She has stepped down from the South Canterbury Rural Support Trust, after being one of most publicly visible members since the disease was found on a Morven dairy farm on July 22 last year.
Mrs Barr said the South Canterbury branch was given responsibility for the M.bovis response throughout the South Island, except Southland, until recently. Now, staff at other branches around New Zealand were being trained to contribute.
Mrs Barr said the work had ''pretty much consumed'' her. She felt ''incredibly guilty'' for relinquishing her role, because the farmers involved could not resign.
She would continue to help some of them and publicise the issues they were facing.
Although some Ministry for Primary Industries representatives had worked extremely hard to help affected farmers, she believed there were still gaps in communication.
In April, Mrs Barr ran farmer meetings in Oamaru and Ashburton in which participants listed ''pages and pages'' of issues they were concerned about.
When asked what they wanted, it was ''really simple'' - timely and accurate communication and compensation.
In the past few months, there had been improvements, including ministry representatives with decision-making authority being stationed across Canterbury and North Otago. They were providing more direct contact with farmers and there was ''some light'' at the end of a very long tunnel, Mrs Barr said.
''There are enormous pressures. They're not getting any less.
''Farmers are trying to plan for the coming seasons. How do you plan when you're waiting so long for tests?''
The Rural Support Trust was one of the few constants in the lives of affected families, she said.
Her replacement, former Rangitata MP and cabinet minister Jo Goodhew, would be ''an awesome advocate'', Mrs Barr said.
''She knows who she's working for - farmers.''
