One-stop farm biosecurity at Mudgee

A muddy ute and team of dedicated specialists will be part of the package NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has put together to highlight farm biosecurity issues at this year’s Mudgee Small Farm Field Days, July 13 and 14.

DPI grains industry biosecuirty officer, Louise Rossiter, has travelled across NSW helping farmers develop biosecurity risk management plans and now for the first time she’s taking the message to the Mudgee event.

"Farm biosecurity is about reducing the risk of introducing and spreading unwanted pests, diseases and weeds - a simple plan can have a big impact in protecting your property," Dr Rossiter said.

"The ute will be used to demonstrate a very basic biosecurity procedure, vehicle washdown, targeting the areas where seeds and soils can be lodged."

Dr Rossiter said the ‘come clean, go clean’ motto could be easily adopted and applied on and off farm.

"Vehicles and machinery can travel huge distances and once weed seeds or contaminated soil have been picked up, they can be spread to new locations," she said.

"We encourage farmers to talk to us about developing a risk management plan based on a review of their own farm.

"Record keeping, washdown facilities, well-placed signage to direct farm visitors to parking, establishing a quarantine paddock for livestock and on-farm hygiene could all play important roles in a tailored plan."

DPI will have best practice checklists and biosecurity signs which producers can take home and use to start putting a biosecurity risk management plan to work on their farms.

Dr Rossiter said a biosecurity plan has economic and management benefits for farm businesses.

"It means farmers are in a better position to minimise any effects from new and unwanted pests, weeds and diseases," she said.

"At an industry level the establishment and spread of exotic pests or diseases can seriously impact on international market access for our produce."

DPI’s biosecurity focus at the field days will extend to information about the National Livestock Identification Scheme, Property Identification Codes, animal heath, pests and diseases of fruit and vegetables, Queensland fruit fly management and weed information provided in conjunction with the Mid Western Regional Council.

Photographs are available bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au

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