Tyrone countryside. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
Due to decades of inaction and more recently failing to fully implement the revised TB strategy set out by the previous DAERA Minister, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) says the level of TB in Northern Ireland has escalated out of control. In a recent budget briefing for 2023-2024, the UFU made it absolutely clear to DAERA officials that there is to be no cuts to stock valuation regarding TB reactor cattle.
UFU president David Brown said, “DAERA is in a difficult financial position with a lesser budget for 2023-2024 and stated at the meeting that it will now be reviewing all of its financial responsibilities as part of its monitoring process. We made it perfectly clear that there are to be no cuts to the value of livestock removed from farms that have gone down with TB, in an attempt to make up for this shortfall. When a herd is infected with TB farmers are already suffering a significant loss of income coupled with mental stress, and to hit them when they are already down is absolutely unacceptable and unjust. We reminded DAERA that stock valuations are not compensation and that the cattle are not being removed by choice, but because there is no other alternative.
“DAERA outlined in the meeting that they wish to maintain the direction of travel set by the previous Minister regarding the revised strategy for Northern Ireland to reduce TB incidence. We will continue to keep the pressure on DAERA officials and engage with the wider industry to get the proposed measures implemented, so we can work towards eradicating the disease once and for all.
“We also raised the vital need to maintain front-of-office staff in DAERA direct offices. This is a valuable face-to-face service for the more elderly members of the farming community and it needs to be maintained.”
