Friday, March 29, 2024

PULPIT: Farm leader urges TB action unity

Avatar photo
It’s tough going for farmers in Hawke’s Bay and confirmation of a flare-up of bovine tuberculosis in the region is something we could all do without. Infected wildlife from native forest bordering Waitara Valley has reintroduced TB to grazing livestock, with other pockets of infection detected in the region.  Eight herds are infected and a further 11 are under investigation.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

On March 1 an expanded movement control area (MCA) took effect, meaning farmers moving stock from their farms or to sale must have a clear TB test of stock within 60 days of moving.

With drought starting to bite hard and autumn stock sales starting it’s a blow for farmers. 

But the disease has returned. Our goal now must be to eradicate it and return Hawke’s Bay to TB-free status.

Ospri, the agency responsible for controlling and eradicating TB, is pulling out all the stops to track infection and prevent it from spreading. 

As well as stepping up possum control operations throughout the region, with the main focus on hitting the source of the problem in the back country, Ospri has accelerated TB testing and put the expanded movement controls in place.

At farmer meetings Ospri’s response was rightly questioned by affected farmers. 

We all wanted to know how the infection was able to return and the rationale for the timing and scope of the expanded movement controls.

Ospri has acknowledged the buffer zone on the edge of the existing movement control area, which has protected most of the region’s farms from TB for some time, has been breached, allowing the infection to spread. 

As a result, possum control work using a range of operations is being stepped up. That’s vital work but the key right now to containing this disease is the expansion of the MCA.

It’s a huge area affected with 572 farms now subject to movement restrictions. 

Naturally, there’s concern from all the farmers affected. 

But let’s remember one crucial thing: ridding Hawke’s Bay of TB benefits everyone. The timing of this would never be ideal but putting controls in place ahead of the autumn sales is vital if we are to reduce the risk of the disease spreading to other regions. 

Here and now, unity rather than finger-pointing is what we need to tackle this infection and get back to the proper business of farming. 

There’ll be time for asking some tough questions of those responsible for handling these issues but for now we need to work together on solutions.

As a farmer that means planning ahead and seeking the support, guidance and help you need, when you need it. 

Consider what’s coming up in the coming days, weeks and months and be pro-active. If you’re planning to send stock to the autumn sales book a pre-movement test. Ospri and AsureQuality are prioritising pre-movement testing to help farmers get the assurance and assistance they need to make crucial business decisions.

Even more crucially, let’s support each other. 

The region’s tinder-dry and we’re all dealing with water supply and feed issues. Help is here if you or others need it. Don’t hesitate to seek out that help.

The extended MCA and the timing of its introduction ahead of the autumn sales might have you scratching your heads but, remember, this has been put in place so we and our sector nationwide can have some certainty and be safe rather than sorry.

As has always been the case in farming, together we’re stronger. We’ll get through this together and make Hawke’s Bay TB-free again.

The programme has come so far in our region and nationally so it’s critical we continue towards the goal of eradicating the disease once and for all. The programme has removed TB-infected wildlife from more than two million hectares in the past 10 years and reduced infected herds from 1700 to fewer than 30 today. 

It’s working. 

But we can do better and that’s what we all need to work toward. 

Let’s support eradication work by making it easier to control possums in our areas, managing possums populations on our own land and making sure our Nait obligations to register animals and movements are fulfilled.  

We can and will beat this disease – the eradication strategy has been proven – with a united approach. Stay strong, stay informed and keep supporting one another.

Keep in touch with news on disease management and local possum control operations via the Ospri website at ospri.co.nz/Hawke’s-Bay.

Total
0
Shares
People are also reading