Serene countryside and idyllic rural landscape of green fields, rolling hills and grazing sheep in the Glens of Antrim, Northern Ireland
The Ulster Farmers’ Union has said the announcement of additional investment to improve water quality in the Lough Neagh catchment must deliver practical, properly funded support for farm businesses on the ground.
The £49.3 million Lough Neagh Catchment Area Water Quality programme, funded through the Shared Island Initiative alongside DAERA and the Irish Government’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is expected to support ecological and on-farm measures aimed at improving water quality between 2027 and 2031.
UFU president John McLenaghan said the investment must be shaped in partnership with farmers and delivered in a way that supports food production as well as environmental improvement.
“Farmers recognise the importance of improving water quality and many are already taking positive steps on their own farms. Measures such as watercourse fencing, riparian margins, hedge and tree planting, improved livestock watering systems and better nutrient management can all make a real difference, but they must be properly funded and practical for farm businesses to deliver.
“We welcome new funding coming into the industry and this announcement has the potential to provide meaningful support for farmers in the Lough Neagh catchment, but the detail will be critical. We would welcome an opportunity to meet with DAERA on how the funding will be allocated, what measures will be available, how farmers can access support and whether the programme will be designed around the realities of working farms. The UFU has been clear that farmers cannot be expected to carry the cost of environmental delivery on their own. If government wants improved water quality, it must invest in the people managing the land and give them the tools, advice and financial support to make change happen.”
Mr McLenaghan said the UFU would also be seeking clarity on whether similar support could be made available to farmers outside the Lough Neagh catchment.
“While the focus of this programme appears to be Lough Neagh and connected catchments, the challenges around water quality are not confined to one area. Farmers in other parts of Northern Ireland are also willing to play their part, but they too will need access to comparable support if similar measures are expected of them.
“We will be engaging with DAERA on the detail of this programme to ensure it is farmer-focused, fair and capable of delivering real outcomes. The priority must be practical delivery, not more bureaucracy.
“Farmers want to be part of the solution, but any scheme must work with them, not against them,” added the president.
