UFU ‘not ruling out legal action’ over proposed Nutrients Action Programme

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has said it is not ruling out potential legal action over a proposed Nutrients Action Programme.

Officials from the representative body said its president William Irvine led a delegation during a “robust” meeting with Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir on Tuesday raising “serious concerns” about the proposals.

Mr Muir was also pressed by MLAs over the programme during questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

He was warned the proposals, aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources, could destroy the farming industry.

Opponents to the plan have argued that the measures currently proposed could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security.

They have called on Mr Muir to bring forward a policy based on genuine partnership rather than punitive policies which risk the viability of the agricultural industry.

A petition set up by DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen calling for the plan to be scrapped had been signed by more than 1,800 people by Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Muir told MLAs there is a requirement arising from the Lough Neagh Action Plan and also the Environmental Improvement Plan to review the Nutrients Action Plan.

He said it is about ensuring both financial and environmental sustainability, and emphasised they are currently undertaking a consultation on draft proposals and that no final decisions have been taken.

He said he had had a challenging but constructive engagement with the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) that morning.

Mr Irvine said the minister acknowledged the depth of concern within the farming industry over proposals.

“Our discussion was robust and we made it crystal clear that the consultation process has been deeply flawed, both in its approach and in its content,” he said.

“There has been no economic impact assessment and no thorough engagement was carried out with stakeholders ahead of the consultation publication.

“The farming community acknowledge the need to improve water quality and we will play our part in a holistic approach, but we feel totally blindsided.

“Our members are frustrated that proposals of such magnitude have been brought forward without thorough analysis of the real-world impact on farm businesses, food production and rural livelihoods.”

The UFU said it is now awaiting a written response from Mr Muir.

They also said a meeting of agri-industry stakeholders has been scheduled for Wednesday morning to discuss the next steps, including the potential for future legal action.

Mr Irvine added: “We are not ruling out legal action.

“Our members expect us to stand up for them, and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”

Meanwhile Mr Muir earlier also expressed concern that there is “a lot of misinformation” around the proposals, and said the social media commentary around the plan in recent weeks has been “disgraceful”.

“There’s been misogynistic comments against officials in my department,” he said.

“There’s been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector.

“And not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man, and I am proud to be a gay man, and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job.”

The consultation on the revised Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 is set to continue until July 24 2025.

During questions in the Assembly on Tuesday, DUP MLA Alan Robinson made Mr Muir aware of the petition, and also said more than 1,000 people attended a consultation event last week and “roundly rejected” the proposals.

He urged the minister to listen, and urged him to scrap the proposals and go back to the drawing board.

Mr Muir responded: “I think it’s important to say that they’re draft proposals and it’s a public consultation, and I think people should have the opportunity to have their say.”

Disappointment was expressed at the social media comments referred to across the chamber, including from Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole, Sinn Fein MLA Aoife Finnegan, UUP MLA Robbie Butler and DUP MLA Trevor Clarke, who said opposition to the programme “should not be personalised against anyone”.