THE States has major strategic decisions on farming to make within the next five years. While the recent focus has been on the controversial changes to milk- distribution, Commerce and Employment member Duncan Staples warned that far bigger issues needed to be addressed. The department was expected to bring its review of the farm subsidies system in September or October.

‘In the last eight or nine months a lot of people have said a lot of things based on the way the industry has been and are not aware of the kinds of change that have taken place,’ said Deputy Staples.

The issues that need to be investigated include:

n Whether to identify farms and fields that can be used only for dairy farming.

n Whether farms should be able to be sold for other purposes.

‘These are major decisions, which can only ever be made by the States.

‘It’s going to take up resources for more departments than just Commerce and Employment, you’ve got to have the buy-in of the States and the island,’ he added.

‘Everyone I think is singing from the same song sheet when we say we need to protect it, but it’s finding the means that are equitable and efficient.’

Deputy Staples said the right balance needed to be struck.

‘It’s all very well, us saying we want you to farm un-intensively, because of pollution we reward and support people doing that but there does come a time when some pretty large strategic decisions have to be made with regards to the industry’s future,’ he said.

‘We’re here to support it and that’s something we’ll always endeavour to do, but I think ‘farmer’ Ray Watts said there has to be change. We recognise that, farmers recognise that.

‘At the moment we have 20 farmers in the island, but who is going to replace them? That’s the fundamental issue.’

A report several years ago said farming in Guernsey was like farming in the middle of a large city, he said, with fields scattered around and farmers having to lead cows across roads or growing and cutting grass in one and bringing it to the animals in another for feeding.

Encouraging schemes like the setting-aside of fields cost the States money, he said, but worked well.

‘Some of the strategic decisions I’m talking about come with a cost. It’s a question of finding the resources to accommodate the changes and we do need the buy-in of people,’ added Deputy Staples.

‘These are issues that need to be addressed, certainly in the next five years.’