SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has expressed his concern at a failure to support farmers during prolong periods of wet weather.
He had asked the DAERA Minister to outline any support available.
The Minister confirmed he was not planning a support package, instead pointing to the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP).
Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said:
“Since the turn of the year we have seen unprecedented levels of wet weather that have caused real logistical problems for farms across the North. With conditions like this it can become difficult for farmers to carry out even the most routine of their daily tasks and this has significant consequences of their operations and income.
“In light of this I asked the Minister to outline if he was intending to bring forward a support package for the farming community. While he did not rule it out completely, it is clear that no support package is planned and this will come as a bitter blow to many of our small and medium-sized farms who were looking to the Minister and his department for help.
“I accept that there are other programmes in place and that the department is working on a crisis framework for the SAP, but exceptional circumstances like this demand a response. I hope we will soon see an upturn in the weather to alleviate these pressures from our farming community, but if these conditions continue I would urge the Minister to revisit this matter and provide much needed support.”
ENDS
Notes: Assembly Written Question 19th February 2026 (AQW 40547/22-27)
Patsy McGlone: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any support that will be provided to the farming community affected by the exceptional wet weather conditions.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: At this stage, a support package for the farming community affected by the exceptional wet weather conditions is not planned, however I am continuing to monitor the situation.
The SAP’s Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme is designed to improve the resilience of farm businesses and help withstand ‘shocks’ that are beyond their ability to manage effectively, encouraging businesses to become more environmentally sustainable and efficient.
A Crisis Framework is being developed as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP) This framework will provide a pre-defined approach for government intervention in the event of a significant crisis impacting the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland.
The SAP is a strong example of climate adaptation action being progressed by my Department, as we work with and support our agricultural sector to be resilient to the more frequent and severe impacts brought by climate change. As such, delivery of the SAP is a key action in the draft Northern Ireland’s third Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3), which my Department has developed, with input from all Departments.
As a cross-cutting Programme with more than 280 actions to build climate resilience, the NICCAP3 requires Executive agreement. I am currently engaging with my Executive colleagues to seek their agreement to finalise NICCAP3 and lay it in this Assembly as soon as possible.
Your MLA 