The Ulster Farmers' Union is taking to the road this January for our annual series of President’s Area Meetings. This year the primary focus will be on three key themes: CAP Reform Implementation, future NI Government Budgets and producer price volatility. Members will have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have and also raise any other agriculture related issues for discussion that may be concerning them. The meetings start this week with the first being held in County Down on Thursday 8th January at the Millbrook Lodge, Ballynahinch at 8pm.
UFU President Ian Marshall said; “I would like to encourage members to attend these meetings and I am looking forward to welcoming people along. The meetings offer the perfect opportunity to hear in more detail of the progress being made in relation to CAP implementation which comes into operation this year. Some of the proposals are quite complex so it is important that farmers look at the potential implications for their businesses and take this opportunity to seek clarification or raise any concerns that they have. We will also provide an update on a number of other important issues that the UFU team have been working very closely on. A huge concern for us is farmer profitability and with the challenges posed by the newly reformed CAP, our members will need a better return from the market in order to keep their businesses viable going forward.”
The President Area meetings will continue throughout January. Other dates include: County Fermanagh, Monday 12th January at the Killyhevlin Hotel Enniskillen; County Armagh, Wednesday 14th January at the Armagh City Hotel; County Antrim, Monday 19th January at the Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena; County Tyrone Wednesday 21st January at the Silver Birch Hotel, Omagh; and County Derry/Londonderry, Monday 26th January at the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine. All meetings start at 8pm.
