UFU seeds and cereals vice chair Richard Orr, divisional director for services (cereals and oilseeds sector lead) Ken Boyns, board member and cereals and oilseeds sector council chair Tom Clarke, UFU seeds and cereals chair Christopher Gill and UFU deputy president John McClenaghan.
Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) seeds and cereals representatives met with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) on Wednesday (4 October). The UFU raised questions and had a full and open discussion about the levy increase proposals. AHDB have also scheduled an open ‘Funding Your Future’ livestream event in November for growers and levy payers to engage.
AHDB are proposing an increase in levy rates is necessary to meet the request from levy payers to deliver more key services.
Commenting, UFU seeds and cereals chair Christopher Gill said, “The UFU recognise value in AHDB’s proposed levy increase and the valuable work that they do. The last number of months have been challenging for the arable sector and with the wettest July on record, and more recent challenging weather, this hindered harvesting crops due to the unfavourable ground conditions. Our Northern Ireland (NI) cereal sector need independent trusted information and we value the work they do. Loosing or a cut back to AHDB services in NI would not be a good longer-term outcome.
“The AHDB levy increase proposal would drive necessary independent research as it’s critical that we gain new solutions and advancements. Information and trusted scientific robust knowledge is necessary to help farmers manage and thrive in these changing times, ensuring a sustainable agri-industry.”
UFU seeds and cereals vice chair Richard Orr added, “Through the levy proposals, AHDB can focus on improving research to advance the cereals and oilseed sector and increase promotion. Both are equally important with the many challenges we face as a sector, and farmers are working hard daily to deliver the high-quality produce while maintaining our iconic countryside which ADHB continues to champion.”
The UFU will continue to monitor AHDB’s levy proposals.
