IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell said the Minister for Agriculture must take control of the TB situation and convene discussions as a matter of urgency.

“They must be based on providing farmers with real input to the programme design and proportionate representation for farmers at the table. The TB Forum has failed and it is time to get back to basics and deal with the real drivers of TB,” he said.

The IFA chair welcomed the Minister’s recognition of the huge stress, trauma and cost burden the TB programme imposes on farm families. He will be judged on actions by way of fair financial supports, not on words and promises.

“Farmers don’t need to be reminded of the increases in TB. We are the people dealing with the impact on our farms. That’s why the IFA wants meaningful discussions to resolve the issue,” Farrell said.

The claim by the Department of Agriculture that the TB letters are an attempt to reduce the levels of TB is not credible and is not backed up by any scientific papers to show devaluing animals and herds makes these animals a lower risk. In fact, this approach runs the risk of increased movements from blacklisted herds that are operated by opportunistic buyers who move large numbers long distances for short-term gain.

The approach in Australia, a country regularly referenced by the Department as the justification for these letters, prohibited the movement of animals to herds of a higher status, a fact missing from recent Department justification. Is this the real agenda behind the issuing of the Department’s letters? The IFA chair said the Department’s own studies attribute only 7.5% of TB breakdowns to animal movements. The three key areas that must be addressed are wildlife, on-farm investigation and fair financial supports for farmers while this is taking place.