A MOVE to Central European Time would not be in the best interest of Guernsey farmers, says James Watts. The Guernsey Farmers’ Association spokesman was speaking yesterday at the first Chamber of Commerce lunch of 2008.
Along with parents Ray and Joc, he told diners what it was like to farm in Guernsey today.
With the CET requete due to be debated by the States at the end of the month, he was pressed on the matter by Deputy John Gollop.
‘It would be an inconvenience and I can’t see an overwhelming argument for it.
‘Yes, it will make us different from England but we will be the same as France. Is that progress?’
Mr Watts said that if a change did go ahead, it would have an impact on the efficiency of the farm’s work in a number of ways.
He highlighted hay and silage making as just two examples.
He added that most of the family’s Meadow Court Farm’s dealings were with Britain and therefore it would be preferable to retain the status quo.
Guests heard how the industry was always changing and that farms had to explore diversification to remain profitable - especially when milk prices had failed to keep up with inflation.
‘The diversification enterprises are supply enterprises which utilise things that otherwise would have gone to waste, whether that be buildings, labour, land or the bull calves.’
Mr Watts explained how the family business produced 10% of the island’s milk, farmed 10% of the island’s available agricultural land and had 42 landlords.
The farm is also responsible for two of the top four breed bulls in the world: Meadow Court Red Oak and Meadow Court Zulu, both of which were bred in the last eight years.
Chamber of Commerce president Mark Trenchard said it had made him proud to hear about the successes and work ethic of the Watts family.
‘They face challenges every day and get on with it. Finance houses have challenges as well but they seem to think they’re the only ones who have to cope.’
Mr Trenchard said it had been fascinating to listen to three speakers who knew every single aspect of their job in so much detail.
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