NI farmers must act to stop lower TB compensation payments

Farmers in Northern Ireland are being urged to make their voices heard in the face of a 25% cut in compensation for cattle with bovine TB should existing government proposals be adopted.

Currently, NI farmers receive 100% of the market value of their stock.

However, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Deara) is carrying out an industry consultation which would see this reduced to 90% in year one, then to 75% in year two.

The consultation closes this Friday (8 March).

See also: High Court judge rejects plans for Northern Ireland badger cull

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is calling on farmers to speak out against the proposed reduction and complete the short consultation.

David McClure, UFU policy officer, said: “It is up to every farmer to ensure they play their part in giving a strong response to these barbaric proposals.

“In doing so, we can give the Daera minister the firm assurance that any move to devalue our animals will not be tolerated.”

Loss of production

Mr McClure added that, even when farmers are paid a full market value, there is no allowance for the subsequent loss in production, either in milk sales or lost progeny.

“Lenders in NI have recently outlined the severe effects that a TB breakdown has on a farm’s finances. To suggest that Daera makes moves to steal a proportion of the value of our members’ herds is frankly barbaric,” he added.

In 2023, there were more than 18,000 reactor animals in Northern Ireland and an annual TB herd incidence of about 10%.

Compensation for a reactor animal is determined by Daera valuation officers, who assess the current market value of each animal on a case-by-case basis.

TB compensation rates in England, Scotland and Wales are all currently paid at market value.

The Animal & Plant Health Agency arranges for the valuation of reactor animals in England and also works on behalf of the Welsh government in Wales.