M. bovis - we need to be vigilant
From November 1, 2023, Ministry for Primary Industries’ Mycoplasma bovis Eradication Programme has been contracted out to disease management agency OSPRI, as it enters a long-term surveillance phase.
The science underpinning New Zealand’s TBfree programme has earned an award for its researchers.
Science New Zealand, which represents the country’s seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), hosted its inaugural national awards at Parliament earlier in the summer.
The TBfree team at Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua was recognised for having refined aerial 1080.
Most of the research recognised was funded and directed by OSPRI and its predecessor the Animal Health Board.
The research has clarified the role of various pest species as TB vectors; developed strategies for local elimination of pests and for declaring areas free of TB; and substantially reduced the environmental, non-target and animal welfare risks of pest destruction. The projects included low-cost aerial 1080, TB surveillance, population monitoring, mitigating non-target impacts, the role of deer, pigs and ferrets in TB maintenance, possum spatial model for TB freedom prediction and deer repellents for 1080 baits.
These projects have helped OSPRI shift from a focus on achieving TB-freedom status to a focus on full TB eradication, and helped develop the competitive contracting industry and performance contracts.
Research areas included Waikato, West Coast, Southland, Marlborough, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay.
In 2013, the Landcare Research team leaders were awarded the Shorland Medal by the New Zealand Association of Scientists for applied science excellence, which recognises the contribution the group has made to the cost-effectiveness and success of mammal pest destruction, especially possums, in the past 20 years.
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In a few weeks the winner of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori dairy farm will be revealed at a gala dinner in Hamilton. In the past couple of weeks, the two finalists in this year’s competition have been holding on-farm field days to showcase why they are finalists. Peter Burke has attended both field days.
The long-running New Zealand Agricultural Show won’t take place this year as cash-strapped organisers mull the event’s future.
The owner of an award-winning cheese producer says the Government’s free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) has proven disappointing for the sector.