Farmers’ cancer awareness drive gains MEA Council support as DAERA policies spark criticism

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has agreed to write to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA urging him to “reflect on his actions around the Nutrient Action Programme and Climate Action Plan and to take any actions he can to reduce stress placed on the farming community by his Department.”

This was an amendment proposed by Knockagh DUP Councillor Marc Collins to an Alliance Party motion seeking endorsement of the Nip it in the Bud campaign, delivered by the Farming Community Network in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.

Knockagh Alliance Councillor Aaron Skinner proposed the motion, which also asked the council to recognise that farmers, agricultural workers and people living in rural communities can have lower access to cancer services.

It pledged to raise awareness using council social media channels to encourage rural residents to be aware of the symptoms of cancer and seek medical advice promptly.

Speaking at this month’s meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council at The Braid, Ballymena, Cllr Skinner said:

“Farmers in particular often put their health last. The day a farmer walks into A&E alone, you know it is bad.

With cancer, it can be deadly. Clinicians are worried and they see far too many people coming forward when it’s too late. That’s why the Nip it in the Bud campaign matters. It’s about getting the message out. Know the symptoms, don’t ignore them and get checked.”

Seconding the motion, Braid Alliance Councillor Chelsea Harwood added:

“As a councillor whose DEA is mostly rural, farmers, farm workers and people living in rural communities often have less access to care services and support. Those living in rural areas are more likely to present with advanced cancer than those in urban areas.

“This is down to various factors such as less access to GPs, not prioritising their health and often symptoms being masked by physical aspects of the job.

“The Nip it in the Bud campaign wants to change this. The Farming Community Network, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, wants farmers and members of the rural community to know the early signs of cancer, to seek help and nip it in the bud.”

Cllr Collins said that although he would support the motion, he was surprised it came from the Alliance Party, “given the actions of Alliance Minister Muir while in post”.

He claimed:

“When you look at some of Minister Muir’s actions with the Nutrient Action Programme and proposed draft Climate Action Plan, it has been a relentless onslaught on the farming community. I was a bit perplexed seeing Alliance bringing this motion forward.”

His amendment called for the council to write to the DAERA Minister urging him to “reflect on his own actions while in post”, which he argued had “caused much stress for farmers and their families.”

Larne Lough DUP Alderman Paul Reid said:

“I do welcome this motion. For many generations, my family has been involved in the farming community and know all too well how remote and rural the farming life can be.

“When you are so remote, the well-being of your livestock comes first and your own health is secondary. Farmers will always put their livestock first. I do agree that the rural community has had one crisis after another.

“The pressures put on farmers in more recent days from the Minister of Agriculture and the stress they have had to go through because of some of his policies has not been helpful.

“I am delighted that the Alliance Party in Mid and East Antrim are for once getting behind the farming community and maybe we can stand united behind our farmers and behind the farming community.”

Coast Road UUP Alderman Maureen Morrow commented:

“Stress, anxiety, depression are being seen in the farming community at the moment. Alliance Minister Muir, who is in charge of DAERA, is putting an awful stress on farmers through his policies and comments.

“We really need to support the farmers through their health issues, mental health, cancer and other health issues. I support this motion but would agree that a letter also needs to be sent to Minister Muir expressing concerns the Mid and East Antrim Alliance Party have for cancer in the community, and the need to pull back a bit and take stress off local farming communities.”

When asked if he accepted the amendment, Cllr Skinner said he thought it was “incredibly tacky to play party politics.”

He added:

“You are spitting in the face of the Farming Community Network and Macmillan Cancer who launched this campaign.

“If you want to spout more misinformation about the Nutrient Action Plan and pretend you are in Stormont, then so be it.”

Braid Sinn Féin Councillor Archie Rae said:

“Anything that can be done to detect cancer early is welcome. This motion probably doesn’t go far enough. There are probably other things that could enhance it a wee bit further.”

Bannside TUV Councillor Anna Henry also backed the motion, stating:

“I whole-heartedly support the Nip it in the Bud campaign. We know that early detection of cancer is vital and nowhere more so than in rural areas. Far too many in rural communities are diagnosed late because of isolation and poor access to health care. For farmers, the risks are even greater. This campaign might be a difference between life and death.

“However, we cannot pretend the Alliance Party are the farmers’ friend.”

Cllr Henry criticised proposals to reduce cattle, sheep and poultry numbers by 2030, which she described as “devastation.”

She argued:

“Proposals will rip the life out of family farms, deny the next generation their inheritance and heap even more stress on communities carrying heavy burdens.”

Cllr Skinner emphasised that the Farming Community Network and Macmillan Cancer Support had asked elected representatives to bring the campaign forward.

“To turn round and say we don’t care about farmers is quite frankly ridiculous. Playing Stormont politics in council chambers is dangerous and it means this council will not be able to do the work ratepayers expect us to do.”

The council ultimately agreed to support the motion and the amendment, voting 27 in favour, six against and one abstention.

The letter to the DAERA Minister will urge him to reflect on his actions around the Nutrient Action Programme and Climate Action Plan, and to take any steps possible to reduce stress placed on the farming community by his Department.