A £2m. annual support package for the dairy industry is set to continue. The Commerce and Employment Department will propose a slightly modified scheme to that introduced in 2001 to the States later this month.
It firmly believes that the package, which encouraged more environmentally-friendly land management and set quotas on milk production, has proved a success.
‘We like the island to look like it does and the States is asked to pay £2m. a year not to protect 21 farmers and 100 or so jobs, but to protect our way of life and our heritage,’ said minister Stuart Falla.
‘We like the way Guernsey has green fields with Guernsey cows, small field sizes and a landscape we believe is intrinsically Guernsey. We want to keep Guernsey as it is now.’
Dairy farm management contracts embrace:
n arrangements for the supply of milk in accordance with set quotas;
n compliance with animal welfare standards;
n compliance with anti-pollution measures, largely concerning slurry management;
n and conservation, management and enhancement of the countryside through farm action biodiversity plans.
The department said that quotas had eliminated over-production of milk which was threatening the viability of the dairy and intensive farming had been reduced, which had curtailed nitrate pollution of water.
All farms now have adequate slurry handling and storage arrangements.
The farm biodiversity action plans, which form part of the contract, have led to wildlife-friendly hedge management, sensitive management of hay and wild flower meadows, more tree planting and even the installation of bird boxes.
All farms have been subject to an annual audit and passed and their environment and conservation work have been the subject of a positive independent review by Environment Guernsey, La Societe Guernesiaise’s contracting arm.
‘The island has received the environmental and animal welfare benefits that it requested,’ said Deputy Falla.
The department now is proposing splitting the contract into two - an animal welfare and land management contract with the department and a milk supply contract with the dairy.
It is proposed that the support package of £2.025m. - unchanged since 2001 - continues and consultation with farmers over the planned changes will take place this year so the new schemes can be phased in through 2008-9.
Deputy Falla said he was confident of States support, despite pressures on finance. He believed that a good case had been made to continue the subsidy.
‘I don’t think there will be a move to remove the £2m.,’ he said. ‘There could come a time some time in the future that it might seem too big a price to pay, but that’s very much a political decision.’
* Agriculture makes use of about 10,000 vergees of land, which represents 26% of the total land area of the island and 65% of open land.
Article posted on 9th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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