Plans to double States support to Guernsey dairy farmers to £2.35m

Tuesday, 21 January 2025 10:20

Government support to Guernsey's dairy farmers could more than double, under a proposal from Environment and Infrastructure.

E&I wants the States subsidy paid to dairy farmers to rise to £2.35million.

It says the total amount paid in dairy farm management payments almost halved, from £2.025 million to £1.025, between 2014 and 2019.

It has remained at that level since, creating a real-terms decrease of £1.75m.

The committee is suggesting the support scheme budget is upped to £2.35m by 2026.

E&I President Lindsay de Sausmarez says it is to recognise the public benefits the industry delivers, including protecting the Guernsey breed:

"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.

"But this is about far more than maintaining something for the sake of our heritage, with our dairy farmers contributing so much to our island through land management and protecting our distinct landscape and biodiversity, as well as the most obvious benefit of providing thousands of islanders with milk every day."

She says he policy letter, which will be debated by the Assembly, is aimed at getting the sector back on a 'more stable footing'.

Also proposed are changes to the way farm businesses can qualify for the payments, so that 'environmentally responsible practices are rewarded'.

Dairy farmers' income mainly comes from the management payments and the price Guernsey Dairy pays for raw milk. The latter has increased regularly along with the prices we pay for milk, which this year reached £2 per litre in some shops.