UFU winter roadshow dates

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has announced the dates for its annual January meetings.

Last year, a new roadshow format was introduced, and it is being retained this year.

The theme for the event is ‘‘Farming and the Environment’’, which is topical at present given that a new domestic agricultural policy post-Brexit looks set to be weighted towards measures that deliver environmental benefits.

Members will also have an opportunity to put questions across a range of issues to the UFU leadership team, while representatives from the NI Rural Valuers’ Association will be invited to give a short presentation on land tenure in NI. John McAllister, NI’s land mobility project manager, will also be available to discuss succession planning.

All meetings start at 8pm. The dates and venues are:

  • Monday 8 January: Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
  • Wednesday 10 January: Armagh City Hotel, Co Armagh.
  • Monday 15 January: Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena, Co Antrim.
  • Wednesday 17 January: Silver Birch Hotel, Omagh, Co Tyrone.
  • Monday 22 January: Roe Park Resort, Limavady, Co Derry.
  • Wednesday 24 January: Millbrook Lodge, Ballynahinch, Co Down.

    • Pedigree Trust calls for action on TB

    The newly formed Pedigree Cattle Trust is to hold a conference in the new year (date yet to be confirmed) aimed at developing a coordinated approach across farmers, vets and Government to tackle the problem of bovine TB.

    In a statement this week, the trust said that it was not interested in levying blame for what has happened before, but instead challenged everyone to dedicate themselves to the goal of eradicating TB.

    “There are two sources of infection – cattle and wildlife. We must tackle both with equal vigour,” read the statement.

    In addition, it pointed out the importance of increased biosecurity on farms, suggesting that it should be a priority within farm quality assurance schemes, and that Government money going to some farm grant schemes might be better spent on promoting this issue.

    The trust also highlighted that biosecurity is important in local marts, proposing that they could be classified in the future, according to their biosecurity standards.