Farmers gobble up livestock feed offer

Alexander Benn, Hi-Tech
Agriculturalist, Department
of Agriculture

Friday,  February 25, 2005

Everyone likes a bargain and farmers are no different. One hundred and fifty bags of livestock feed were sold by the Department of Agriculture on the 13 February. On the following day however with a 50 per cent price cut, the Department sold 300 bags.

According to Hi-Tech Agriculturalist at the Department of Agriculture, Alexander Benn: “This is a significant jump in sales and indicates the suitability of the 50 per cent reduction offer to meeting farmers’ needs at this time.”

At the annual Agriculture Show held on 9 February, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Gilbert McLean announced the directive to the Chief Agricultural and Veterinary Officer that, until further notice, livestock feed at the Department of Agriculture and feed on order as well, should be offered to farmers at 50 per cent reduced cost.

Actual costs of livestock feed items ranged from $10 per 50-55lb bail of hay, to $5 per 50lb bag of feed, prior to the 50 per cent reduction.

When asked about the length of time for which the reduction will be in effect, Mr Benn explained that Ivan’s impact will probably be felt well into the rainy season and so it will be sometime before the feed returns to its full price.

“The salt water that soaked the soil during Hurricane Ivan will badly affect the regrowth of pastures until the rainy season comes later this year in May. Only then will some of the saltiness be washed out of the soil,” said Mr Benn.

“Consequently, it is expected that the offer will last for at least the next three months. 

“The reductions of price ranges from $5.00 to $2.50 for livestock feed form only one type of assistance that will be directed to farmers in the months to follow.

“Other assistance to farmers such as replacing fences around pastures and other types of farming assistance is expected in the future,” Mr Benn added.

“We raise no dairy cattle here but beef, chicken, goats and rabbits are raised for local consumption,” Mr Benn explained and said that even though the Cayman Islands does not export animal meat, “we raise good quality animals here.”

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