TB plan review to focus on possum hot spots
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
More than 43,000 animals have been tested to date as Ospri deals with a bovine tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the Hawke’s Bay.
As at February 18, seven beef herd and one dairy herd were infected: one herd was cleared and 14 herds were under investigation. TB has been detected in 29 animals.
DNA strain-typing indicates the source of infection is from wildlife.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor was told by Ospri that the outbreak resulted from the failure of a buffer zone on the edges of the existing movement control area.
“I’ve asked them to look at all the buffer zones in place right across New Zealand to ensure this won’t happen again,” O’Connor says.
Ospri chief executive Stephen Stuart says identification of disease is the TBfree programme in action.
“We will manage this cluster of infection and return Hawke’s Bay to TB-free status.
This week, Ospri is holding farmer meetings to update where things are at: farmers will also learn about possum control, movement control areas and getting help with NAIT.
O’Connor says the latest outbreak is disappointing.
“Flare ups have occurred from time to time and should not undermine the long term target of eradication across all New Zealand.”
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.
OPINION: Media luvvies at Stuff, the Spinoff and the Granny Herald are spending more time than ever navel-gazing about why…
OPINION: Why does it take Treasury so long to turn around its figures on how the economy is tracking?