DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said phased eradication looks very achievable and it’s time for the industry to pay its share.
The industry body has proposed farmers pay a levy of up to 3.9 cents a kilogram milksolids over the next two seasons.
Adding that to the 3.6c/kg MS farmers already pay will more than double the levy.
In May last year the sector agreed, in partnership with the Government, it would try to eradicate the disease.
DairyNZ said by going into partnership with the Government and the beef sector it is significantly reducing the $870 million cost associated with eradicating the disease.
The Government is supporting the phased eradication programme with $591m and the beef sector by a further $17m, leaving the dairy sector to find $262m over 10 years.
Mackle said while it’s a large sum it’s a lot less than the sector would have had to bear if a different choice had been made or if the disease had been more widespread.
“We now have more farms in recovery than infected properties and each and every trace has been linked back to one original strain of the disease.”
Dairy farmers gave DairyNZ their support last season to sign the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA) to represent them in biosecurity decision-making and to fund the dairy sector share of any biosecurity response through a new levy.
“We now need farmer support to set the biosecurity response levy at a maximum of 3.9c/kg MS.”
All farmers producing bovine milksolids will be asked to pay the levy.
Mackle said the alternative to DairyNZ managing the industry’s biosecurity levy is for the Primary Industries Ministry to recover the costs direct from farmers.
The levy will start on June 1.
A round of nationwide consultation meetings from February 19-22 will give farmers the chance to learn more about the levy and how the response is tracking and to give feedback.
The consultation phase on the levy closes on February 28.
Meantime, fires and water shortages are creating extra challenges to the response.
M bovis programme director Geoff Gwyn said three properties in the Tasman fire zone are part of the eradication programme.
“If herds need to be moved, we’re ready to make this happen quickly and smoothly.
“In the meantime, they remain under quarantine and their welfare needs are being catered for and we’re in close contact with farmers and emergency services in case any affected herds have to be relocated.”
Hot, dry days are turning many regions from green to gold and MPI is aware decreasing water levels on properties subject to movement restrictions are becoming a concern for some farmers.
“We know that these additional challenges can heighten stress levels so please talk to us early and whenever you need it.
“It’s usually easier to resolve a possible issue before it becomes a critical problem.”
Since February 11 mustering payments have been available to farmers who incur costs mustering a herd to collect M bovis samples.
Payment has been set at a flat amount of $500 for each muster.
Musters done before February 11 are also eligible providing all criteria are met.
The science plan from the M bovis Strategic Science Advisory Group is finalised and now available.
The plan builds on existing knowledge, both local and international, ongoing operational research and management and identifies the highest priority science needed to eradicate M bovis from NZ.
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Information about the levy and detail of location and times of consultation meetings is at dairynz.co.nz/gia or on the DairyNZ Facebook page
