New MPI head inspires confidence in farmers

Ministry for Primary Industries director-general Ray Smith, Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust M. bovis welfare co-ordinator Frances Beeston and farmer advocate Sarah Barr in Ashburton last month. Photo: Supplied

The new boss at Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has boosted confidence in Mid Canterbury farmers dealing with Mycoplasma bovis eradication.

MPI director general Ray Smith met farmers in Ashburton again last month. It was his second visit to the district to engage with M. bovis-affected farmers since he took the helm on November 1.

His first visit was mid-November.

''Mbovis affected farmers'' Facebook group spokesman Duncan Barr, of Mid Canterbury, said there was a noticeable change in culture and attitude from MPI towards farmers at the December 19 meeting, which also included MPI director of readiness and response Geoff Gwyn.

''MPI have asked for our help in some areas that they feel we may be able offer advice on how to improve things. We are currently reviewing the information packs delivered to farms entering the NOD [Notice of Direction] and surveillance stage.

''This, we believe, is a major culture change from MPI, accepting that how they are operating could be improved.

''This will lead to looking at how MPI are operating and where improvements could be made.''

''This is where you will hear from us that the communication is improving, MPI seem to be listening. This is a major change/improvement.''

Mr Barr thought the general behaviour and the positive engagement was a ''direct result of Ray Smith''.

But he understood it was just the beginning, and the effects still needed to happen on farm.

''Talk is cheap and now this change in attitude needs to correlate into actual action but at least this is how the change needed to start,'' he said.

''I think this communication issue will be ongoing and multi-faceted in as much as the extent of the problem is huge with individual departments dealing with each step of the eradication process.

'The whole response has so many areas to it that all the communication channels have become blurred, so even when things are done better it is hard to see,'' he said.

''As a farmer we see MPI as a whole, not as these individual departments, and it is bloody hard to get your head around how this 'beast' operates.''

The Facebook page, set up to help minimise stress caused to farmers going through the eradication process, had reached around 160 people but more were likely.

''It's going OK, obviously not much has happened in the last couple of weeks but that will change as we start up again this coming week ... about 160 people [are] following the page and interacting with people on the page.''

Mr Barr said speaking to individuals affected by the response, ''you realise just what a dog's breakfast it has become''.

He expected individual cases would be needed to show MPI where improvement was required and what caused farmers additional stress.

Central Rural Life