Policy Committees

Committee Chair - Desmond Fulton

Vice Chair - Andrew McCammond

Policy Officer - Geoff Thompson

Current issues the committee is considering:

• TB eradication
• BVD eradication
• Antimicrobial resistance
• African swine fever
• Bovine EID
• Sheep scab
• OPA
• Avian influenza

Committee Chair - Sam Chesney

Vice Chair - Pat McKay

Policy Officer - Daryl McLaughlin

Latest figures from the EU Meat Market Observatory. The aim of this is to provide the EU beaf & veal and pigmeat sector with more transparency by means of disseminating market data and short-term analysis in a timely manner. In addition to the website, which is updated regularly, the Observatory has an Expert Group which meets at least 3 times a year.

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Brexit – developing policies on future trade arrangements and agricultural support mechanisms
• Campaigning for better prices for farmers
• Representing farmers views with processors and retailers
• Animal health – primarily in relation to bovine TB and BVD eradication
• Supporting an NI livestock genomics programme
• NI Marketing body
• Seeking flexibility on regulatory controls for cattle and sheep
• Beef and lamb promotion
• BSE negligible risk status – maximising the benefits for the NI industry
• Lobbying for new beef research facilities at AFBI and CAFRE
• Providing representation on the NI Farm Quality Assurance Board
• Farm Business Investment Scheme
• Environmental Farming Scheme
• EU Exceptional Aid Package

Committee Chair - Mervyn Gordon

Vice Chair - Kenneth Hawkes

Policy Officer - Chris Osborne

Latest UFU MPI  https://www.ufuni.org/news/ufu-mpi

Latest DAERA data https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/milk-price-and-production-statistics-1997-onwards

Latest AHDB data https://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/

Latest figures from the EU Commission's Milk Market Observatory (MMO)

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Mandatory milk contracts in Northern Ireland
• Constituent pricing of milk in Northern Ireland
• Dairy policy in post Brexit (including the domestic market for dairy products)
• Promotion of Northern Ireland dairying 
• Addressing and managing milk price volatility (futures, fixed price contracts, margin protection etc)
• Analysing energy use on Northern Ireland dairy farms
• Engage with local dairy discussion groups

Committee Chair - Wilbert Mayne

Vice Chair -

Policy Officer - Aileen Lawson

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Ammonia Emissions 
• Nutrients Action Programme 2019-2022
• Nitrates Derogation
• ​Issues around soil nutrient leaching 
• Cross compliance verifiable standards - GAEC and SMRs
• Issues with NIEA and how they interact with farmers – NIEA / UFU Memorandum of Understanding.
• Environment cross-compliance inspections
• Agri-environment schemes
• Working with other organisations to assist farmers and improve environment 
• Issues around designated sites
• Participation in the Greenhouse Gas Implementation Partnership
• Climate Change / Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Water Framework Directive - River Basin Management Plans 
• Issues around IPPC
• Sustainable Agricultural Land Management Strategy

Committee Chair - David Johnston

Vice Chair -

Policy Officer - Patricia Erwin

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Research needs and industry levy
• Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)
• Horticultural forum
• Armagh Bramely Apple Festival
• NI Rural Development Programme 2014-2020

Committee Chair - Nigel McLaughlin

Vice Chair - Dermot McCullagh

Policy Officer - Daryl McLaughlin

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme
• Brexit – developing policies on future trade arrangements and agricultural support mechanisms
• Representing farmers views with processors and retailers
• Animal health – primarily in relation to bovine TB and BVD eradication
• Supporting an NI livestock genomics programme
• NI Marketing body
• Seeking flexibility on regulatory controls for cattle and sheep
• Beef and lamb promotion
• Agri-environment schemes
• Farm Business Capital Investment Scheme
• Designated Sites
• Wildfires stakeholder group
• Forestry Service land management
• Beef and lamb promotion
• EU Exceptional Aid Package
• Providing representation on the NI Farm Quality Assurance Board

Committee Chair - David Dunlop

Vice Chair - Brian Megahey

Policy Officer - Lorraine McKnight

Current issues the committee is considering:

•  Rural Crime
•  Flooding
•  Road Development
•  Electric/gas/water development
•  Agricultural Vehicles
•  Rating
•  Gun licences

Committee Chair - Glen Cuddy

Vice Chair - Kenneth Telford

Policy Officer - Geoff Thompson

Latest figures from the EU Meat Market Observatory. The aim of this is to provide the EU beaf & veal and pigmeat sector with more transparency by means of disseminating market data and short-term analysis in a timely manner. In addition to the website, which is updated regularly, the Observatory has an Expert Group which meets at least 3 times a year.

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Tail biting and docking
• Red Tractor
• African swine fever
• Labour availability
• Industry education
• Planning permission
• Environmental sustainability
• BREXIT

Committee Chair - Robert Sibbett Jnr

Vice Chair - Dessie Patterson

Policy Officer - Patricia Erwin

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Land availablity issues under the new CAP 
• Producer prices
• NI potato promotion campaign
• Plant health
• Proposed changes to the EU Seed Potato Directive
• NI Cross-Compliance Verifiable Standards
• Research and development
• Access to plant protection products

Committee Chair - Ronnie Wells

Vice Chair - Eamon Ramsey

Policy Officer - Geoff Thompson

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Poultry Education
• Poultry litter disposal
• Continued Broiler, Breeder and Commercial Egg industry performance monitoring
• NIEA Nitrates action programme impact on poultry industry
• Agri Food Strategy Board – need for additional NI growers
• Avian Flu
• Retailer move away from colony egg production
• Renewable heat incentive

Committee Chair - Jennifer Hawkes

Vice Chair - Carol Bell

Policy Officer - Lorraine McKnight

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Definition of "Rural"
• Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend
• Rural Healthcare Provision
• Health and Safety
• Changes to Welfare System
• Working with Rural Support
• Budget cuts on rural schools
• Budget cuts on rural bus routes
• Agri Aware Schol's Resource
• Broaband and Mobile Phone provision in Rural areas.

Committee Chair - John MCullagh

Vice Chair - George Bingham

Policy Officer - Aileen Lawson

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Roll out of NIRDP 2014 - 2020
• Representation on the 2014 - 2020 NI Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) Stakeholders Group and Monitoring Committee
• Encouraging members to participate in Local Action Groups (LAG) 
• Development of the various schemes proposed under the new NIRDP particularly
  • Farm Business Investment Scheme
  • Business Development Groups
  • Agri-Environment Schemes

Committee Chair - John Watt

Vice Chair - James Carson

Policy Officer - Chris Osborne

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Future energy policy in Northern Ireland
• Improved use of energy in Northern Ireland agriculture
• Role of small scale renewables in enhancing securiy of supply
• Future grid connection of small scale renewables
• Small scale renewables and the hydrogen economy
• Contestability of grid connections in Northern Ireland
• Role of micro-grids/private network agreements in Northern Ireland
• Energy storage for small scale Rrnewables

Committee Chair - David Matthews

Vice Chair -

Policy Officer - Patricia Erwin

AHDB weekly grain report

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Glyphosate re-authorisation
• Greening requirements under the new CAP
• Plant protection products and Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)
• Hedge cutting
• Northern Ireland Cross-Compliance Verifiable Standards
• GM debate
• Benchmarking
• Farm Quality Assured Cereal Scheme
• Nitrates Action Programme 2014-2020  guidance
• Cash flows
• UFU cereal competition
• VI initiative and operator roadshows
• Research and development

Committee Chair - Adrian McGowan

Vice Chair -

Policy Officer - Patricia Erwin

Current issues the committee is considering:

• Land availablity issues under the new CAP
• NI Cross Compliance Verifiable Standards
• Plant Protection Products and Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)
• Horticultural Forum
• VI Operator Roadshows
• Plant health
• Powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator