Minister faces up to worried farmers in Ashburton as M. bovis cull plan sinks in

May 31, 2018

Frustrated farmers put questions to the MPI panel about animal welfare concerns, compensation delays, and where stock on notice can graze.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor has faced up to worried Ashburton farmers as the reality of the $900m Mycoplasma bovis eradication plan sinks in.

Willy Leferink’s farm is not affected by M.bovis but he knows how easily that can change.

About 800 people gathered to put questions to MPI officials about animal welfare concerns, delays, compensation, and where stock on notice can graze.

Some farmers expressed doubts about whether the government's plan to cull more than 150,000 cattle over the next ten years would work.

1 NEWS visited a Canterbury farmer hugely affected by the cattle cull, announced by the government yesterday.

Mr O'Connor said he accepted the government "could do better".

"We've just got to work with farmers and industry so that there are clear signals to farmers as to what they should do."

The government yesterday implemented 50 new staff at a new command centre in in Cambridge to coordinate their response.

SHARE ME

More Stories