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Farm Gate

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Farm Gate: Ulster Farmers' Union and Department at Loggerheads, IBR and Butter Prices

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08/07/2017

Ulster Farmers' Union and Department at Loggerheads, IBR and Butter Prices

BBC Radio Ulster - Farm Gate, Ulster Farmers' Union and Department at Loggerheads, IBR and Butter Prices

UFU say the Department have been 'riding roughshod' in the absence of a Minister

UFU say the Department have been 'riding roughshod' over farmers in the absence of a Minister for Agriculture. Plus IBR and LacPatrick promise rise in milk price.

The Ulster Farmer's Union have accused the Department of Agriculture of 'riding roughshod' over farmers in the absence of a Minister for Agriculture. We hear from the President of the UFU, Barclay Bell and the Department.

If you're a fan of buttery toast, you might have to start spreading your butter a bit more thinly because it could be going up in price. The cost of butter has been rising, and while consumers at home might not have noticed any price increase yet, large manufacturers definitely have, and for dairy farmer it's been good news. Hannah talks to Gabriel D'Arcy from LacPatrick Co-Op. 

We'll be talking to John Grant from Parklands Veterinary Practice about a bovine disease so contagious it's even made it's way onto Radio 4's the Archers, IBR is a bovine herpes virus that John and his vets have been encountering more often in Northern Ireland. 

Sheep farmers have enjoyed an extended buying period this year due the usual seasonal high demand over Easter almost coinciding with the added demand of lamb for the Islamic Festival of Ramadan. The drop in sterling has also given more buying power to ROI buyers which helps to add competition to the market says Crosby Clelland is the Chairman of the Beef and Lamb Policy Committee at the Ulster Farmers Union.

The National Sheep Association Sale took place this week at Ballymena mart. It happens every two years - and attracted a big crowd. While sheep of all breeds were on display - one of the main attractions of the day happened away from the mart ring. It was a sheepdog sale. Sheepdogs can be very in demand - a highly trained and skilled animal can sell for well over £5000 pounds. 

BBC Agriculture correspondent Elaine Mitchell watched as the dogs were put through their paces - and found out what makes a good sheepdog.

Presenter: Hannah Quinn-Mulligan

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