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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (right) and Feds president Katie Milne on a Waikato farm last week.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Agriculture and Biosecurity Damien O’Connor stepped into gumboots last Monday at a Waikato dairy farm to hear farmers’ and others’ views on M. bovis.
Judge Valley Dairies, run by John Hayward and Susan O’Regan, played host, hearing Ardern say that though $85 million is earmarked to address the issue, a biosecurity levy may follow.
Who would pay the levy? people asked, given that though farmers have most to lose from biosecurity incursions, importers or tourists almost always cause them.
The Prime Minister said she would tell MPI and its advisors that farmers want more openness, discussion and a plan for culling or animal management. She also promised prompt action to get compensation paid to affected herd owners.
“At this stage we will continue eradication, but it was important for us to meet farmers and listen to their concerns.”
Dairy farmer and vet Jenni Macky encouraged people to seek more information from government, industry and local sources, and not to assume M. bovis has the same types of vectors as foot and mouth disease.
She said because the M. bovis bacteria’s cell structure prevents it from surviving outside an animal, ‘clean’ cattle catching the disease by licking posts is unlikely, as is animal infection from ‘dirty’ cattle trucks.
Katie Milne and Chris Lewis from Federated Farmers asked the Government for transparency and inclusiveness in decisionmaking. And don’t let emotions rule, they urged.
Host farmer John Hayward said Judge Valley Dairies operates a “closed gate” policy: all animals spend their lives inside the farm’s boundary fence. But basic biosecurity measures apply, e.g. disinfecting visitors’ footwear.
Susan O’Regan said the “main worry of livestock farmers is the lack of decision on the right way forward”.
“Farmers are doers,” she said. “So just tell us what the plan is and we’ll make it happen.”
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OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
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Fresh produce grower and exporter T&G Global has overturned last year’s dismal performance by reporting a half year net profit of $1.7 million.
One of New Zealand’s largest fertiliser plants could be forced to shut down for four months as uncertainty looms over gas supply.
Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green says two public meetings held this week should have made it loud and clear that rural families and businesses are concerned about proposed staffing changes at NZ Police.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting on a proposal to ban weedkillers containing chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA).
August 6 marks Farm Worker Appreciation Day, a moment to recognise the dedication and hard mahi of dairy farm workers across Aotearoa - and DairyNZ is taking the opportunity to celebrate the skilled teams working on its two research farms.
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
