The Ulster Farmers’ Union set out to reassure farmers in NI in the midst of the final vote which has seen 52% of the UK electoral vote to leave Europe.

“We don’t want farmers to panic. CAP support is guaranteed to 2019. We will immediately enter into discussions on future support arrangements, funded by the UK Treasury, and also on the continuation of trade with Europe,” said UFU president Barclay Bell.

He also stated that the organisation would work with the other farming unions across the UK as the withdrawal process takes place.

“We also have a UK farm unions team in Brussels that will work closely with the European Commission and UK government as the UK makes the transition to exit the EU,” Bell said.

Minister McIlveen

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Michelle McIlveen described the vote to leave the EU as “a new opportunity” and said that she would defend the interests of the NI agri-food industry over future support for the sector.

The DUP MLA campaigned to leave the EU during the referendum campaign and this morning said that withdrawal negotiations between the UK government and the EU would take a number of years to complete. “The EU support for our farmers and our current trading arrangements, will remain in place during that time,” she said.

The minister added that she would work to ensure that the interests of the NI agri-food industry are properly considered in new UK trade negotiations.

“High on my list of priorities is the need to ensure that Northern Ireland farmers receive the support they need and when our new UK payment systems are being devised,” she added.

Minister McIlveen said that the referendum campaign had made it difficult to plan ahead on issues within her portfolio, however she added: “That uncertainty has now been removed. I will work to ensure that we reap the benefits.”

NIFDA

NIFDA Executive Director Michael Bell: “Although we are disappointed by the result of the referendum we are committed to helping make the voices of our members heard in coming negotiations.”

He said that the priority for agri-food was for farming and food processing sectors to come together and get the best deal possible from Westminster regarding support for the industry.

National Beef Association

Chairman of the National Beef Association in Northern Ireland Oisin Murnion told the Irish Farmers Journal that the referendum result in Northern Ireland, where 56% of voters chose to remain in the EU, raised questions over complete EU withdrawal.

“It is good that both Scotland and Northern Ireland have voted to remain. We need progressive thinking to overcome a lack of stability,” he said.

Murnion suggested that Scotland and Northern Ireland consider some form of alliance in order to maintain a relationship or adopt an independent status within the EU. “Otherwise farming in Northern Ireland is in serious difficulty,” he said.

He said that Northern Ireland producers could not compete on a global commodity market and added that UK supermarkets would have to support local producers in the event of complete EU withdrawal by stocking shelves with UK beef and increasing prices.

NFU in Britain

In Britain, National Farmers’ Union president Meurig Raymond said: “The vote to leave the European Union will inevitably lead to a period of uncertainty in a number of areas that are of vital importance to Britain’s farmers.”

He said that the NFU has called an extraordinary meeting its Council for next Friday July 1 2016 and reassured farmers.

“The NFU will engage fully and constructively with the British government to construct new arrangements. This needs to happen as soon as possible,” he said.

Raymond added that farmers will want to know what impact the Brexit vote will have on farm businesses urgently. “We understand that the negotiations will take some time to deliver but it is vital that there is early commitment to ensure British farming is not disadvantaged,” he said.

Further reaction from agri-food organisations and political spokespersons to follow.

Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster (YFCU)

Although the YFCU have not issued a position on the outcome of the referendum itself, they said in a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal: "We will be speaking to local politicians and our European contacts over the forthcoming months to make sure the young farmer in Northern Ireland has a positive future to look forward to."

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