Pledge to help dairy industry threatened by drought and soaring costs

Wednesday 10 August 2022

Jersey's Government has pledged to back the dairy industry as it faces an existential threat caused by dry weather and soaring costs of feed.

Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel – whose portfolio includes agriculture – said the Government was working closely with farmers to find out where support was needed.

Last week, the States of Guernsey agreed to give its dairy industry a £486,000 lump sum from their reserves to stop a number of farmers from going out of business.

Following the news, farmer and Jersey Dairy Chairman Andrew Le Gallais said that the future of the dairy industry was in doubt after the dry weather had forced farmers to start using their winter feed.

It also meant that they had to use more imported feed, which has risen in price by 50% since Russian’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

Pictured: Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel: "The agricultural industry is of great importance to the island".

Deputy Morel said: “I recognise that the drought and cost of importing feed are causing difficulties for the industry, and am working to determine how best to support farmers. 

“We are working closely with the industry to evaluate the exact nature and cost of the challenges, gathering the evidence to ensure that we address the challenges effectively."

He added: “The agricultural industry is of great importance to the island, and the Economic Framework for the Rural Environment contains policy components which will enable us to better manage the ongoing impacts of climate change with emphasis on water use, soil health, alternative crops, investment and research into our food system to deliver a sustainable farmed environment in the future.”

That framework, published in May, states: “The role of Government is central in providing a robust foundation to ensure farming remains an essential element of Island life.

“This is done through implementation of necessary and appropriate legislation, safeguarding and enhancing natural resources (farmland, wildlife, soil and water), enabling connectivity with established trade routes and facilitating new ones, and provision of essential direct financial and indirect support to ensure Island businesses are able to compete with other jurisdictions on a fair basis, whilst operating in a sustainable manner.”

Pictured: Dairy farmer Andrew Le Gallais MBE at his farm in St. Saviour.

It adds: “Our traditional industries are part of the island’s make-up. It is important not just to view the value of agriculture to Jersey in purely economic terms. 

“Many public goods and services can be delivered by agriculture, beyond food production; the protection and stewardship of natural resources, the provision of renewable energy, greater food security, public access to the countryside beyond that provided on the coast and the maintenance of a landscape, which to a large degree makes the island recognisable as Jersey.”

The States of Guernsey is giving its dairy industry a £486,000 lump sum from their reserves.

On what Jersey's farmers need, Mr Le Gallais said: "It would be premature for me to say what the quantum is going to be or when it is going to be but, as an industry, we have made it very apparent to the Government that this is very urgent.

“With our good relationship with the minister, we think the next few weeks will be crucial in our dialogue with him, but I am personally confident that he will recognise and support what we want to do. 

“Guernsey has set the bar and I hope our politicians will relate to that.”