Farmers 'facing long winter' after unexpectedly wet September

Farmers fear they are facing a long hard winter, adding to the pressure caused by poor prices.

Ulster Farmers’ Union president, Barclay Bell, met with farmers in Tyrone, Fermanagh, North Derry and North Antrim, some of whom reported facing unexpectedly bad weather conditions for September, with high levels of rain making field operations impossible and forcing cattle indoors.  

“In some cases cattle have already been housed for two weeks – and this is only the middle of September,” Mr Bell said.  

“While the weather may improve between now and the end of October, it is doubtful, given ground conditions, that it will be possible to get livestock out to grass again.  

“That has big cash flow implications, since it means higher feed bills are starting early, with many farmers now looking at what could again be a eight month winter.”

The UFU president said farmers in the west are no strangers to difficult conditions, but this is a big blow given hopes that better prices for some commodities might ease financial pressure in the final months of 2016.  

“Once again we are having to appeal to the banks to recognise that cash flow pressures remain acute,” he said.  

“Early CAP payments will help, but when this funding hits bank accounts next month, it is important banks understand that a lot of this is already earmarked for paying bills.  It cannot be used solely for paying down bank borrowings.”

Mr Bell said that across Northern Ireland, weather conditions are also making life difficult for arable farmers, particularly in the north and north west of the province.

“Long, dry spells of weather have proved elusive so far this autumn.  Many arable farmers are finding themselves in a difficult position of having to deal with poor prices and often disappointing yields, while an over-supplied global cereal markets is pulling prices down further,” the UFU president said.