raise a significant sum while also having some fun along the way.” The Relay is already under way, having started outside the Houses June and will visit over 170 different
of Parliament in London on 20th
sites representing 75 companies before crossing the finishing line at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 31st It moves into Northern Ireland on 17th
July. July visiting businesses in
Belfast Docks, Co Antrim, Armagh, Omagh and North Antrim between the 17th
and 20th July. Riders from at least 14 companies will be saddling
up and visiting 14 sites, covering over 240 miles. Companies supporting the relay in N Ireland include Tolland’s,
Devenish Nutrition, United Molasses, United Feeds, W&R Barnett, Thompsons, Cefetra, Tullyherron Feeds, Gortavoy Feeds, Fane Valley, Moy Park, AB Vista, Chestnutt’s and Agri-Research. The Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association has been closely
involved in the planning of the event and Chief Executive Robin Irvine is encouraging everyone to get behind the event and support the riders.
“All the riders are willing volunteers and include mill staff, drivers,
sales staff, advisors and chief executives and so will be well known to the farming community and are determined to help put something back into the industry,” Mr Irvine explained. “In addition to rider sponsorship, many companies are also
planning fund raising events. We hope as many people in the industry as possible will turn out to support the relay and help us achieve our target.” To donate to the fund and support FCN in the invaluable work
it does for the industry, go to
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ GAFT
IN MY OPINION … RICHARD HALLERON The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is celebrating its 100th anniversary at a time of great flux for agriculture. But one could argue that the organisation was founded at a time of even greater uncertainty.
Politically, the island of Ireland was in genuine turmoil back in 1918.
The Irish War of Independence was about to get underway and
the very thought of trying to get an effective rural organisation off the ground in any part of the country genuinely staggers belief. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Partition followed in 1922 and the UFU was provided with the relative tranquility and political stability of a ‘fledgling Northern Ireland’ to get on with its work. The focus placed on agriculture by the initial Stormont governments also helped the Union’s cause. Fifty years on, however, the challenges confronting the UFU were
ratcheted up immensely with the UK’s entry into the then Common Market. Almost overnight, the Union found itself having to take its demands to Brussels, rather than simply dealing with decision makers in Belfast and London. There’s no doubt that fighting the cause of agriculture in Northern
Ireland at the very heart of Europe put a more than significant strain on Union resources. But the challenge was made that little bit easier, given the fact that farmers in the Republic of Ireland were fighting the exact same battles. I have always found the relationship between the Union and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) to be a very close one. And let’s hope this will always remain the way-of-things. It’s much easier being a big fish in a small pond than a ‘little
chappie’ in a big ocean. I would argue that the Union’s cause in Brussels was not helped by what seemed the eternally lukewarm attitude of British politicians, when it came to them being on EU-watch. When I was a staff member of the UFU, it was always guys with ‘Irish accents’ who could pull the rabbit out of the hat, when required. Given all of this background, it hasn’t come as a complete surprise
to me that Brexit is fast approaching. But is it a real opportunity or genuine threat for agriculture in Northern Ireland? I sense this is a question that all of those involved with the UFU will be consumed with for the next decade and more.
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