Did you listen to the previous post?
The Prime Minister announced the decision yesterday afternoon to make a huge effort to completely eradicate the disease. The government has the support of the President of the Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and Beef+Lamb NZ. We know that already 23,000 cows will be killed but this new decision means that probably the total number killed will be 150,000. This will cost the government and the industry around $1 billion in compensation to the farmers.
It will take place over a period of two years. After the animals have been sent to the “works” where they are killed for the meat, the farm has to be completely disinfected, including all the machinery and the trucks used to carry the animals. Then after 60 days, the farmer can buy in new cows.
While this process will be expensive and distressing to the farmers, the Prime Minister said NZ had one shot at eradicating the disease completely, and that was now, before the problem got any bigger.
The emotional cost to farmers will be huge. Farming can be stressful with drought, floods, snow, high debt and low milk or meat prices. To lose all their animals will be one more stress.
Vocabulary
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eradicate (v) – get rid of completely
the industry – businesses connected to farming like Dairy NZ
the “works” – abattoirs where animals are killed for their meat
disinfected (v) – all the bugs / bacteria are killed
distressing (adj) – upsetting, causing emotional distress and worry
one shot – one opportunity