TB costs need to be looked at again

FARMERS are still continuing to carry an unsustainable cost burden in relation to the TB eradication programme with worrying signs of an upsurge in the disease across different pockets of the country, according to the IFA’s Animal Health Committee.

At local level, farmers have expressed concerns about increases in the incidence of bovine TB in pockets of South Galway while nationally there has been an increase in TB in the Monaghan area.

According to IFA Animal Health Chairman, Pat Farrell, the cost burden tied up with bovine TB had gone on for far too long for farmers affected

“We have lost patience with the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed and his lack of appreciation of the true impact his Department’s controls are having on farmers and their families.

“We always supported the development of a TB Forum, provided it delivered a meaningful platform for stakeholder views to be incorporated into the programme but the Minister and his officials must start listening to the views of farmers.

“These farmers have endured the hardship of TB controls – it’s now time that the Minister addressed the huge shortcomings in the programme which IFA have identified if he wants the support of farmers for the programme,” said Pat Farrell.

Galway IFA Chairperson, Anne Mitchell, told the Farming Tribune there was ongoing frustration that after hundreds of millions being spent on TB eradication, it was still proving to be a huge financial burden on farmers.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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