Farmers’ compo ‘will take time’

'Every farmer knows it doesn't happen overnight.' Agriculture Minister Damien O'connor

Agriculture Minister Damien O’connor says farmers know they won’t receive compensation overnight for their Mycoplasma bovisaffected farms.

Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon has accused O’connor of not providing certainty on what compensation farmers will receive as a result of the disease.

Last week, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced the nationwide cull of 22,200 cattle from infected farms.

Almost 6000 cattle on affected farms in South Canterbury and North Otago will be culled as part of an effort to eradicate the disease.

In November the first major cull of livestock occurred, with 4000 cattle killed, many of them on farms owned by South Canterbury couple Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen.

The disease was first confirmed on one of their South Canterbury farms last July.

O’connor said legislation requires the Government to provide farmers with compensation, and it is working to verify losses and provide accurate compensation to farmers.

‘‘Every farmer knows it doesn’t happen overnight. We’re working as quickly as we can on this.’’

O’connor said about 30 MPI employees were working through compensation claims.

‘‘This is a new challenge for everyone in New Zealand. We undertook culling as soon as we came into government.

‘‘There’s no guarantees with this disease and it will take a few months to eradicate.’’

Falloon said that since the culling announcement, he’s had calls from a number of affected farmers about what compensation they’ll receive.

‘‘I’m pleased the right decision has finally been made.

‘‘We have only one chance to get rid of Mycoplasma bovis from our dairy and beef herds.

‘‘What’s really troubling is that the Government haven’t been at all clear with farmers about what compensation they’ll receive.’’

Falloon said that nearly all of the affected farms had done nothing wrong, and deserved fast and fair compensation.

MPI response director Geoff Gwyn said MPI was working with farmers, transport companies, and meat processors to determine the best time to cull and how best to arrange the movement of stock.

Transport firms will have to abide by a list of regulations if they are going to carry cattle potentially infected with the disease.

Rural Transport general manager Jim Crouchley, who has operations based in Ashburton, Waimate, Fairlie and Kurow, said transport firms had to go through a permit process with the MPI, before they could carry infected stock.

The trucks had to be washed down and inspected by an MPI officer or accredited contractor after carrying infected cattle.

Gwyn confirmed there was an accreditation process for transport companies to go through before they could be accepted as potential contractors. The process would be similar to the last cull of infected stock, in November.

Gwyn said all vehicles were cleaned and disinfected before leaving properties, while vehicles carrying animals were disinfected on exit, going directly to the meat processor and then were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at the plant on completing the job.