Opinion

Food security, as a concept, has moved up the EU agenda, but despite the risks the UK faces from long supply chains. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

Farming has ended up less well off here outside the EU

For me with a picnic, less is more. You don’t need a hamper filled with savouries, salads, bread and an array of desserts. Picture: John Jones

The most important thing to pack for a picnic is great food and good company

Strawberries will be in the shops in November and will look like what we have now. Picture: Marcus Corazzi

Strawberries will be here for summer months and then they will disappear

Pictured in September 1980 is Mr Roy McDougall, on the right, commercial manager BP, handing over cheques to Mr Arthur McAlister, YFC secretary, and Mr Lawrence McMillan, chairman of the NI Ploughing Association. Also included is Mr Frank Espey, secretary of the NIPA. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

Portadown Show continues to flourish as number of entries grows (1925)

Over the years I’ve been lucky to experience barbecuing in its natural home – the USA.

Don’t let the rain get in the way of outdoor cooking – pop up an umbrella!

East Londonderry UUP Association Chairman Robert Carmichael.

East Londonderry UUP urges Stormont to adopt tougher slurry tank rules

Elderflowers have many culinary uses the best known being a cordial. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

The elder isn’t here for long so make the most of it or get the fridge filled

Boris Johnson, the architect of a botched Brexit, has accused Keir Starmer of a “total sell out”. Picture: Thomas Krych/PA Wire

With the great reset Keir Starmer has bowed to reality

There’s a bit of work and effort in making this classic French tart but it is so worth it. Picture: Martin Thompson/Good Food

Quiche used be a very popular lunch item but has now fallen out of favour

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. Photo credit: Ben Whitley/PA Wire

The UK has blinked in US deal, despite pledges this wouldn’t happen

Wild garlic season is coming to an end now and it’s worth sussing it out and enjoying it while it’s here. Picture: David Overend

The countryside is a wonderful larder at the moment and free for the picking

Real Mexican food can be healthy with an emphasis on grains, nuts, spices, vegetables and grilled meats. Picture: James Hardisty

Authentic Mexican food is complex with layers of flavours and textures

Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May, is a public holiday in Mexico where they honour the military victory in 1862 over Napoleon’s invading French forces.

Paula McIntyre

President Donald Trump arrives to speak on his first 100 days at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Warren, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A deal on Trump’s terms could cost us very dear with the EU

Some good news for Labour with two trade deals in a week

Richard Wright

In Wales, Palm Sunday is also known as Flower Sunday in reference to the blossoms in full flight at this time of the year. Picture: Mother's Garden

Availability of fresh figs is sporadic but dried figs are available all year

President Donald Trump, from right, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., attend a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

Trust in the US, particularly in Europe, has been damaged

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The global economy has been thrown into uncharted waters

Wild garlic pesto is a great way to use the leaves and you can use it to dress salads, rub on toast and sprinkle with cheese for a snack, serve it on grilled meats, stir into pasta dishes. Picture: David Overend

Wild garlic might smell and taste like bulb garlic, but it’s a different beast

Launching of Lactasep, a new product to help the dairy industry in February 1981 are from left, Mr Bertie Robinson, managing director of Galen Ltd, Dr John King, Galen Ltd, Mrs Anne Marie Doherty, LEDU, and Mr Leonard Robinson, director. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

Moycraig young farmer wins trip to Australia thanks to local bank (1978)
In April 1978 Farming Life reported that Samuel Acheson, a member of Moycraig Young Farmers’ Club, who was the winner of that year’s winner of the Bank of Ireland Travel Award, was presented with his prize cheque at a reception at the Bank’s offices, Donegall Place, Belfast, with a cheque for £700.
Darryl Armitage

Gorse bushes are in full swing at the moment and herald the start of spring. The countryside is adorned with their vibrant, canary yellow blossom.

Traditionally gorse flowers would have been used to colour Easter eggs

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Pool via AP)

The ‘special relationship’ now lies in tatters thanks to Trump

William Montgomery from Newtownards, pictured in February 1981, with his Friesian supreme champion bull, which made the top price of 2,600 guineas as the Royal Ulster Spring Show and Sale at Balmoral, Belfast. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

Brisk trade for Friesians at club show and sale held at Banbridge (1978)

If potatoes, bananas and apples alone were sold loose it’s estimated it would save 60,000 tonnes of these products being thrown out every year. Picture: PA Photos

Nearly five million tonnes of perfectly edible food is thrown away in the UK eve...

Pictured in early May 1983 are Joseph Quail (9), from Banbridge, and his cousin, Oonagh Connolly, with Mr Jim Quail’s champion Hampshire Down shearling ewe at Dublin Show. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

UFU anger over smaller Pigs Marketing Board announcement (1968)

Last October the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, literally tore up and threw away every family farm succession plan, through changes to agricultural property relief. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Richard Wright: The EU backs young farmers, Labour’s policies simply don’t

Whiskey or Bourbon as well as being a great drink and an essential ingredient in many cocktails whiskey makes a great ingredient in food

Bourbon is credited to a preacher whose ancestors hailed from Ulster

East Londonderry UUP Association Chairman Robert Carmichael.

East Londonderry UUP calls for more farm incentive schemes

Leeks are such a beautiful vegetable, they’re relatively cheap and have bags of flavour. You could serve a gammon or roast chicken

Pies take many forms – encased in pastry, topped with potato or sweet

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson has advice for how to avoid rental fraud, as causes of the scam are on the rise.

'Three words could stop you from falling victim to rental fraud' By The Newsroom

Paula McIntyre griddles fresh pancakes and traditional soda bread with the Henderson Group at St George’s Market. Picture: Aaron McCracken/Harrisons

For a bit of drama go with a crepe and toss it in the air this Pancake Tuesday
Next Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. Traditionally it was the time when you used up all the butter, eggs and milk before you started fasting on Ash Wednesday.
Paula McIntyre

Cauliflower and cheese are natural bedfellows and the recipe here uses the tried and tested combination. Picture: National World archives

Cauliflower is a maligned vegetable but it’s very tasty at this time of year

East Londonderry UUP Association Chairman Robert Carmichael.

UUP urges bird flu vigilance in East Londonderry

Across Northern Ireland there are bakeries like these in many towns. This Real Bread Week, go and find one in your local area and support them. Imagine a world where we could only source mass produced bread from supermarkets?

We are lucky in Northern Ireland in that we have some superb bakeries

If stability returns questions will have to be asked as to whether, under those conditions, that special treatment is fair for farmers in Europe. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump is eyeing peace prize as he cobbles deal with Putin

Andrew Diver - Head of Tax at Beatons Group Chartered Accountants

Ploughing through change: How Inheritance Tax reforms could reshape farming futu...

A rib of beef is an ideal cut to roast. In the recipe here it’s roasted medium rare but if you want it well done just keep it in the oven. Picture: National World archives/Charles Knight

Valentine’s Day is a table blocker that our local restaurants could do without

Like everything else there are variations in the quality of the good old “Yorkie”. Picture: National World archives

Really, do we need to have an excuse to enjoy a Yorkshire Pudding or two?

The first Burns supper was held at the family cottage, in the village of Alloway near Ayr, by Burns's friends, on 21 July 1801, the fifth anniversary of his death.

Scottish or not Burns’s birthday is an excuse to liven up a January day

Fish is a bit sparse at this time of year but smoked mackerel is a constant you can always rely on. Go to a fishmonger or deli to pick up some properly smoked fish. Picture: Tony Johnson

Blood oranges aren’t here for a long so make some time to cherish them

Tender moment between ewe and lamb in Lutterworth.

Farmers need to act now to get the right succession planning advice

The perfect sausages and mash is with the sausages cooked in an onion gravy with a tin of cannellini beans added at the end

My go to dishes for this kind of icy weather are pies, sausage and mash

Tender moment between ewe and lamb in Lutterworth.

Farmers need to act now to get the right succession planning advice in place for...

Eat more greens. It goes against the grain but there’s no disputing the benefits of eating them. Eating chard, kale and broccoli for example will provide you with food with the highest content of antioxidants, essential minerals and vitamins. Picture: www.LockStockPhotography.com

Rather than focusing on the negative, why not eat what makes us feel good?

There are only a few fishmongers left here and they do deserve our support. One of the things that they have is frozen local crab meat. (John Rafferty Photography)

Why not consider having fish this Christmas time? You won’t regret it

Stollen is a traditional German bread that’s been around for centuries but has become an intrinsic part of our Christmas eating. Picture: National World archives

Making Stollen is a labour of love but then the best things always are

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meeting Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at Downing Street, London, ahead of the government’s first budget in October. Picture: PA Wire/PA Images

Food security is clearly not deemed a priority by Starmer

With the Christmas Day lunch itself, I’ve ordered a turkey crown ( no one likes the leg meat), the ham and I’ll pick up the vegetables from the farm shop where there are no queues or screaming toddlers. Picture: Farming Life archives

A good gammon is my very favourite part of a traditional Christmas dinner

Damian Wilson, CEO at Share Energy

The hidden costs of energy waste on farms

Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream. Picture: The Yorkshire Post Magazine/Tony Johnson

Today sees the start of the Christmas period, there is still time to get ready

Cranberries are one of the gifts we can thank our transatlantic friends for. They’re readily available in the freezer section but in the recipe here I’m using dried cranberries soaked in local whiskey, or apple juice. Picture: Alexander Raths - stock.adobe.com

We should be more thankful to our farmers instead of penalising them

The massive meeting the UFU held confirmed support from local politicians, but this is a problem created at Westminster and it is one that can only be solved there. Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

The tax plans shows ‘we’re not quite all in this together’

Moor Farm Feather Down

No farmers, no food": Farmer shares deep concerns for local industry

Butternut squash is now a staple but there’s a whole big world of gourds out there that deserve to be used all year round and not just for one night. Picture: David Loftus

Some squash are still appearing in the shops which is very heartening

Gary Buckett, head of health and safety at employment law firm AfterAthena, part of Napthens Group

Law firm Napthens advises farmers on staying safe when working with livestock

A pudding should be warm, may or may not have a fruity element, and always be served with cream, custard, ice cream or all three

A pudding can be sweet or savoury it’s now a celebration of sweet side

One of my most cherished stews is a traditional Irish one. For me it’s the potato that really makes the dish – creamy and full of the flavours from the lamb or beef it’s cooked with

Beef stew is our go to but there is a big world of stews to be discovered

St Brides Fleet Street (exterior)

Good news for the countryside: Grateful hearts this Harvest

We tend to have sausage rolls as a snack now but I love them as a centrepiece main course. Picture: Una O’Dwyer

It is the perfect time to embrace a national treasure, the humble sausage

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