EUROPEAN Union farming ministers have pledged an aid package for farmers amounting to half-a-billion euro.
The £365 million programme was announced after thousands of farmers, including many from Northern Ireland, protested on the streets of Brussels.
Some farmers blocked streets with tractors as agriculture ministers met nearby.
Up to 5,000 supporters with 1,500 tractors took part in the event.
European Commission vice-president Jyrki Katainen said: "This demonstrates that the Commission takes its responsibility towards farmers very seriously and is prepared to back it up with the appropriate funds."
The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) said it took part in the protest "to underline the seriousness of the situation on family farms across Europe".
Union president Ian Marshall and the other UK farming unions briefed the devolved farming ministers, including Stormont agriculture minister, Michelle O'Neill in Brussels.
“Farmers across many sectors are feeling the impact of prices that are not sustainable. Today’s protest brings to the fore the urgency of the issues dominating the food supply chain, which at present is failing to function properly,” he said Ian Marshall.
“We need an urgent review of the functionality of the supply chain. However in the short term, the Commission must come up with a plan to strengthen current safety nets and ease cash flow difficulties. This is vital as we approach what will be one of the toughest winters in memory for farming families."
Last week Mr Marshall met with farm commissioner Phil Hogan’s senior cabinet officials to raise the issues impacting local farmers.
“This meeting, the recent 'no farmers no food' protest at Stormont and today’s EU-wide demonstration has left politicians here in Northern Ireland, in London and in Brussels in no doubt about the grim financial state of the farming industry," he said.
He said the Brussels demonstration was a "show of solidarity between Northern Ireland and its European counterparts".
"By taking part today UFU is reminding the farm commissioner and national ministers that the voice of farmers needs to be heard. e cannot continue to suffer as a result of an EU foreign policy decision, which closed the Russian market to the European food industry,” he said.
