Northern Ireland

Food, farming and rural life in Northern Ireland are set to take centre stage in a new BBC show starting next month.

Questions surrounding labelling, animal welfare and the impact on devolved nations have been raised regarding the Government’s Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, which had its third reading in Parliament this week.

Animal welfare and public health concerns have been raised in Northern Ireland (NI), as post-Brexit rules are set to leave the country facing the loss of around half of its veterinary medicines.

Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister, Edwin Poots, has vowed to seek an exemption for agriculture from the country’s planned net zero by 2050 target.

The former chairman of the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) has apologised for the group’s failure to demand the UK Government seek agreement from the devolved nations to sign trade deals.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has urged the UK Government and EU Commission to work together to find rapid solutions to border issues affecting farmers in Northern Ireland.

Ministers from the devolved nations have called for assurances that all EU funding for the countryside will be fully replaced, after it emerged Treasury proposals would see rural budgets slashed by more than £455m.

The union is the cornerstone of the UK’s prosperity and influence, and keeping it together will be vital for the future prosperity of our farmers, says Robert Largan, MP for High Peak.

An attempt in the House of Lords to ban live exports as part of the Agriculture Bill has been stymied by complications over Northern Ireland.