NSA Northern Ireland voices frustration at DAERA’s continued inaction on sheep sector support

Frustration continues to intensify among Northern Ireland’s sheep farming community, as the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) fails to deliver tangible progress on essential support measures for the sector.

The Sheep Taskforce—which includes representation from NSA Northern Ireland Region, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), and other key industry stakeholders—met earlier this week in a hybrid format to coordinate ahead of a long-anticipated engagement with DAERA policy officials. This meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 1st July 2025 at NSA Sheep Northern Ireland, hosted at McFarlane’s Farm, Dungiven.

Despite direct invitations, the Minister for Agriculture, Andrew Muir, has confirmed he will not attend due to other commitments. Officials from DAERA will participate in his stead.

NSA Northern Ireland Chair Edward Adamson voiced his concern over what he described as ‘a persistent failure by DAERA to respond to the sheep sector with the urgency and seriousness it warrants’.

Edward says: “Nearly a year ago, DAERA committed to establishing a dedicated sheep-focused co-design group. To date, we have seen no progress whatsoever, despite our repeated engagement and follow-up. The lack of consultation and delivery is not only disappointing but also verging on negligent.”

DAERA’s has repeatedly blamed staff shortages as a barrier to developing targeted sheep sector initiatives. Edward continues: “It is unacceptable to hear, time and again, that resourcing constraints are preventing the Department from acting—particularly when priority and capacity have clearly been allocated to schemes such as the Suckler Cow Programme and, more recently, Farming with Nature. Meanwhile, the sheep sector has been left in limbo.”

Mr Adamson stressed the urgent pressures faced by sheep farmers, citing economic volatility, spiralling input costs, and an impending 17% cut to Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) allocations, with no alternative measures in place to mitigate the financial shortfall. “Our members are under immense pressure. They are trying to maintain viable businesses in the face of unprecedented uncertainty. Without immediate and meaningful support, the future of many of these enterprises—and the wider rural communities they underpin—will be placed in jeopardy.”

The Sheep Taskforce, with NSA NI playing a central role, is once again urging DAERA to move without delay in forming a dedicated sheep co-design group, with a remit to advance practical policy development across the following priority areas:

• Genetic improvement programmes for sheep
• Animal health and welfare initiatives
• Sustainable land management and biodiversity schemes
• Capital investment support for the sheep sector
• Research and innovation tailored to sheep production systems

NSA NI reiterates that these themes are not aspirational—they are fundamental. The association calls on DAERA to engage sincerely and constructively with industry representatives to safeguard the future of Northern Ireland’s sheep sector.