Jersey farmers are expressing deep concern about the future of their industry as they prepare for an upcoming annual conference organized by Farm Jersey. This year’s gathering will centre on the sector’s growing challenges.
Phil Le Maistre of Master Farms highlighted the pressures of rising costs and a dwindling workforce in agriculture. Reflecting on the island’s agricultural decline, he noted, “Today, we have fewer than 12 dairy farms and a similar number of potato growers. Despite our ideal soil and climate, fewer people are entering the field.”
Le Maistre voiced particular concern over the government's plan to raise the minimum wage in 2025, which he says could threaten the viability of local farms. He emphasised that Jersey farms can’t compete on cost alone and will need additional government support. "Last year, we had to reduce our vegetable production due to high costs, and we’ll have to continue cutting back without more support," he explained.
Vegetable farmer Christine Hellio echoed his concerns, particularly around food security for the island. "The average age of farmers worldwide is 64,” she pointed out. “Decades ago, farmers were in their 20s and 30s, but the number has decreased significantly. We need to think about where our future food supply will come from."
Small-scale farmer Oliver Griggs sees this moment as a pivotal time for change. "For the past 30 years, we’ve focused on scaling up, but now we’re hitting a crunch point. The promise of cheap food isn’t sustainable,” he said. Griggs and other young farmers are adopting regenerative practices to improve the land and build stronger connections with consumers.
John Garton, the conference organiser, confirmed that regenerative farming would be a central theme this year. He noted that government financial support for farming has increased recently, with more emphasis on sustainable techniques. “Sustainability is about maintaining the status quo, but regeneration is about enhancing what we have,” he said.