Northern Irish farmers to have a say on government funding
© Daniel L Grantham Jr/Adobe Stock Farmers in Northern Ireland are being asked to input their thoughts on future government funding and investment for farm businesses.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) wants to gather feedback to shape future farm support and identify key areas for on-farm investment.
An online survey will run on the Daera website from 27 October until 17 November for farmers to give their views, with the anonymous results feeding in to the new Farm Support and Development programme.
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The programme aims to help with efficiency gains to improve farm business resilience and also reduce agricultural emissions through the implementation of new technologies and equipment on-farm.
Daera’s director of sustainable agri-food development, Alison Chambers, said there are a number of challenges facing the industry, both in terms of farm productivity and environmental performance.
Ms Chambers added: “It is essential that we have sound information to develop the shape of new support measures to help address these issues.
“The new Capital Investment Measures will help farm businesses to improve business efficiency and environmental performance.
“In particular, support will be focused on assisting the industry to meet net-zero targets to incentivise investment in carbon-reduction technology and to invest in equipment to support low-carbon farming.”