Silent farmers worry MPI

WELLINGTON: A lack of cooperation from farmers has made the job of officials tracing the spread of Mycoplasma bovis more difficult, the Ministry for Primary Industries says.

The ministry is embarking on a yearlong programme to try to eradicate the disease that is predicted to cost taxpayers and farmers $740 million.

A crucial part of the puzzle in working out how far the cow disease has spread is establishing who received calves from the Southland farm believed to have had it first in late 2015.

The disease can cause lameness, abortions and mastitis in cows, but there is no risk to human health from the infection.

MPI spokesman Geoff Gwyn said tracking had been made more difficult by a lack of cooperation from farmers.

‘‘After 10 months, we’ve not had one scenario — and many of these names are in the public domain — who have come to us and said ‘Oh, by the way, I got animals from a property down south’.

‘‘We have even gone out down in Invercargill and put advertisements in the newspaper with the farmer’s consent and people are not coming forward and saying I traded with them.’’

Mr Gwyn said MPI has had to trace every farmer itself or find them through some form of testing.

‘‘I think there’s an element of looking after yourself and I can understand that.

‘‘Believe me, getting put under regulatory control is not something you’d wish for.

‘‘It’s challenging and no matter how hard we work with you around your welfare, your herd is at risk.

‘‘And I’m not sure everyone sees it in the same light around wanting to support national interests or the national herd as the rhetoric might indicate.’’

But farmers have their own complaints about communication.

MPI is being accused of handing out misleading information to farmers at a Mycoplasma bovis meeting.

The disagreement revolves around the Privacy Act and farmers’ frustrations at not being told the names of those with infected properties.

MPI head of biosecurity Roger Smith last week told 200 North Canterbury farmers the agency was prevented from naming them because of the Act, and doing so could result in it being charged.

MPI is holding meetings around the country to keep farmers informed about the effort to eradicate the disease.

Mr Smith said MPI was as frustrated as the farmers about the limitations imposed on it by the Privacy Act.

‘‘I’ve had three legal opinions, including from the privacy commissioner, who says that if we name a farmer, we’re in a serious breach, and therefore we will be charged with an offence.’’

However, privacy commissioner John Edwards said farmers had been misled by MPI.

‘‘We have not given a legal opinion to that effect. There is no possibility of being charged in terms of a Privacy Act breach. —RNZ