basic payment scheme

Graham Redman, partner at agribusiness consultants The Andersons Centre said the business aspect of farming was pressing on the farming community ‘even more so than ever before', and he urged farmers to look beyond the headline figures on Government environmental schemes, which he said could look appealing but came with ‘obligations' and ‘costs'

Sean Fitzpatrick, of the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association, said: "How can anyone expect our sheep farmers to maintain this when their income, which needs to support not only a business but a home, is getting significantly cut?"

CLA senior land use policy adviser Cameron Hughes said the range of Capital Grants available were 'particularly worth investigating'

TFA chief executive George Dunn said he believes farmers should be encouraged to consider what investment they need in their businesses over a three-year period and then use those plans to apply for a level of annual grant to support those goals

Applications for the new Integrated Natural Resources Scheme (INRS) are until September 27

The Farming and Countryside Programme (FCP) annual report revealed a £130 million underspend of the agriculture budget for 2023/24 alone

The farming union is calling for a 'renewed and enhanced multi-annual agricultural budget of £5.6 million'

“Securing a significant uplift in the rural budget is crucial to the wellbeing of our industry"

Scottish Government has made a commitment to support the scheme until 2026

Latest figures from DAERA show Northern Ireland farmers see income fall from £609 million in 2022 to £341 million