It is supported by our own industry bodies.
They were damned if they tried and damned if they didn’t but have shown faith in the scientists and experts and believe there is a reasonable chance of achieving the goal.
Leadership can be a difficult place at times like this and I respect the resolve, compassion and decision-making Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor have shown over this very difficult matter.
I’ve had several conversations with farmers from South Canterbury who have been dealing with the consequences of this disease.
One was adamant an attempt at eradication was just too tough on the people involved and had fair arguments to support his stance.
Obviously, I don’t have any say in the matter but I asked Damien to have a talk with him, which he did, and I guess they ended up in agreeing they disagreed on the decision that was to come.
I’ve had several conversations with an old mate and neighbour from here who is now a dairy support farmer among other activities on his farm down south.
Six weeks ago it was discovered they, too, had M bovis on their property in dairy heifers they had grown to terrific weights for the owner.
Now, all the other cattle on the property from other dairy farmers as well as their own growing stock are in the process of going to the works.
He and his family are devastated by the news and the process.
This is happening on many other farms and some of the braver souls have been talking in the media to show a human face to the pain and despair this disease and the cull is taking.
I think we are in two camps over the decision.
If you have had it identified on your property and are going through the horror of seeing healthy animals you might have put decades into breeding or a property where it is suspected then you are likely feeling the medicine is worse than the cure, as my editor put it in his editorial.
The majority of those of us who don’t have it or are unaware we might have it support the decision to at least give it a bloody good go and then reassess how effective the attempt has been later in the spring.
But this support of the attempt to eradicate puts a strong moral pressure on the rest of us to support the farmers who through no fault of their own are bearing the brunt of this incursion on behalf of all of us.
I spent three days in the eastern suburbs working with the Farmy Army after the Christchurch earthquake to help those unfortunate citizens who had seen everything they owned and cherished disappear in a couple of minutes.
I was hugely impressed with the organisation of Canterbury Federated Farmers, the rural women’s groups who fed us at the end of the day and the large numbers of mainly Canterbury farmers who flocked into the city each day to help their urban cousins.
The rest of us in the rural sector can now do something similar for our own sector and colleagues.
How about we set up a website or something similar where families who have a holiday house offer it up for no charge to any afflicted families to use to give them a break away from their farms?
And some way of knowing when the offer has been taken up so meals and some company can be provided by others who live nearby?
Maybe dinner invitations and recreational opportunities could be extended to those having a break.
The rest of us could donate some money to help with travel costs.
I’ve had preliminary conversations with the Rural Support Trust and Dean Williamson.
Dean’s family is about to take up ownership of this paper and he is supportive of the idea and willing to put in some resources to help it happen.
Watch this space.
