Falklands : Agriculture Head Gives Monthly Report
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 28.10.2007 (Article Archived on 11.11.2007)
Phyl Rendell, Director of Minerals and Agriculture, gives a monthly run-down on Departmet activities.
Director of Minerals & Agriculture
Report on DoA Activities
25 October 2007
On Farm Trials and Pasture Improvement Programme (PlP) Work
Since reporting on activities at the last meeting in September, staff have been particularly busy monitoring farm trials on a regular basis as spring is a challenging time for animal performance. An information paper will be discussed later in the meeting but thanks to farmers, Andrew Pollard and his team for maintaining records for both swede and lupin feeding trials while Peter Johnson has been on holiday. Details of the trials will be published in the Wool Press but full evaluation cannot be undertaken until more data is available, however, it is evident at this early stage that farmers wanting to supply Sand Bay Abattoir with quality meat carcasses need to look at the cost benefit of supplementary feeding of selected stock, particularly hoggets, atcritical times of the year.
Pasture lmprovement Programme - ordering of materials for the Pasture Improvement Programme (PlP) was trigged earlier this year due to the approval process being completed by the beginning of June. The Department will endeavour to keep to this timetable next year. Planting of pasture is taking place at present and with the warm conditions farmers are being advised to plant early this season.
The programme has become well understood by farmers. Ground preparation and planting work now seem to be part of the farming cycle and all credit to farmers for the effort they put in to produce improved pasture for their stock.
Veterinary Section Report
Farmers have been contacted about checking for suspect material in cattle when slaughtering on farms. TB testing has concluded that there is no TB in cattle in the Islands but monitoring is important in order to accurately record disease status. Zoe Luxton, the veterinary officer, has circulated farmers about identification of suspect material in internal organs and training will be organised next winter for groups of farmers to either visit the abattoir or on farms when cattle are being slaughtered.
Senior Veterinary Officer, Vic Epstein has been working on a review of legislation that is related to the export of meat to the EU. He has prepared a comprehensive report for the Attorney General's department to introduce in date legislation to comply with EU requirements.
The Senior Veterinary Officer is presenting a paper on hydatid disease at the next Commonwealth Veterinary Conference to be held in Barbados on 03 and 04 November. The conference will provide opportunity to test theories about the extended life of hydatid disease here in the Falkland Islands in spite of an eradication programme over the last thirty years. Vic will also visit Uruguay for further identification of laboratories for testing fish samples to satisfy EU audit requirements.
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) restrictions remain in place at MPA for flights from the UK due to a further scare being reported in 17 October when the UK veterinary authorities had hoped to be able to lift restrictions. The next date for review is 05 November. Inconvenience to inbound passengers is regretted. There have been some questions from the public about entry on Lan Chile flights and FMD screening. Chile has no FMD and SAG, their veterinary authorities have biosecurity measures in place at points of entry. Anyone stating that they have been on a farm in the last 30 days when entering MPA on Lan Chile flights is asked to scrub footwear.
Organic Status
Senior Agricultural Advisor, Neil Judd, has established contact with the Biological Farmers of Australia who are keen to work with Falkland Islands farmers to gain internationally recognised organic status. Two new staff members will attend brief audit courses in Australia in November. Meanwhile it is planned that an agreement with costings can be reached in the coming months.
Staff Matters
Neil Judd leaves the lslands on 10 November. On behalf of the Department Iwould like to thank him for the outstanding contribution that he has made to farming over the last six years, particularly his advice on wool matters and his leadership in driving the sheep genetic programme. He secured 1140,000 of STABEX funds that kick started the programme in 2004 on a scale that has started to make a major difference to farm income.
Neil's message about a need for change if Falklands' farming is to survive has not been received well in every quarter but for those that want to operate viable enterprises the support for his work has been 100%. I regret Neil's departure and have learnt a vast amount about agriculture in the four years that we have worked together. I would like to thank him for his patience and willingness to explain and reason through with me, a non specialist, his many projects and initiatives. We all wish Neil and his wife Jenny the very best in their new jobs back in Australia and hope to see them here again in the future.
Mac McArthur, the new Senior Agricultural Advisor, and his wife Felicity arrive here on 01 December. An Agricultural Advisor, lan Campbell, has been appointed and will arrive to start work on 12 January. His wife Susan will accompany him once their daughter is in boarding school.
Lyn Dent, Senior Laboratory Technician, will complete her two year contract in December and leave the Department. Thank you to Lyn for all the animal disease monitoring work carried out and particularly in the 2006 export season at the abattoir.
The success of the disease monitoring work has resulted in the Department being able to cut back on contract staff for the time being and a vacancy for a Laboratory Assistant will be advertised in a few weeks for a start in January. This position will suit a young lslander interested in future career training.
An Official Veterinary Officer and a Meat Hygiene Inspector are being recruited to work in the abattoir during the export season.
Phyl Rendell
Director of Minerals & Agriculture
23 October 2007
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