PROPOSALS by Edwin Poots' department for post-Brexit support for agriculture could threaten the livelihood of hundreds of small farmers, according to the chair a Stormont committee.

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee chairperson, Declan McAleer MLA, used the recent Stormont debate on the budget to highlight his belief that Brexit has driven a ‘wrecking ball’ through agriculture and rural affairs in Northern Ireland.