All funds needed for TB battle

There are fears the war against bovine tuberculosis could be compromised because of funding changes by regional councils who view it as having been won, says an industry leader. AHB chief executive William McCook said Environment Southland and ECan were both changing their bovine Tb control programmes, with ECan proposing to halve its contribution next year to $250,000.  Environment Southland has proposed redirecting its contribution from direct possum control to encouraging farmers to do it and monitoring the results. Mr McCook said, in the North Island, the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council proposed halving its contribution to $400,000. The Waikato Regional Council last year cut its spending altogether, but after submissions and pressure from farmers proposes spending $800,000 this year. Mr McCook said the battle with bovine Tb had not been won, despite there being just one or two infected herds in Southland reports the ODT. He feared gains achieved so far could be lost due to the funding changes. A dominance of urban voices on regional councils could have tailored their thinking, he said. Environment Southland was incorrect in its long-term council community plan (LTCCP) when it said the Tb was currently not a threat to cattle and deer because there were no infected herds. "We still have a major need to fund ongoing work on the boundary with Otago, the Hokonui Hills and Western Southland," Mr McCook said. "If we walk away we will lose the benefits and create a risk of reinfected herds."