The Ulster Farmers' Union says it is looking forward to working with a new team of locally elected Ministers, as progress continues towards restoring the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.

The UFU highlighted the nomination of Sinn Fein for the Agriculture and Rural Development portfolio, and DUP for the Environment portfolio, as the most significant nominations for local farming families.

UFU President Kenneth Sharkey said; "We are pleased that progress is being made and we are looking forward to working with local Ministers as soon as possible. We have so much work to do to improve the prospects for local farmers, for example by removing the burden of red tape and restoring a positive working relationship between farmers and the Department of Agriculture".

"The Department of Environment also has an increasing influence on farming matters and again we need a constructive working relationship so that for example EU environmental requirements can be met in a way which is workable and affordable for farm businesses".

The UFU says it will hope to meet new 'Ministers Designate' as soon as possible.

Issues which will be raised will include the Unions opposition to lowering farmers Single Farm Payment through the Modulation process, securing funding for the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme, and progressing the Unions five point plan for the Assembly which proposed: an independent review of red tape; more local sourcing of food and renewable energy, country of origin beef labelling in restaurants and scrapping the Agricultural Wages Board.