Ulster Unionist Agriculture and Rural Development spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson MLA and fellow Agriculture Committee member Robin Swann MLA have called on the Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill to increase funding for the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU).

Mrs Dobson made her comments following a presentation by the YFCU to the Agriculture Committee at Stormont.  She said: “Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster do a fantastic job to provide a voice to young people living and working in rural areas across Northern Ireland. 

“Officers and members have been working hard to ensure they have a say in shaping public policies that impact on their lives, indeed they are actively working as part of the Farm Safety Partnership.

“Many of its members do not have the same proximity to facilities which are enjoyed by urban young people and the YFCU meet a clear need by providing essential education and training services.

“Last year their work included the hugely successful Rural Women in Business Seminar which I was honoured to co-host at Stormont.    

“I wrote to the Minister last May urging her to acknowledge the excellent work of the Clubs and their members and to continue their funding.  In her response told me – “a final post project evaluation will be required in April 2014…. this will be used to judge the success of the project and to inform decisions on future YFCU funding.”

“I have written to the Minister urging once again to acknowledge the phenomenal work which the Clubs do and commit to continue and indeed increase their funding.   

Commenting Ulster Unionist MLA and Past UFCU President Robin Swann said: “I know first-hand the sheer range and breadth of the fantastic work which the Clubs and their members do to benefit young people across Northern Ireland.   

“For the Minister to fail to continue structural funding would wield a serious blow to the Farming Industry which would have far reaching implications for the future of farming and the rural communities of Northern Ireland.

“We are calling on her to do the right thing and commit to fund the clubs in the best interests of young farmers who are afterall the future of the agri-food industry.” 

Founded in 1929 the YFCU is a growing non-political body which operates in all six counties and represents the interests of over 3,000 members – most aged between 12 and 25.