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A dairy farm devastated by the loss of more than 100 cows in a suspected botulism outbreak last year has received a major grant from Government to support its recovery.
£250,000 was awarded to Woodlands Farm in St Helier as part of a wider ‘recovery plan’ to overcome the significant loss from the island’s highest-yielding herd last year.
Economic Development Minister Deputy Kisten Morel told Express: “The loss of stock last December was unprecedented – 6% of the island's milking herd died in one event.
“Woodlands Farm is one of 12 producers which supply Jersey Dairy, and maintaining its operations was therefore strategically important to ensure the continuity of the whole industry and avoid repercussions which would have led to additional costs across the dairy sector.”
The Howard Davis Farm Trust has also contributed to Woodlands' recovery, providing funds for 59 cows and heifers to replenish Woodlands Farm's herd in October.
The grant from the Government was awarded to the dairy farm following the issuing of a "letter of comfort" back in September but was not made public at the time.
News of the grant came to light as Treasury Minister Ian Gorst last month responded to a written question from Deputy Lyndsay Feltham – who Chairs the Scrutiny panel tasked with analysing how taxpayers' money is spent – requesting a list of all "letters of comfort" issued during his term of office. The Government then confirmed to Express that the money had been awarded to Woodlands this week.
Letters of comfort are notes expressing an intention to provide financial support which are not legally binding. They are used when there is an urgent need for expenditure, but a full business case cannot be provided or considered due to time constraints.
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