Newly appointed M bovis director Stuart Anderson says he’s got what it takes to lead the programme to a successful conclusion. Stock agents are reconnecting with long-standing clients to push along sales of weaner calves and deer. While in lockdown farmers should take a break from work to maintain their mental health. And as New Zealand heads into the holiday break there are positive signs our collective effort is succeeding against covid-19. Have a happy Easter.
No Easter break for most meat companies
Some meat companies have up to six weeks’ worth of livestock waiting to be processed but thanks to the co-operation of staff and the Meat Workers’ Union they hope to make a dent in the backlog. Alliance is the exception in giving its workers time off.
Covid-19 response benefits from M bovis experience
Scientist Shaun Hendy says the modelling and tracing work his team did on Mycoplasma bovis has helped tackle the coronavirus outbreak. He predicts M bovis infections will drop to negligible numbers over the next 18 months.
New M bovis director to draw on his know-how
Stuart Anderson believes he has the right stuff after 10 years at the Ministry for Primary Industries including stints involving adverse events. While he’s limited in what he can do now in meeting farmers and regional staff he hopes to do so at the earliest opportunity.
Rush to find livestock buyers before winter
Some stock agents are contacting previous buyers and linking them up with sellers now livestock markets are suspended, albeit prices are lower than usual. Online auction technology used in the United States and Australia could be in use in a few weeks.
China market to the rescue
Even though most restaurants are still closed in China consumers are honing their home cooking skills and New Zealand beef is one of the beneficiaries. This country’s reputation for producing healthy food is also striking a chord in these pandemic times.
Farmers need to keep up outside interests
Wairarapa sheep and beef farmer James Bruce reckons all work and no play can make farmers dull lads so he’s making sure to continue with his enthusiasms such as sport. His rugby team is having virtual practices and he’s also started a Facebook group for fitness sessions. Normally he would knock off at 5pm to go to rugby training but the temptation recently has been to keep on working.
Tonight on Sarah's Country:
7.10pm – Poultry Industry Association executive director Michael Brooks provides an update on the supply chain interruptions to eggs amid an already tight supply with the national phasing out of caged eggs.
7.20pm – Sarah Gilbertson shares her journey and advice on agri-tourism with her Canopy Camping business at Waituna West and how to connect city folk with how their food is produced with domestic tourism after lockdown.
7.30pm – Foundation for Arable Research chief executive Alison Stewart provides an update on harvest and the state of the flour hoarding by Kiwi bakers.
7.40pm – How similar are the covid-19 and Mycoplasma bovis eradication programmes? Professor Shaun Hendy provides an update with the latest modelling on how we are tracking.
