Burden of TB on farmers continues

IFA Animal Health chairman Bert Stewart said the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and his officials continue to ignore the difficulties imposed on farmers in the current TB eradication programme.

He said that despite IFA putting a detailed submission to the Minister in September last year identifying necessary changes, his officials are intent on increasing the cost burden for farmers and have proposed further tightening of controls with no attempt to take on board the issues raised by IFA.

Bert Stewart said, “Understandably, some issues raised are requirements of EU regulations and the Minister must address these in the appropriate forum in order to find a resolution. Included in this category is the prohibition on purchasing animals into a restricted holding and the restriction of herds where lesions are found at slaughter. Accepting that achieving a resolution to these issues may take time, the IFA chairman said the Minister must ensure in the intervening period that his officials minimise the impact on farmers and, where necessary, provide supports.”

The enormous savings that have accrued within the TB eradication scheme budget and the increased EU funding provided for the programme must be used to reduce the cost burden for farmers.

Mr Stewart said the IFA is calling on the Minister and his officials to engage in a meaningful way to reduce the cost and bureaucratic burden that continues to be imposed on farmers in the TB eradication programme. He said while the incidence of the disease continues to decline it is of little consolation to the thousands of farmers who continue to experience disease breakdowns.