WELCOME to the 14th edition of Farm Biosecurity News.
Each edition examines one of our top five Farm Biosecurity risk areas. These issues directly relate to biosecurity risks on properties and provide you with helpful information relating to prevention and risk mitigation.
This edition focuses on the biosecurity risks associated with pests on and off your property.
For additional information on Farm Biosecurity visit the Farm Biosecurity website at www.farmbiosecurity.com.au
Our farm biosecurity advice is designed to be simple, clear and easy to use. Please share these articles with your colleagues and members and feel free to use them in your own industry or member publications.
Farm biosecurity: the issues
Biosecurity in review: Farm Biosecurity examines one of the five key risk areas
Monitoring and surveillance of pests
Monitoring and surveillance involves looking for, recording and managing diseases, pests and weeds. Conducting regular surveys of your crops or livestock gives you the best chance of identifying a new pest before it becomes established. This can be incorporated into existing integrated pest management (IPM) or property pest management plans (PPMP) as part of your routine farm management activities.
Steps you can take to improve your monitoring and chances of detection include:
- Establishing an active monitoring program and recording the results, even when nothing is found.
- Becoming familiar with the usual diseases, pests and weeds found on your property. Having an understanding of what's normally found on your property will increase the chance you'll pick up something unusual. It is also a good idea to consult with neighbours on any pest issues, as it is likely that the problem doesn't stop at your own property boundaries.
- Knowing what the high priority biosecurity threats are for your industry. This information is available through your local veterinarian, industry group or state/territory department of primary industries. Plant Industry Biosecurity Plans containing a list of threats are available on the PHA website, www.planthealthaustralia.com.au
- Ensuring your farm personnel know how and where to report any unusual diseases, pests or weeds.
Any unusual pest should be reported immediately via the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. Early detection and reporting enhances the chance of effective pest control and/or eradication, and will also prevent or minimise the long-term damage to the individual producer and their industry.
If you suspect you have found an exotic pest, the following general precautions should be taken:
- Report it.
- Do not allow movement of people and equipment near the affected area as this can spread pests very rapidly through regions and communities.
- Wash hands and clothes that have been in contact with affected animal, plant material or soil.
- Do not touch, move or send affected material anywhere. Contact your state/territory department of primary industries and they will assist with the correct protocols for sampling, handling and transport of samples. Incorrect handling could further spread the pest or render the samples unfit for diagnosis.
- Identify people, stock and machinery/vehicles that have recently been the area and ready them for decontamination or treatment.
Biosecurity trends at home and abroad
The biosecurity trends section looks at biosecurity research and activity in Australia and around the world.
- Chink in the cane toads armour
- Saving wheat crops worldwide
- Strawberry fields forever
Chink in the cane toad's armour
Cane toads may have a natural predator after all, the humble ant. New research shows that the inability of young cane toads to escape the predatory native meat ants, may well be the chink in the cane toad's armour.
Cane toads (Bufo marinus) were deliberately introduced from Hawaii to Australia in 1935, to control scarab beetles that were pests of sugar cane. Unfortunately, after release it was found that the toad could not control the beetles. Instead, it quickly established itself as a pest animal.
Cane toads carry a highly toxic poison which kills most animals that try to eat it. It has caused devastating population losses to Australia's native animals. It has no real predators in the Australian environment and cane toad populations have continued to grow.
Cane toads now occur throughout the eastern and northern half of Queensland. They have also extended their range to the river catchments surrounding Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory and are spreading across the tropical north to Western Australia. In New South Wales they occur on the coast as far south as Port Macquarie and it is estimated they continue to expand their range southwards at about 1.3 kilometres a year.
So far, there is no known way to control cane toads across large areas, however in searching for a biological control, scientist at the University of Sydney have discovered that young cane toads are particularly susceptible to being attacked by the aggressive meat ant.
Scientists report that this weakness could potentially be exploited to reduce toad numbers by manipulating ant densities and locations, as long as this has no collateral flow on effect on local fauna.
SOURCE: ABC Online
Saving wheat crops worldwide
Scientists from CSIRO Plant Industry, University of Zurich and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre have recently identified a wheat gene sequence which provides protection against three major cereal diseases; leaf rust, stripe rust and powdery mildew.
The newly identified Lr34 has two extremely valuable characteristics: long lasting disease resistance and protection from multiple diseases. One gene usually only protects against a single disease for a limited time under commercial production, but Lr34 combines the two.
Researchers have indicated an immediate application is the use of the gene sequence to directly select and breed wheat plants that carry the resistance against multiple pathogens. This is encouraging news for producers, as in epidemic years the cost of these diseases to growers worldwide is in excess of AUD$7.8 billion.
SOURCE: CSIRO
Strawberry fields forever
Earlier this month, the Council of Agriculture in Taipei advised local producers that a breed of Orius flower bug had shown potential in eliminating strawberry thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis).
Thrips are one of the most common pests found in crops across Taipei. The tiny insects mostly congregate in strawberry plant flowers, where they are attracted to pollen and nectar. However, they can also affect fruit by sucking the contents out and once damaged they either grow into an abnormal shape or harden and affect quality and ultimately economic value.
Orius flower bugs mature quickly, a female lives for more than 30 days and a male for 10 days. The Council of Agriculture anticipates that each bug will capture up to 20 thrips a day, which could potentially have a substantial impact on pest control for local Taipei producers
Strawberry thrips are present in New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
If you spot anything unusual on your property call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
SOURCE: freshplaza.com
Member's forum
The member's forum highlights the latest member news and provides a forum to share information and key learnings.
Feedlot biosecurity
Biosecurity standards are now an integral part of the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS) and feedlots are assessed and audited as part of their annual NFAS audit. The standards serve to minimise the risk of an outbreak of a serious animal disease or of an endemic disease reaching critical levels.
They also provide assurances to feedlot domestic and international markets of the high quality of Australian grain fed beef.
To achieve compliance, accredited feedlots must have the biosecurity standards incorporated into their daily operations. Staff and contractors must be appropriately trained in biosecurity measures, and standard operating procedures must include biosecurity practices in line with the requirements.
So to assist feedlots around Australia meet NFAS requirements, the Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA), AUS-MEAT and Animal Health Australia (AHA) have collaborated to produce a Feedlot Biosecurity DVD explains what changes are required and is an ideal training tool for the management and staff of any size feedlot.
The DVD uses practical lot feeder experience to systematically work through all of the components of the NFAS biosecurity standards.
All NFAS accredited feedlots will be provided with a free copy of the Feedlot Biosecurity DVD this month. For further information or to request a DVD contact Robert Taylor of AUS-MEAT on 07 3361 9200 or robert.taylor@ausmeat.com.au
If you spot anything unusual on your property call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
secure your farm: secure your future
The secure your farm: secure your future section updates you on the latest program initiatives and news poll results on key issues from the Farm Biosecurity program.
Rewarding good farm biosecurity practices
- Farm Biosecurity on-line disease library
- Stay informed
Rewarding good farm biosecurity practices
The inaugural 2009 Australian Rural & Outback Awards, featuring the Farm Biosecurity Award, are now calling for nominations.
The Farm Biosecurity Award is one of the five awards being presented for the Australian Rural & Outback Awards to recognise the incredible achievements of people and their communities across rural and remote Australia.
Farm biosecurity is increasingly important for the viability of farming businesses and continued market access for Australia's $38.5 billion agricultural industries. This award is designed to recognise people who have implemented farm biosecurity measures, have helped others to do so or who are generally recognised, through their actions, to be farm biosecurity champions whose example should be showcased nationally.
Farm Biosecurity is proud to be sponsoring this inaugural Farm Biosecurity Award and we are confident it will highlight the importance of implementing biosecurity measures as part of everyday practice. These contributions ensure protection, sustainability and biodiversity of Australia's agriculture industry.
Nominations for the Farm Biosecurity Award are now open and can be submitted online at www.awardsaustralia.com or you can phone 1300 735 445 for further information. The closing date for nominations is 10 July 2009.
For more information to about the Farm Biosecurity program or resources to assist in implementing effective farm biosecurity practices, visit www.farmbiosecurity.com.au.
Farm Biosecurity on-line disease library
The Farm Biosecurity on-line disease library continues to expand with the inclusion of swine influenza. The new look disease library enables the user to search via host and symptom or plant pest, to gain information on a disease or pests that could be affecting their property.
If you spot anything unusual on your property call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Stay informed
The Farm Biosecurity team produces a weekly media snapshot of all things biosecurity both locally and internationally. The service is free to subscribers and at a glance will provide you with an overview of biosecurity issues, updates and breaking news.
To subscribe please email either Thea McNaught-Reynolds at thea@farmbiosecurity.com.au or Jim McGrath at jim@farmbiosecurity.com.au
Read all about it...
Read all about it... is a media snapshot of recent biosecurity news, to keep you well informed.
New farm biosecurity award launched
If you're practising effective biosecurity measures on your farm, you may be eligible to win $2000 and a trophy for your efforts.
Thai cooking plant threatens Brisbane waterways
Biosecurity Queensland is on a mission to weed out a noxious plant being grown for popular South-East Asian cooking. The water mimosa is a Class One pest ...
Scientists recommend adding silicon to cropping
ABC Online
Scientists say adding silicon to your farming rotation makes a crop less vulnerable to insect pests, increasing yields as a result...
Farm Online
As if drought wasn't enough, farmers are now struggling with burgeoning plagues - everything from mice and locusts to rabbits and feral pigs.
Qld fruit fly found in Goulburn Valley
ABC Online
An outbreak of Queensland fruit fly has been found in the centre of Victoria's Goulburn Valley. The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) says the outbreak ...
ABC Online
Alert staff at a Western Australian port have averted a biosecurity breach by quickly identifying a potential bird menace. Two tree sparrows, declared pest ...
Huge export potential for Australian farmers
Stock Journal
BIOSECURITY, quarantine, transport and research and development were the hot topics at the recent Grains Council of Australia industry forum in Sydney, ...
Please note: the above articles are a snapshot of biosecurity related media from the past month and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia or any of our members.
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