The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has voiced strong support for a private member's bill by Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer to reinstate Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) payments in Northern Ireland. McAleer, the party's agriculture spokesperson, welcomed the UFU's backing after a meeting to discuss the legislation.

McAleer highlighted the importance of ANC payments for supporting productivity in severely disadvantaged areas, where they often form a major part of farm income. He noted that farmers in these upland regions face significant natural challenges yet contribute to the wider farming ecosystem by breeding lamb and beef livestock finished on lowland farms.

UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy described the bill as a positive step to restore financial support for sheep, beef, and dairy farmers in severely disadvantaged areas. He pointed to a decline in livestock numbers, with the 2025 census showing a 4% drop in suckler cows and ewes in Northern Ireland.

Cuddy emphasized that ANC land supports environmental goals by sequestering carbon, maintaining biodiversity, and reducing fire risks while producing food. Many such farmers cannot access schemes like the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme or Suckler Cow Scheme, leading to a 17% reduction in their Farm Sustainability Payments with limited recovery options.

The UFU expressed disappointment at the DAERA Minister's inaction on reinstating ANC payments, insisting they should remain separate from the Farm Sustainability Payment. The union urged all political parties to back the bill to sustain farm businesses, preserve expertise, prevent land abandonment, and support rural communities.