Lessons well learned from Mycoplasma bovis

While there is an increasing degree of confidence that the Mycoplasma bovis response is going to be successful, Federated Farmers is acutely aware of the human cost of seeking to contain and eradicate M. bovis. 

We recognise that at least 1100 farmers have been directly affected by the response, whether as an infected property (IP), restricted place (RP), under movement control (a notice of direction NOD) or active surveillance (onfarm testing).

We all -- industry and MPI -- agree things could have been handled better as we all learned how to manage the significant challenges of New Zealand’s largest biosecurity response in living memory.

The following is some of the work Feds has done to date:

Contacted M. bovis experts at the very beginning; set up an industry phone call with Australian experts

Gained a commitment that farmers would be compensated for culled cattle at full market rates (as though they were not infected)

Ensured that contract milkers (and herd owning and lower order sharemilkers) would be compensated and that compensation for lost income would go straight to all these business partners

Ensured that the Government accepted the industry offer of 32% (share of response costs) when MPI was talking of a 40 - 50% contribution from industry

Advocated strongly for equitable compensation including:

– compensation for loss of grazing income when animals are unable to be brought onto properties that are under movement control,

– compensation for loss of income for direct losses incurred by those under active surveillance (recognising that some will incur costs because of the inability to sell store stock); this is a work in progress we are continuing to push

Formally requested that the minister initiate an independent review of the M. bovis and other biosecurity responses to ensure the lessons learned are not lost and all players (industry and government) are better prepared in the future.

This M. bovis response has been the first significant test of the compensation provisions of the Biosecurity Act regarding an animal response and the first animal disease response under the GIA (Government Industry Agreement) framework.

Federated Farmers has taken an active role, recognising our limited resources, in the response from day one.

Federated Farmers continues to work closely with the response partners, assisting where appropriate and playing an important advocacy role on behalf of all affected farmers – be they dairy or beef farmers or grazers caught in the cross-fire.

Compensation

The key principle for compensation as contained in the Biosecurity Act is that affected farmers, including sharemilkers, should not be any worse or better off because of the use of the Act powers during a biosecurity response.

Of importance, losses must be verifiable (clearly good quality information makes the process easier and quicker).

As compensation principles and processes have been established for the M. bovis response it has been clear that the Act has some limitations. Feds will be seeking changes to the Act when it is reviewed.

While all those involved in the response will agree that providing compensation has been slow, significant progress has been made by all to speed up the process including the development of standardised tools and increasing the number of people working in the compensation team. This now exceeds 45 and the average time to process a compensation claim is now about 20 working days.