The Agriculture and Natural Resources Department has implemented a new subsidy policy for farmers. This came into effect from Monday 4 August. Wendy Clingham, Chief Agricultural and Natural Resources Officer said that this will not affect all farmers at this stage, as the policy is to be phased in over a period of three years.

Overall the department wants to make sure farmers are producing a sustainable supply of fresh agricultural products for the Island and farmers will be given assistance by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department.

At this point in time, many farmers will continue to receive wage subsidy. The first groups to be affected by the new policy will be salad growers and livestock owners.

The department feels that there is potential for organically grown salads. "This is because consumers are now expressing concern for the protection of the environment and the limitation of the use of agrochemical, as they are becoming more health conscious," said Wendy.

Produce will be inspected by a quality control inspector, and providing it is up to the standard, the department will pay farmers’ 40p per kilo for the salads they produce and sell. The maximum amount the department will pay for is 400 kilos of salad per month, per farmer.

Some pasturelands are now managed by the private sector, rather than the department and A&NRD sees this as a step in the right direction. However the department feels that there is still a need to provide farmers with support so that the management of all grazing can be improved, and so that the area of productive land can be expanded.

With funding from the United Nations, the Department was able to improve pasturelands. A&NRD is now hoping to work with farmers to continue to develop existing pasturelands and to develop new grazing and fodder land.

Farmers will receive funding for clearing weed, and for replanting fodder species. For clearing dense weed such as bull grass, gorse and white weed, £60 will be paid for each acre that is cleared. Sparse weed clearance will be paid at £30 per acre and replanting of fodder species at £30 per acre.

Vincent March, Agricultural Development Officer said that if pasturelands are cleared of weed and planted with fodder species animals will have more feed, so they will produce better meat.

Data collection will also be important and the department is hoping that farmers will provide the necessary data on animals. This will be used to monitor breeding programmes and to identify suitable dams and sires for breeding purposes.

Subsidy for Farmers (Part 2)

This week we continue on subsidy for farmers following the article published on 8 August.

Vincent March, Agricultural Development Officer explained that salad producers are now able to receive a production support subsidy at a price of £0.40 per kilo for all of the salads they produce and sell providing they meet the terms and conditions as set out in the revised subsidy policy. Vincent said that this is a policy which all farmers should be aware of.

For the first year up until August 2004, producers of all other vegetables and fruits will still be entitled to a wage subsidy but the number of hours that a farmer can claim have changed. Previously farmers could claim for up to 90 hours per week but this has now been reduced to a maximum of 46 hours per week and a minimum of 15 hours per week – whereby engaging someone’s services for less than this time would not entitle them to subsidy.

From about August 2004 the wage subsidy will fall away. Farmers producing vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, onion, yams and chow-chows will no longer be entitled to any subsidy, but farmers producing salad crops and other vegetables excluding those mentioned above will be entitled to a subsidy if they meet the criteria under the production support subsidy.

Vincent said the main reason why certain vegetables will not be subsidised lies in the Department’s mission statement. The mission is: "To ensure the long-term benefits for producers and consumers while producing a sustainable supply of fresh agricultural products for the Island, which will contribute to the reduction in dietary related diseases."

The new policy has been formulated in line with the Island’s strategic objectives, and the awareness about health is connected to the strategic objective: Develop a healthy community in a safe environment.

The department is placing a lot of emphasis on the link between a healthy diet and the maintenance of health, and the reduction in diet related diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and obesity. Keeping the consumer in mind, the department has decided that vegetables that are of greater benefit to someone’s health will be those that will entitle the farmer to subsidy, providing they meet the criteria.

The department is also aware of the fact that some vegetable crops require more care and attention than others. The majority of these crops come under the category of salad vegetables. These crops will entitle farmers to subsidy.

Farmers who have an income of £8000 or more per annum will not qualify for the subsidy. This is determined by the farmer.

"It is hoped that farmers will make the best possible use of the subsidy," said Vincent and he added: "It is also hoped that this policy will contribute to achieving the Island’s strategic objectives."