Friday, March 29, 2024

M bovis farmers are still unhappy

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Lots of promises and apologies in a response still lacking transparency and accountability sums up farmers’ frustration as they left a Mycoplasma bovis meeting in Ashburton last week.
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The meeting was one of a series the Ministry for Primary Industries is hosting around the country in line with the release of the Mycoplasma bovis 2019 National Plan.

The plan has three goals – to eradicate M bovis, reduce its impact and leave NZ’s biosecurity system stronger.

M bovis programme director Geoff Gwyn said it is an important step in ensuring eradication is successful and farmers are properly supported.

“The eradication effort is on track but there’s still a lot of hard work to get done. 

“There will be more farms put under movement restrictions and more farms that need to be depopulated,” Gwyn said. 

He acknowledged that parts of the country are hurting disproportionately.

“I am standing in one of them now and I am well aware this community does a lot to support each other. Whatever we do it’s a hard time for the farmer. 

“Everyone knew eradication was a bit of a punt but we know it’s technically feasible and we continue to be on track,” Gwyn said.

“Bulk milk testing tells us it’s not endemic across NZ and all evidence to date is showing only one genetic strain, indicating still a single incursion – in the deep south.”

From now MPI will report the total number of confirmed properties, including active and cleared properties. There are 161 confirmed properties, 58 active and 103 cleared with a further 122 under notice of direction (NoD). Ashburton has 67 confirmed properties, 23 active, 44 cleared with a further 35 under NoD. 

“The farmer and public meetings we’re holding over the next month are an important way for us to hear from farmers about what is working and areas that can be improved.

“We want to provide as much support and assistance as we can as well as working to continually improve the processes that farmers have to get through to get clear of M bovis.”

Some farmers weren’t impressed with the new plan, suggesting it is nothing new and insisting on direct answers to direct questions.

“No more promises to then be coupled with apologies, they (MPI) are boasting a simple plan – we quite simply just want answers and action that will help temper the frustration and hurting,” Ashburton dry stock farmer Alasdair McLeod said.

“I have been to a lot of meetings, heard a lot of promises and a lot of apologies and still there’s a trail of transparency lacking.

“It’s been arduous and it shouldn’t be. I don’t see a lot changing from this 2019 plan.”

Dairy farmer Duncan Barr openly criticised the plan’s simplicity, suggesting it does nothing to give farmers confidence in the “bloody woefully inadequate M bovis response”.

Gwyn said the plan is purposely simple.

“I want every farmer, every community and every Aucklander to be able to pick it up and understand how and why we are doing what we are to protect the rural sector.

“I say every Aucklander because all of NZ needs to understand why we are doing this because it’s taxpayer money we are spending and every taxpayer is contributing.”

Farmers expressed concern over the ongoing lack of communication, particularly around animal tracing from confirmed properties.

Compensation remains a hot issue with farmers urging MPI to ensure deadlines are met and reminding the response teams it is farmers’ livelihoods and emotional wellbeing they are meddling with.

MPI confirmed 900 claims have been received since the start of the response in July 2017 with 450 of them from Canterbury.

A total 650 claims have been completed and $57 million paid out.

So far 90,000 cattle have been culled but MPI couldn’t give an estimate of the possible final total.

“It’s changed over 12 months and not been remodelled in line with assumptions and knowledge over the past 12 months,” Gwyn said.

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