In many shapes and forms, politics is ruining the otherwise vital industry that is farming in Northern Ireland, and that needs to stop. In his next exclusive interview for The Scottish farmer, Chris McCullough chatted to Sam Chesney, from Cool Brae Farm, Kircubbin.

Multi-award winning beef and sheep farmer, Sam is no stranger to the rules and regulations imposed on farming in Northern Ireland over the years. Acting as chair of the Ulster Farmers' Union beef and lamb committee, he has been a strong voice for farmers in the province. Brexit has come and gone, but there are still many issues need addressing to boost NI farming.

With that in mind Sam has decided to stand for election as UFU deputy president next year. In this feature, we find out what he's all about ...

Tell me about your farm?

I farm around 200 acres near Kircubbin, on the east coast of Northern Ireland, south of Belfast, and just 18 miles from the Scottish coast. The herd consists of 130 suckler cows with a calf to beef system and there are also 100 early lambing commercial ewes.

What is your farming system?

I strive to have the cows calving in mid-March with a calving index of 353 days. The replacement heifers are synchronised to calve at 23 months old and only bulls with good EBVs are used.

In order to finish the beef animals, I aim for an average of 1kg gain per beast per day, killing out with an average carcase of 408kg.

Which breeds do you use on the farm and why?

For the past 30 years, we have been using Limousin bulls with good success. For the past eight years, I have sourced super black Limousin bulls from Bob and Kay Adam, of the Newhouse herd, at Forfar, Angus.

This year, we have changed our breeding policy and are using a new team of Stabiliser bulls for both AI and herd service. I decided to go in this direction as I need cattle that are easier finished as our feed budget has increased too much.

The sheep breeds used are Berrichon/Texel ewes crossed with Charollais ram.

How do you see farming in Northern Ireland?

Farming in NI consists of a mix of family farms and part time farmers. In general, farmers here pay more for inputs and receive less for outputs.

I tend to believe that farmers in NI are more efficient and pay a greater attention to detail because of costs. I always say we box well above our weight!

What do you enjoy about farming the most?

For me, it is a privilege to produce food for the people in NI and the rest of the UK, and further afield.

However, that’s not all farmers do, as we shape the countryside and provide the colour for visitors to see and use. On a more topical issue, with our work and management, farmers are sucking up carbon and are very much part of the climate change solution.

We have a great band of people involved in agriculture and everyone has a hand of help for their fellow farmers.

What farming issues could be improved here and how?

The main issues here are the proposed environment bills, bovine TB, lack of profitability, and our out-of-date conacre system. In all these cases, science will have many of the answers, however in many cases the powers that be have buried their heads in the sand.

The conacre system of land rental has put a stranglehold hold on farms that have limited access to land.

What do NI farmers do best?

Northern Ireland farmers are the best at finding their way around problems – like all farmers I suppose.

We have some of the best pedigree livestock breeders here, some of the best grassland managers and some of best arable farmers. In NI, size does not matter, it is the quality of the food we produce that counts.

How can we fix the controversial NI Protocol issues?

The NI Protocol has been a major blow to farmers hurting livestock movements, seed imports, machinery movements as well as supplies of medicines and plant protection chemicals. We have been treated disgracefully.

If we were French, we would have closed the country down. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I believe we will see progress soon.

Do you fear the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand?

These free trade deals undermine UK farmers and the high welfare standards we produce food under. Importing beef or lamb from Australia or New Zealand with high food miles on boats and planes contradicts everything we here in the UK are trying to achieve.

When you see Australian sheep and cattle moved round the world and treated horrifically at the point of slaughter, never mind ignoring their carbon footprint as part of the deal, their welfare standards are just a joke.

We need to create a secure brand that consumers demand and trust. The Scots have QMS and Scottish pigs, beef and lamb quality brands. Add on Scottish whisky and salmon, and they have a real marketing advantage.

Here in NI, the FQAS and Red Tractor quality brands sell our credentials to a discerning UK customer. However, we all need to highlight our environmental impact or lack of it compared to others.

What should Daera be doing about bTB?

An outbreak of bovine TB is the most devastating thing that can happen to a livestock farmer. Daera does not understand the stress involved or the sense of loss of herds built up over generations of breeding.

We need a wildlife intervention scheme as soon as possible. Studies in England have shown that where a badger cull has taken place, many herds have gone clear.

However, more to the point, wildlife has improved with badgers under control as hedgehogs have returned, ground nesting birds have increased, hares and bumble bee populations have increased, as well as a healthy badger population.

Daera needs to act now as up to £50m per year is spent on testing. The knock-on effect of sales of stock and exports of meat threatened by a TB status makes action very important.

Do you have any connections with farming in Scotland?

Aside from buying bulls from Scottish breeders, I spent many years selling Texel sheep at Lanark and Carlisle marts.

What would you change if you were the NI Minister for Agriculture?

Minister Poots has being doing an excellent job. He ensured there was Covid-19 funding for beef, wool, milk, pigs and potatoes.

Future agri-support measures are now being accessed under his watch. All-in-all I think most farmers would say he has done an excellent job, so I wouldn’t like to rock the boat now.

Read more: Chris McCullough meets busy Kim Montgomery – mum, teacher and farmer