FARM groups in Northern Ireland say they will push for legislation on farm gate prices in the new year.
The Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Assocation (NIAPA) and Farmers For Action (FFA) say the want farmers across all staples in the north to receive the cost of production plus an inflation-linked margin as a minimum.
This year has been marked by months of demonstrations from farmers - particularly in the diary sector - who claim they are not receiving even the cost of making produce.
"This legislation must be put in place in 2016 if Northern Ireland’s largest industry is to be saved. Never before in our lifetime have the economics of farming for the majority been so grim, therefore threatening jobs across NI from A to Z," the groups said in a joint statement.
"This situation has been 20 years plus in the making with the increasing power of a handful of large food retailers, large food wholesalers and to a lesser extent large food processors, over time continually coming back to the farmer for their profit.
"In short, legislation on farm gate prices would appear to be the only show in town to provide farmers with a tool to obtain their fair share of the financial cake."
The groups said bringing in legislation would garner thousands of jobs down the line and "return prosperity to Northern Ireland".
"FFA, NIAPA and others will be pushing all of Northern Ireland’s politicians with renewed vigour after the Christmas break on this issue to pledge that they will make this legislation happen after the election," they added.
