Helping Manx farmers evolve and grow October 2009 Agri-News Published by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry The Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival Index Minister’s comments 2 - Hailed a Great Success! Promar Dairy report. 3 By Audrey Fowler, Marketing Officer New blood to build on The first Isle of Man Food and Drink festival held at the Villa Marina was hailed recent progress 3 a great success. Thie Slieau Whallian update 3 Throughout the event, organised by DAFF What has happened in the and DTL, over 8,000 event goers sampled Lamb sector? 3 and bought a huge variety of local produce. A number of producers sold out on the first Countryside Care Scheme News 4 day and worked through the night to restock Organic Scheme changes 5 their stalls in time for opening the next day. Young tractor drivers 5 Over the two days, visitors gleaned tips in the Manx Food Live Theatre, where The Tomorrow’s Farmer Awards 6 Hairy Bikers, local caterers and producers Outlook Meetings 2009 7 showed some of the best ways of cooking with Manx produce. Harvest Isle of Man 8 Following the success of this year’s Food The Nantwich International and Drink Festival, organisers are hoping Cheese Show 2009 8 to make it an annual event. Noble’s Hospital ‘Support your Local’ Food week 8 Four new Manx products Knockaloe Beef and Sheep event launched at Food and Drink Festival 9 By Ed Clague, Agricultural Policy Manager Boost for local food marketing 9 On Tuesday 22nd September, benchmarking, Loaghtan trial results, milling Farmers’ Markets update 10 approximately 60 people attended the wheat update, use of AI in the suckler herd, Assessing lambs for Knockaloe Beef & Sheep Focus event, for winter forage crops and the finishing steers better returns 10 an update on the progress of the trials and that were finished by 16 months of age at demonstrations that are currently under 290kg on grass. Also discussed was the use Hired Bulls and Disease Testing 10 way at Knockaloe. and economics of different diets; and the Fluke Monitoring: An Update. 10 outcomes of the ensuing performance of Attendees were updated on the Knockaloe early turnout and summer growth. New Chief Veterinary Officer 11 Farm Strategy. They had the opportunity to look at the farm’s account; understanding If you would like to know more about the 2.2% Pay Increase for how, implemented changes, the impact of topics, a summary of the event is available Agricultural Workers 11 rising costs, and the greater use of from Knockaloe. For more information Sawdust Offer and Free Wood contractors has affected the bottom line. please telephone 842335. Peelings from St Johns Sawmill 11 Discussion points focused on several areas that included the importance of suckler cow Market trends 12 Department of Agriculture DAFF Fisheries and Forestry Department of Agriculture DAFF Fisheries and Forestry Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture DAFF Fisheries and Forestry DAFF Fisheries and Forestry DAFF Fisheries and Forestry Agriculture Fisheries Forestry, Amenity and Lands Eirinys Eeastaght Keylljyn, Buill-hoccar as Thallooyn Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture DAFF Fisheries and Forestry DAFF Fisheries and Forestry Wildlife & Conservation Animal Health Fo-rheynn Bea-feie as Freayltys Slaynt Veiyn 2 I’ve been delighted to read over the summer of the record prices being achieved by Manx pedigree livestock in sales in the UK, and also to hear of good commercial stock sales locally. Phil Gawne, MHK Photograph courtesy of Ian Quayle. Dairy cows at Ballamodha Farm. Minister’s comments I’ve been delighted to read over the While discussing Animal Health issues, I budgets are under more pressure than summer of the record prices being would like to take this opportunity to they have been for a number of decades, achieved by Manx pedigree livestock in congratulate Stuart Jaques on his so it is therefore essential that, via the sales in the UK, and also to hear of good promotion to Chief Veterinary Officer. Countryside Care Scheme, we show value commercial stock sales locally. We can Stuart brings a wealth of knowledge, to the community, by maintaining our rightly be proud of the quality of our experience and enthusiasm to the role. highly prized environment. livestock and bloodlines, and of the fact It was great to see so many people attend A continuing concern for the industry that we can compete successfully in UK the first Manx Food and Drink Festival currently is the dairy sector. The report markets. There does appear to be a spirit held at the Villa Marina last month. There by Promar continues to be refined and of cautious optimism, in several sectors of now appears to be a virtuous circle with verified; I hope that this will be concluded the agricultural industry at the moment regard to food, in that the more we very shortly so the follow on steps can be that things are moving in the right demonstrate our produce, the more considered. I understand the desire for direction. This is supported by news that interested customers become; this in turn actions immediately to assist this sector; throughput at the Meatplant in the last 12 encourages more people to develop their however, to act before the full report is months is one of the highest for the last products. DAFF, in conjunction with the received, would risk starting out on the 20 years. Feedback from the nominees Department of Tourism and Leisure, wrong road. for the Tomorrow’s Farmer award was worked hard in staging this event, but its incredibly positive; it is good to see that Finally, congratulations to Trevor Quirk future success also depends on food people have faith in the industry and are of Corvalley, who won the grading producers rallying behind the event and investing in their businesses. contest at the Royal Manx Show. The pushing it forward. Department is pleased to support the Revised Bluetongue import controls, which Compliance inspections for the Live to Dead workshops that are held allow our industry to continue to improve Countryside Care Scheme have now regularly at the Meat Plant. If you are by selective breeding, are to be started. I can understand that, to some, intending to challenge Trevor next year, welcomed. The Department has balanced this will feel like an unwelcome intrusion. an early attendance at this workshop is the need to take account of the improved However I am confident that the Field highly recommended. measures introduced elsewhere, against Officers who are well known to most the ongoing risk of infection. Any Hon Phil Gawne MHK farmers, will make this process as simple importation carries a risk of bringing in Shirveishagh as possible. In addition, I am pleased undesirable or even devastating disease, that we have been able to establish a so DAFF continues to work closely with disposal route for farm plastic, which will the industry to promote responsible help farmers significantly in getting rid of attitudes towards animal movement and this troublesome waste. Government’s bio-security. Agri-News October 2009 3 Promar Dairy report By Richard Lole, Director of Agricultural Services As this article is written, we are still trying Early indications are that it will help us to finalise the now very substantial to establish how to go forwards with Promar report into the Dairy sector. This suggestions on how to add value to the has taken much longer than hoped; products. Also looking at increasing however, this reflects the thoroughness opportunities to get new entrants, and that both the project team, and all those succession amongst our dairy farmers; involved in the sector, have adopted in in order to generate and improve a undertaking the work. sustainable milk price. New blood to build on recent progress By Richard Lole, Director of Agricultural Services The Department is currently looking to researching, developing and promoting a be responsible for facilitating the recruit a Local Food Marketing Manager for local food label that will provide a guarantee development of a thriving sustainable local a fixed three year period, to work with the of local quality products. Organic market. The role is likely to be for a industry in continuing to develop a fixed 18 month term, with the objective of The Department is also working closely with sustainable food chain. The role will include growing the local produce sales and the Manx Organic network to see how we helping individual businesses gain access to improving the supply and its consistency. can best support their desire to employ a marketing support, working in all sectors to Local Organic Co-ordinator. This post would promote the top quality fresh local foods; Thie Slieau Whallian update By Rosemary Leslie, Personal Secretary Good progress continues on the new hemcrete wall to the main atrium space, headquarters building, with the installation and first fix mechanical and electrical works of the roof lights complete, barrel vault roof are well underway. construction nearing completion and the Next month should see second fix services finish to the external walls well underway. work, raised access floor installation and Internally, the stud partitions and plastering, dismantling of the crane. What has happened in the Lamb sector? By Richard Lole, Director of Agricultural Services The Lamb sector often feels it is the poor around £915,000 in sales value to the through the plant this year. While based relation of the beef sector, so we thought company over the period; moreover it is on the target price, it does indicate the it worth summarising what has been estimated there will be an ongoing legacy scale of increase in income as result of happening to support the sector recently.