Rising costs ‘crippling’ most farming sectors in NI – FFA

The steering committee of Farmers For Action (FFA) has said that rising fuel, fertiliser, and other costs are now “crippling” most farming sectors in Northern Ireland. The organisation also said that “abysmal” farm gate prices are “breaking the camel’s back”. The FFA said the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is “making things […] The post Rising costs ‘crippling’ most farming sectors in NI – FFA appeared first on Agriland.ie .

6 April 2026 at 09:27 pm

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The rising costs of fuel, fertiliser, and other essentials are now "crippling" most farming sectors in Northern Ireland, according to the steering committee of Farmers For Action (FFA). The organisation has expressed concern over the "abysmal" farm gate prices, which they believe are "breaking the camel's back" for many farmers. The FFA claims that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is making things worse by continuously increasing regulations to the point of blackmail, where farmers must complete numerous courses to qualify for their diminishing support money.

The FFA argues that the hours required by these courses, in comparison to the farmers' support money, will soon be unviable. One mature farmer reported feeling "exasperated" after completing an online "blackmail" soil analysis course, highlighting how farmers under financial strain might feel the need to seek help from charities like Rural Support. Sean McAuley, a steering committee member at the FFA, stated that it is increasingly noticeable that elderly or late middle-aged farmers are completing the courses, with family members assisting them online.

Young farmers who have off-farm work are not willing to lose hours of paid work to undertake these unpaid courses, as set out by DAERA, McAuley added. He urged Stormont to "wake up and smell the coffee," warning that the farming industry is declining rapidly due to their inaction. The pressure on Northern Ireland's farmers is immense, with the average age now 59-60 years old, and young people being driven away from the land due to financial pressures and a lack of planning.

This has led to a surge in rural requests for help from charities like Rural Support and the Samaritans. The FFA has proposed a Farm Welfare Bill, which aims to ensure farmers are paid a price that fully accounts for all input costs, plus an adequate margin. The organisation believes that addressing these issues is crucial to safeguarding the future of farming in Northern Ireland. As the situation continues to worsen, the call for urgent action from policymakers grows louder, with farmers facing an uncertain future if support and regulation do not adapt to their needs.

Source: Agriland.ie

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