Garvagh farmer John McLenaghan elected UFU president as new leadership team confirmed

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 in for a two-year term at the UFU Annual General Meeting held at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus on April 30, where members also confirmed Glenn Cuddy as deputy president for a second term alongside newly elected deputy president Clement Lynch.

The leadership announcement comes at a time of continued pressure on the agri sector, with policy, environmental and global issues shaping the landscape farmers must navigate.

Leadership confirmed at AGM

The election saw council members gather both in person and online, marking a key moment for the organisation as it sets direction for the coming years.

Glenn Cuddy, from Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, retains his role as deputy president, bringing continuity and experience, while Clement Lynch, a hill sheep farmer from Claudy, Co. Derry/Londonderry, joins the leadership team following his election.

Their appointments reflect a broad cross-section of Northern Ireland’s farming sectors, from pig and sheep production to wider sustainability and research engagement.

Minister highlights sector pressures

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir addressed the UFU Council during the AGM, outlining the pressures and priorities currently facing the agriculture sector.

He confirmed that bovine TB remains a top priority, while also referencing the work of the NAP Stakeholder Group, which he described as focused and constructive.

The Minister also touched on wider issues impacting farming, including climate change, inheritance tax and the ongoing war in Iran, underlining the complex backdrop against which the new leadership will operate.

Call for unity from new president

In his first address as president, John McLenaghan delivered a message centred on unity and shared purpose within the farming community.

“Together we are stronger. We don’t all have to always agree on every single issue, but I believe we do agree on the importance of maintaining productive sustainable farming for this and the next generation. We must agree that we are only as strong as we are united, the more division there is the more weakness there is.”

He acknowledged both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with farming, highlighting the importance of continued progress despite ongoing scrutiny and challenges.

Environmental scrutiny and farmer recognition

Referencing a newly launched report from the Office for Environmental Protection into the previous Nutrients Action Programme, Mr McLenaghan addressed concerns around environmental performance.

“This morning the Office for Environmental Protection launched its report on the previous NAP programme which ran from 2019 to now and its effect on water quality,” he said.

“As expected, it includes some criticisms, but it also starts by acknowledging the ‘positive investment and efforts from farmers’.

“You are those farmers and that acknowledgement is something you should be proud of and which should encourage us all to continue to be better.”

His comments highlight the dual pressures facing farmers — responding to environmental expectations while maintaining productivity and viability.

Experience across the sector

Mr McLenaghan brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as group chair of North East Derry/Londonderry and held positions across several UFU committees, including poultry, rural enterprise, animal health and environment.

He has also served on the UFU board and previously chaired both the poultry and environment committees.

His own farming operation in Garvagh includes a suckler beef enterprise, egg production, a wind turbine and a biogas plant, reflecting a diversified approach increasingly common across the sector.

Deputy presidents bring depth of experience

Glenn Cuddy continues in his deputy role with a strong background in pig production, operating a modern birth-to-bacon sow unit alongside suckler cows and sheep with his family.

His previous roles include chairing the pork and bacon committee for four years, representing the UFU on the Red Tractor pig board, and contributing to research through Pig Regen and AFBI.

Clement Lynch brings expertise from the hill farming sector, having chaired the Hill Farming Committee and represented members across a range of industry bodies including the FQAS industry board, AgriSearch Sheep Committee and the Sheep Taskforce.

He has also been involved in the Northern Ireland Sheep Programme and served as part of a CAFRE Technology Demonstration farm, while continuing to contribute to industry groups including the National Sheep Association and Donemana Livestock Market.

Looking ahead

Concluding his address, Mr McLenaghan expressed optimism about the role ahead despite the scale of the challenges facing agriculture.

“There has never been a better time to be president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union and I look forward to working alongside you over the coming years.”

With a renewed leadership team now in place, the UFU enters a period where unity, environmental accountability and sector resilience are expected to shape its agenda, as farmers across Northern Ireland continue to navigate an increasingly complex and demanding landscape.

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At a glance

• John McLenaghan from Garvagh elected UFU president for two years

• Glenn Cuddy re-elected as deputy president; Clement Lynch newly elected

• AGM held at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus on April 30

• DAERA Minister Andrew Muir addressed members, highlighting bovine TB and wider pressures

• New president calls for unity across the farming sector

• Environmental scrutiny highlighted through NAP report findings

• Leadership team reflects diverse farming sectors across NI