Talk of eradicating TB in the Irish cattle herd is unrealistic at the moment given the significant increase in the incidence of the disease in recent years, the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has insisted.
But the 30 measures included in the bovine TB Action Plan launched this week had the capacity to bring the disease under control, he claimed.
“Bovine TB as we know has been a scourge for beef farmers across the country for many, many generations – long before I was born,” Minister Heydon told the AGM of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
“I firmly believe that the actions in this plan will allow us move forward over the coming years in reducing levels of TB to a place where we can once more focus on eradicating the disease,” he said.
“We cannot realistically talk about eradication when the levels of rise of TB have been so significant in recent years,” the minister contended.
“So, this new plan is about tackling that. It will mean an increase in the incidence of reactors - not necessarily herds affected in the short term.”
Some of those attending the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association AGM in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
However, Minister Heydon maintained that the difficulties and disruption associated with higher reactor numbers – particularly in the dairy herd – was necessary to reduce the overall incidence of the disease.
“This action plan is designed to strike the balance between tackling the rising levels [of TB] that we have seen in recent times, while at the same time recognising the practical realities of farming.”
Describing TB as a key focus, Minister Heydon said it was an issue he wanted to “tackle and make a significant difference on”.
“I believe this approach is a way of doing that,” he told the AGM.
The Strokestown meeting saw Donegal native Pheilim Molloy ratified as the new INHFA president.
Molloy takes over from Vincent Roddy.
The new INHFA leader said the value of extensive farming systems to the rural economy of the west and northwest could no be underestimated in terms of economic output and environmental benefits in relation to sustainability.
“The extensive farming system that is practiced by out members actually contributes to environmental sustainability, and that is critical,” Molloy said.
However, he said farmer reservations regarding the Nature Restoration Law had been ignored, as had misgivings on GAEC 2 and ACRES.
Molloy said greater consultation, engagement and agreement by the Department of Agriculture with farmers was needed.
Read more
Heydon launches long-awaited TB action plan
Comment: new TB measures mean more work for farmers
No radical TB changes on wildlife
Talk of eradicating TB in the Irish cattle herd is unrealistic at the moment given the significant increase in the incidence of the disease in recent years, the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has insisted.
But the 30 measures included in the bovine TB Action Plan launched this week had the capacity to bring the disease under control, he claimed.
“Bovine TB as we know has been a scourge for beef farmers across the country for many, many generations – long before I was born,” Minister Heydon told the AGM of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
“I firmly believe that the actions in this plan will allow us move forward over the coming years in reducing levels of TB to a place where we can once more focus on eradicating the disease,” he said.
“We cannot realistically talk about eradication when the levels of rise of TB have been so significant in recent years,” the minister contended.
“So, this new plan is about tackling that. It will mean an increase in the incidence of reactors - not necessarily herds affected in the short term.”
Some of those attending the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association AGM in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
However, Minister Heydon maintained that the difficulties and disruption associated with higher reactor numbers – particularly in the dairy herd – was necessary to reduce the overall incidence of the disease.
“This action plan is designed to strike the balance between tackling the rising levels [of TB] that we have seen in recent times, while at the same time recognising the practical realities of farming.”
Describing TB as a key focus, Minister Heydon said it was an issue he wanted to “tackle and make a significant difference on”.
“I believe this approach is a way of doing that,” he told the AGM.
The Strokestown meeting saw Donegal native Pheilim Molloy ratified as the new INHFA president.
Molloy takes over from Vincent Roddy.
The new INHFA leader said the value of extensive farming systems to the rural economy of the west and northwest could no be underestimated in terms of economic output and environmental benefits in relation to sustainability.
“The extensive farming system that is practiced by out members actually contributes to environmental sustainability, and that is critical,” Molloy said.
However, he said farmer reservations regarding the Nature Restoration Law had been ignored, as had misgivings on GAEC 2 and ACRES.
Molloy said greater consultation, engagement and agreement by the Department of Agriculture with farmers was needed.
Read more
Heydon launches long-awaited TB action plan
Comment: new TB measures mean more work for farmers
No radical TB changes on wildlife
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