The Chief Minister faced repeated questioning in the House of Keys over whether government is adequately monitoring the condition of the island’s agricultural sector.
It is amid rising costs, shrinking routes to market and growing concerns about food security.
Jason Moorhouse MHK asked when the last “health check” of the industry had taken place.
The Chief Minister Alf Cannan said DEFA monitors the sector “on a daily basis” and plans to expand the 2026 Agricultural Census to provide a “fuller form of health check.”
Health Check
Moorhouse pressed further, asking whether the Manx NFU or external specialists had been involved in drafting the census questions, noting “concerns… raised in the last few days by immigration experts about the wording.”
Mr Cannan said he was “not aware” whether any external consultation had taken place.
Moorhouse then highlighted the cumulative pressures facing farmers, BSE related disruption, post‑Brexit barriers, reliance on the meat plant, and rising input costs.
He asked whether these had been assessed as risks to food security. The Chief Minister replied only that such issues “have potential impacts on the productivity of farms” and would be addressed “where appropriate.”
In a final exchange, Moorhouse warned that freight charges, fertiliser prices and red diesel costs could push farmers out of the industry.
Mr Cannan confirmed these issues are being considered by the Economic National Strategy Board, which is “closely scrutinising” them weekly.
The full exchange can be heard below:
