NIEA want to improve planning responses

A plan is being developed to address delays with the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) responses to planning applications, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said.

Answering a question from the DUP’s Keith Buchanan, Minister Muir said staff availability and vacancies were “one of the key areas in reducing the ongoing caseload levels”.

“My department is therefore actively seeking to recruit additional staff for this work area,” he said.

Other strands of work include “a review and update of internal processes, procedures and guidance” as well as “measures to reduce the level of re-consultation and improve the quality of information being submitted”.

UFU hit out after AFBI board snub

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has raised “very serious concerns” with Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir about the lack of farmer representation at board level within key government agri bodies.

It comes after no full-time farmers were appointed to the board of either the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) nor the Health and Safety Executive of NI (HSENI), despite “several farmers” applying for these positions.

Commenting, UFU president William Irvine acknowledged that the application process is difficult and when farmers do apply, the criteria rules them out or they aren’t appointed.

“Their knowledge and experience is being completely disregarded, and quite simply, it’s insulting,” said Irvine.

He said it was essential that farmers are present to provide direct input and create balanced discussions, especially when it is farm families and their businesses directly impacted by the decisions made.

“It’s critical that this issue is addressed with urgency and the UFU will act to ensure it gets resolved,” said Irvine.

New tractor sales in the UK hit a 27-year low

The total number of new tractors registered in the UK during the first half of the year is at its lowest level since 1998, according to the Agricultural Engineers’ Association.

There were 4,869 machines registered in the UK in the first six months of 2025, which is 17% lower than the same period last year and 25% below the long term average.

That said, UK tractor registrations have showed some signs of picking up recently, with 852 machines registered last month, just 2% lower than June 2024 levels.

Beef and sheep Grasscheck event

AgriSearch will hold a GrassCheck event on the beef and sheep farm of Gregg O’Boyle near Randalstown, on Thursday 17 July at 7pm.

The farm extends to 67 acres and is currently stocked with 203 mid-March lambing ewes with 345 lambs. Gregg also finishes around 50 cattle every year.

The farm walk will discuss how Gregg uses weekly grass measurement and budgeting to drive flock performance and maximise profit.