Mycoplasma Bovis meeting in Gore today
Southland dairy farmers are being urged to head along to a meeting in Gore today and have their say on a proposed new levy aimed at eradicating Mycoplasma bovis.
DairyNZ is aiming to set the Biosecurity Response Levy at 3.9 cents per kilogram of milk solids per year, but it needs farmer support to do so.
All dairy farmers supplying milk for the 2018-19 season had been sent an information pack which arrived in the first week of February.
It contained a letter, information brochure, feedback form and freepost return envelope.
A levy to eradicate M. bovis was announced in May last year and it was agreed that 68 per cent of costs would be funded by the Government and 32 per cent between dairy and beef farmers.
It was thought that beef farmers would be charged a small levy at slaughter to help cover eradiation costs.
According to DairyNZ there were 75 properties infected with M. bovis of which 33 were ‘active’ infected properties that were yet to be depopulated, cleaned and have their restrictions lifted.
The phased eradication of M. bovis was still looking very achievable as signs from the spring bulk milk testing programme and the calf rearing survey had been encouraging.
Farmers were required to give feedback on the levy by February 28, 2019 by either the online feedback form or the freepost feedback form in their information packs.
The levy meeting will be held at the James Cumming Wing in Gore today from 11am to 1pm.