Funding of €6m has been announced for a new on-farm badger biosecurity scheme by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon this week as part of the bovine TB action plan.
The scheme is set to open on Friday 17 April to co-operatives and agri merchants from whom farmers will have the opportunity to buy the eligible items, with the scheme opening directly to farmers shortly after.
Eligible items will include raised water and feed troughs and also fencing to keep badger setts blocked off from the farm.
“Good biosecurity is important to reduce the risk of transmission of TB from badgers to cattle and cattle to badgers.
"This scheme will allow farmers to reduce the risk posed by badgers to the spread of TB by contributing to the cost of good on-farm badger biosecurity measures,” Minister Heydon commented.
The Minister said that this measure from the TB action plan represents a key commitment to reduce the effects of wildlife on the spread of TB.
“In addition to the on-farm badger biosecurity scheme, I am also pleased to announce that my Department recently completed a tender process for a service provider as part of our wildlife programme.
"That tender evaluation is now complete and the contract is currently being finalised. This will result in an increase in resources on the ground further improving the effectiveness of my Department's wildlife programme measures in the TB action plan,” he stated.
New helpline
Minister Heydon also announced a TB helpline for farmers who enter a new breakdown: “The helpline will provide practical support and advice to farmers on the TB breakdown process.”
Local regional veterinary offices will continue to hold responsibility for the management of a TB breakdown.
The Department said that farmers can access more information on the TB programme by scanning the QR code on the leaflet they received recently in the post or by visiting www.bovinetb.ie.
SHARING OPTIONS