DARD Minister Michelle O’Neill has done too little potentially too late in the milk crisis says South Down Independent Unionist MLA for South Down, John McCallister.
He has claimed dairy farmers are being ignored in the Russia trade sanctions, strongly criticising the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development for “sitting on her hands” over the past ten months. Citing the extension until next year of a multi-million-Euro aid package to help European fruit and vegetable growers hit by Russian sanctions, Mr McCallister said the Minister has allowed the EU Commission to ignore the growing plight of dairy farmers.
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South Down Independent Unionist John McCallister[/caption]
Mr McCallister said: “Ten months ago I asked the Agriculture Minister what action her Department is taking to ensure that dairy farmers negatively affected by EU trade sanctions with Russia gain access to the European Commission’s compensation scheme. At that time she effectively said she was going to do nothing and her stance has not changed in ten months.
“Only recently has the Minister asked for a meeting with the EU farm Commissioner to raise the impact on the local industry of the price of milk and I urge Michelle O’Neill to argue for the extension of the EU fruit and vegetable growers’ compensation scheme to the dairy industry.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the Russia sanctions are keeping the price of milk down and if we cannot get direct intervention in the market by the EU, the bare minimum must be an extension of the compensation scheme to the Dairy sector.
“The strength of the pound, the on-going economic problems in Europe and the Russian sanctions are pushing the price of milk to unsustainable levels. If direct EU intervention is not forthcoming or the compensation scheme is not extended, we may permanently lose dairy farmers from South Down and Northern Ireland.
“This is bad news for the local economy and terrible news for the local farming community. Michelle O’Neill has unfortunately done too little to date, which may mean her recent actions are too late.
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Ten months ago John McCallister asked the DARD Minister in the Assembly: “… what action her Department is taking to ensure that farmers negatively affected by EU trade sanctions with Russia gain access to the European Commission’s compensation scheme.”
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Independent Unionist John McCallister has said that the DARD MInister has done too little too late.[/caption]
Minister O’Neill’s reply was: “The European Commission introduced a number of measures in response to the Russia import ban on food from the EU. It is a matter for those eligible for these schemes to decide whether they want to participate.
“Of the measures introduced only one, a package for perishable fruit and vegetable market support, offers compensation directly to farmers and producer groups.
“My officials have been in contact with local fruit and vegetable stakeholders who have communicated the view that this ban has not directly impacted on prices for local fruit and vegetable produce to date. Therefore, at this time the Department does not intend to participate in the fruit and vegetable scheme but will continue to review the situation going forward.”
O’Neill Responds To McCallister’s Challenge
Speaking as she left for London this morning (11 August) to meet DEFRA Secretary of State Liz Truss, Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “I reject John McCallister’s allegation that I have been ‘sitting on my hands’. His comments are unfounded and unfair.
“This is a global crisis caused by a range of international market and exchange rate factors. It cannot be solved at a local level alone, but I have been doing all I can to support our farmers, and I will continue to do so through a twin-track approach of lobbying on behalf of our farmers and offering practical help at a local level.
“I am due to meet with British Secretary of State Liz Truss today to highlight the unique difficulties facing the north’s farmers and to continue to press her for help in persuading the EU to increase the intervention threshold. I have also engaged with my counterparts in the south, Scotland and Wales in raising the issue.
SEO“In the Spring, I met EU Commissioner Phil Hogan to raise the concerns of our farmers and have sought a second meeting in order to press again for movement on the intervention threshold. I have not and will not allow the EU to ignore the plight of our farmers.
“I have been working with the six local banks to identify methods of support for the sector and I have been encouraging them to be more flexible and understanding. We are also engaging with the retail sector, Agri-Food Strategy Board, processors and producers to develop a collaborative approach to this crisis. Indeed, representatives from farming and processing are joining me at today’s DEFRA meeting.
“Furthermore, CAFRE advisors are on the ground offering valuable practical support throughout this year on improving technical efficiency and business performance and I urge farmers to make use of this service.
“Let me make clear once again, the compensation scheme announced by the EU Commission last year to offer assistance directly to farmers and producer groups in respect of perishable fruit and the vegetable market was not available to any other sector within our farming industry, let alone our dairy sector.
“As I said, this is not something that can be solved at local level. The most effective method to support our dairy farmers is within the control of the EU Commission – that of raising the intervention thresholds. We must unite as one voice – politicians, industry and other devolved ministers, in applying pressure for EU support.”
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