Ulster Farmers’ Union President Harry Sinclair says urgent initiatives are needed to help farmers through what is proving to be a very difficult winter.
UFU President’s Area Meetings got underway this week in Fermanagh and Armagh with hundreds of farmers attending to voice their concerns about cash flow and fodder problems. Harry Sinclair also visited farms in Fermanagh and Armagh to see first hand the problems faced by local farmers.
The UFU President said; “I am very concerned about the difficult position many of our farm businesses are now facing. Bad weather, rising costs and disappointing farm gate prices in 2012 have taken their toll and many farm businesses are now facing a very tough winter. In particular there are very serious cash flow problems on some farms. The quality, availability and price of winter fodder is compounding the problem on many livestock farms”.
Harry Sinclair said the UFU is tabling urgent proposals to alleviate some of the problems in the industry. The UFU President said; “We have to be proactive and the UFU is proposing a range of initiatives that are badly needed to ease the pressure on our members. For example we need to be allowed to establish ‘Approved Finishing Units’ with practical rules around their operation, which could provide a desperately needed outlet for farms closed with TB. These farms are facing very serious cash flow problems and they need an urgent solution. We must also do something to help the farmers who have learned that their Single Farm Payment will be delayed. The UFU is proposing a mechanism so that 50% of their Single Farm Payment could be released immediately to these businesses, again to help them with their cash flow management”.
Harry Sinclair confirmed that the UFU would be progressing these and a range of other proposals as quickly as possible with Government.
