Farmer protest rolls into Antrim

FARMERS For Action NI warned that they ‘can’t afford to feed you anymore’ during a planned protest in Antrim on Thursday.

The wind was howling and the skies opened as tractors rolled into town - but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the protesters.

“The weather was dire but credit must go to the young farmers and their tractors who turned up along with many of their families,” said IFA spokesman William Taylor.

“In spite of the rain and the wind, which did eventually subside, these young people couldn’t wait to get out of their tractors and start handing out flyers to Tesco shoppers, our customers, leaving the store.”

Sean McAuley said there was considerable sympathy for the event.

“This was very well received by the public and well over 200 flyers were given out at the protest,” he said.

“The noticeable common dominator when you talk to young farmers at protests. starting with the huge London protest of the 11th December 2024 which I attended and many in between, whilst IHT is number one, the lack of farm income that should provide young farmers with money to live on and eventually provide a house and family and all that goes with that, is missing.

“This is why FFA urge rural UK to read the protest documents, on the Farmers For Action NI or All Farmers facebook pages, after which they will understand the plan, the urgency, the leaflet drops and the important messages to the large corporate food retailers and very importantly the UK’s politicians all the way to Westminster.

“The message is clear - remove the Inheritance Tax, put in place a UK-wide Farm Welfare Bill to have family farmers paid a minimum of the true cost of production inflation linked plus a margin for their produce.

“They must also stop adding to accelerated climate change with food swaps including imports of sub-standard produce and misleading labelling.”

This Thursday night, Farmers For Action will be protesting at Tesco in County Armagh.