,” he said.

“We have an appetite to farm here in Northern Ireland. We have a determined farming community and a climate that gives us a massive advantage.

“We are needed to feed the nation and we'll be needed even more going forward.”

As for what's next, William is happy to be back doing what he has always loved.

“The great thing about farms is they can soak up all available labour," he smiled.

“I’m on light duties just at the moment and the ambition is to have a few more holidays with my wife Ruth as well.

“I got sucked into the whole union piece and it took all my energy at a stage, but at no part of that was there any dissatisfaction with being at home on the farm.

“It’s where I started and where I’ll end. That’s where my heart is.”