increase font size
MPI director-general Ray Smith has apologised to affected farmers.
Almost all the recommendations from two reviews of the Mycoplasma bovis programme have been accepted, after the ‘surge in activity’ leading up to this year’s moving day.
The surge arose because of a backlog in tracing animal movements, which had gone essentially unnoticed and was not fully realised until April.
The reviews were commissioned to look into the cause and possible impacts of the backlog, and recommend how the programme could improve its systems and processes.
One was done by MPI’s chief science advisor Dr John Roche. The other was an independent review commissioned by DairyNZ and done by South Australia animal disease management expert Dr Roger Paskin.
The independent Technical Advisory Group has also been asked to consider the impact of the backlog and is expected to report back soon.
Roche’s review found that the backlog, although smaller than first thought, was due to issues with managing the flow of information between functions, and in the disease management team’s structure and resourcing.
While it may have allowed some further spread of the disease, Roche did not believe it had harmed the chances of successfully eradicating M. bovis.
Paskin identified issues related to the programme structure, staffing, training, management and supporting tools.
He said the primary issue was an accumulation of traces to and from infected properties which had not been followed up, in some cases, for about seven months.
Findings
Together, Roche and Paskin’s reports made 43 recommendations to improve the systems and processes within the M. bovis programme.
These include greater regional decisionmaking, the importance of farmer involvement and improving structures, systems and resourcing.
MPI director-general Ray Smith said the two reviews had provided concrete ways to improve the programme’s systems and processes.
“We’re sorry for the impact this has had on affected farmers, and that we had to take the action we did at a busy time of year for many of them.
“The programme is working hard to implement the recommendations of the reviews, starting with enabling more regional decisionmaking and rolling out a bespoke data management system.”
The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
An initiative by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to connect farmers with scientists is taking off judging by the response at recent regional field days.
Scientists from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are part of an international team working to develop a low-cost diagnostic tool that could significantly improve food crop production in developing countries.
A company growing and processing seaweed with known methane-busting properties at a facility in Bluff is expanding internationally but New Zealand cattle farmers won't be getting the product anytime soon.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
Afimilk, a global dairy farm management solutions provider, has appointed Justin Miller as the new general manager for New Zealand and Australia.
Investing in your people and in your own leadership skills is the path to success for a farming business, says economist Shamubeel Eaqub.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…
