Democratic Unionist Party MP Carla Lockhart said: "The latest plans are not only damaging, they have the potential to decimate our agri-food industry and local economy."
Changes to water quality and slurry regulations in Northern Ireland could have a 'detrimental' impact on the country's farming sector.听
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Carla Lockhart said Daera's proposed changes to the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026 to 2029 鈥� measures which farmers must abide by to 'reduce and regulate overall phosphorus surplus in agriculture' - has created an added layer of bureaucracy which could 'devastate' thousands of farming businesses.
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NAP restrictions on chemical phosphorus fertilisers
Daera has proposed additional measures to NAP which could impose a restriction on the use of chemical phosphorus fertilisers and a phosphorus balance limit used by farm businesses.
'Strict' proposals
Other measures proposed include requiring farmers to use low emission slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) by 2030 to 'reduce environmental impacts and increase efficient use of nutrients in slurry'.
Ms Lockhart said the 'strict phosphorus limits and top-heavy enforcement rules' could lead to farmers potentially missing out on direct support payments if they cannot comply with new regulations, causing 'anger and anguish' in the wider sector.
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Explaining in further detail why farmers have reacted with anger to NAP changes, the Upper Bann MP said: "The latest plans are not only damaging, they have the potential to decimate our agri-food industry and local economy.
"Beef and sheep farms will be driven out of business as the compulsory use of LESSE by 2030 is beyond financial viability.
"The regulations are not practical at farm level.
Proposals are 'unrealistic'
"Calculations show that farmers will potentially need more than twice their current acreage to comply with slurry spreading rules.
"This is unrealistic and will inevitably force farms to reduce livestock numbers."
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Ms Lockart added that agriculture should not be used as a 'scapegoat' to the environmental challenges Northern Ireland faces.
Transparency on figures
Michelle McIlveen, the DUP's Agriculture spokesperson at Stormont, said Rural Affairs Secretary Andrew Muir must commit to publishing a full economic impact assessment of NAP on farms and there should be a comparison of the modelling figures used by Northern Ireland's Executive against real-world data.
"If he [Mr Muir] is confident in the accuracy of the data behind these proposals and on their impact, then he should have no problem in committing to this.
"There has been no consideration given to the combined impact of this policy, unrealistic climate change targets already in place and the new farm payment scheme will have on an industry which is already under extreme pressure.
"This triple whammy will be hugely damaging."
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Reduction of flocks and herds
UFU deputy-president John McLenaghan said 3,500 farms could be forced to meet the new phosphorus limits, something which he described as a 'punishment' and a 'backdoor attempt' to shrink herds and flocks.
"Minister Muir says he wants to walk alongside farmers, but Daera's actions and these proposals tell a very different story," he added.
'Farmers are not villains'
"This feels less like partnership and more like punishment. Northern Ireland's farmers are not villains.
"They are the stewards of our land, committed to protecting the environment while feeding the nation.
Fairness
"What we need is a fair and workable plan that keeps agriculture viable and protects water quality."
The UFU said the new proposals could have 'devastating consequences' for family farms and the wider agri-food economy.
Mr McLenaghan argued that farmers have been reducing their environmental impact on the land for 'many years'.
"Over the following 20 years, Northern Ireland farmers have significantly reduced phosphorus balances and at the same time, increased agricultural production," he added.
"Agriculture is just one contributor to Northern Ireland's nutrients issue.听
"Other sectors are part of the problem too, yet, farming is the only sector that has been landed with this type of draconian legislation.
"The Minister keeps talking about action across all sectors, but the only thing we see here is the agricultural sector being hammered by proposals that will threaten the viability of our sector while others are simply handed more funding."
Striking a balance
However, Alliance's Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson John Blair said NAP reforms could be an 'essential opportunity' to address Northern Ireland's crisis in waterways.
"The programme being consulted upon [by Daera] is crucial for addressing pressing issues surrounding agricultural practices, environmental protection and water quality, particularly at Lough Neagh," Mr Blair added.
"As we face significant challenges related to water quality and ecosystem health, it is essential that we strike an appropriate balance between agriculture and environmental responsibilities.
"The revised NAP presents a significant opportunity to address these concerns in a manner that supports farmers to make changes while ensuring the protection of our precious natural resources.
NAP based on 'science and evidence'
"The proposals outlined in the programme are based firmly on science and evidence, detailing practices to effectively minimise phosphorus input to our waterways.
"We know from the figures provided by the Department that there are 6,000 tonnes of surplus phosphorus from animal manures per year, and 43% of fields in Northern Ireland have been found to be above the agronomic optimum phosphorus status."
Collaboration
Mr Blair also said the path to sustainability requires 'collaboration, fairness, and a commitment' to supporting farmers in making 'necessary changes' to their farming practices.
"Every farmer has a role to play in delivering these solutions, and we must ensure that the rules protecting our environment are enforced," the Alliance MLA added.
"This will ensure that those many farmers who follow the regulations are not unfairly disadvantaged.
"All those interested in these matters should engage in this consultation process so that we can build a truly sustainable agriculture sector that strikes a much better balance between agriculture and the environment."
Consultation
The Government department has extended its consultation to NAP reforms by a further four weeks, meaning the farming sector has until July 24 to provide its responses.
Muir added: "I recognise that the proposals in the revised NAP have a level of complexity because of the detailed science and evidence underpinning them.
"Therefore, having listened to the concerns from farmers and industry about the need for more time to consider the consultation proposals, I am extending the consultation period by four weeks.
"I would encourage everyone to fully consider the proposals and engage with the consultation."
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