Cattle Levy Increased

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 9

Cattle Levy Increased

Wellington Reporter Compensation for cattle infected with brucellosis and tuberculosis will be increased to the old rate of 95 per cent of market value, but i the disease eradication levy will be increased to cover i the higher cost, the Minister . of Agriculture, Mr MacIntyre, has announced. ; Mr Maclntyre said the ' Government had decided to ; reinstate the old level of i compensation because of reports of hardship. The com- i pensation for slaughtered

cattle had been reduced to 75 per cent of the market value in July. The Government recognised that programmes for the eradication of tuberculosis and brucellosis could impose a severe financial burden on farmers with badly infected herds. However, the Government had also decided to increase the disease eradication levy so that the higher compensation. would not result in an increase in Government spending. The disease lew. which

was paid at slaughter on adult cattle, would be increased from $2 to $2.50. This would ensure that the industry’s share of the costs of eradicating the diseases would be evenly spread. The increased levy could be looked on as a type of insurance. Mr Maclntyre said that the eradication programmes were essential to ensure that beef and dairy products had access to export markets. It was vital that ■ the momentum of the . scheme was maintained.. - - .