Decision made, but important to find the cause

The Government decision to eradicate rather than contain Mp. Bovis has the merit of drawing a line under the first stage of the disease outbreak. There were three options under consideration: eradicate, manage or do nothing; the third was clearly not seriously considered, but there must have been a serious debate between the first two. In the end the eradication course of action was chosen because it gives ‘the best shot’ at eliminating the disease to the benefit of the New Zealand agricultural sector, particularly the dairy industry, and the economy.

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South Island farmers still being short-changed

When it comes to being paid for their livestock, South Island farmers appear to be earning considerably less for some species than their North Island counterparts. Trying to unpick the reasons for the differential is complicated by a number of factors, like traditional meat company secrecy, schedule price as distinct from premiums paid for volume supply, cooperative pool payments and loyalty rewards, shorter seasons, cartage, labour agreements and relative plant efficiencies.