20,000 cattle, slurry bans and 2027 — Is farming at breaking point?

TUV agriculture spokesman Councillor Allister Kyle

Northern Ireland’s farming community is being “failed” by Stormont, according to TUV agriculture spokesman Councillor Allister Kyle, who used a West Tyrone fundraising breakfast to launch a sweeping critique of agricultural policy, bovine TB controls and the Windsor Framework.

Addressing party members on Saturday (February 21), Cllr Kyle painted a picture of mounting pressure on farmers — from disease outbreaks and slurry storage rules to political decisions taken at both Stormont and Westminster — arguing that rural voices are not being heard where it matters most.

“I’ve been asked to speak on the current situation of agriculture but if you would indulge me I’ll maybe stray off at the end to cover a few other areas,” he began.

Stormont scrutiny and committee absence

Cllr Kyle praised TUV MLA Timothy Gaston’s performance at Stormont, saying:

“I’m sure since Jim’s appointment like me you have been very impressed with how Timothy Gaston has stepped into the role in Stormont and even managed to do something Jim didn’t, got suspended from the legislative assembly that doesn’t legislate.

“Timothy has been asking hard questions of the current bow tie and pink welly boot agriculture and environmental minister. Personally, I believe the roles of agriculture and environment should be split as with the current minister we can see that they often have a direct conflict of interest.”

He added:

“When we see how productive Timothy is on TEO committee, I feel it is a real shame we don’t have anyone currently sitting on the agricultural committee. I find it appalling that we don’t hear anyone asking questions at committee level of the minister in charge of our biggest employer outside of the civil service.”

Cllr Kyle said work was continuing “behind the scenes” to engage with industry leaders and grassroots farmers, including lodging six questions in one day concerning bovine TB.

“Ongoing TB epidemic”

Describing the disease as an epidemic, he said:

“The Ongoing TB epidemic is having serious ramifications. It was shocking to find out in Timothy’s questions over 20,000 cattle in Northern Ireland were found with TB in Northern Ireland in 2025. Action must be commissioned to eradicate Bovine TB. We recently had our own annual TB test and thankfully that was clear. I know the anxiety many of our farmers have in the run up to their TB test and the ramifications it can have on their farms.

“The unexpected changes it can cause not being able to sell stock live, extra testing, the extra housing and forage needed, the tax burden not being able to replace stock in extreme circumstances and of course the extra slurry storage.”

His remarks underscore the financial and emotional strain TB restrictions can place on farm businesses, particularly where movement bans disrupt sales and planning.

Slurry ban and weather tensions

Cllr Kyle also criticised Northern Ireland’s slurry spreading ban, arguing that rigid calendar-based rules fail to account for weather realities.

“The Northern Ireland slurry ban once again exposes how rigid, calendar based farming rules clash with reality. The idea that nutrient management can be neatly boxed into dates ignores the one factor farmers can’t control, the weather,” he said.

He continued:

“Northern Ireland only received around 80% of average rainfall during December and could have offered workable spreading conditions, to help with many farmers slurry storage capacity. My wife likes to remind me we haven’t had a dry day since December until the 13th February and even at that, it’s now only the odd day. The minister this week admitted during questioning that it had been the wettest January in over 149 years. I’m sure ground where you are is as bad as my ground is and it’s saturated.

“In truth, we all know most people would prefer to save their slurry until near March when conditions for growing improve that best use is made of the natural fertiliser. I believe relaxed rules would have given many men a relief of extra storage capacity in December to allow later spreading.”

Inheritance tax and political “hypocrisy”

Turning to inheritance tax proposals, Cllr Kyle criticised what he described as inconsistency among Northern Ireland parties.

“The minister and indeed all political parties were quick to condemn Westminster on its unfair Farm inheritance tax proposals, and rightly so, but this is something they could not change, they aren’t so quick to act on the things they can. The hypocrisy from many of the Northern Ireland political parties is shameful. When it came to the original inheritance tax proposals Sinn Fein and Alliance didn’t turn up and SDLP voted for them, with TUV we’ll turn up and speak on your behalf not just when it suits us but every time.”

He said he had made similar points at council level, adding:

“I raised the same point at council level who were quick to stand up against the inheritance tax proposals for local paper headlines and while I agreed with their sentiment it was something councils could not change. I raised the point that I hoped they’d be as sympathetic to our farmers when they lodge planning applications, something they do have a say in.”

Windsor Framework and sector impact

Cllr Kyle also criticised the impact of post-Brexit trading arrangements on agriculture.

“The ongoing Windsor framework debacle has brought significant changes to the agricultural and agri food sectors. We have heard the issues farmers have had bringing in seed potatoes, second hand farm machinery, veterinary medicines and showing livestock along with bringing in new breeding bloodlines. Let’s not mince our words, the Windsor framework is an affront to our constitution and an insult to the memory of those who gave their lives to maintain Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom.”

He referenced rising bureaucracy and the threat of bluetongue as additional pressures facing farmers.

Looking to 2027

Cllr Kyle concluded with a rallying call ahead of future elections:

“There is much more I could go into such as the rising bureaucracy and uncertain summer ahead with the ongoing threat of blue tongue but I am conscious of time and I do know you probably all have other things to be at this afternoon, but let me stress this to you, your TUV team will continue to speak up for our agricultural sector and rural communities at every level of government that we have representation on.

“There are Exciting times ahead for TUV with a party in a forward trajectory and representatives at all levels of government, now is the time to prepare for 2027.

“I believe west Tyrone are heading towards selecting one of two very credible candidates as their rep. I would appeal, whoever is successful, you all rally round and put your shoulder to the wheel to have as successful as possible assembly election.

“West Tyrone has been an area where I certainly feel we have been getting closer and closer to success and I certainly hope 2027 is the year of breakthrough.

“We also have council elections coming up in little over a year, again candidates are needed, funds are needing raised and the message is needing spread. Each and everyone of you have a role to play, between stepping forward as candidates, knocking doors, sharing posts online and with encouragement to those whose name is on the ballot.

“Thank you once again for having me share with you here in West Tyrone and I wish you all the very best for the days ahead as we plan for growth.”

As farmers continue to navigate disease controls, environmental regulation and political uncertainty, agriculture remains firmly at the centre of debate — not just in Stormont, but across rural communities preparing for the next electoral test.