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Welcome to Farm Biosecurity’s March Newsletter, where we update you on some of the key news and events in Australia and from around the world…

Focusing on: FMD

The upcoming Foot and Mouth Disease symposium in Melbourne in April 2010 (details below) will swing the spotlight on to this ‘most unwanted’ of livestock diseases. In the lead-up, the Farm Biosecurity team has collated the key facts on FMD.

  • It’s often forgotten that Australia has had FMD three times – fortunately, on each occasion in the 1800s the virus failed to become established, and to this day Australia remains FMD-free.
  • The highly contagious virus is endemic in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America, and occurs sporadically in Europe. The 2001 outbreak in Great Britain saw 2,000 confirmed cases of FMD and 4,000,000 animals were slaughtered
  • FMD causes fever, followed by the development of blisters chiefly in the mouth and on the feet. It only affects cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, buffalo, camels, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.


This image of a pig's snout demonstrates the effects of FMD. (Source: CSIRO)

Global status

  • The most recent cases have been in Guangdong province, eastern China, where more than 8,300 pigs have been destroyed to control disease spread. This follows previous outbreaks in western China, where many hundreds of cattle, sheep and goats were destroyed. Earlier, in January 2010, South Korean authorities worked to control an outbreak which first arose on a dairy farm.
  • In 2009, FMD outbreaks were reported in Angola, Botswana, China, Egypt, Nigeria, Palestine, South Africa, Vietnam and South Korea. It is likely that other cases were not reported.


Source: www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=disease_status_map&disease_

Biosecurity measures

  • A range of biosecurity measures are in place to prevent FMD entering Australia. Strict quarantine declarations for travelers and food imports apply at all Australian entry points.
  • The most probable way the virus would enter the country is via food products (such as sausages, cured or salted meats and cheeses) made overseas from meat or milk from an infected animal. If food scraps containing FMD virus are fed to livestock, the disease can establish. Pigs are very high risk, and for this reason, swill feeding of pigs is banned.

FMD Symposium 2010 - The International Symposium and Workshop on FMD will be held in Melbourne from 12 – 14 April, 2010. The theme is ‘FMD – Integrating Science and Management’ and will cover four key areas:

  • the biology of the FMD virus
  • advances in diagnostic technology and their application to FMD eradication or control
  • vaccines and their application
  • surveillance and monitoring during and outbreak

For more information go to www.FMD2010.com.au

Developing issues

Floods

The floods sweeping down from Queensland into NSW are posing biosecurity challenges that farmers that have not seen for many, many years! Inundation on this scale has not been seen since the 1950s.

A range of pests and diseases are either being swept along in the water, or will emerge over coming weeks as floodwaters move through the Darling system from the the Paroo, Warrego, Culgoa, Bokhara, Birrie and Narran river systems.

Farmer’s immediate concerns are moving stock to any available higher ground and caring for them, and protecting farm equipment and property. Though they’ll also be confronted with a range of biosecurity and animal health problems, such as:

  • Pulpy kidney - unvaccinated lambs and weaners grazing lush pasture growth following the receding floodwaters are at risk. Vaccination with 6-in-1 against pulpy kidney and other clostridial diseases is very effective and should be carried out as soon as practical
  • Bloat - will appear if the weather stays warm. The most dangerous pastures are clovers and lucerne
  • Weeds - watch for prolific growth of weeds, especially any unusual plants
  • Heartworm - will spread among dogs due to mosquito build-up. Local veterinarians can provide advice on methods of prevention
  • Three day sickness (ephemeral fever) of cattle - at this stage most reports are of a very small number of cattle affected in any herd with most recovering.  Major epidemics occurred in 1955-56 and 1967-68. A vaccine is available but it is best used before the outbreak rather than during it
  • Downed fences – ruined boundary and internal fences will see straying and boxed stock - they may spread footrot and/or lice
  • Blowflies - flystrike will be a problem - depending on shearing date and blood line (susceptibility). When sheep are saturated to the skin by heavy rain or floodwaters, any resultant fleece rot will attract blowflies. Sheep need to be closely-monitored and products providing either protection against strike or treatment of struck sheep need to be on-hand
  • Fleece - tender and water-damaged wools incur discounts. If shearing early, consider the long-term implications of a new shearing time
  • Worms - after heavy rain or flooding, worms can be a significant problem. Test for worms
  • Feed – until a body of good feed builds up stock are liable to chase the ‘green pick’, eat noxious weeds and become malnourished – adequate feed budgeting needs to occur. Also, collect all baling twine in food drop zones, to prevent stock injury and wool contamination

Report locust sightings

NSW farmers are being urged to report and take action against locusts following the increased activity through large areas of NSW.

This is best done by checking properties regularly for early detection of locusts and implementing pest control programs in conjunction with NSW’s local Livestock Health and Pest Authorities.

NSW Farmers’ Association President Charles Armstrong says “There is a significant business threat from future swarms of these pests, and all farmers really should be helping keep the threat under control,” he said.

The Australian Plague Locust Commission is reporting that locust migrations in the first half of February resulted in many swarms in the Far Northwest, Far Southwest, Southern Central West and Riverina regions of NSW.

“The Commission expects that if a high proportion of nymphs survive to fledging, there is the potential for a significant further widespread swarm infestation during April.

“There is also a risk of autumn egg laying in cropping regions of NSW with potential hatchings in spring,” he said.

Chemicals for control are available free of charge from local Livestock Health and Pest Authorities

The Silverleaf whitefly is back

A major pest in vegetables, cotton and soybeans, the silverleaf whitefly has reared its ugly head in Griffith and Whitton, NSW.

Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW district horticulturist, David Troldahl, recommends that all growers check their crops because this pest develops chemical resistance quickly and has caused serious problems in Queensland, Northern NSW and parts of Western Australia.

Mr Troldahl says “It was identified in the Riverina in 2009 on a Griffith property and was found near Whitton early this year.”

Mr Trodahl said Silver leaf whitefly (SLW) arrived in Australia in the early 1990’s and is primarily found on cucurbits, tomatoes, brassicas, legumes, lettuce and cotton crops as well as a range of broadleaved weeds.

“The adults are about 1-2mm long, their wings are distinctively white and they tend to fly off foliage when disturbed. The larvae are difficult to see but look like oval translucent-yellow scales on the leaf.

“Early morning is the best time to look for the pest by gently turning over young leaves within the crop, and if found, strict sanitation is crucial.

“It is best to schedule staff and machinery to work in clean crops first and infected crops last – preferably with a washdown before equipment or staff re-enter clean crops.”

Mr Troldahl said growers who don’t have SLW on their farm should ban seedlings from infected areas, and not allow people or machinery that have recently been in infected crops to enter their property without change of clothes or a washdown.

Any suspect samples can be taken to the to Yanco Agricultural Institute or the Griffith Field Station.

Biosecurity developments and member news

Grains Farm Biosecurity team

With the recent appointment of a Grains Biosecurity Officer in NSW, the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program is now a truly national program with six Officers:
Western Australia: Lisa Sherriff 0447 851 801
Queensland: Philip Burril 0427 696 500, or Kim McIntyre 0429 727 690
Victoria: Jim Moran 0418 377 930
South Australia: Judy Bellati 0412 218 228
New South Wales: Louise Rossiter 0429 726 285

This program is coordinated by PHA and funded by the Grains Council of Australia, the CRC for National Plant Biosecurity and respective state government agencies.

The group is currently assessing techniques to improve biosecurity communication and information exchange between stakeholders, including the development of training material for key pest threats, and identification, development and promotion of industry ‘champions’ for best practice in biosecurity at the farm level.

The group is also focusing on collection of surveillance data for high priority pest threats from research and evaluation trials. General communication and awareness material is being finalised which will be made available to grain growers and stakeholders at upcoming grains field days in each region.

Release of the revised grains industry Farm Biosecurity Manual

The Farm Biosecurity Manual for the Grains Industry was launched recently at the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Grower and Advisor Updates in QLD, NSW, Vic and SA.

The revised Farm Biosecurity Manual will assist in improving awareness of biosecurity as well as provide practical guidelines for implementation of farm biosecurity best practice at the farm level.

Copies of the Manual can be obtained by contacting your state Grains Biosecurity Officer (see above), or can be downloaded online from http://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/aahc/index.cfm?4904A8AE-ECAE-1E9E-07DA-36ADBC5C18D1.

Global Biosecurity 2010 conference wrap

The Global Biosecurity 2010: safeguarding agriculture and the environment conference in Brisbane early March attracted 450 delegates, including representatives from biosecurity agencies, research organisations, agricultural industries, environmental organisations, and a number of international agencies.

AHA and PHA jointly hosted a Farm Biosecurity booth which showcased the program and the messages produced to raise producer awareness of on farm biosecurity practices.  There was a lot of interest created by the booth with many delegates taking materials for their own use and ordering further quantities for delivery after the conference.

The Farm Biosecurity team poster was peer-selected, from over 30 posters, as the winner!

Farmbiosecurity - Partnering for better practice.pdf (577 KB)

Website launched for biosecurity

The latest tool in the Australian Government's armoury against an exotic disease or weed invasion has been launched -  a website on biosecurity.

The Australian Biosecurity Intelligence Network, or ABIN, web site will link researchers and policy makers on exotic disease, pest animals and plants and wildlife diseases.

The Federal Government has put $16 million dollars to it, but the biosecurity intelligence network won't be allocating any individual projects.

The Parliamentary secretary for Innovation and Industry, Richard Marles, says the web site will link up 60 different State and Federal agencies and Animal Health Laboratories around Australia.

"This is the glue which will stick together the entire biosecurity effort in Australia...."

The Australian Biosecurity Intelligence Network is inviting researchers to log on to find out more. www.abin.org.au

Farm Biosecurity Weekly Media Snapshot

Local news…

European wasps discovered in metropolitan Perth - “Biosecurity is everyone's business and this is a great example of the State Government investing in an area that will benefit the whole community,” the ...

First steps for pest free area for citrus industry in the Riverina - Mr Frank Battistel, Chairman of Riverina Citrus, based in Griffith NSW, has announced the establishment of the Riverina Pest Free Area Management Committee.

St Pat’s day reminder to control ‘green bridge’ - The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is reminding grain growers to control volunteer cereal plants and weeds that could be harbouring over-summering rust spores.

International news…

An Unlikely Life Aquatic - Allen's Shrimp Farm Market, situated in Okemos, Mich., just east of the capital of ... and our high biosecurity measures mean we keep more shrimp alive than ...

As Interest In Backyard Poultry Grows, So Does Need For Healthy Birds - While "biosecurity" may not be a common household word, for poultry and bird owners it can spell the difference between health and disease. ...

Tree planting can aid farms as well as planet - Some of the benefits of tree planting on farms include the creation of more shelter for livestock, improved biosecurity through separation of different ...

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