Farmers' union criticises DEFA over handling of Northern Ireland livestock imports

The Manx National Farmers’ Union has accused the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture of failing to support farmers trying to bring breeding livestock to the island from Northern Ireland this summer, Energy FM reported on 21 October.

The union said farmers were left facing higher costs, greater biosecurity risks and possible animal welfare problems as a result of the department’s approach.

According to the MNFU, importing breeding stock has been difficult for several years because of restrictions linked to Bluetongue disease.

Earlier this year the union worked with the island’s Chief Veterinary Officer to open a route from Northern Ireland, which was then free of Bluetongue restrictions. Animals could be imported under strict biosecurity controls.

The union said that plan was disrupted when the Steam Packet moved the Ben My Chree onto its Heysham and Liverpool routes during the summer. The Manannan took over Northern Ireland sailings but, while it carries freight, it does not take livestock.

That left a number of farmers unable to get breeding animals across, the MNFU said.

Talks with the Steam Packet identified the freight vessel Arrow as an option for a direct sailing from Larne. The union said chartering it would have cost about £20,000, which the company expected to recover in full. It said the operator also made clear it had no obligation to help the industry despite the unplanned timetable changes.

The MNFU said it then held a series of meetings with DEFA at which two options were considered: a direct sailing from Northern Ireland, or a longer overland route through Scotland and England.

According to the union, the department eventually presented the longer route as the only option. The MNFU argued this would have lengthened journey times, taken animals through Bluetongue restriction zones and added freight and haulage costs for farmers.

The union said it asked DEFA to underwrite the cost of a direct Larne sailing, which it regarded as safer and more practical, but that the request was refused.

In its statement, the MNFU said it was “unsure if the Department’s Chief Officer had actually contacted the then Minister for DEFA, Clare Barber, on the matter”. It said its requests for help were “rebuffed in writing”.

The union stressed it had not been asking for farmers’ freight costs to be reimbursed, only for backing so that a direct sailing could go ahead. It accepted that the Steam Packet disruption was not DEFA’s fault, but said the department’s handling of the episode raised questions about its support for agriculture.

The MNFU said the problem was eventually solved after then Chief Minister Alf Cannan, then Treasury Minister Chris Thomas and several newly elected MHKs became involved. According to the union, that led to an urgent proposal allowing livestock to travel directly from Northern Ireland to the island.

The union said farmers had not caused the problem. It said that had the politicians not stepped in, they would have been left with longer journeys for their animals, extra costs and a higher biosecurity risk.

Energy FM’s report did not include a response from DEFA.