“At the top of the list of priorities will be developing a single animal test. This will help us to provide greater clarity to affected farmers and help us to understand the spread of the disease and to focus our efforts where they are most needed,” Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said.
The two farms, a sheep and beef property near Hastings and a Waikato dairy farm, bring the total to 38.
The cattle cull is nearing 30,000 head. MPI has received 139 claims for compensation with 46 paid either in part or in full
The MPI-led response and eradication programme is making good progress, O’Connor said.
“We have seen the benefit of certainty,” he said.
“Moving to phased eradication has allowed MPI to work with industry partners to bring more resource into the response to directly support farmers.
“The big push has been bringing in people with practical farming experience to work with farmers under regulatory control.”
The number of farms under regulatory control has been reduced from 300 to about 200 though this is likely to change as the response progresses.
MPI is under way with its roadshow with information meetings scheduled at venues across the country. Details are on the MPI website.
The call is out for winter feed to help farmers affected by the outbreak.
Anyone able to share any surplus feed can contact the response team by emailing MBovis2017_Liaison@mpi.govt.nz.
Federated Farmers contracts are being updated to include provisions for sharemilkers and farm owners to develop a farm biosecurity plan.
“An extra challenge has been put in front of us,” federation spokesman Tony Wilding said.
A biosecurity plan is now an imperative.
