The July sitting of Tynwald will consider detailed proposals of a financial aid package to help Isle of Man farmers whose livelihoods were badly affected by the heavy snowfall in March.
 
The move follows the announcement in May by Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, of a ?600,000 programme of support.
 
Subject to Tynwald approval, the Department hopes to be in a position to distribute the funds in August.
 
Minister Gawne said: “I have spoken with a significant number of farmers, seen first-hand the destruction in the wake of the snow, and I understand just how big an impact it has had on the industry. I strongly believe this package will give a much needed boost to the confidence and finances of our farmers, many of whom have been severely affected by the weather. Whereas farmers are accustomed to dealing with difficult weather and take it in their stride, the conditions endured at the end of March were exceptional.”
 
Kate Beecroft, Member of the Department, commented: “The horrible situation was further compounded by its unfortunate timing, occurring as it did at the busiest time of the year for many farmers; during the lambing and calving period and following an extremely wet year which had already impacted on agricultural returns and confidence.”
 
Mrs Beecroft added: “The scale and timing of the snow resulted in some significant distress to the industry.  Approximately two thirds of the Island had a thick covering of snow, with snow settling right down to sea level in the west – virtually every farmer will have been affected to some degree.  Whereas farmers in the neighbouring jurisdictions also endured difficult conditions, as a proportion of the area and percentage of farmers affected our situation was significantly worse.”
 
More than 16,000 cattle and sheep died during the snowfall and in its immediate aftermath, and many of these animals would have been carrying unborn young.  It is estimated that 12% of the national breeding flock and 18% of this year’s lamb crop was lost.
 
As well as the immediate losses, farmers also experienced associated difficulties.   These covered a range of issues, including repairs to fences and buildings, increased feed and animal welfare costs, and further loss of livestock badly affected by the snow.
 
There will also be an impact on the broader food chain.  Isle of Man Meats will inevitably have a reduced throughput for the next two seasons, due to the loss of animals normally destined for the plant and because livestock will be retained to rebuild herds and flocks.
 
Help for farmers affected by the snow have also been provided in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.  All jurisdictions assisted with the collection of fallen stock.
 
Scotland and Northern Ireland have implemented weather aid schemes with budgets of ?6 million and ?5 million respectively.  Northern Ireland has also provided ?1 million of support to assist with the costs of importing fodder.   The Welsh Government has made ?500,000 available to the three main farming charities in an effort to address what it says is “the human impact on farming families”.