Discussions on bespoke NI sheep support package to continue

. Representatives from Northern Ireland’s Sheep Task Force met with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on the matter over recent days. The venue was the Sheep NI event, hosted by the National Sheep Association on the farm of the McFarlane family on the outskirts of Dungiven in Co. Derry. Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) deputy president, Glenn Cuddy, chairs the task force. He said: “Those farmers who keep sheep only are losing 17% of their former basic payment monies to help fund the new beef support measures that have been introduced over the past 12 months. “This is grossly unfair. We have made this point to DAERA officials on numerous occasions.” The UFU representative said they have also spoken to DAERA on securing a sheep support package. “We have received a commitment of sorts from DAERA that a sheep support package can be delivered, provided the money can be found to fund it,” Cuddy said. “In the same breath we are hearing from ...