Another consignment of hay from the UK arrived by sea this week and industry leader Andrew Le Gallais, of Cowley Farm, in St Saviour, said they may need one more supply before cows are turned out to summer pasture.
‘We are nearly there with all the deliveries that have been coming through regularly since last year,’ he said. ‘We are very appreciative of the funding we received from the government just before Christmas.’
Farmers who are members of the Jersey Milk Marketing Board co-operative, and who own and supply Jersey Dairy, received £100,000 in drought relief funding from the Treasury, topped up with £75,000 from Economic Development’s budget.
The dairy brought the aid total up to £350,000 towards importing an estimated £450,000 of hay and straw from the UK from late summer 2018. The dairy cash came from increased sales of their ice cream in the UK – ironically, generated by the same hot weather that hit farmers.
Fortunately for the dairy and its members, milk yields have not been adversely affected and the dairy’s performance is in line with its predicted budget, Mr Le Gallais – who is chairman of Jersey Dairy – said.
‘When cows are giving milk they require quite a lot of food so it is essential that we enough enough food for them,’ he said.
‘We are only halfway through the winter, and there is still a long way to go, but hopefully – and fingers crossed – we’ll have enough.
‘If ever there’s a year when we need some kind weather in the spring, it’s 2019.’
