County Fermanagh countryside. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has formally responded to the Northern Ireland Executive’s Draft Budget 2026–2029/30 consultation, urging ministers to provide long-term financial certainty for agriculture and to protect funding needed to deliver environmental and economic sustainability.
In its submission, the UFU highlighted the growing expectations being placed on the agri-food sector, from food production and environmental improvement to ammonia reduction, water quality enhancement and climate targets and stressed that these ambitions must be matched with stable and protected financial support.
UFU president, William Irvine, said, “Northern Ireland agriculture is being asked to deliver more than ever before, economically, environmentally and socially. If the government expects farmers to meet these ambitions, it must provide long-term certainty and the necessary financial backing to make that possible. Policy ambition must be aligned with financial commitment.”
The UFU’s response calls for continued protection of ring-fenced agricultural funding beyond the current three-year guarantee and for full security of funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Programme.
The Union also emphasised the need for continued investment in nutrient efficiency and recovery measures. The UFU warned that any reduction in funding linked to environmental transition measures would undermine progress on ammonia reduction and water quality improvement.
On animal health, the UFU made clear that bovine TB compensation must remain at 100%, while also urging government to urgently address all factors involved in disease transmission.
“Farmers cannot continue to carry an ever-increasing burden, whether that is environmental compliance, disease costs or regulatory pressures, without clarity and stability from government,” continued Mr Irvine.
“Protecting agriculture’s budget is not about special treatment; it is about ensuring that one of Northern Ireland’s most important homegrown industries can continue to deliver for the economy, the environment and rural communities.”
The UFU also reiterated the need for meaningful support for generational renewal, highlighting the absence of a clear successor to existing young farmer schemes.
The Union will continue to engage with ministers and officials as the Budget process progresses.
