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WQ.197/2018
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE
MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, SPORT AND CULTURE BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 9th OCTOBER 2018
Question
Will the Minister provide members with a table showing the following information in respect of dairy farmers?
- the number of dairy farmers in the Island for each of the last five years and the size of their herds;
- the number of such farmers who were given grants or loans in each year, with the amount and purpose of any such grants or loans;
- in the case of any loans provided, the terms under which they were made (including interest rates and repayment periods); and
- any other assistance provided by the Department to these farmers during each year.
Answer (a)
Classification of Herd (cows and heifers in milk) | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |||||
| Herds | Cows | Herds | Cows | Herds | Cows | Herds | Cows | Herds | Cows |
1-19 | 4 | 39 | 4 | 45 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 21 |
20-49 | 1 | 45 | 1 | 38 | 3 | 96 | 3 | 109 | 3 | 119 |
50-69 | 3 | 174 | 3 | 176 | 2 | 124 | 1 | 56 | 2 | 136 |
70-99 | 4 | 335 | 3 | 245 | 3 | 278 | 4 | 326 | 3 | 274 |
100-149 | 3 | 359 | 4 | 480 | 1 | 140 | 1 | 124 | 1 | 148 |
150-199 | 2 | 378 | 3 | 581 | 2 | 387 | 2 | 372 | 3 | 589 |
200-299 | 7 | 1587 | 6 | 1381 | 8 | 1762 | 8 | 1721 | 7 | 1556 |
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Total milking animals |
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Herds and animals | 24 | 2917 | 24 | 2946 | 21 | 2807 | 21 | 2731 | 21 | 2843 |
Average number cows and heifers per herd |
| 122 |
| 123 |
| 134 |
| 130 |
| 135 |
(b)
Rural Support Scheme Grant Payments to Dairy Farmers Policy details as defined in Rural Economy Strategy (RES)
Aim GSA 3
Rural Support Scheme
To incentivise all farms in Jersey to deliver an integrated and sustainable agricultural production model based on world class consumer and customer assurance schemes, in order to increase productivity, reduce the environmental cost of farming and establish Jersey as the first jurisdiction in the world where all farms are LEAF Marque Global Standard accredited.
Policy GSA 3
Rural Support Scheme
A new Rural Support Scheme (RSS) will be introduced and developed over the lifetime of the RES. Tier 1 of the Scheme will employ the Red Tractor audit to ensure all practice is at a basic minimum standard. Tier 2 will provide a higher level of financial support to those businesses who successfully complete the LEAF Marque Assurance Standard. Completion of Tier 2 and a Business Health Check will give access to Tier 3 RIS and CES funding.
*Note that figures include mixed enterprises of dairy and arable
RRS Area Payment and Accreditation Standards Payment to Diary Sector 2013-2017
Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
Number Farms | 24 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
RSS | £234,849 | £222,639 | £221,604 | £218,764 | £195,061 |
Policy GSA 11
Quality Milk Payment (QMP)
The Government of Jersey will continue to fund the QMP at 2015 levels until 2019 at which point the level of subsidy will be reviewed in line with the completion of the current Medium Term Financial Plan (2017- 2019). From 2019 QMP payments will require recipient dairy farms to be individually LEAF Marque accredited (see RSS). The objective of the QMP will be to support dairy farmers whilst legislation governing the marketing of milk and milk products is modernised and until greater and more sustainable level of profitability in the industry is realised.
QMP Payments to Dairy Sector 2013-2017
Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
Number Farms | 24 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
QMP | £459,630 | £432,018 | £393,176 | £391,031 | £386,515 |
Policy BDP 1
Rural Initiative Scheme (RIS)
The Government of Jersey will reserve RIS funding for businesses entering Tier3 of the Rural Support Scheme (RSS - See Section 2) to invest in training, precision application equipment (fertiliser placement), develop alternative cropping and continue supporting productivity, diversification, energy efficiency and rural innovation.
RIS Payments to Dairy Sector 2013-2017
Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
RIS | £26,355 | £7.026 | £35,943 | £0 | £0 |
Policy BDP 2
Countryside Enhancement Scheme (CES) (DoE Scheme)
The Government of Jersey should retain an agri-environment programme with elements of the current CES made available via Tier 3 of the Rural Support Scheme, to invest in environmental initiatives and training that will benefit the Island's landscape, habitats and wildlife. Projects will be geographically co-ordinated to provide linkage with other environmental projects in order to add value to the funds allocated.
CES Payments to Dairy Sector 2013-2017
Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
CES | £2,337 | £0 | £8,820 | £12,568 | £0 |
(c)
No new agricultural loans have been provided within the last 5 years. (d)
Policy GSA 9
Dairy Industry Support
The Government of Jersey will continue to support the development of a sustainable future for the dairy industry on the basis that it is a fundamental part of the rural economy, culturally and historically significant and that it represents an increasingly important brand' that can be used to promote the Island as a whole. This will be achieved through the continued provision of the Quality Milk Payment, an abattoir, support for essential dairy services, advice provision and the modernisation of the legislation governing the Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB).
Please refer to Rural Economy Strategy for information on all other assistance provided by the Department.