The Ulster Farmers’ Union has fired a warning shot at Downing Street, writing directly to Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Secretary of State for Northern…
UFU Takes Fight to Westminster
The Ulster Farmers’ Union has fired a warning shot at Downing Street, writing directly to Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn about the growing threat to food production from spiralling input costs. The union, representing around 12,000 farm families across Northern Ireland, says the current geopolitical instability in the Middle East is creating fresh uncertainty for an already battered agricultural sector.
UFU President William Irvine didn’t hold back. “Farmers have already experienced the impact of global instability following the war in Ukraine, where sharp increases in fertiliser and energy prices placed enormous pressure on farm businesses,” he said. The message from Belfast is clear: the industry won’t absorb another shock like that without serious consequences for domestic food production.
The union has pointed specifically to fertiliser and fuel as the main culprits eating into farm margins. These aren’t optional extras for arable farmers, they’re fundamental to crop production. Any jump in these costs has an immediate and direct impact on margins at a time when many in the sector are already under significant financial pressure.
What This Means for Farmers
Let’s be blunt about what this letter actually means for someone running a farm in Northern Ireland or indeed anywhere in the UK. The UFU is saying that Northern Ireland agriculture is particularly exposed because of its reliance on imported inputs. Fertilisers, fuel, energy, most of it comes from outside the region, which means global instability translates directly into higher costs on your farm.
The figures aren’t pretty. While specific price data varies week by week, the pattern is unmistakable: costs have been climbing steadily, and the knock-on effects are spreading through the entire supply chain. Processing, transport, distribution, higher energy costs ripple outwards and eventually hit consumers at the checkout. But that doesn’t help farmers right now, caught between rising costs and fixed or falling output prices.
The union highlighted that beef, dairy and cereals sectors are all feeling the squeeze. Tight margins were already the norm before this latest tension flared up. The prospect of further increases in input costs will only compound the pressure, making it harder to maintain viable and sustainable food production. Irvine put it bluntly: “These pressures do not stop at the farm gate.”
Specifically, perhaps most frustrating for farmers trying to plan ahead is the lack of transparency in fertiliser and fuel markets. “This lack of transparency makes it extremely difficult for farmers to plan and manage their businesses effectively,” Irvine said. “It adds unnecessary risk at a time when confidence is already under pressure.” When you can’t see where prices are heading, budgeting becomes a gamble rather than a management decision.
What’s Being Demanded
The UFU hasn’t just highlighted the problem, they’ve laid out what they want the government to do about it. Central to their demands is improving market transparency. Farmers need to be able to see where prices are heading, not just react to whatever the supplier decides to charge this week.
The union is calling for concrete government action to help the sector manage this volatility. That means acknowledging that farming is exposed to external shocks in a way other industries aren’t, and building in some protection rather than leaving farmers to absorb every global hiccup.
For farmers reading this, the practical takeaway is this: your union is pushing hard at the highest level, but the political process moves slowly. In the meantime, review your input costs carefully, lock in contracts where you can for fuel and fertiliser, and don’t assume prices will come down on their own. The global situation isn’t getting simpler, and the more you can reduce exposure to spot market volatility, the better positioned you’ll be.
The UFU’s message to Westminster is unambiguous: food production is at stake, and the government needs to act. Whether Starmer and Benn listen is another matter, but at least someone’s making the case loudly and clearly on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the UFU written to about rising costs?
The Ulster Farmers’ Union has written directly to UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn expressing concerns about rising input costs affecting food production.
What input costs are farmers most concerned about?
Farmers are most concerned about fertiliser, fuel and energy prices. The UFU says these represent a significant proportion of on-farm costs across all sectors, with arable farmers particularly exposed since fertiliser and fuel are fundamental to crop production.
How many farmers does the UFU represent?
The Ulster Farmers’ Union represents approximately 12,000 farm families across Northern Ireland.
What has caused the current uncertainty in agricultural markets?
Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are creating significant uncertainty for the sector. The UFU warns this follows previous global instability from the war in Ukraine, which already caused sharp increases in fertiliser and energy prices.
What action is the UFU calling for from the government?
The UFU is calling on the UK government to improve market transparency and take action to help farmers manage volatility in input costs. They argue this is important for maintaining viable and sustainable food production across Northern Ireland.
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BritFarmers Weekly — launching soon
One honest email a week when we launch, what’s moved on schemes, prices, disease control and policy, with links to primary sources.
Join the early list