January 20, 2025 • 9 mins
Facial Eczema is becoming more widespread in New Zealand, costing NZ’s economy $332 million annually. In part two of our series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by Becky Dymond to look at the economic, social and wellbeing impacts of Facial Eczema, plus key drivers behind all the work into the seven-year 'Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts' programme.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Eliminating Facial XMAS Impacts with Beef and Lamb New Zealand,
powered by the Country.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Hello and welcome into the special edition podcast and association
with Beef and Lamb New Zealand. My name is Rowena
Duncan from the Country. It is my pleasure to once
again be your host. We are looking at the EFI
program yet eliminating facial ex ME impacts. Joining me in
episode one was doctor Suzi Keeling to give us an
overview of the EFI program. Joining me on this second
(00:29):
episode as Becky Diamond, Senior Advisor Farmer Engagement and Partnerships
at Beef and Lamb.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Hello Becky, Hello, and thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
No my absolute pleasure.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Look.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Beef and Lamb New Zealand are leading this program. It's
over twenty million dollars a seven year program. The goals
to develop tools with farmers to manage and eliminate facial
EXMA impacts. It's funded by Beef and Lamb New Zealand
and mpi's Sustainable Food and Fiber Futures Fund, with contributions
as well from farmers and industry XP where It's a huge,
(01:01):
huge project, a lot of collaboration multi sector, so dairy sheep,
beef and camelots, so that's like our packers and lamas
and milking sheep are included in the scope of it
as well. Becky, you must be stoked to be part
of this program. What's your background?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I'm really cliply part of this program. It's so nice
to be Even though we're beef and lamb working across
all the sectors, we've got deer in deed in there
as well, so yes, super cool. My background is I
was brought up on a deer farm in the Canterbury
which is now turned into Angus beef finishing, and my
whole entire family is involved in the rural sector, so
(01:38):
from potatoes and onions through to dairy farming. I was
kind of just meant to go to university to study
eggs side, so I ended up at Messy controversially not Lincoln,
but I did an eggside degree there and then got
into a pasta sea company where I spent five years
as a pasture systems economists up here in the North Island,
(02:00):
followed by some time Dari indeed, where I worked on
the environmental team, and now I'm very lucky to be
here at beefon Lamb purely in the facial XNA program.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, fantastic, And don't worry, I'm a Massy alumni as well,
so yeah, Nassy represent So tell me, Becky, tell me
about the AFI program and what you're looking into in
terms of the impacts.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah. So in the a FI program, we are using
a bit of work from the Beef and Lamb lead
Hill Country Futures program which identified four pillars to a
successful business, and we're going to be looking into three
of those, which is the financials, so the economic costs,
the social and the well being. So in terms of
the economic we know that facial XMA costs roughly around
(02:47):
three hundred and thirty two million annually primarily through production
losses long term effects like liver damage and livestock which
is a huge amount of money. And then we know
through social and wellbeing impacts is that facial XMATE actually
can create a really immense emotional strain on farmers, especially
because of the unexpected outbreaks which can lead to severe
(03:09):
stock losses and in extreme cases it can actually cause
farmers to leave the industry and or face mental health crisises.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It's a huge impact and I'm glad you're looking at
those three different pillars, the people, the financials, and the
community and the support networks. So that's social cost as well,
because they don't kind of happen in isolation. Look what
kind of widespread productivity and economic losses do we know about, Becky?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So we know that subclinical fe which is often undetected,
could effect up for ten times more animal than clinical cases,
which can cause significant but hidden economic impacts. So subclinical
facial exmate on a sheep and beef farm, it could
produce productivity by up to twenty five percent. And if
(03:57):
we look at a dairy farm of approx. Only four
hundred cows, that could cost one hundred thousand dollars annually
in milk production losses, which is huge.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, it really is huge, especially you know when everyone's
watching their bottom line, they also care about their stock.
You know, that is such a significant impact. So what
does this program want to achieve?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So the AFI program aims to say New Zealand's partial
industry thirty eight million dollars annually by the end of
the program, and increase to one hundred and three million
after five years, and then another one hundred and thirty
seven million dollars by year ten. And that's just through
effective solutions which have been co developed by farmers and
are adopted. And then we're hoping that the benefits include
(04:42):
improved and more health, increased productivity, and lower disease control
costs which will contribute to sect profitability and sustainability.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah. And like we've heard so much, in particular the
last couple of years about the government's aim for the
primary sector import at exports sorry to double in value
in the space of ten years. So everything like this
is actually going to help our farmers to be able
to help achieve that goal. Look, what are some of
the key drivers behind all of this work.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Obviously, one of the key drivers is eliminating the impact
of your feet. That will be accountless farm animals from
the pain and the long term trauma of the disease.
That's a key motivation for the program. And then obviously
the other one is the farmer well being. If we
can help reduce the stress and economic burden of facial exmis,
it will increase mental health and wellbeing and foster and
(05:35):
more resilient and hopefully confident farming sector.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, because at the end of the day. Farmers care
about their animals. They want to know about healthy and
this will do a massive part in that. Who else
is involved in this program we mentioned at the start
it is a really collaborative approach, yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Which is really awesome. But I think one of the
key ones is at the core of the program we've
got farmers, raw fession and Maori, every business. Key reason
why I've been employed here in this role is it's
really important to involve all these people in anything we
are developing or researching because at the day it's going
to be have to be adoptable on farm, and so
(06:16):
making sure that incorporation of all that knowledge and experience
from on farm, as well as the cultural perspectives and
musterdung are Maordi results in practical research and solutions.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, exactly. Look, how will we begin to understand the
impacts of FA at a farm level.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yes, So in early twenty twenty five, we will be
launching two surveys through some of our research partners, and
that will be aimed at gathering insights from farmers about
the economic and social impacts of facial excement at a
farm level. So these surveys will be one hundred percent
anonymous that the information that is provided will play a
really critical role in shaping the tools and solutions we
(06:56):
developed the farmers in the future.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, do you hope farmers are We'll get them behind
that one, We really hope.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So we know that surveys aren't towards the most exciting,
but they are the best way for us to catch
it a nationwide perspective and truly understand the challenges on
the ground and get the number of people involved, because
otherwise we can only do very few. We've actually had
farmers helping us design the surveys, and they have told
us they want to share their experiences and they want
(07:26):
to share some of their financial information with us just
so they can help make a difference for future generations
and so they don't have to suffer what they suffer
through facial exness. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Absolutely, And like I know, as you say, surveys aren't
always the most exciting thing, but when there is a
genuine feeling of this is going to make a difference.
This is going to help not only my business in
the future, but other farmers as well, and other animals
as well, no matter what the sector. I think that
is going to be a real draw card for people because,
(07:58):
as we say, at the end of the day, farmers
want healthy animals and they also want to help the
sector as a whole.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah. Absolutely, and we know that it's a key driver.
So this will just be the start. This is the
first benchmarking and so there'll be a couple of follow
on surveys later in the program to try and track
them progress as well.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah fantastic, Becky. Where can people go to find more information?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
So people can go to the Beef and Lamb we
sites and then forward splash eef I or just follow
Beef and Lamb on any social media channels and you'll
be facial ex missing, left, right and center.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah fantastic. And of course we have got a third
podcast episode coming out in a week's time as well,
next Tuesday that will be online as well, so make
sure you keep your eyes peeled for that one. Becky Diamond,
Senior Advisor Farmer Engagement and Partnerships at Beef and Lamb
New Zealand, thank you so much for your time. Thank
you so much for your work on this project. I
(08:55):
really look forward to hearing more about it in the future.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
No, thanks so much for
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Having me ro eliminating facial eksma's impacts with beef and
lamb New Zealand powered by the Country
Eliminating Facial XMAS Impacts with Beef and Lamb New Zealand,
powered by the Country.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Hello and welcome into the special edition podcast and association
with Beef and Lamb New Zealand. My name is Rowena
Duncan from the Country. It is my pleasure to once
again be your host. We are looking at the EFI
program yet eliminating facial ex ME impacts. Joining me in
episode one was doctor Suzi Keeling to give us an
overview of the EFI program. Joining me on this second
(00:29):
episode as Becky Diamond, Senior Advisor Farmer Engagement and Partnerships
at Beef and Lamb.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Hello Becky, Hello, and thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
No my absolute pleasure.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Look.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Beef and Lamb New Zealand are leading this program. It's
over twenty million dollars a seven year program. The goals
to develop tools with farmers to manage and eliminate facial
EXMA impacts. It's funded by Beef and Lamb New Zealand
and mpi's Sustainable Food and Fiber Futures Fund, with contributions
as well from farmers and industry XP where It's a huge,
(01:01):
huge project, a lot of collaboration multi sector, so dairy sheep,
beef and camelots, so that's like our packers and lamas
and milking sheep are included in the scope of it
as well. Becky, you must be stoked to be part
of this program. What's your background?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I'm really cliply part of this program. It's so nice
to be Even though we're beef and lamb working across
all the sectors, we've got deer in deed in there
as well, so yes, super cool. My background is I
was brought up on a deer farm in the Canterbury
which is now turned into Angus beef finishing, and my
whole entire family is involved in the rural sector, so
(01:38):
from potatoes and onions through to dairy farming. I was
kind of just meant to go to university to study
eggs side, so I ended up at Messy controversially not Lincoln,
but I did an eggside degree there and then got
into a pasta sea company where I spent five years
as a pasture systems economists up here in the North Island,
(02:00):
followed by some time Dari indeed, where I worked on
the environmental team, and now I'm very lucky to be
here at beefon Lamb purely in the facial XNA program.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, fantastic, And don't worry, I'm a Massy alumni as well,
so yeah, Nassy represent So tell me, Becky, tell me
about the AFI program and what you're looking into in
terms of the impacts.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah. So in the a FI program, we are using
a bit of work from the Beef and Lamb lead
Hill Country Futures program which identified four pillars to a
successful business, and we're going to be looking into three
of those, which is the financials, so the economic costs,
the social and the well being. So in terms of
the economic we know that facial XMA costs roughly around
(02:47):
three hundred and thirty two million annually primarily through production
losses long term effects like liver damage and livestock which
is a huge amount of money. And then we know
through social and wellbeing impacts is that facial XMATE actually
can create a really immense emotional strain on farmers, especially
because of the unexpected outbreaks which can lead to severe
(03:09):
stock losses and in extreme cases it can actually cause
farmers to leave the industry and or face mental health crisises.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It's a huge impact and I'm glad you're looking at
those three different pillars, the people, the financials, and the
community and the support networks. So that's social cost as well,
because they don't kind of happen in isolation. Look what
kind of widespread productivity and economic losses do we know about, Becky?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So we know that subclinical fe which is often undetected,
could effect up for ten times more animal than clinical cases,
which can cause significant but hidden economic impacts. So subclinical
facial exmate on a sheep and beef farm, it could
produce productivity by up to twenty five percent. And if
(03:57):
we look at a dairy farm of approx. Only four
hundred cows, that could cost one hundred thousand dollars annually
in milk production losses, which is huge.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, it really is huge, especially you know when everyone's
watching their bottom line, they also care about their stock.
You know, that is such a significant impact. So what
does this program want to achieve?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So the AFI program aims to say New Zealand's partial
industry thirty eight million dollars annually by the end of
the program, and increase to one hundred and three million
after five years, and then another one hundred and thirty
seven million dollars by year ten. And that's just through
effective solutions which have been co developed by farmers and
are adopted. And then we're hoping that the benefits include
(04:42):
improved and more health, increased productivity, and lower disease control
costs which will contribute to sect profitability and sustainability.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah. And like we've heard so much, in particular the
last couple of years about the government's aim for the
primary sector import at exports sorry to double in value
in the space of ten years. So everything like this
is actually going to help our farmers to be able
to help achieve that goal. Look, what are some of
the key drivers behind all of this work.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Obviously, one of the key drivers is eliminating the impact
of your feet. That will be accountless farm animals from
the pain and the long term trauma of the disease.
That's a key motivation for the program. And then obviously
the other one is the farmer well being. If we
can help reduce the stress and economic burden of facial exmis,
it will increase mental health and wellbeing and foster and
(05:35):
more resilient and hopefully confident farming sector.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, because at the end of the day. Farmers care
about their animals. They want to know about healthy and
this will do a massive part in that. Who else
is involved in this program we mentioned at the start
it is a really collaborative approach, yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Which is really awesome. But I think one of the
key ones is at the core of the program we've
got farmers, raw fession and Maori, every business. Key reason
why I've been employed here in this role is it's
really important to involve all these people in anything we
are developing or researching because at the day it's going
to be have to be adoptable on farm, and so
(06:16):
making sure that incorporation of all that knowledge and experience
from on farm, as well as the cultural perspectives and
musterdung are Maordi results in practical research and solutions.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, exactly. Look, how will we begin to understand the
impacts of FA at a farm level.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yes, So in early twenty twenty five, we will be
launching two surveys through some of our research partners, and
that will be aimed at gathering insights from farmers about
the economic and social impacts of facial excement at a
farm level. So these surveys will be one hundred percent
anonymous that the information that is provided will play a
really critical role in shaping the tools and solutions we
(06:56):
developed the farmers in the future.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, do you hope farmers are We'll get them behind
that one, We really hope.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So we know that surveys aren't towards the most exciting,
but they are the best way for us to catch
it a nationwide perspective and truly understand the challenges on
the ground and get the number of people involved, because
otherwise we can only do very few. We've actually had
farmers helping us design the surveys, and they have told
us they want to share their experiences and they want
(07:26):
to share some of their financial information with us just
so they can help make a difference for future generations
and so they don't have to suffer what they suffer
through facial exness. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Absolutely, And like I know, as you say, surveys aren't
always the most exciting thing, but when there is a
genuine feeling of this is going to make a difference.
This is going to help not only my business in
the future, but other farmers as well, and other animals
as well, no matter what the sector. I think that
is going to be a real draw card for people because,
(07:58):
as we say, at the end of the day, farmers
want healthy animals and they also want to help the
sector as a whole.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah. Absolutely, and we know that it's a key driver.
So this will just be the start. This is the
first benchmarking and so there'll be a couple of follow
on surveys later in the program to try and track
them progress as well.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah fantastic, Becky. Where can people go to find more information?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
So people can go to the Beef and Lamb we
sites and then forward splash eef I or just follow
Beef and Lamb on any social media channels and you'll
be facial ex missing, left, right and center.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah fantastic. And of course we have got a third
podcast episode coming out in a week's time as well,
next Tuesday that will be online as well, so make
sure you keep your eyes peeled for that one. Becky Diamond,
Senior Advisor Farmer Engagement and Partnerships at Beef and Lamb
New Zealand, thank you so much for your time. Thank
you so much for your work on this project. I
(08:55):
really look forward to hearing more about it in the future.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
No, thanks so much for
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Having me ro eliminating facial eksma's impacts with beef and
lamb New Zealand powered by the Country
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