30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast
February 2018 Edition
INSIDE
THIS EDITION Record temps
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Calls for calm, not conjecture
As the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) works hard toward a comprehensive plan to stop the spread of – and ultimately eradicate – the cattle disease Mycoplasma Bovis, Federated Farmers has issued a strong statement urging calm and aiming to stop speculation as to the origin of the outbreak.
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First detected in South Canterbury in July of 2017, the disease has been positively identified on another 17 farms, with 34 more placed under restricted notice in a methodical attempt to curb the spread and aid the implementation of an eradication plan. Federated Farmers National President Katie Milne says in the current circumstances ‘patience and a dose of realism’ is required. “Of course there is curiosity among farmers and the media as to how mycoplasma bovis started as it has never been detected before in New Zealand to our knowledge. “This is a complex disease and there is a significant amount of resources going into testing and surveillance carried out by MPI and the industry,” Milne said.
MPI confirmed the presence of m.bovis on an Ashbur ton farm just prior to Christmas, prompting worr y in the local farming community. But their representatives have co-ordinated a plan of attack which, to quote their press materials will ‘provide a clearer indication of its spread and potential actions for eradication’. This plan begins with the testing of three samples of milk from every dairy farm starting February 1, followed by the detailed tracing of animal movements from affected farms and those under notice. Finally, laboratory tests will isolate the genome of the illness, determining whether it is the same strain of m.bovis across all affected farms. Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Dam-
ien O’Connor says that farmers have shared with him a willingness to do what it takes to stop this outbreak. “I have great sympathy for farmers caught in the outbreak, who face tough decisions to protect their livelihoods. There is a willingness out there to do whatever it takes to eradicate Mycoplasma Bovis. This remains our focus,” O’Connor said. Mycoplasma Bovis may not be a threat to humans via food, but it is of immense concern to the rural industry as a whole. As the situation unfolds, both the MPI and Federated Farmers urge patience and vigilance, and farmers are advised to arm themselves with knowledge about m.bovis in order to stop and ultimately roll back its advance. More more informatin, visit www.mpi.govt.nz
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