Farmers union declares no faith in DEFA leadership

The Manx National Farmers' Union has declared a vote of no confidence in the senior leadership of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

In an open letter to Chief Minister Chris Thomas the MNFU cites 'a considerable lack of understanding of the challenges for the sector, poor delivery of strategy, continual failure in decision-making and absence of progress from the department'.

The MNFU says the Island has been unable to import from the UK for some years due to ongoing Bluetongue Virus restrictions and, more recently, issues with the Steam Packet. 

It says the union negotiated a safer trade route from Northern Ireland with the Chief Veterinary Officer, but following the breakdown of the Manxman this summer, the Manannan was rerouted to the route and will not take livestock. The MNFU claims that senior leadership 'prioritised their concern over the funding gap for the IOM Steampacket above the safe transit of breeding stock'.

Its letter adds: "Without the intervention of the then Chief Minister, Mr Cannan, Treasury Minister Mr Thomas (now Chief Minister) and some proactive MHK’s, who recognised the situation needed immediate action, the department leadership would have been content to allow the agricultural industry to bear both increased risk and cost, again demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of the situation from DEFA’s most senior officer."

Pointing to the Island's BSE risk status diverging with the UK's due to officer inaction, the union says the department's handling 'has resulted in significant financial losses and restricted access to market', adding that farmers are being left to absorb losses 'due to factors entirely beyond their control, and not of their making'.

The MNFU also raises concerns over Isle of Man Meats, saying 'millions of pounds of additional government expenditure has so far failed to deliver certainty to producers or value to the public'.

It says heavy budgetary bias towards the Meat Plant has overshadowed support for agriculture generally and that the dairy sector has received 'confusing and conflicting advice' on support.

On food security, the union says DEFA 'chose to weaken the proposals of a petition supported by the public and industry, rather than strengthen' and that the failure to deliver action is 'a dereliction of duty regarding the Island's food security'.

The letter says the agricultural budget has remained 'broadly static for over 15 years' despite rising production costs, and that the Agri-Environment Scheme was changed in 2026 despite MNFU requests for it to remain the same.

And it adds: “The continued decline of Manx agriculture, the loss of market opportunities and the failure to respond effectively to repeated warnings demonstrate that the current senior leadership is not capable of delivering what the industry urgently requires.” 

The MNFU says it remains willing to work constructively with Tynwald Members and the government, but calls for an urgent review and 'the replacement of those whose leadership has demonstrably failed the industry'.

Manx Radio has contacted the government for comment. 

Read Letter