North Antrim MLA warns Nutrient Action Plan threatens family farms

Inset: North Antrim MLA Colin Crawford

In a stark warning to policymakers, North Antrim MLA Colin Crawford has branded the proposed Nutrient Action Plan (NAP) a potential catastrophe for farmers across Northern Ireland, particularly in his rural constituency.

The plan, part of a consultation launched by Alliance DAERA Minister Andrew Muir on 1 May 2025, aims to curb nutrient pollution and protect waterways but has sparked fierce opposition from farmers and rural representatives who fear it could spell the end for many family-run farms.

Crawford, a vocal advocate for Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector, highlighted the dire implications of the NAP, which comes hot on the heels of the Labour government’s controversial family farm tax.

“This is about survival for many family farms. We must work with farmers, not against them. Farmers are left feeling abandoned and burdened,” Crawford said.

He warned that the NAP proposals, combined with existing financial pressures, represent “the biggest threat to viability ever” for generational farming.

Northern Ireland’s farming industry, the backbone of the rural economy, supports over 48,000 jobs across nearly 25,000 farm businesses, with agriculture utilising 75% of the region’s land.

However, the NAP’s stringent measures, including restrictions on chemical phosphorus fertiliser, mandatory use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment (LESSE) by 2030, and farm phosphorus balance limits for intensive operations, could force dairy farmers to either double their land holdings or halve their herds to comply.

Crawford described these measures as a “farm reduction strategy through the back door,” arguing they threaten the livelihoods of those who feed the nation.

UUP Alderman Sandra Hunter

UUP Alderman Sandra Hunter, representing Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, echoed Crawford’s concerns, criticising the lack of engagement with working farmers.

“There has been little engagement with those who are active farmers, those on the ground who know and care for the land,” Hunter stated.

She questioned the feasibility of the proposals, asking, “Where are farmers with large dairy herds going to find the land to ensure they keep within these limits? Stock numbers will have to be reduced, these farms then become unviable.”

Hunter also highlighted the additional bureaucratic burden, including new record-keeping requirements and inspection powers, which she warned could harm farmers’ health and wellbeing.

The NAP, first introduced in 2007 and now in its fourth review, seeks to reduce nutrient pollution from agricultural sources to improve water quality across Northern Ireland. DAERA’s proposals, informed by scientific research, aim to address the alarming rise in phosphorus levels in waterways, with a 55% increase in average Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) levels in rivers between 2012 and 2022.

Minister Muir, launching the consultation, acknowledged agriculture’s significant contribution to nutrient pollution, noting that “around 62% of the high nutrient (phosphorus) levels in our waterbodies come from agricultural sources.”

However, Crawford and Hunter argue that farmers are being unfairly targeted while other polluters, notably NI Water, escape sufficient scrutiny. NI Water was fined just £170,000 for discharging 70 million tonnes of sewage into local rivers and lakes over the past decade, with modernisation of its outdated wastewater infrastructure projected to take 12 to 18 years.

Crawford pointed to the River Trust’s damning report, which found “no single stretch of river in Northern Ireland has good overall health,” as evidence of systemic failures beyond agriculture. “If we are serious about protecting our environment and water quality, we must first hold polluters, like NI Water, accountable,” he insisted.

Minister Muir, while defending the NAP’s environmental objectives, stressed the need for cross-sector action.

“I also recognise that agriculture is not the only sector impacting on water quality. Wastewater treatment is also a significant source of nutrient inputs which are a key cause of poor water quality,” he said.

Muir highlighted the urgency of addressing issues like the recurring blue-green algae blooms in Lough Neagh, adding, “I am passionately committed to working with farmers and the Agri-Food sector to achieve a strong and sustainable future together.”

The consultation period, initially set to close earlier, has been extended to 12 weeks, with responses now due by 23:59 on 24 July 2025.

Crawford has called for further extension until September 2025 to ensure smaller, family-run farms have their voices heard.

“Farmers are eager to adopt environmentally friendly practices, but they can’t achieve this if they are financially struggling,” he stressed, urging stakeholders to engage with the process.

Hunter also raised concerns about the consultation’s timing, noting that afternoon meetings during the busy first-cut silage season demonstrate a lack of understanding of farmers’ realities. “We need a scheme that actually involves farmers, who know what is happening on the land and how to work with the seasons,” she said.

As Northern Ireland grapples with balancing environmental protection and agricultural sustainability, the NAP consultation has become a flashpoint for debate. With the future of family farms and the health of the region’s waterways at stake, Crawford’s call for fair scrutiny and collaboration with farmers resonates strongly.

“This is a critical moment for the future of Northern Ireland’s agriculture and environment,” he concluded, urging all stakeholders to make their voices heard before the consultation deadline.

For more information or to participate in the NAP consultation, visit the DAERA website. Farmers and stakeholders are encouraged to submit their responses by 24 July 2025 to shape the future of Northern Ireland’s agricultural and environmental policies.