UFU president William Irvine
The Ulster Farmers’ Union has secured unprecedented cross-party political support for urgent action to address the escalating cost pressures facing farm businesses, with all six political party leaders backing the Union’s calls in a joint letter to the Prime Minister.
The letter, led by the UFU and signed by Michelle O’Neill MLA (Sinn Féin), Rt Hon. Gavin Robinson MP (Democratic Unionist Party), Naomi Long MLA (Alliance), Jon Burrows MLA (UUP), Claire Hanna MP (Social Democratic & Labour Party), Jim Allister MP (Traditional Unionist Voice), sets out the serious and immediate risks facing food production if action is not taken.
This unified political backing represents a significant step for the agri-food sector, underlining the scale of concern across Northern Ireland about rising input costs and the need for immediate government intervention.
The UFU has set out five key actions for the UK Government:
· The introduction of a targeted input support package to offset exceptional increases in fuel and fertiliser costs, including enhanced red diesel rebates and direct fertiliser support
· Extension of energy cost relief schemes to agriculture, particularly for horticulture and intensive livestock sectors
· Improved market oversight and transparency in fertiliser and fuel pricing to support informed decision-making at farm level
· Measures to safeguard continuity of supply and prioritise agriculture in the event of input shortages
· Formal recognition of agriculture as a priority sector in any future fuel rationing scenario
UFU President William Irvine said, “This level of cross-party support sends a very clear message to the Prime Minister that the pressure facing farm businesses are very real, immediate and should not be ignored.
“Farmers across Northern Ireland are dealing with rapidly rising fuel, fertiliser and energy costs, driven by global instability. These are not costs that can be absorbed indefinitely, and they are already influencing production decisions on farms.”
He explained, “We have set out practical, targeted and time limited measures that should be implemented now. The political support behind this letter reflects the urgency of the situation that has so far gone unanswered.
The UFU has been engaging intensively with Ministers, MPs, peers and industry stakeholders at Westminster to highlight the scale of the challenge and risks facing the agri-sector in Northern Ireland.
Mr Irvine continued, “Other European countries have already acted to support their agricultural sectors. In contrast, there has been no agriculture-sector specific response from the UK Government, and that risks placing our producers at an even further competitive disadvantage.
“With limited parliamentary time remaining until the end of the session, there is a time to deliver meaningful support, and that time is now. Delay will have real consequences for production, food prices, the long term resilience of our sector, and food security as a whole.”
The UFU said the measures are designed to provide immediate relief while maintaining production and safeguarding the future of the sector and that it will continue to press the case at the highest of levels, stressing that the cost of inaction will far outweigh the cost of intervention.
