News

Snow hits hard

The Ulster Farmers' Union has praised the efforts of many farmers throughout the weekend as heavy lying snow persists in some parts of Northern Ireland.

UFU Deputy President Barclay Bell said; "This has been a very tough couple of days for many farming families. The heavy snow and high winds came at the worst possible time for many farmers who are lambing sheep. They have gone to great lengths to get animals indoors and out of the elements. The snow has also caused serious problems for some rural families living in isolated areas. Great efforts have been made to clear roads and ensure families have not been cut off. I want to praise our members for braving the elements in the past few days to ensure animal health and welfare was protected and to make sure the disruption to their families and neighbours was kept to a minimum. The resilience of the farming community always comes to the fore in these type of circumstances".

The UFU says the full picture of the problems faced over the weekend will emerge in the coming days with concerns remaining about animal losses, ongoing power failures and blocked minor roads.