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Foot-and-mouth disease
When we talk about farm biosecurity, we almost always talk about it from an on-farm producer or growers’ perspective. However, as an agronomist, vet or contractor visiting multiple sites, you can unintentionally carry pests, diseases and weeds off the farm and between sites.
The world has learned first-hand just how quickly viral outbreaks can spread, but pig producers are all too familiar with the concept. This is thanks to one of the biggest risks the global pig industry faces: African swine fever (ASF).
This disease causes huge economic loss because of the lack of effective vaccines and treatments. When the only adequate prevention of spread is early detection, surveillance becomes an integral part of biosecurity plans.
Facing the challenges on the horizon with a shared purpose – that’s the goal of a National Biosecurity Strategy being developed by Australian, state and territory governments, industry, environment groups and the community. Having clear national priorities and actions, and working together, is the best way we can be ready for them. The National Biosecurity Strategy is on the way to being finalised, and your feedback will be valuable to help do this.
Australia’s $900 million citrus industry could face serious production and market access risks if the industry is not adequately prepared to manage future biosecurity threats. A new five-year national biosecurity program, CitrusWatch, is a collaborative effort that is designed to protect the citrus industry from harmful exotic pests and diseases such as Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and huánglóngbìng (HLB).
Plant Health Australia (PHA) has recently revamped three online courses that now offer greater interactivity and designs to enhance the online learning experience.
Introduction of new stock on-farm is the main way that disease may enter a herd, so introducing low-risk stock onto the property with a management plan is the best prevention strategy.
