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Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament, Jim Nicholson MEP has along with other colleagues in the European Parliament tabled a motion for resolution in the European Parliament on rising animal feed prices.

Mr Nicholson has expressed serious concern in recent months about rising animal feed prices and the impact it is having on some parts of the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland. The motion will be debated next Tuesday in the European Parliament.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“In recent months rising animal feed prices have had a devastating impact on many farmers. The world grain supply has been affected by severe weather conditions, notably droughts and floods in parts of Europe and severe droughts in Australia. Australia, for example, is experiencing its worst drought since records began in 1900.

“Alongside this is the increase in use of grain for biofuels and an increase in consumption in South East Asia. These events have caused a sharp rise in the global price of grain.

“Retail food prices have not kept up with the cost of living and farmgate prices have failed to keep with retail prices. Consumers are also the victims of the market instability and the increasing prices for food giving the mistaken impression that it is the farmers who are responsible. Farmers can not continue to absorb rising costs any longer.

“Europe must address concerns about food insecurity in a meaningful way and as part of the CAP Health Check undertake an in-depth analysis of world market trends, including the increased demand for food in developing countries, in order to consider, as part of the CAP Health Check, the creation of permanent mechanisms to guarantee an adequate market supply in the future.”

Ulster Unionist Agriculture spokesman and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott today called for the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) to be abolished. Mr Elliott says that with a minimum wage already in place, there is no need for such a discriminatory scheme. In a statement Mr Elliott said,

“All parties agreed to the UFU 5 point plan prior to this year’s assembly elections. This included contributions in the Assembly chamber at a debate on 8th Jan 2007 when both Michelle Goldernew and Catriona Ruane said they wanted the AWB abolished.

In answer to my question last week, Minister Gildrnew said she would not abolish the AWG. Agricultural workers, like all workers, are already protected by the national minimum wage.

Why should agricultural employers be discriminated against? No other industry has such a wages scheme, all others use the national minimum wage.

Sinn Fein says they are trying to protect minority groups by retaining the AWB. What is the difference in agricultural employees and minority groups who work in other industries, like restaurants, supermarkets, the health service, childcare etc?”

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has stated that the withdrawal of DARD computers and staff from the responsibility for movement recording of cattle must take place at a reasonable pace.

Mr Elliott noted “The withdrawal of DARD computers and staff from markets and abattoirs throughout the country is something that needs to be managed in a reasonable way. As the markets take over the responsibility for movement recording of cattle there will need to be new staff trained in how to work the computer systems and organize the recording in an efficient manner. Many farmers up and down the country rely upon receiving the passes needed to move their cattle to and from markets as it is how many make their livelihoods. It should not be underestimated just how important a smooth switch over between DARD and the Markets is.”

Earlier this week a DARD statement noted that the new system “had been successfully trialled in DARD’s market offices for the past number of months.” However, Mr Elliott stated that he is convinced that this is simply not the reality.

“The truth of the matter is that this issue needs more work because as I understand these DARD trials have not been successful and more work is required on the system no matter what the department reports may suggest. It is critical that the change over of responsibility takes place as smoothly as possible or it could result in trade been disrupted at markets across the country and many farmers suffering loss of income.

“As deputy-chair of the DARD committee, I supported the move by the committee to write to the Minister for Agriculture and her department clearly stating our view that more time was needed for the change over and urging her to allow at least a few more months for training new people before the switch becomes permanent. Mature leadership is required to make sure that neither the markets nor the farmers suffer from the switch of responsibility. We are not suggesting that the change does not happen, but are only asking that it is delayed until the proper system is in place.”

Following publication of the Northern Ireland red meat industry taskforce report today, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has reiterated his call for imports of Brazilian beef to the EU to be banned immediately.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“I welcome the publication of this report today and any action taken by key stakeholders within the agriculture industry to ensure the sustainability of our beef and lamb farmers. However, many farmers will know that we have been down this road before with many false starts and dawns over the years. What our farmers need to see now is delivery on the issues raised by this report.

“Many of the findings contained in this report prove, once again, the need for the European Commission to take urgent steps to ban imports of Brazilian beef to the EU because, time after time, it has been proven to be of a sub – standard nature.

“Northern Ireland’s farmers must comply with the high standards laid down by the EU in terms of health, food safety and traceability so why shouldn’t imports coming into the EU from other countries do the same? The reality is that if Brazilian beef imports are continued to be allowed into the EU then more and more farmers in Northern Ireland and across Europe risk being put out of business. With the cost of production rising, it is hard to see how our farmers can compete with these cheap imports.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed the decision by the European Parliament and EU agriculture Ministers to have a zero set-aside rate in 2008.

The decision means that farmers across the European Union will no longer be forced to keep a significant part of their land out of production and according to Jim Nicholson will help to relieve some of the pressures on Northern Ireland’s farmers and allay fears over food shortages.

Speaking from Strasbourg Mr Nicholson said,

“Following recent concerns over soaring animal feed prices I am glad to see that this measure has passed through the European Parliament and approved by EU farm Ministers. Cereal levels are now at dangerously low levels prompting fears that we could be facing food shortages over the coming months.

“This decision should be the first step in the total abolition of the EU’s set aside policy. Set-aside is an out of date policy that should have been abolished during the previous reforms to the CAP. The benefits to the environment that came from the original scheme are now covered, to a large extent, by rural development schemes and cross compliance.

“Abolishing set-aside will enable farmers to respond to the market, will keep food prices down and will help alleviate Europe’s growing food security problems.”

Ulster Unionist spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, Tom Elliott has called on DARD to have a re-think on the proposed sale of Crossnacreevey.

Mr Elliott said: “It appears somewhat of a nonsense that DARD are proposing the sale of an experimental centre that carries out a wealth of vital work for the agricultural industry. At the same time the Department must bid to central government for almost £90m of funding for the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme and also for the re-location of services currently carried out at Crossnacreevey even though that property has an initial estimated valuation of £200m.

“There is something of an anomaly that DARD are losing a valuable asset, with the finance of it going directly to central government and the department then being required to go begging for what is essentially their own money.

“I believe there is an opportunity at this stage of the budgets process for DARD to have a fresh look at the proposed sale of the entire Crossnacreevey site. Surely there should be a number of options available, including the possibility of selling a portion of the centre to raise enough finance for the FNMS but retain a large portion where the majority of the experimental work could continue without any re-location and preserve the circumstances already in place.”

Mr Elliott concluded: “I have been working closely with my UUP colleague for the area David McNarry to look at alternatives within the structure of Crossnacreevey and its functions and we believe that DARD need a fresh approach to the situation.”

Mr Robin Swann, a senior member of the Ulster Unionist Party’s North Antrim Association Management Committee, has said the war against lignite mining in the North Antrim constituency “is still on”.

Mr Swann made his statement after attending a meeting in Ballymoney of the Collective Objectors to Lignite Development Limited (COLD Ltd), the pressure group formed to opposed plans to build a lignite mine in the region.

Mr Swann was representing his fellow North Antrim Ulster Unionist, Assemblyman Rev Dr Robert Coulter, who is currently in India attending the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Plenary Conference in New Delhi.

As well as his membership of the North Antrim UUP Management Committee, Mr Swann is treasurer of the Ballymena UUP Division and secretary of the Kellswater UUP branch.

Mr Swann added: “While some may think the battle is over, the war is definitely not. The lignite will always be there as an exploitable resource and North Antrim constituents should be under no illusion that the commercial mining sector has the ability and resolve to see this as a long-term project.

“I would comment those involved with COLD Ltd for their own resolve and commitment to oppose the lignite mining proposal in what may seem at times to be an uphill and lonely struggle.

“I would appeal to the entire North Antrim community to rally behind COLD and the anti-mining campaign and applaud the group on its positive approach to further develop the renewable energy sector within its region.

“On behalf of Rev Dr Coulter MLA and myself, I thank COLD Ltd for its very professional and informative presentation on the current energy market and resources in Northern Ireland.

“COLD Ltd has clearly demonstrated that the only possible reason for the development of a lignite mining project was to produce electricity for export and there was no need for it for the local market in Ulster.

“The North Antrim community, and indeed the entire Northern Ireland population, needs to be in no doubt about the major environmental threat this lignite mining proposal presents should it ever get the go-ahead.

“It would increase Northern Ireland’s entire greenhouse gas of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 30 per cent, whereas the British Government and other nations’ targets is to reduce CO2 emissions globally.”

Mr Swann said a “major concern” of the anti-mining campaigners was the “stagnant feeling” which was now entering the area because the new planned North Area Development Plan showed the so-called “lignite exploitation zone” was actually three times bigger than in the previous plan.

“There is also the danger the new plan restricts any new homes being built or new businesses started within this lignite exploitation zone.

“Added to this is the danger that any planned housing development outside this so-called zone may also be rejected to ensure new homes do not conflict was any future expansion of the exploitation zone.

“These threats, added to the as yet unclear resolution to the PPS14 planning crisis, is piling even more strain on residents and families within North Antrim’s rural community.

“Even within the lignite exploitation zone, the pressures are already extreme on rural communities and these new planned restrictions are stifling any development on progression to get them resolved.

“There is also the additional crisis that 500 residents from the constituency have been brought into this new zone which the planners are dubbing the Lignite Protection Zone. It is not the lignite inn the ground which requires protection, but the local people , the constituency’s environment and their future which should be protected,” said Mr Swann.

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has confirmed today that he has demanded an urgent meeting with EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel to discuss soaring animal feed prices, which according to the UUP MEP is having a “devastating impact” on Northern Ireland’s agricultural industry.

Mr Nicholson will be accompanied by representatives from the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“The massive increases in cereal prices we have witnessed over the last few months is something that none of us can escape. It is having a crippling affect on our agricultural industry and as I have warned before has the potential to put many of our farmers out of business.

“I believe this is an issue that requires action from the European Commission, especially because their zero tolerance approach to GMO produced grain is simply compounding matters further. Events on the global stage and at a local level are conspiring against the farming industry in Northern Ireland. The poor weather and flooding during the summer coupled with drought in some of the Southern Hemisphere countries and an increase in demand from the bio fuel sector are driving feed prices through the roof.

“Supermarkets must begin to reflect these increased production costs in the price of their food. Farmers can not continue to absorb rising costs any longer. There are some changing and really challenging times ahead, both for the farming industry and consumers.

“What this situation proves again is the need for the creation of a regulatory framework that would promote a fair relationship between producers, processors and the supermarket chains. For a long time there has been an undeniable need for the producer to receive a fairer reward for his produce. I see something inherently wrong with a market that repeatedly shows falling returns to farmers but consistently shows rising returns to processors and retailers and I hope that the Competition Commission’s investigation into unfair practices brings some relief for producers on this matter.

“I will repeat again that the next 10 to 15 years will see a real issue over food security in Europe. Over the past number of years or so we have been used to low food prices and the availability of an abundance of food within the EU but now that the butter and milk mountains have melted away it is a different story.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has said that Government and all aspects of the agricultural industry must work in total partnership if Northern Ireland is to remain Foot and Mouth disease free.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“The European Commission’s decision to acknowledge Northern Ireland’s disease free status should hopefully allow NI farmers to continue exporting abroad without hassle. However, the situation does need to be monitored closely given the problems that were encountered the last time with some of our export markets.

“Once again the priority must be keeping Northern Ireland foot and mouth disease free. Only by the Government and the industry working together in total partnership will that be achieved.

“In London Defra’s immediate task must be to stop the disease spreading further. However farmers will be rightly asking how this has been allowed to happen again so soon after the last outbreak. Farmers have a number of questions about the bio security lapses at Pirbright that this government seems unwilling to answer.

“Yet again I must express my deep disappointment that Sinn Fein have sought to play politics with an issue as sensitive as foot and mouth by releasing a statement calling for a brand Ireland approach to marketing local produce. There is a time and place for these types of discussions. In the middle of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease is certainly neither the time nor place.”

Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has responded to today’s news of a suspected case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by calling for the return of bio-security measures at the Province’s ports and airports.

In a statement Tom, vice chairman of the Assembly’s DARD committee, said: “The news of a suspected case of FMD some 30 miles from the site of the recent outbreak in Surrey must be met with an immediate response from the Agriculture Minister. Measures must be put in place to ensure FMD does not enter the Province.

“Action must be taken to safeguard the local agri-food sector from the potentially devastating impact of this disease, the NI Executive has proved on several occasions the benefit of having local politicians dealing with this issue in a decisive manner and I trust this will continue.”

In conclusion the Fermanagh and South Tyrone assemblyman added: “As a farmer and a member of the Assembly’s DARD committee I will continue to monitor the situation closely as it unfolds and work to ensure that, if this case is confirmed to be FMD, it is contained and does not impact on Northern Ireland producers or consumers.”