Listen: Nathan Guy backs M. bovis eradication plan

National Party spokesperson for Agriculture, Biosecurity and Food Safety, Nathan Guy. Photo / Supplied

It's the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final this weekend and Nathan Guy is looking forward to attending the "amazing competition."

Guy spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay about the Young Farmer event, which he competed in back in 1999. Unfortunately for the former Minister for Primary Industries, his "scones weren't good enough to get me through to the Grand Final."

This year Guy is frustrated with the lack of national media coverage of the Young Farmers Grand Final.

"I remember when I was growing up it used to be on just after the 6 o'clock news, prime time television, and now they struggle to get it on to mainstream TV - it's really disappointing."

The fight to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis continues and Guy agrees with the path the Government has chosen.

"This disease is really problematic and I do agree with the eradication plan that the Government has struck with industry and it's a matter of all farmers getting on board and in particular, doing more with Nait."

Yesterday The Country spoke to Professor Keith Woodford who believes Mycoplasma bovis has been in New Zealand since 2008. Guy doesn't agree with this theory, saying he's "not sure how he's [Woodford] got to the point he's got to."

"Having worked closely with MPI over a number of years and seeing that Technical Advisory Group come together, I'd be more lining up with MPI's scientific view than others."

Also in today's interview: Nathan Guy ponders Greenpeace protesters in the Mackenzie Basin and reveals that his new title is National Party spokesperson for Agriculture, Biosecurity and Food Safety - which Jamie Mackay promptly forgets.

Listen below: