Minister Muir urges partnership at Farmers’ Club event

Date published: 13 May 2025

Addressing the annual Farmers’ Club dinner held in Queen’s University of Belfast, Minister Muir said: “Helping our farmers mitigate cost and price pressures by improving their productivity and resilience, while also achieving environment improvement is my guiding mission. There’s lots to do, but together, led by the science and by investing in the technology a strong and positive future is ahead.

"The pace of change in recent years is unprecedented. Looking back just ten years ago is clear proof of that transformation. Addressing current challenges requires us all to work in partnership to protect both farm families and our environment."

The Minister cited a range of challenges including bTB, Inheritance Tax, Climate Change, Water Quality, Nature Recovery, Ammonia and more. He welcomed the recent publication of the TB Partnership Steering Group’s Blueprint for Education of bTB and stated he was firmly focused on action and delivery.

“There is a bright future for agriculture if we navigate the road ahead together, guided by science, evidence and research. Our science community is critical to uncovering the new knowledge, science and innovation to transform the sector. Scientists have unlocked amazing interventions in the past for agri-food and are doing it again today,” Minister Muir continued.

“The Sustainable Agriculture Programme, is fundamental to supporting our family farm businesses. It will enable us to collectively achieve our environmental and climate change goals, providing the right support and policies to help move the industry forward on a journey of change ensuring both economic and environmental sustainability.

“A prime example is the Bovine Genetics Project which will provide farm businesses with the data and evidence to make more informed breeding decisions which in turn will deliver more efficient, healthier and productive animals with lower carbon footprints.

“Other examples include the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme which assists farmers in planning their farm nutrient management more effectively and the £12million Sustainable Utilisation of Livestock Slurry (Phase 2) Project, which provides a real opportunity for agriculture to work in partnership with the energy sector as well as removing excess phosphorus from the land."

He also repeated his opposition to proposed changes to inheritance tax: “I do have to again express my bitter disappointment at the UK Government’s plans to change inheritance tax. Let me be clear, the family farm tax is wrong, it should not proceed.”

Minister Muir also reiterated his ongoing efforts in making the case to the UK Government for an ambitious and comprehensive SPS veterinary agreement between the UK and EU which would  have significant benefits for Northern Ireland involving common food, animal and plant standards between the UK and the EU.

“I have been making the case strongly to UK Government Ministers on this and other matters and I am quietly confident that my points are being heard.  There is still a way to go with UK / EU negotiations but I am hopeful there will be a positive and significant outcome for agri-food from the summit next Monday.”

The Minister also highlighted his representations to the UK Government urging against concessions on agriculture in discussions with the US on trade saying: “Farmers in Northern Ireland produce quality food to the highest welfare standards, they should not be undercut by cheap imports from the USA or elsewhere.”