Friends of the Earth criticizes Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) focus on family farms in combatting pollution

Friends of the Earth (FoE) raised the concern in the wake of an outcry from the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) about what it says is "an unacceptable attack" on farming.

FoE says nutrient pollution only became a serious problem in Northern Ireland with the emergence of the Government's 'Going for Growth' programme in 2012, which strongly promoted agri-industrial factories across NI.

In May the UFU hit out at DAERA proposals for a Nutrient Action Programme (NAP), warning it could devastate local farming by placing what it said are unworkable limits on phosphorus (fertiliser) use on farms, initially with no consultation.

Deputy president John McLenaghan said: "Other sectors are part of the problem too, yet, farming is the only sector that has been landed with this type of draconian legislation."

DAERA has compiled a 37-point action plan to reduce the phosphorus pollution in the Lough and other waterways.

However, the News Letter has found that only one point explicitly refers to "industry" while some 16 relate to family farms including, livestock and slurry.

The News Letter asked Declan Allison of Friends of the Earth why he thinks DAERA appears to focus so much attention on pollution from family farms in light of the rise in nutrient pollution only emerging with the rise of the Stormont backed agri-food factories from 2012?

He replied: ""This is an excellent question, and one we'd love to have the answer to. It seems DAERA is more concerned with protecting the interests of big industrial farming rather than small family farms.

He added: ""Nutrient pollution levels began to rise at the time the Going for Growth strategy was introduced in 2012. It's reasonable to expect the Department will have studied this correlation to establish whether or not there is a causal link. If it hasn't, then it's neglecting its responsibilities.

"If it has, then it should publish its analysis. Failure to do so confirms the suspicion that the Department is protecting 'big agriculture'."

In response a DAERA spokeswoman said it “unequivocally refutes any suggestion that it is protecting large businesses or targeting family farms”.

However for the first time it has now told this newspaper that the Going for Growth programme was “a mistake” but did not say if it has formally studied the impact.

DAERA added: “In relation to Going for Growth, the Minister has made clear his view that the approach it set out was a mistake and has recognised that its focus on encouraging intensification within farming has resulted in real challenges for our environment.”

DAERA added that his commitment to family farms was clear, with £330m this year for the new Sustainable Agriculture Programme; his stance against against new Inheritance Tax proposals on farms, and having secured ring-fenced funding for farming after the Treasury’s decision to remove it.

“However, what the Minister is targeting is pollution of our waterways,” the spokeswoman added. “The recent consultation on the revised Nutrients Action Programme to improve water quality was developed based on scientific research.” She added that “doing nothing is not an option”.