A King Country farmer says the sector should push on with its plans to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from New Zealand.
Chris Irons says the sector should keep its foot on the throat of bovine tuberculosis.
Kāwhia Harbour sheep and beef farmer Chris Irons said the national pest management plan governance group had the choice of dawdling along or doubling down on the plan to rid New Zealand of the disease.
“If we take our foot off the throat, it will come back and bite us,” Irons said.
The group, including representatives of the Ministry for Primary Industries, DairyNZ, Beef and Lamb New Zealand, and Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), is consulting farmers on how to finish the job of eradicating bovine TB from New Zealand.
“They are trying to get an idea if farmers want them to push on and kill TB,” Irons said.
An independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB found prioritising the remaining hot spots of TB-infected possums would achieve the goal of completely eradicating TB by 2055.
Irons, Federated Farmers Operational Solutions for Primary Industries (OSPRI) delegate and North Island OSPRI chair, hoped most farmers would agree with acting swiftly.
OSPRI leads the TBfree programme.
“People have realised, in the last five years, that we can’t get free in cattle until we get free in possums,” he said.
Chris Irons and Debra Hastie are is getting good results through strategic partnerships. Image courtesy NZ Farm Environment Trust.
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Group chair Dr Helen Anderson said there was more to do to protect valuable dairy, beef, and deer industries and to safeguard rural communities.
“We are so close to achieving zero infections in our livestock, with just 15 herds, or around 0.01 percent, infected in July this year,” she said.
“That’s an amazing achievement, thanks to decades of hard work and ongoing investment. But while the disease remains in possums, we will keep having outbreaks of reinfection.”
The governance group is seeking feedback on prioritising eliminating TB in the remaining hot spots of highly infected possum populations as soon as possible, using the most cost-effective tools in large ‘landscape-scale’ operations.
Dr Anderson said it was proposed to replace the current milestone of TB freedom in herds by 2026.
“We’re so close to zero, but we can’t achieve or maintain zero herd infections until we get rid of the disease reservoirs in the possum population,” she said.
“Farmers contribute to the cost of the TBfree programme through their levies and the sooner New Zealand gets rid of TB in possums and herds, the sooner the cost to farmers can reduce.”
Funding of $60 million a year, 60 per cent from farmers and 40 per cent from the Crown, will cover the costs for the next five years.
“Beyond 2031, its currently expected there will be a shortfall, but it’s proposed to undertake a further review of long-term funding before we get to that point.
“It’s too soon to say what will be required beyond 2031.”
Beef and Lamb New Zealand chief executive Alan Thomson said: “Even if you’ve never faced TB on your farm, this plan affects the whole sector. Every farmer’s voice matters in shaping how we move forward.”
Dairy NZ chief executive Campbell Parker encouraged all farmers to have their say during the consultation.
“Whether or not you’ve been directly affected by TB, eradicating this disease is vital for the future of our entire sector.”
Deer Industry New Zealand Chief Executive Rhys Griffiths said farmer input played a crucial part in the primary sector’s future, “and here’s your chance to feed into important decisions”.
“Get informed on what the plan is proposing and make sure you have your say.”
Consultation on draft proposals for the TB Plan runs until October 12.
Chris Irons says the sector should keep its foot on the throat of bovine tuberculosis.
