NEWS

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has called for more Northern Ireland-produced food to be served in schools, hospitals and other public sector institutions, arguing that taxpayers’ money could do more to support local farmers and strengthen the region’s food supply. UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy said recent debate over the sourcing of chicken products used in Northern Ireland school meals should prompt a wider conversation about where food bought by public bodies comes from. The

Northern Ireland farmers are being urged to watch their livestock closely for signs of bluetongue after the disease was confirmed in an animal in County Wexford. The case, involving an unvaccinated heifer, is the first detected in the Republic of Ireland during the 2026/27 bluetongue season. No cases have been confirmed in Northern Ireland this season, but the Ulster Farmers’ Union has warned that the infection’s arrival south of the border underlines the continuing threat to

Four of the UK’s farming unions are demanding an urgent halt to Brazilian meat imports into Great Britain, warning that the country could become a destination for products displaced from European markets when new antimicrobial rules take effect next week. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), NFU, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru have jointly called on the UK Government to prohibit affected Brazilian products of animal origin from 3 September, bringing Great Britain into line with new E

Farmers and rural businesses across Northern Ireland are being urged to be on high alert following an increase in reports of rogue traders and scammers, with some victims said to have lost thousands of pounds. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has issued the warning amid concerns that those responsible are arriving uninvited at farms and presenting themselves in a professional and apparently legitimate manner. Farmers are being advised not to hand over money or make decisions u

County Hall, Ballymena A review of the environmental service that advises councils on major planning applications is being pursued by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council amid concerns over delays, accountability and confidence in Northern Ireland’s planning system. Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the move to examine Shared Environmental Services (SES), which is based at County Hall in Ballymena and provides specialist environmental advice to councils as part of the

Northern Ireland livestock farmers are being urged to remain vigilant for signs of bluetongue as cases of the disease rise sharply across Great Britain, with nearly 500 now confirmed and vaccine supplies coming under pressure. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has warned that an increase in cases in Northern Ireland could have serious consequences for livestock movements, farm businesses and the wider agricultural supply chain. Nearly 1,000 individual animals have been infected

Pictured: DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart and Ulster Unionist agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA, and the farmers protest earlier this week outside Stormont. Friday 14 August 2026 Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has rejected demands for his resignation and launched an extraordinary attack on the Ulster Farmers’ Union, declaring that its days of “dictating government policy are over”. His defiant response came after the UFU passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Muir,

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir The Ulster Farmers’ Union has declared that Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir and DAERA’s two most senior officials have lost the confidence of farmers—and demanded all three resign immediately. In a major escalation of the fallout from the Fivemiletown cattle operation, Northern Ireland’s largest farming organisation extended its vote of no confidence beyond the Department to Mr Muir, Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey and Chief Veterinary Of

TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister KC, and UFU president John McLenaghan Pressure on DAERA over the euthanising of 51 cattle near Fivemiletown has intensified ahead of a special Stormont meeting, with farming representatives warning the Department cannot be seen to “investigate itself” while North Antrim MP Jim Allister has challenged its interpretation of the court order at the centre of the controversy. The Ulster Farmers’ Union is calling for an independent expert

The shocking sight of livestock shot by DAERA officials in a field near Fivemile town, County Fermanagh DAERA has defended its decision to euthanise 51 cattle near Fivemiletown, saying officials were left with “no reasonable alternative” after their owner failed to dispose of the herd following a lifetime court ban on keeping animals. However, farming representatives say major questions remain over whether every possible alternative was exhausted, why more cattle could not ha

UFU relaunches Next Generation Forum Tuesday, 4 August 2026 Young farmers and growers across Northern Ireland are being invited to help influence the future of the agricultural industry as the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) relaunches its Next Generation Forum. Applications for the latest intake opened on Monday 3 August and will remain open until Friday 28 August 2026, with places available for up to 24 participants aged under 40. Giving young voices a seat at the table The for

The scene of destruction at a farm in Fivemiletown, County Fermanagh Political pressure is mounting on the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) over a controversial cattle destruction operation in County Tyrone, with politicians from across the political spectrum and Northern Ireland’s largest farming organisation demanding greater transparency over how the operation was planned and carried out. The controversy does not centre on the court order th

Farmers across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to examine new environmental funding opportunities after applications opened for the 2026 Farming with Nature Transition Scheme, with grants of up to £20,000 available for eligible projects. The scheme, which opened on Monday, offers financial support for a range of environmental measures designed to improve biodiversity, water quality and habitat protection while allowing farms to remain productive businesses. However, the

Northern Ireland farmers are being urged to engage with a major new consultation on future nutrient regulations, as political pressure grows on DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to prove the revised plans can actually be delivered on the ground. The revised Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2027-2030 has entered a 10-week public consultation period following nine months of negotiations involving farming organisations, environmental groups, the agri-food industry and government re

The UFU is encouraging consumers to question the origin of the beef they purchase this World Cup. Local beef farmers are being urged to put the spotlight on the origin of the meat on consumers’ plates this summer, as the Ulster Farmers’ Union launches a new campaign amid mounting concerns over imports, falling farmgate prices and growing pressure on the beef sector. The UFU’s ‘Where Is Your Beef From?’ campaign is running throughout the FIFA World Cup and aims to encourage sh

Ulster Farmers' Union Beef and Lamb chair Brendan Kelly on his farm in Randalstown, Antrim. Beef farmers across Northern Ireland are facing mounting financial pressure, with some now losing more than £350 on finished cattle as sharp processor price cuts squeeze already fragile family farm businesses, the Ulster Farmers’ Union has warned. The UFU says the speed and scale of recent reductions in beef prices are becoming “impossible” for many farmers to absorb, particularly as c

Farmers across Northern Ireland are facing a growing rural crime crisis after new figures revealed losses surged to £2.2 million last year — despite rural crime falling across the rest of the UK. The sharp rise has prompted the Ulster Farmers’ Union to demand stronger intervention from Stormont and tougher support for frontline policing, warning that theft, vandalism and organised rural criminality are placing already struggling farm businesses under even greater pressure. Ac

UFU Beef and Lamb and Hill Farming chairs on their visit to the British Wool depot in Bradford last week. Sheep farmers across Northern Ireland are being urged to take advantage of the strongest wool market seen in more than a decade after prices for the 2025 wool clip jumped by around 70%. The Ulster Farmers’ Union says wool — once widely regarded as a low-value by-product barely worth collecting — is now covering most shearing costs for many farmers and, in some cases, deli

CAFRE representatives, Albert Johnson and Dr Eileen McCloskey pictured with UFU policy officer, Kellie McEvoy, and UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy, at the launch of the 2026 Beef Conference. Farmers from across Northern Ireland are set to gather at Greenmount Campus next month for a major beef industry conference focused on one of the sector’s biggest challenges — how to improve profitability while meeting growing sustainability demands. Hosted jointly by the Ulster Farmers’

Pictured (L-R): The new UFU leadership team, new deputy president, Clement Lynch, new president, John McLenaghan and returning deputy president, Glenn Cuddy. A Garvagh farmer with a diverse agri-enterprise spanning beef, poultry, renewable energy and biogas has been elected as the new president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, setting the tone for a leadership focused on unity, sustainability and the challenges facing Northern Ireland’s farming sector. John McLenaghan was voted