One of the first farmers to find his herd with Mycoplasma bovis infected says MPI needs to speed up the culling of infected cows.

Ben Walling farms near Lumsden and understands the massive cull is a necessary step.

"But they seriously need to pull their finger out and be a lot more aggressive in chasing it down."

Walling told Mike Hosking if the government gets farmers on side they can still eradicate the disease.

Around 150,000 cows will have to be culled, and Walling thinks it is possible that they could eradicate the disease.

"If farmers get on side with them, help them, I can't see why not, but with the current attitude, I think they are going to struggle."

Walling says there's a small group of farmers who believe cows with the disease are quite farmable.

The Prime Minister's disappointed at the speed of compensation for Mycoplasma Bovis culled animals.

Jacinda Ardern says the government will work out the amount paid to each farmer on a farm-by-farm basis.

But she told Mike Hosking it's clear the payments need to happen quickly.

"We want that to happen [as an] initial payment within four to ten days, and then complete payment up to two to three weeks."

LISTEN TO BEN WALLING TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE