Sheep producers in Northern Irish press for new headage payments

Failure to provide targeted support for sheep producers in any post-Brexit farm policy risks putting a serious dent in the rural economy in Northern Ireland (NI), the Ulster Farmers’ Union has warned.

During a visit by new agriculture minister Andrew Muir to hill farming vice chair Clement Lynch’s farm, it was explained that sheep is the one sector that does not feature in the support plans set out just before the collapse of power sharing in 2022.

See also: New farm minister for Northern Ireland has ‘work to do’

Those plans, drawn up by former agriculture minister Edwin Poots, had proposed  a “safety net” area payment for all farmers, direct headage payments for beef producers, and a new “nature package” which, over time, would become the “central plank” of support in NI.

But sheep producers were left out of the plans (although the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs did say at the time they could “potentially” be included “if a need is identified”).

Losses

According to Mr Lynch, he stood to lose 17% of his Basic Payment Scheme (BSP) money if sheep continue to be excluded, as he did not farm either crops or cattle.

“There are many farmers across NI in the same situation and it is extremely worrying,” he said.

“To date, the majority of farm incomes, including for sheep, are made up of essential support in the form of the BPS, because the money made from food production alone would not be enough to sustain a farm business,” he told the minister.

“To lose 17% of that is huge and will put significant financial pressure on sheep farms.

“To not have a sheep scheme under the new policy, similar to what has been delivered for the other commodities, has really affected sheep farmers’ mentality and future outlook.”

Without direct support, NI sheep producers would be even more exposed to cheaper imports from the Republic of Ireland, where the Sheep Improvement Scheme provides each farmer with €20 (£17.20) an ewe.