Farming

Food and Farm minister Andrew Muir pictured with Bronagh O’Kane of Drumard Farm, Cookstown, the local winner in the BBC Food and Farming Awards

NI farmer and former aerospace engineer wins BBC Farming for the Future Award

Ulster Farmers' Union president John McLenaghan said farming families have been plunged into severe stress by inheritance tax changes and rising costs.

Farmers plead for Westminster to end tax stress in tomorrow's budget

Ulster Unionist deputy leader Diana Armstrong called for farm planning laws in Northern Ireland to be relaxed to match those in England. Photo: Presseye/Stephen Hamilton

Red tape shutting NI farmers out of valuable tourism market: UUP

UFU president John McLenaghan said farming families have been plunged into severe stress by inheritance tax changes.

End tax stress crisis on farming families, says union

Mick Hagan from the west shore of Lough Neagh has taken photos of fish and eels dying due to the pollution in Lough Neagh.

Pupils' field trip into heart of Lough Neagh crisis

Entrepreneur Sharon Gault celebrates with Cllr Dawn Higgins, Mayor, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, after winning the Causeway Coast and Glens Ultimate Pitch final, securing her place in the regional final with her business Kingsbarn Farm, which rears grass fed additive free meat

Dunloy farmer Sharon makes ‘The Ultimate Pitch’ to reach final

The UFU's dairy chair, Cyril Orr, says farming families are coming under increasing pressure.

Half of farmers say inheritance tax fears threaten long-term future of industry

Daera Minister Andrew Muir

Minister defends leaving chamber during no confidence motion

Lakeland Dairies Bursary Recipient Sarah Jane Meredith with her parents Cecil and Gail, Craigavon, with Liz Shouldice, Chief People Officer and Pat Shiels, Chief Strategy & Member Officer, Lakeland Dairies. Sarah Jane is studying Veterinary Bioscience at Harper Adams University in Shropshire.

Craigavon student receives Lakeland Dairies bursary

Lisa Burrows, Greenmount Association President, encourages the class of 1966 to attend the 60-year reunion.

Appeal for Greenmount students as 60-year reunion planned

From left - Irish Black Butter’s International Ambassador Alastair Bell, PRM Group Key Account Sales Development Manager Gary Hopkins, David Thompson, Buying Manager – Dairy at Tesco Northern Ireland and Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt Commercial Director Patrick Black.

Portrush's Irish Black Butter and Clandeboye Yoghurt unite for Tesco launch

Alliance MLAs walk out of the chamber during a confidence debate in their farming minister Andrew Muir.

Letter: Leadership that farmers deserve was missing

The view over the moorings covered with blue green algae at Drumaheglis Marina to the south of Coleraine

North coast beachgoers warned about 'large quantity' of toxic blue green algae

The weekly rise to the price of fuel has halted as of today (photo by Bryn Colton/Getty Images)

Three-month hike to fuel prices in Northern Ireland grinds to a halt

David Irwin has criticised the minister over his walk-out

We’ve no confidence in Muir, say farmers

A fundraiser has been set up to help pay for Alana Murray's medical costs and the prosthetic limb she will need. Photo: GoFundMe

Ulster farmer who lost leg in freak accident in Australia out of intensive care
An Ulster farmer and football player severely injured in a freak accident in Australia is out of intensive care.
Iain Gray

Alana suffered life-changing injuries in a farm accident. Photo: Caitlin Turley

Ulster family's nightmare as loved one loses limb in freak accident in Australia

Authorities need to tackle wildlife spreading bovine TB, the UFU's deputy president Clement Lynch said. Photo: UFU

Authorities 'making no progress' on eliminating Bovine TB: Famers demand change

Bruce Spain, Trouw Nutrition’s country manager UK and Ireland

UK animal feed firm reinforces commitment to customers despite Belfast closure

Queen's study raises horse welfare concerns

Queen’s University study raises horse welfare concerns

Eels being sorted at Lough Neagh Eel Fishermen's Co-operative Society.

£700,000 support to support Northern Ireland’s eel industry

Farmers in Northern Ireland have been urged to be vigilant amid growing numbers of cases of the bluetongue virus in Britain and the Irish Republic.

NI farmers urged to be vigilant as cases of bluetongue rise

Administrators have been appointed to Glens of Antrim Potatoes Ltd, which employed 95 staff across sites in Cushendall and Ballymena.

Collapse of Glens of Antrim Potatoes Ltd causes redundancies & farming blow

ABPUK in Dungannon won the World’s Best Grass-Fed Steak and Europe’s Best Steak in the World Steak Challenge in Amsterdam

World’s tastiest steak is produced in Dungannon

Peter Hannan of Hannan Meats, Moira, winner of the Golden Fork in Great Taste for a buttermilk cured bacon rack

Hannan brings home the bacon from Great Taste with a unique cure

Sustainable Initiative of the Year was won by Ballydown Milk. They are pictured with Ross Jamieson, Director of sponsor RJ Woodland, and compere Tim McGarry.

Country comes to town for NI Farming Awards 2026

Farmers faced skyrocketing fuel and fertiliser prices as global conflicts hit agricultural supplies here, the UFU says.

Farming threat as fertiliser price skyrockets amid high fuel costs
A farmers’ body has hit out after the price of fertiliser spiked by more than 25% over the course of a year, at the same time as fuel and energy costs spiralled.
Iain Gray

The case was heard at Ballymena Courthouse today

Two men charged with illegally blocking road in Co Antrim during fuel protests

Stevan Patterson man has carefully restored an original Ferguson TE20 – “the most successful British-built tractor of all time” – just in time to mark its 80th anniversary.

Stevan restores iconic ‘Little Grey Fergie’ for 80th anniversary

Drug gangs are deliberately targeting people in rural communities, MLA Diana Armstrong has said.

Drug gangs now scourge of countryside, says UUP deputy, as rural people targeted

A no confidence motion has been tabled against Stormont Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir.

DUP MLA tables motion of no confidence in minister Andrew Muir

A vet administers a Bluetongue vaccine to a cow in Norfolk. A case has recently been discovered in Wexford.

UFU calls on farmers to be alert after Bluetongue detected in Wexford

Carr Island on Lower Lough Erne

Lough Erne island bought by RSPB

Victor Chestnutt.

Rising costs for farmers lamented while Firmus gas customers also see bill hike

There have been 795 bluetongue cases recorded across England, Scotland and Wales during the 2026/27 season

Ministers ‘asleep at wheel’ on bluetongue

Brown’s Bay Road. Pic: Google

Planning permission granted for new Islandmagee farm dwelling

The rise in Salmonella in the UK has been linked to imported eggs.

UK Salmonella rise is linked to imported eggs

Marmalade hoverfly

Queen's study reveals impact of humble hoverfly on food we eat

A hunting party in the countryside. Pic: scalesy - stock.adobe.com

Hunting deal gives farmers final say on accessing land

Each year sees a traditional horse parade during the Old Lammas Fair in Ballycastle. Date 21 August 2026. Picture Kevin McAuley

Mayor expects ‘gorgeous’ weather for Ould Lammas Fair

UFU President John McLenaghan urged incoming Stormont Agriculture Committee Chair, Diana Armstrong, to hold the Department to account.

UFU urges Armstrong to hold 'out of touch' DAERA to account at Stormont

Organic farmers- Husband and wife team Charlie and Becky Cole from Broughgammon Farm in Ballycastle

Award-winning Ballycastle farm unveils new range of exclusive meat boxes

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir insists he had no alternative but to cull the 51 cattle in Co Tyrone.

MP: Agriculture Minister is holding ‘flawed’ review into cull of 51 cattle

Increasing beef prices at market drove part of the huge rise in farm incomes last year. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Ulster farming's £1bn income 'a snapshot, not proof pressure is gone'

The Ulster Farmers Union has highlighted the safety of locally produced eggs in light of a UK-wide Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak.

UFU urges confidence in local eggs after UK-wide Salmonella outbreak

Farmers have been warned that shady traders and scammers are increasingly going after them.

Farmers need to go 'on high alert' as scammers target them: UFU

Martin Blake, former chief vet of the Republic of Ireland, heads the probe. Photo: Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Fivemiletown cattle cull probe appeals for information

While on the campaign trail in June, Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested he would take another look at this year's farming inheritance tax hikes. Photo: James Manning/PA

Farmers demand Burnham scraps inheritance tax hike

UFU President John McLenaghan said Andrew Muir’s comments about the organisation were “unfair” and “somewhat disingenuous”. Photo: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

UFU denies dictating Stormont policy in row with agriculture minister

A tree on the parched grass of Danson Park, south east London following weeks of extremely dry weather for much of England and Wales. Northern Ireland has also had lower-than-usual rainfall

Met Office reveals extent of Northern Ireland's unusually-dry run of weather

An Iranian woman stands overlooking the water as ships are seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz on August 10, 2026 off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran (photo by Ali Saeedi/Getty Images)

NI petrol prices almost back at their highest point since Iran war began

Both the TUV and UUP have demanded Daera minister Andrew Muir resign.

Muir must go, say UUP and TUV: 'Farmers no longer trust their minister'

Gerard Hegarty with one of his dogs is both helping to organise the event at the end of the month, and will be one of the competitors

Island-wide sheepdog contest returns to NI for first time in several years

Andrew Muir is facing calls to resign over a cattle cull in Fivemiletown. Photo: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Muir hits back on quit call: 'Staff mistakes must be probed but my job goes on'

Andrew Muir is facing criticism over his review of the cattle cull

Farming minister Andrew Muir's cattle cull review 'does not go far enough'

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