News release 28th September 2006:

Government aims to create farm museum

It would appear from scrutiny of the "A Review of the Scope and Structure of Government in the Isle of Man," published today, that the Isle of Man Government is happy to accept the loss of a viable farming industry on the Isle of Man.
 
The report says: "...we have concluded that there is a stronger argument for placing these policy areas within a department which is concerned with looking after the Island’s landscape and seas. Policies in the areas of agriculture and fishing increasingly recognise this as their prime purpose. This is primarily a recreational and amenity issue." (see notes below)
 
Central government would appear to have misunderstood the hard work by DAFF, Manx NFU and others that has gone into turning Isle of Man farming into a thriving future industry.
 
Changes in farming support mean that financial assistance to farmers will move from production-related support to payments for Countryside Care, but this strategy will only be successful within a climate of growth and economic success in farming.
 
Strenuous efforts are being made to open new premium markets for Manx produce across the Island, the UK and the EU.
 
Manx NFU president, Howard Quayle, said: "This report suggests the Isle of Man government strategy is to create a pretty farm museum on the Isle of Man. Far from becoming a museum, Manx farming is investing time and money in order that it can flourish. But to flourish agriculture needs not just the freedom to supply the market place, but the strong support of government while these transitions are being made.
 
"The probable loss of the red meat derogation in January 2011, together with the changes from production-based subsidy to payments for countryside care, mean that agriculture in the Isle of Man is undergoing the biggest change of any farming industry in the western world in over sixty years.
 
Manx NFU has been grateful for the strong commitment of the DAFF Minister, Phil Gawne. But questions must be raised about the general government belief in Manx farming."
 
ffinlo Costain, Manx NFU general secretary, said: "It is in the interest of the taxpayer for the government to work with farmers to create a thriving industry. Without family farming our beautiful countryside will change. If there are no farmers our managed landscape will disappear under scrub and bramble. If large agri-business replaces family farming we'll loose hedgerows, biodiversity, wildlife habitats, beautiful walks, and insects, butterflies and birds. If instead of farmers the government is left to maintain the 80% of our Island currently cared for by agriculture, then the cost to the taxpayer may be ten times the amount paid to farmers today.
 
"Manx NFU recognises that global warming is a massive challenge to the Isle of Man, and is surprised that responsibility for the environment is ignored by all new departmental titles."
 
Howard Quayle concluded: "The Manx NFU is wholly against any changes that fail to recognise the importance of an economically thriving agricultural industry. We must not see any dilution of the responsibility for farming within the Council of Ministers."

END OF RELEASE

News contact: ffinlo Costain, general secretary - +44 (0) 7624 490 327