The first meeting of the TB forum has been held since the publication of the Department of Agriculture’s new strategy for eradicating bovine TB.
As stakeholders attempt to plot a way forward, around 90 new farms a week are being restricted due to a TB breakdown.
In his opening remarks to the forum, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue thanked chair Michael Cronin and all the stakeholders for their efforts to bring the strategy to fruition.
TB, and how best to address an issue quickly spiralling out of control, has been a bone of contention since last summer when the Department issued herd risk statements to farmers.
Implementation
Much of the finer details remain to be worked out and responsibility for that task will fall to three new implementation groups – a scientific group, an implementation group and a finance group.
“Each working group has an important role to play to ensure all aspects of the strategy are addressed. Extensive consultation with stakeholders will underpin success,” the Minister said.
He added that the strategy’s ambitious work programme would ultimately benefit farmers.
TB rates
“2020 saw the highest rates of TB in a decade and increased programme expenditure related to that. There is massive emotional and financial burden to TB, so we need to see it delivering results,” Minister McConalogue continued.
“I have consistently highlighted that trends in bovine TB are of significant concern to me and are damaging to Irish farmers.
“I committed to working with stakeholders on TB on taking office, which has culminated in the strategy being published last week.
“That is only the first step in the journey. I now want to see a continued urgency in implementing the measures outlined in the strategy and encourage the various working groups to meet as soon as possible to get this under way.”
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The first meeting of the TB forum has been held since the publication of the Department of Agriculture’s new strategy for eradicating bovine TB.
As stakeholders attempt to plot a way forward, around 90 new farms a week are being restricted due to a TB breakdown.
In his opening remarks to the forum, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue thanked chair Michael Cronin and all the stakeholders for their efforts to bring the strategy to fruition.
TB, and how best to address an issue quickly spiralling out of control, has been a bone of contention since last summer when the Department issued herd risk statements to farmers.
Implementation
Much of the finer details remain to be worked out and responsibility for that task will fall to three new implementation groups – a scientific group, an implementation group and a finance group.
“Each working group has an important role to play to ensure all aspects of the strategy are addressed. Extensive consultation with stakeholders will underpin success,” the Minister said.
He added that the strategy’s ambitious work programme would ultimately benefit farmers.
TB rates
“2020 saw the highest rates of TB in a decade and increased programme expenditure related to that. There is massive emotional and financial burden to TB, so we need to see it delivering results,” Minister McConalogue continued.
“I have consistently highlighted that trends in bovine TB are of significant concern to me and are damaging to Irish farmers.
“I committed to working with stakeholders on TB on taking office, which has culminated in the strategy being published last week.
“That is only the first step in the journey. I now want to see a continued urgency in implementing the measures outlined in the strategy and encourage the various working groups to meet as soon as possible to get this under way.”
Read more
TB programme without funding agreement putting cart before the horse - IFA
Farmers to face extra testing under new TB crackdown
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