Serene countryside and idyllic rural landscape of green fields, rolling hills and grazing sheep in the Glens of Antrim, Northern Ireland
Following the roll out of the of the Farming with Nature (FwN) package, the Ulster Farmers’ Union is calling out DAERA for their contradictory approach to buffer strips. In the first year of FwN, five actions will be available to farmers including the ‘creation of riparian buffer stripes’. Yet, in the new Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) proposals, buffer strips are being enforced on certain areas of farmland.
UFU president William Irvine said, “While we welcome the roll out of the FwN, DAERA’s support of riparian buffer stripes in its package is completely contradictory when buffer strips are being mandated on some land in the new NAP proposals. It’s unacceptable that a percentage of farmers will be funded through FwN while others will be penalised for doing the same thing. This is another example of poor communication within the Department. Evidently, there is a lack of collaborative working, impacting DAERA’s ability to create workable and fitting policies that complement each other, delivering successful outcomes for agriculture and the environment.
“The launch of the FwN is only a transition and whilst it is positive to have a commitment to build the scheme in phases, DAERA need to do this efficiently. Agri-environment schemes in the past have been popular with farmers and DAERA must ensure this interest continues to grow with the right support and encouragement.
“Industry and NGOs are in agreement that DAERA must also find a way to reward farmers who are already providing environmental benefits. Maintaining existing habitats has a business cost for farms and FwN needs to be much more than just creating new habitats. It’s equally as important to support the actions that farmers have already taken and to help them maintain and develop this positive work going forward.”
