“The M bovis programme is continuing to operate as an essential service to support our farmers under the current covid-19 restrictions.
“It is imperative that the programme keeps momentum and maintains the gains that have been achieved so far in eradicating the disease,” programme director Stuart Anderson said.
The programme has put increased safety measures in place.
Case managers will not go on farms during the lockdown except where necessary to deliver essential services.
New processes for on-farm sampling have been developed and it continues, Anderson said.
The purchase and transport of feed and the movement of cattle to slaughter will continue as normal.
All legal notices, including Notices of Direction and Restricted Place Notices, remain in effect and new ones can be issued by telephone.
Planned depopulations will continue with welfare support still being provided to farmers. Compensation claims will continue to be processed and paid.
“Reducing the spread of disease and reducing the number of farms involved in the programme remains a priority as we all adapt to living and working while the country is under level four alert,” Anderson said.
“We know farmers, especially those under M bovis testing and movement restrictions, are dealing with a number of challenges.”
There are tools and resources available if needed and farmers are encouraged to tap into their support network or call the local Rural Support Trust for support.
Farmers whose herds have been culled can now minimise their tax impact in some instances.
Revenue Minister Stuart Nash said Cabinet has agreed farmers may spread their income over several years to avoid an undue tax burden.
“Farmers, like the rest of the primary sector, are facing much uncertainty from the impact of the covid-19 outbreak.
“On top of this many have already had to deal with the hardship of the M bovis outbreak.
“The decision to offer tax relief for payments related to M bovis losses will help alleviate some of those concerns,” Nash said.
Some affected farmers are using certain cost schemes to value their stock which means a significant tax bill can arise in the year they get compensation.
“We will change the law to allow the additional income to be evenly spread over the following six years, subject to conditions.
“It will require legislation, which is yet to go through Parliament, however it will apply retrospectively from the 2017-18 income year,” Nash said.
More information is available on Inland Revenue’s website at taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/bovis
Anyone with other M bovis questions can call the liaison team on 0800 008 333 or 04 894 5656 or email Mbovis2017_liaison@mpi.govt.nz.
New man in charge
Stuart Anderson has been appointed as the new director of the Mycoplasma bovis Programme.
He joins the programme from his role as director of fisheries management at the Primary Industries Ministry.
He takes over from Geoff Gwyn who led the initial response and later eradication programme.
Gwyn left the ministry on April 3 after three years of never-ending challenges developing the programme, for secondment to a private sector consultancy as part of an exchange.
It is understood the exchange is with financial and business consultancy firm PWC.
MPI said his work there will not relate to M bovis and there is no intention for Gwyn to return to the programme after his secondment.
