M. bovis bill punch-up

“To come up with a fair approach we have been making use of an independent panel,” he told Rural News in a joint statement from both industry-good bodies.

“We have had initial advice and are providing feedback. Once the process has finalised, a recommendation will go to our respective boards and be shared with farmers.

“Given this is a sensitive and important process, we can’t comment on the specifics until it has been agreed and approved by our respective boards.”

The cost of the eradication programme is reckoned at $886 million over 10 years. 

The Government will pay 68% of that and the two levying bodies, DairyNZ and BLNZ, will pay 32% (about $278m).

But just exactly how it will be split between them remains under discussion. Earlier this year dairy industry sources said an 80/20 split between dairy farmers and beef farmers would be fair. However, beef farmers were pushing for a 90/10 split, pointing out that dairy farms are at the centre of the outbreak.