Over 100 years, no problem! Why recently a stink?

In 1920, the honourable Chauncey Outerbridge imported six purebred Guernsey cows from John C. Harty, of Compton, New Hampshire. These cows formed the nucleus of the Pioneer Guernsey Dairy in Smith’s Parish. The herd was all Guernseys until Mr Outerbridge imported ten Holsteins in the 1950s. The herd then numbered 60 milk cows. The herd sire was a big Guernsey bull named Ponchanella. There was a smaller bull but I do not remember his name.

In 1943, Pioneer Guernsey Dairy installed a small but up-to-date pasteurising plant and hired John Pye, a Canadian, to manage it. Other farmers brought their milk to the plant to be processed and delivered island-wide, mostly door-to-door.

Quart and pint-sized glass bottles were used, washed and returned for reuse. Recycled before it was a word. The tie-stall barn that Mr Outerbridge built in 1920 is still standing today, although it is being used differently.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the cows were herded along Middle Road to graze in what is now Kilderry Estate. They were brought back for the afternoon milking.

Mr Outerbridge passed away in 1978, two years short of his 100th birthday. His wife Lea, who had been bedridden for some time, died later that year. Mr White, an executive with the Bank of Butterfield, took over the estate.

Mr and Mrs Outerbridge did not have any children, and I do not remember any living relatives. The Bermuda Government of the day made the wise decision to purchase the property to safeguard the dairy farm. Harry Kromer purchased the cows and rented the property.

Mr Kromer ran the farm but his wife, Grace, was the business partner. Unfortunately, Mrs Kromer passed away in 2011 and soon “the wheels came off the wagon”. In 2014, the farm went into receivership and was purchased by a new owner and a new zero-grazing barn was erected.

This type of operation does not work in Bermuda. In the mid-1960s, Luke’s Farm in Southampton and Malcolm Ralph Terceira in Smith’s Parish, now Barritt’s and Verdmont Valley, ran into similar problems that Green Land is experiencing today.

In 1984, Dr Walwyn Hughes, the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, wrote a report on the future of agriculture and fisheries in Bermuda. He wrote: “The long-term future of dairying in Bermuda is uncertain. But Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, is supporting the concept of four or five small herds, [50-60 head], kept for the most part on government-owned land to provide locally produced fresh milk to supplement other supplies.”

Both Green Land and Spittal Pond are two of four government-owned properties, suitable for a dairy farm. Whether this would be financially viable, I am not sure. However, if two farms would use the same equipment and staff, it might work. In my opinion getting rid of the dairy industry and relying totally on imported milk would not be advisable.

We need to do more locally to ensure food sustainability. We will never be able to supply all our food needs, but we need to do a better job than we are doing now. We never imported eggs, milk, bread, ice cream, and most foodstuffs came in a can or a package. We have one dairy farm left, one poultry farm left, one bakery and only Double Dip is making ice cream.

Is this the correct road to food sustainability?

• David Lopes is a farmer and radio personality