Latest news
February 13, 2012
The application of commonly recommended management principles has eradicated a strain of grain-storage insects with strong phosphine resistance located on a Western Australian farm.
The achievement – involving more than three years of treatment and monitoring followed by a final check of the site – was made by Department of Agriculture and Food, WA (DAFWA) staff with support from the GRDC.
It is believed to be the first time that elimination of on-farm grain-storage insects with strong phosphine resistance has been
scientifically documented and confirmed in Australia and possibly the world. (more…)
January 27, 2012
Many farmers use a chemical spray to control pests or weeds on their property. Apart from health concerns about exposure to chemicals, one potential issue is the off-target movement (spray drift) of herbicides and pesticides onto nearby plants or susceptible areas.
Potentially sensitive plants may be on your own property or on a neighbouring property. Insect pollinated crops such as orchards rely on beneficial insects like bees. Chemicals used to control insect pests may impact on beneficials, so care needs to be taken that they are not affected by spraying activities. (more…)
January 9, 2012
Fairfax Media and Elders have launched the official Australian Year of the Farmer photo competition, with a grand prize of $10,000 worth of camera equipment awarded for the winning photo.
The competition opened on 1 January 2012, and will run for nine months until 30 September 2012, so there’s plenty of time to get your entries in.
Monthly winners in each state and territory in six distinct categories will be selected by a panel of photo journalists. An overall monthly winner will get a voucher for $500 worth of camera equipment. There’s also up to 48 $50 vouchers supplied by Cellarmaster Wines, WISH and others every month –a total of 432 prizes over the 9 months! (more…)
December 22, 2011
Take our livestock farm biosecurity quiz!
Tis the season to be jolly; but why not try a more worthwhile distraction? Test your knowledge of on farm biosecurity practices for livestock properties with our tailor-made quiz.
And if in doubt – test your research skills. All the answers can be found on www.farmbiosecurity.com.au
You can take the quiz online or, if you are the traditional type, download the hard copy version for printing.
(Photo: Glen George)
December 20, 2011
Before you head off on your holiday road trip this year, make sure that you are not carrying any unwanted hitchhikers.
Two species of fruit fly that are established in parts of Australia – the Queensland fruit fly and the Mediterranean fruit fly – spread most easily by hitching a ride with people taking road trips around Australia carrying fruit or vegetables. These fruit fly species are two of Australia’s worst pests, but due to good biosecurity, some important production areas remain fruit fly free. Growers in these areas are able grow quality produce and benefit from selling and distributing their produce to domestic and international markets. The fresh fruit and vegetable produce in Australia’s cities are free from pests in part because of the maintenance of these pest free areas. (more…)
December 16, 2011
If you make compost or use it on pasture, you have an important role in helping prevent Mad Cow Disease (BSE).
Composting is a good thing to do, for a number of reasons. However, there is a potentially significant legal issue that people who make compost and those who use it should be aware of.
It is against the law to feed ‘Restricted Animal Material’ or RAM to ruminant animals – cattle, sheep, goats, deer, alpacas etc. This following article explains the issue of RAM as it may affect those who make or use compost.
What is the risk?
The danger comes from a serious livestock disease known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE). In cattle, this is known as Mad Cow Disease (the proper name being Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE). In sheep, it is commonly known as Scrapie. (more…)
December 5, 2011
Eileen Jorgenson, winner of the disinfection bootwash for completing the survey
A recent survey of Victorian grain growers revealed that producers are leaving the industry open to plant pest incursions. The online survey, carried out by
Plant Health Australia (PHA) and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, gave insight into the industry’s current biosecurity practices and awareness.
It revealed a high level of knowledge of the threats faced by the grains industry but a low adherence to biosecurity practices that prevent the establishment
and spread of any new pest or disease.
According to Jim Moran, the Victorian grains industry biosecurity officer, the results show a level of exposure to a biosecurity incursion which is of concern.
“PHA produced a Grains Farm Biosecurity Manual which explains the practices that farmers should be doing to reduce their biosecurity risks,” he said. “But not everyone is following them. For example, only 45 per cent of farmers are vigilant observers for new weeds, pests and diseases and said that they would contact their agronomist or consultant if something unusual was spotted.” (more…)
November 30, 2011
Australia’s National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) identifies animals so that we can trace them quickly if we need to. It applies t o anyone with cattle, sheep, pigs or goats. Even if you are a hobby farmer or small landholder, the law requires you to comply.
Australian producers are pretty good at doing this. A recent compliance drive by the NSW DPI and rural police, ‘Operation Shepherd’, revealed that 99.5% of the sheep sold and inspected over a six month period were correctly tagged, and 93% of consignments audited had the correct paperwork, including accurate National Vendor Declarations.
However this does not mean that the sheep are traceable under the current system. For the system to be effective, producers have to upload this information to the NLIS mob-based movement database to ensure the data is readily available. This is the purchaser’s responsibility.
As there are some gaps remaining, the following information is designed as a reminder of why we have the NLIS, what’s involved and why it is important to meet the requirements. (more…)
November 23, 2011
Experts inspect plants for signs of myrtle rust
- Farm Biosecurity encourages anyone who has ‘spotted anything unusual’ to call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline number – but what happens when you do call?
The hotline is a free-call telephone service to report suspect or unusual plant pests and diseases. It’s staffed during business hours of normal work days in each state or territory, so that action can be taken by knowledgeable local staff. There’s also an out-of-hours answering service to leave a message so you can be contacted.
Early detection is the key to mounting effective responses that have the best chance of eradicating or minimising the impact of plant pests and diseases. Public and grower awareness and a simple reporting method are central to the success of the system.
(more…)
November 11, 2011
Dairy biosecurity boosted as disease free deadline nears
Dairy Australia and Australian Dairy Farmers have developed a new tool to help producers implement sound on-farm biosecurity practices. The biosecurity booklet is timely as Australia prepares to claim freedom from the cattle viral disease Enzootic Bovine Leucosis (EBL) following a 15 year campaign across the industry. Effective on-farm biosecurity is needed to protect dairy herds from the introduction of infectious diseases, and to validate the EBL disease-free claim.
Dairy Australia’s Robin Condron, Manager Risk Analysis, said Dairy Biosecurity: Healthy Farms details useful information on stock movement, contact with wildlife and vermin, fencing, waste treatment and dealing with dead stock.
“It helps explain biosecurity and the role it plays in protecting your farm and the whole Australian dairy industry from the introduction of exotic diseases such as foot and mouth disease. On-farm biosecurity assesses and manages risks from animal diseases, pests and weeds. It should form part of normal farm business risk management,” Robin said. (more…)
November 3, 2011
The future of Australia’s lychee industry looks more secure following the release of a new national biosecurity plan for protection of the lychee industry. The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Lychee Industry was developed by Plant Health Australia (PHA) in close collaboration with the Australian Lychee Growers’ Association (ALGA). The biosecurity plan was funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd through grower levies and presents the first nationally coordinated and consistent approach to identifying and reducing the risk of potential new pests for the lychee industry.
The lychee plan was developed following a review by industry, government and other relevant stakeholders of the pests from across the globe that are likely to survive, spread and establish if they breach Australian borders. High priority pest threats of the Australian lychee industry were identified, including the fungus
Brown blight (Peronophythora litchii), the Lychee fruit borer (Conopomorpha litchiella) and Witches’ broom disease. These or other identified pests would pose serious consequences for lychee growers should they enter and become established in Australia, potentially devastating lychee yields. (more…)
October 21, 2011
Celebrations for the Australian Year of the Farmer (AYOF) were officially launched at
the site of Australia’s first European farm at Sydney’s Botanic Gardens on 12 October.
The Gardens welcomed farmers, farm animals, and farm machinery. A map of
Australia made from fresh produce showcased the broad range and fine quality of the produce grown in each state and territory.
The AYOF is an education and awareness campaign, promoting the contribution farmers and rural communities make to our national economy and society. (more…)
October 19, 2011
Rod Hoare & Helena Warren
Farm Day – the annual event in May when city comes to country; when distinctly under-informed but curious city dwellers visit Australia’s welcoming farmers to get their boots dirty and learn where their food really comes from. Being into all things animal health, Farm Biosecurity News leaped on the opportunity to spend Farm Day on a property owned and managed by two experts in the field.
Dr Rod Hoare and Helena Warren run ‘Cadfor’ at Binda near Crookwell, in the NSW Southern Highlands, where they breed Murray Grey cattle and some horses on 330 acres. They focus on producing quality seed stock for stud and commercial cattle buyers and own some of the top bulls in the breed. (more…)
October 13, 2011
With online shopping becoming a major rival to traditional retailers and services such as AuctionsPlus becoming ever more popular, it seems that livestock trading is increasingly getting in on the game.But what does buying or selling online mean for the health of your animals and what are the potential biosecurity risks to your farming operation?
When it comes to biosecurity, online purchasing can be something of double-edged sword. (more…)
October 6, 2011
John Bostock knows more about biosecurity than perhaps the average grain grower. He has been a longstanding member of the Western Australian GrainGuard Council and was part of the team six years ago that worked with Plant Health Australia to develop the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry. For John, biosecurity is just a normal part of his day-to-day activities.
John and his son Richard operate a mixed farming enterprise of cropping and livestock on about 1500 hectares in the western high-rainfall zone of the central wheatbelt of Western Australia – although, as John notes wryly, ‘high rainfall’ is not a particularly accurate description of late. (more…)
September 22, 2011
Two biosecurity planning documents targeting pests of avocado crops were released in early September, boosting protection against exotic pests for Australian avocado production. The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Avocado Industry and the Orchard Biosecurity Manual for the Avocado Industry were launched at the VII World Avocado Congress in Cairns.
The biosecurity planning documents are based on a risk analysis which identified specific insects, diseases and fungal infections that could damage avocado crops should they get into Australian orchards. The analysis was coordinated by Avocados Australia, Plant Health Australia (PHA) and Biosecurity Queensland bringing together key researchers working on avocados in Australia.
The high priority pests identified include avocado thrips which are causing large economic losses in Californian avocado orchards, avocado seed weevils which are a major pest in Central America, and laurel wilt which is emerging as a significant pest of avocados in the US. (more…)
September 16, 2011
Industry pioneer wins Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award
By any measure, Pepe Bonaccordo is one of Australian agriculture’s great success stories.
Starting in 1976 as a backyard business with just 22 Pekin ducks, Pepe’s Ducks now supplies 80,000 birds a week out of its facility at Windsor, NSW, and is the largest producer of ducks in Australia and New Zealand. Having put home-grown duck firmly on the Australian dinner plate, over the past two decades Mr Bonaccordo has been cementing the future growth of the industry by developing and enforcing uncompromising standards on biosecurity, food safety and animal welfare.
These outstanding efforts saw him become this year’s Biosecurity Farmer of the Year at the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards held in Sydney. (more…)
September 16, 2011
Sandra and Peter Young’s approach to biosecurity at Queensland’s leading tropical and subtropical fruit production nursery has seen them win the plant category of the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award.
The Youngs started producing avocado stock over thirty years ago, but today the Birdwood Nursery range of plants reads more like a fruit salad recipe. They also provide home gardeners and hobby farmers with Gourmet Lovers and Fruit Lovers collections.
Birdwood helped pioneer a nursery industry accreditation scheme and in 2006 became one of the first nurseries to achieve EcoHort certification. (more…)
September 14, 2011
Poultry producers and other bird owners are reminded to review their biosecurity measures following the highly infectious virus recently found in pigeons in Victoria.
Routine biosecurity measures: these procedures should be everyday practice. (more…)
September 8, 2011
Pepe and Mario Bonaccordo, winners of the animal category
By any measure, Pepe Bonaccordo and Sandra and Peter Young, winners of the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award, are some of Australian agriculture’s great success stories.
Having put home-grown duck firmly on the Australian dinner plate, over the past two decades Mr Bonaccordo has been cementing the future growth of the industry by developing and enforcing uncompromising standards on biosecurity, food safety and animal welfare.
These outstanding efforts last night saw him become this year’s Biosecurity Farmer of the Year (animal category) at the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards held in Sydney.
“We feel very excited about the win,” Mr Bonaccordo said.
“It does tell us that a lot of the hard work that we’ve done has been recognised by other people.
“It’s important that we build a great foundation underneath our market. And that foundation is: good farming management practices, good biosecurity, animal welfare, food safety, training – that’s what brands are built on.”
Sandra and Peter Young
Winners of the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year (plant category), Sandra and Peter Young of the Birdwood Nursery, are similarly proactive in biosecurity.
Birdwood helped pioneer a nursery industry accreditation scheme and in 2006 became one of the first nurseries to achieve EcoHort certification. Producing more than 150,000 trees annually, the Youngs say biosecurity has been at the forefront of all production processes in the business
The Farm Biosecurity team would like to congratulate the winners of both categories and the other finalists. They all demonstrate that successful biosecurity practices are not only part of responsible farming – they can also be great for business.
