Press Release 24/03/2015 by Farmers Against Ten Eighty

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would ask all farmers to be vigilant when 1080 is used around their properties, and to ensure they do not further compromise our exports like the current sick criminal is doing.

Many farmers in their hope to ensure a Tb free future allow 1080 operations on their own farms without fully understanding the awful mess of pellets and fragments left behind for their stock to eat. Some know to their cost as they have suffered dead livestock after these operations.
It is time to draw a line in the sand and say no more. If 1080 is to be used and our preference is no more 1080 anywhere, either in our water, on our land or in our air, then let it firstly not be used on or near dairy farms, then dry-stock farms, then no farms.

Let the cavalier users of this dreadful poison find somewhere else.

Secondly consider up –dating yourself on the disease Tb and what ways you can firstly avoid having it on your farm, and if you have got it, how to stop it going into the bush but even once there how to avoid any more of your animals picking this disease up.
Thinking farmers have achieved this without insisting that 1080 be used. It is unconscionable to ensure 1080 is used to save you from getting off your butt, educating yourself and solving your problem.

Tb will not put you out of business. 1080 will.

Tb testing will not give you any security if you are buying stock either so there are many issues to think about, however it is not rocket science to work your way through a programme and eradicate disease from your farm or better still don’t get caught buying it in – that is the single greatest cause of new Tb infections now. While traceabilty may help in the future there are so many fish-hooks in it at present that it is not working.

Say NO to 1080 operations on your farms, say yes to educating yourself about Tb – do not rely on old-wives tales and communications officers, they have insufficient skills.

Do not inflict 1080 on anyone else in our community just so you can make a dollar, be proactive and prevent any association for our farms with 1080.

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