Farmers fear 'ruination' and major job losses as they protest at Stormont

The vote arose over an amendment to the Climate Change (No.1) Bill proposed by DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots. His Bill proposed an 82 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050 but an amendment proposed by the Green Party MLA, Clare Bailey, to reach net zero by 2050 received the majority of support in the Chamber.

A group under the umbrella of Climate Coalition NI with several dozen people outside Stormont supported her calls for a net zero target.

Farmers and the agri-food sector have said that scientific evidence had supported calls to have an 82 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050 as any alternative would decimate the livestock industry.

One of the MLAs voting against the amendment, Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Rosemary Barton, said those voting for net zero targets were not being realistic, not listening to expert advice, and were attempting to kill off the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland. Mrs. Barton said: “I understand support and acknowledge the importance of climate change legislation and the need to reduce emissions, but any regulations must have an evidence base and be fair and practical to everyone in Northern Ireland, including the agricultural sector and business community.”

The Ulster Farmers’ Union said that KPMG’s economic impact assessment on the alternative Climate Change (No.1) Bill, calling for net zero target by 2045 would lead to the “ruination” of the agriculture industry and 13,000 job losses.

UFU Stormont Protest..

The agricultural sector sent a strong message to MLAs in the form of a rally in excess of 600 people outside Parliament Buildings on Tuesday morning.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union had support from the NI Dairy Council, NI Meat Exporters Association and Livestock and Meat Commission as well as industry suppliers, and saw farmers and representatives travel from every corner of Northern Ireland to converge at Stormont on Tuesday, as MLAs began discussions at the consideration stage of Climate Change(No.2) Bill.

Farming groups say because they will be part of the solution, they backed the Climate Change (No.2) Bill proposals. They say the target of 82 per cent was “extremely challenging” for the sector but they supported it because it was “grounded in science and based on the concept of everyone doing their fair share”.

However, they say a net-zero target would lead to the livestock sector becoming a “cottage industry” and mean “large job losses in food processing, and rural communities ruined, while food will have to be imported from countries with much higher emissions and at higher cost”.

Some of the farmers from Fermanagh attending, spoke of the importance of their farms to the rural economy. John Egerton from Rosslea, said this debate was about the future of their industry. He has three sons who want a living from farming.

UFU Stormont Protest..

“I would be prepared to embrace and reduce the farm’s carbon footprint,” he said, explaining how he was improving genetics in his livestock to reduce wastage, planting new hedgerows, incorporating clover in grassland swards, getting the pH right in soils and using low emission slurry spreading equipment.

A former past President of the UFU, Douglas Rowe from Kesh, wondered if the proposers of net zero by 2050 will now tell people to stop flying to countries across the world. He said there was no mention either from MLAs about the loss of forests in Brazil.

UFU President, Victor Chestnutt, speaking to the large number of farmers gathered, thanked them for their support and said they were protesting to protect their futures as farmers as well as the future of rural communities and the future of the agri-food industry.

“He said they understand the need for a Climate Change Bill backed by scientific advice but they were pleading to MLAs to vote for 82 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.

“Our land is our livelihood,” he said.

The President said the Union and the agri-food industry had listened to scientific experts unlike some MLAs calling for tougher targets whom he described as self appointed experts. Trying to meet the tougher targets would, according to KPMG analysis, lead to the reduction of livestock numbers by 86 per cent.

David Browe, Deputy President of The UFU speaking during the Stormont Protest..

Deputy President, David Brown, from Fermanagh, said while reducing emissions by 82 per cent by 2050 recommended by the Climate Change Committee was demanding, they were agreeing to that target because retailers, processors and consumers were demanding that.

He said Lord Deben, Chairman of the CCC, had indicated that tougher targets than 82 per cent by 2050 could not be achieveable in Northern Ireland.

He said that 234 scientists from 66 countries had delivered the recommendations but MLAs think they knew better.

Other speakers included Liam McCarthy from ABP, speaking on behalf of the NI Meat Exporters’ Association who warned that a net zero target would decimate the agri-food industry leading to the livestock sector becoming a cottage industry with the loss of jobs and would lead to meat and dairy products coming from the other side of the world.

Mike Johnston from the NI Dairy Council said net zero targets would leave dairy cow numbers back to levels of 1946.

UFU Stormont Protest..