Beef + Lamb New Zealand, with the support of other industry partners, is rolling out Biosecurity Workshops throughout the country to help build farmer awareness of the steps they can take to protect themselves, their neighbours and others in the sector. These workshops are good for both beef and dairy farmers.
Will Halliday, B+LNZ Senior Advisor, Biosecurity and Animal Welfare, says while M.bovis was the impetus behind the initiative, the 2–3 hour workshops take a much broader view of biosecurity, looking at animal and plant pests and diseases and what steps farmers can take to minimise the risk of biosecurity incursions.
He says pilot workshops held earlier this year highlighted that some farmers were already doing a lot to protect their businesses, it was just a matter of adding simple practices onto existing management strategies in order to reduce further risk.
Will says farmers will leave the workshop with the beginnings of their own biosecurity plan.
“They will be given the tools they need to get a biosecurity plan started, working in conjunction with their families, vet, staff and rural professionals.”
The first of these workshops will be held in Waiau, North Canterbury on 9 July, and Blenheim on 10 July.
Will says farmers should look at the events section of the B+LNZ website to see when a workshop will be held in their area, or contact their local B+LNZ extension manager to request one.
