Support for farmers affected by M. bovis

Farm systems manager

If you are under movement controls, the programme will assign you a farm systems manager (FSM) who will visit you regularly and be your main point of contact. A Rural Support Trust facilitator will also be available.

If you are under Active Surveillance, you will have a dedicated farmer liaison team available by phone.

MPI and industry are here to help

If you are a farmer and need support, help is available through your industry group representative and MPI.

• MPI: 0800 00 83 33
• DairyNZ: 0800 43 24 79 69
• Beef + Lamb New Zealand: 0800 23 33 52
• Federated Farmers: 0800 32 76 46

Farm recovery plans are an individually tailored recovery plan for farms under movement controls. Your farm systems manager will help you put this together.

The programme has a range of information packs available for farms undergoing testing, movement controls, or depopulation, as well as for neighbours of farms that have M. bovis.

M. bovis resources

The Mycoplasma bovis Recovery Advice Service helps farmers pay for business and technical advice on recovering from the effects of M. bovis. It makes payments to eligible farmers of up to $5,000 (excluding GST) per property that's run as a separate business entity.

You will need to meet the difference if the total cost of the services you receive per property is greater than this amount.

Eligible farmers can decide what type of advice they need and choose their supplier from a pre-approved list.

Mycoplasma bovis Recovery Advice Service

The programme may be able to contribute to the cost of mustering cattle for testing or census.

For eligibility criteria or to apply, talk to your farm systems manager or the verification and allocation team.

The programme will take into account the unique situation on your farm, and work to reduce the impact of on-farm testing. We've boosted lab resources, so we can provide you with your test results as soon as possible.

Learn more about testing

Inland Revenue can help people affected by extreme events. They have a range of measures to help, depending on your personal circumstances.

Discretionary relief – Inland Revenue

Filing and paying

Inland Revenue understands that tax isn’t the first thing on your mind. Contact your tax agent with any concerns or questions about filing returns or paying tax. They will work with Inland Revenue on any tax concerns.

Visit the IRD website

There is a range of assistance available for people or families whose incomes have been severely affected. Even if you don’t think you’d qualify, please talk to Work and Income. Your Rural Support Trust can help you with this.

Work and Income may be able to help you with costs you don’t have any other way of paying even if you’re not on a benefit or can point you in the right direction based on your circumstances.

• Freephone Work and Income: 0800 55 90 09
• Work and Income Mycoplasma bovis

Working for Families Tax Credits are payments for families with dependent children aged 18 or under. Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly, or as a lump sum at the end of the year.

To check if you're eligible for Working for Families Tax Credit:

• visit the Inland Revenue website
• talk to your accountant
• talk to Rural Support Trust: 0800 78 72 54 (0800 RURAL HELP).