The Northern Ireland Assembly Agriculture Committee has unanimously backed strong calls from the farming industry that discretionary funding should be channelled to farmers in the North through additional payments for beef heifers.
The committee, which is chaired by the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, gave its opinion following a session attended by Department officials on Friday.
Meanwhile, the SDLP party whip, Mr Eddie McGrady, has called on the North's Agriculture Minister, Ms Brid Rodgers, to make rural development one of her priorities in Government.
