The Ulster Farmers’ Union has expressed its disappointment that the DARD Minister, despite obvious and widespread criticism from MLA’s at yesterday’s Farm Modernisation debate, has given no commitment to re-look at the delivery proposals for Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Scheme.
The UFU believe that DARD failed to consult properly, resulting in a plan which will significantly disadvantage a large proportion of potential applicants to the scheme.
Speaking after the debate, UFU President Graham Furey said; “It was obvious that very many MLA’s shared the Union’s concerns that the current DARD proposals for delivery of Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Scheme were neither fair nor practical. While the Minister supported the amendment to re-open discussions with the Union and other stakeholders, this was only on the ‘modernising’ categorisation of eligible equipment. There was no commitment to re-examine either the scoring mechanism or the number of criteria which, in our view, are essential pre-requisites to deliver equity of opportunity for farmers to access the funding. Unfortunately, the Minister now seems determined to force through and implement a flawed scoring mechanism which will effectively rule out lowland producers. The UFU is considering its options and will continue to press for the best possible delivery outcome.”
Graham Furey went on to say that he was pleased that the Minister had committed to re-opening the Manure Efficiency Technology Scheme (METS) and urged DARD to ensure this happened as soon as possible; ”It is important to ensure that equipment can be available for use during the 2010 growing season and certainly before the closed period for slurry spreading begins.”