When the farm community stands united the outcome is nothing short of powerful, writes UFU communications officer Tracey Donaghey.
Farming challenges are constant and can strip farm families back to the bare bone, TB, rising input costs, weather disasters – no farmer is an exceptional case who escapes unscathed. However, the hope when things turn sour, is persevered in working together to achieve the best outcome for all farming families across Northern Ireland (NI).
Climate change
A united front from the agriculture industry ensured young farmers had a future after the Executive’s Climate Change Bill (No. 2) with a separate methane target, passed its final stage in early March. Prior to this, things were looking desperately dire for the industry. As a last resort, Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) members came together for a climate change rally at Stormont and the Irish Farmers Journal gathered farmers and several politicians under the same roof for a climate change summit.
The togetherness of the agri community at these events, plus their efforts contacting local MLAs directly, was nothing short of powerful, resulting in a climate change legislation that brings NI back in line with the Climate Change Committee’s balanced pathway for agriculture. Big changes will be required of agriculture going forward to meet the targets within the bill, but all of which are supported by science and expert advice thanks to the collaborative efforts of farmers across NI.
Online
One of the most impactful videos that the UFU created, with the much-needed help of two farming families, was on the real affect TB has on farming families. A hard one to watch, the raw productions were the driving force that influenced many farmers to act and respond to DAERA’s consultation on the TB eradication strategy – a once in a generation opportunity.
In March of this year, DAERA Minister Edwin Poots announced the bTB eradication strategy for NI following the consultation. It contained new measures to tackle the disease including much needed wildlife intervention, which the UFU had been lobbying for. While the implementation of the TB eradication strategy is now at a standstill until the NI Executive resumes, the measures are another example of how farmers are pivotal in creating positive change within the industry when they all put their shoulder to the wheel.
Generational renewal
Agriculture can be a tricky industry to get into when your interest lies in being a farmer, but you will not inherit land or have the financial means to buy one. The Land Mobility Scheme, established by the UFU, YFCU and DAERA, tackles this issue while also facilitating older farmers who want to retire or lighten the workload. Working together is at the core of the scheme to restructure the industry and deliver generational renewal.
Land Mobility programme manager John McAlister creates suitable ‘match-ups’ between young agri enthusiasts and older farmers, delivering a workable arrangement for both parties. In a recent interview with Farming Life, Mr McAlister stated that, “Over the past 4½ years almost 14,000ac have been dedicated to long terms leasing and other land tenure agreements”.
With the world population expected to grow to over 9 billion by 2050, these working relationships negotiated through the scheme are a critical part of sustaining the industry and developing local food production to meet demand.
Working together
The past proves that working together works. Farmers, no matter who they are or where they come from have similar hopes – to be recognised for the important role they have in society as food producers and to receive a fair price for their produce. Therefore, it’s important that we keep labouring for one another as we move forward, because “we cannot accomplish all we need to do without working together” (Bill Richardson).
