The Chief Officer for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) says that he is considering looking into changing the legislation of on farm burials.
Scott Gallacher, Chief Officer of DEFA told Manx.News that the department is ‘actively looking’ at the new price structure to enable a ‘viable future’.
Currently due to legislation that is set by DEFA, producers are not allowed to bury on farm and cannot dispose of fallen stock any other way than via the animal waste plant.
But as of July 1, the Department of Infrastructure’s (DoI) Animal Waste Plant increased the compulsory charges by nearly triple in some circumstances:
The rates above are the first phase of price increases, with another two of the same amount, to follow.
The Chief Officer says that he has been told by farmers and the Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU) that the “proposed price increases do not work”.
Gallacher wants to assure the agricultural industry that DEFA and DoI are “listening” and want to make sure that the departments can do “justice” to the conversations that have been had with farmers.
DEFA
Despite the MNFU and DEFA’s efforts, the DoI increased the charges from July 1.
The MNFU called upon farmers to withhold payments to the government following the “significant” increase in fallen stock and meat plant waste charges.
The MNFU says that in pursuing these charges, the DOI Minister and civil servants have demonstrated ”absolute contempt and disregard for the Manx agricultural industry”.
Ean Parsons, President of the MNFU, said the rises are ‘punishing’ for his members.
Speaking about the DoI’s charges, Ean said: “The final level that they’re talking at getting to are absolutely catastrophic.”
Manx.News has approached the DOI Minister and invited him for interview, however so far the invitation has not been accepted.
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