Dairy farmers in line for increased support

Guernsey herds have dwindled in recent years due to financial pressures

The States is seeking to increase financial support for the Guernsey's dairy farmers in order to bolster the industry's fortunes.

The Committee for Environment & Infrastructure (E&I) is proposing to increase the dairy farm support scheme budget to £2.35m by 2026.

It follows a reduction in Guernsey cow herd sizes due to the increasing cost of feed and fertiliser following Brexit and the continued war in Ukraine.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, E&I President said: "This is about ensuring that we can work with the sector to get them back on a more stable footing, after what has been an incredibly challenging period caused by international factors entirely out of their control."

'Preserved and protected'

It is hoped the increased funding will help farmers meet the island's demand for milk in the coming years.

The committee is also recommending a change to how farm businesses can qualify for the payments, by rewarding environmentally responsible practices.

"The Guernsey cow is such an important part of our island's culture, heritage and identity and the States has previously made it very clear that this unique breed must be preserved and protected", Sausmarez said.

The price the States operated Guernsey Dairy pays for raw milk has increased in the last decade.

States figures also indicate the budget for farm management payments decreased from £2.025 million to £1.025 million between 2014 and 2019.

Those payments have since remained static, bringing a financial fall of more than £1.75m across the industry until 2024.

Calls for support for dairy farmers from Guernsey Farmers' Association has been mounting in recent years.

Sausmarez added E&I is "grateful" for the way farmers have "engaged" with the committee on the problems they face.