Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
Compensation issues are “always complex,” says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
“There have been some ridiculous claims, and there have been some mistakes made. I don’t think it’s easy to point fingers at any particular part of the process to say who’s at fault here.”
Asked to comment on complaints by some M. bovis affected farmers that they are out of pocket because of expenses ruled unclaimable under the Biosecurity Act, O’Connor emphasised that the eradication programme was jointly run by MPI with DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ, so farmers themselves were contributing to the cost.
“We are always working to try to improve the compensation process but it’s governed by legislation and by determination by BLNZ and DairyNZ and MPI to pay fair compensation but not to pay it when it’s not justified,” he said.
However, the Government is committed to a review of the Biosecurity Act.
Some ex gratia (outside the strict criteria) payments had also been granted.
“Those decisions are made keeping in mind the fact that farmers themselves are contributing to this. They want a fair outcome and we have endeavoured to be fair at every stage, but there are technical and legal obligations that have to be adhered to.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor said the TAG (Technical Advisory Group) report on the eradication programme would soon be finalised and released.
“Indications are we’re still on track, that the challenges that we have encountered with testing, with the technology, with prioritisation, we’ve worked through those.
“The programme has not been perfect but we’re still on track for eradication and we think that’s well worth the effort.”
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
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