Farming union hits out at senior Defa leadership

A body representing Manx farmers has said it has lost confidence in the government's environment department.

Members of the Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU) on the Isle of Man have raised concerns about senior leadership in the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (Defa), and published an open letter to the chief minister and chief executive of the department over concerns about escalating costs and diminishing income for farmers.

The Isle of Man Government pledged to meet the union within the next 10 working days to discuss the concerns including agriculture, farming, and the viability of local food production.

The MNFU said it had "consistently and repeatedly raised concerns over trade, escalating input costs, declining farm profitability, increasingly restricted routes to market and the consequential contraction of agricultural businesses which in turn deepens risks for the islands food security".

It said farmers had been unable to safely import breeding stock from the UK due to ongoing Blue Tongue restrictions here.

While the union negotiated a safer trade route from Northern Ireland earlier in the year using the Steam Packet Company as transport, issues faced by the Manxman has stopped the trade, it said.

The Ben My Chree has been serving the Isle of Man to Heysham route, and the Manannan has been facilitating the Northern Ireland journey - but this vessel will not take livestock, the MNFU said.

There were claims farmers had been left to absorb significant losses, and lose trade due to factors beyond their control.

The union said: "The senior leadership has acknowledged the situation but will not act to address the loss in trade or the cost to the industry.

"Simple measures such as parity with the UK on cull cow pricing at IOM Meats, or underwriting a trade sale, would have demonstrated support, but have not been initiated.

"The Meat Plant, The Creamery, and the Mill Isle of Man Meats is another clear example of inadequate departmental oversight.

"Despite repeated warnings from the industry, concerns over the continuing obfuscation of the purpose and use of the increasing subvention, the questionable governance from Defa has perpetuated.

"Millions of pounds of additional government expenditure has so far failed to deliver certainty to producers or value to the public."

The letter emphasised that the meat plant, mill and creamery are essential components of food security, and for a viable agri-food industry.

"In recent years, markets and trade opportunities have been lost through negligence or errors by IOM Government. All sectors should now be considered high-risk, recognising that resilience has eroded and farm businesses are unable to continue to bear the cost.

The MNFU said Defa had failed to "adequately represent or respond to the industry's needs" and senior leadership had not been "capable of delivering what the industry urgently requires".

It said while it was willing to work with government to find solutions it needed leadership to accept accountability and take action.

In response, a government spokesperson said it would prioritise discussions with union as the new administration took shape and a new Defa minister was appointed.

"The formation of a new administration and the appointment of a new minister provide a valuable opportunity to reset the relationship with the sector and establish constructive dialogue from the outset.

"The incoming minister will engage with the MNFU, stakeholders and departmental officers before deciding whether changes are needed."

It added officers are arranging a meeting with the union and its board within 10 working days.

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