Poots taking science led approach

While acknowledging that the future of farming is all about sustainable production, new Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots believes that farmers in NI have been unfairly tarnished in the debate around climate change.

“I am convinced our grass-based methods are much more environmentally friendly compared to continental Europe. So we need to have a research base that identifies what bovines do in capturing carbon. It has never been properly understood – it has to be,” he told journalists at a briefing on Tuesday.

With the facts established, his vision is that farmers are given the proper direction and incentives to improve the environment, but are not hamstrung in such a way that they cannot expand – “if we don’t allow expansion, we put farming into recession. We also have to ensure farming is more profitable – it is easier to ask for an environmental contribution when people have money in their pocket”, he said.

The DAERA minister intends taking a similar evidence-based approach to bovine TB.

Everything has to be evidence-based

He is against a widespread NI badger cull, which probably leaves him with two options: a targeted cull in hotspot areas as favoured by the TB eradication partnership; or a potentially more expensive option based on the Test : Vaccinate : Remove (TVR) study.

It involves trapping badgers, testing them, and vaccinating healthy animals and euthanising those carrying disease.

“Everything has to be evidence-based, and set against best value for money, what delivers the quickest results, and a clean wildlife population. That’s an assessment I have to make,” he said.

However, given that culling badgers is controversial, he will have to get support from the Stormont Executive. “Sinn Féin have traditionally opposed a cull,” he pointed out.

The minister is also keen to lose some of the EU rules that he believes deliver nothing for environmental protection, such as when farmers can plough land or clean a sheugh.

I don’t believe it has to be calendar-based

Included on his list is the slurry ban.

“I don’t believe it has to be calendar-based – it should be based on the ability of the land to absorb it,” he suggested. That thinking is in line with the report by the John Gilliland-led expert working group on sustainable land management.

It recommended that research is done on the potential use of soil potentiometers (that measure soil moisture and temperature) to identify whether soil conditions are appropriate for spreading.

Environmental protection

On the issue of an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as envisaged in the New Decade : New Approach document agreed by local political parties, Minister Poots remains non-committal.

He described it as “aspirational” rather than a clear commitment, and questioned whether funding is available. But perhaps more fundamentally, he is unsure if it would deliver over and above the NI Environment Agency (NIEA), which already has independent members on its board. But he recognises that an independent EPA would be “an easier sell to the general public”.

Changes coming to EFS

With a review currently ongoing into the third tranche of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) amid concerns that too much of the money is going on measures related to fencing, minister Poots was asked if he will have the final say.

“It will require some changes – it can’t go ahead as it is,” he responded.

He is also keen to bring forward a fourth tranche of the scheme later this year, confirming that the measures within the scheme “will be a bit different” to those available in the third tranche.

Brexit issues solved by free trade

During the period of inaction at Stormont, it was left to senior civil servants to represent NI at meetings of devolved ministers on Brexit.

“I will attend from here on in,” confirmed minister Poots.

He also said that he would resist any impediment imposed after Brexit on NI business when trading into Britain.

A free trade agreement would solve a lot of these issues

For trade in the opposite direction, there is the potential for an increased number of checks, given that NI will follow EU customs rules.

Whether these checks are done at NI ports, or ports in Britain was “still up for debate” said the minister.

“A free trade agreement would solve a lot of these issues,” he added.

Minister cutting farming ties

Having been previously a claimant to the Basic Payment Scheme, and also formerly a member of the UFU, minister Poots confirmed to journalists that he will be cutting off all direct involvement with farming to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

At the SlurryKat open day last week there was clearly an expectation that a third tranche of Tier 1 of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme (for equipment up to £30,000) will soon be open for applications. It could be followed by a fourth tranche towards the end of the year.

Sources indicate that the scoring system used in a third tranche is likely to favour low-emission slurry spreading equipment

“I will look at a grant that ensures nutrients get into the soil rather than the atmosphere” commented minister Poots this week.

Sources indicate that the scoring system used in a third tranche is likely to favour low-emission slurry spreading equipment (to reduce ammonia emissions), but the list of eligible items will not be exclusively slurry related.

There is also the potential that applicants who have already used up the maximum £12,000 grant across the first two tranches, will be allowed into the scheme again.

With a limited appetite among officials for a second tranche of Tier 2 (for projects up to £250,000 of grant), there is around £13m of unspent funds out of the original £40m allocated to the overall scheme.

The deadline for farmers to apply to the CAFRE Business Development Group (BDG) scheme has been extended by one week to 4pm on Friday 31 January.

For further information visit the CAFRE website, call 028 9442 6790 or e-mail kt.admin@daera-ni.gov.uk

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