Federated Farmers sharemilkers chairman Richard McIntyre is fielding numerous calls from sharemilkers asking him how Moving Day will work.
While much of the Government’s focus is on immediate issues, Moving Day is on its radar.
“We are going to be discussing it more and more over the coming weeks as it becomes clearer and clearer of what it might look like.”
McIntyre said his initial discussions with the Ministry for Primary Industries lead him to believe they will be able to find a solution that allows farmers to shift to new jobs without risking their health.
It could mean changes around how moving is done.
“We’re working on a solution.
“Whatever happens it’s going to be a time when people are going to have to work together. The transition from one farm to the next might take longer and there might need to be a bit more grace around shifting stuff over a longer period of time.”
His message to farm owners is to keep up the lines of communication and show goodwill to the incoming and outgoing sharemilkers.
“It’s not going to be a simple situation and it’s going to take all three parties working together.”
By now farmers will be well used to following correct biosecurity protocols when it comes to shifting cattle to prevent spreading Mycoplasma bovis and McIntyre does not think covid-19 will add any complications.
“Farmers are in a better place to understand and deal with coronavirus because they have had to deal with M bovis,” he said.
