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The Department’s attempt to justify the recently issued TB risk letters is typical of the disconnect between officials and farmers on TB, IFA president Tim Cullinan has said.
Cullinan was speaking following a meeting of the IFA’s national council, where the devastation TB is causing on farms was highlighted.
The letters were further proof of the failure of the TB forum process he believed, adding that it was “overloaded with Department officials and academics with no investment in the programme”.
In a statement defending the TB letters issued on Tuesday, the Department said clearer risk categories had been one of the forum’s key recommendations.
TB forum
However, Cullinan pointed out that its last meeting had been in June 2019, over 15 months ago.
He said that the decision to unilaterally issue the “damaging letters” had taken place without any further consultations, as recommended in the interim report.
The letters were issued by the Department a week after a recently scheduled meeting of the TB forum was cancelled.
Tim Cullinan said the letters must be withdrawn and meaningful discussions entered into with farmers to agree a path towards eradication of the disease.
Action
IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell said farmers wanted to see meaningful action to address TB and reduce their cost burden.
The IFA has made a number of proposals, including an effective wildlife control programme, detailed and thorough on-farm investigation of breakdowns and removal of all sources of infection, plus a fair financial support package for farmers affected by controls.
Department letters that contain “inaccurate information and contradictory advice” will not eradicate TB but devalue animals, Farrell said.
“Farmers want to see meaningful and credible action from the Department, not more bureaucracy and blacklisting of farmers who through no fault of their own experience TB outbreaks,” he concluded.
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