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Foot-and-mouth disease
The search is on once again to find Australian agriculture’s biosecurity champions. If you or someone you know goes the extra mile to protect their property from diseases, pests and weeds, nominate them now for the 2019 Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year Award.
Our primary producers are on the front lines of the national biosecurity system. Small, everyday actions on-farm go a long way to ensuring Australia is secure against exotic, endemic and emerging diseases, pests and weeds.
Animal Health Australia (AHA) and Plant Health Australia (PHA), through the Farm Biosecurity Program, are proud to partner with the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to once again recognise those who demonstrate outstanding, proactive on-farm biosecurity practices as part of the Australian Biosecurity Awards.
The Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year Award was first presented in early 2018 to recognise excellence in on-farm biosecurity measures and the contributions made by producers to the wider biosecurity system.
PHA’s Executive Director and CEO, Greg Fraser, is excited to see the Producer of the Year Award return in 2019.
“Last year’s winners were not just biosecurity champions. Their very different experiences with exotic disease eradications combined to create a vital case study into the importance of managing biosecurity on-farm,” said Mr Fraser.
“We are keen to see a new crop of producers recognised for their outstanding biosecurity measures through this unique award.”
AHA’s CEO, Kathleen Plowman, is eager to unearth biosecurity ambassadors who understand the importance of being proactive.
“Implementing biosecurity at the farm gate is not only vital for nation’s biosecurity system, it’s also central to the sustainability and profitability of your business,” said Ms Plowman.
“We’re looking for nominations from any and all producers, from hobby farmers to large commercial operators, who have successfully integrated essential on-farm biosecurity actions into their everyday farm management.”
“I encourage anyone who knows a friend or family member who practices outstanding biosecurity on their farm to nominate them,” she said.
For information on the awards, including the nomination form, visit agriculture.gov.au/aba and for more information on the Farm Biosecurity Program’s six on-farm biosecurity essentials, visit farmbiosecurity.com.au.
Nominations close Friday 9 November.
Late nominations will be considered. Please contact ABA@agriculture.gov.au
Farm Biosecurity is a national awareness program that provides information to livestock and plant producers and related service providers about on-farm biosecurity, and prevention of animal diseases and plant pests. The program is a joint initiative of AHA and PHA. It encourages producers to identify risks to their livestock and plant products and minimise these risks by incorporating on-farm biosecurity measures into their everyday operations.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact AHA’s Communications Coordinator, Ryan Diessel on (02) 6203 3929 or PHA’s Communications Officer, Sharon Abrahams on (02) 6215 7711.
