YOUR BUSINESS
Staff and visitor biosecurity BY MADELEINE QUIRK BIOSECURITY OFFICER, AUSVEG
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ne of the best defences against pest and diseases is to implement on-farm hygiene practices, which will limit the entry, spread and establishment of pests and diseases, and help to protect your crops. AUSVEG Biosecurity Officer Madeleine Quirk reports. With trade and tourism on the rise, it is likely that Australia will be at greater risk of plant pests coming into the country now and into the future. But how does this affect vegetable producers? With increasing globalisation, it will be easier for plant pests to enter and move around Australia more rapidly, potentially affecting vegetable production regions.
Farm hygiene is the practice of implementing simple yet effective measures on-farm to reduce the risk of entry, spread and establishment of plant pests on-farm. Farm hygiene is the first step to helping growers protect their own business and the wider horticulture industry, while minimising production losses and unnecessary costs associated with pest outbreaks. This article focuses on some common farm hygiene practices relating to farm staff and visitors. Every day, staff, contractors, service providers, suppliers, industry representatives, and in many cases, tourists and school groups, work on or visit vegetable farms. This can create a significant
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biosecurity risk, as many organisms can hitchhike on clothing, hands, footwear and vehicles, and they can seriously affect a grower’s bottom line. However, if implemented correctly, farm hygiene practices have the potential to significantly reduce these risks.
Visitor inductions The first step to limiting the spread of pests and diseases on-farm is to install biosecurity signage at property entrance points. Gate signs should display a contact mobile number in clear, large writing, encouraging visitors to register their presence with the business owner or farm manager prior to entry. Additional signage directing visitors to a designated parking area may be useful.
Induction of all staff (including casual workers and backpackers), contractors, service providers, and suppliers should be undertaken prior to commencement of any work on-farm. Induction sessions should outline the following: • Biosecurity measures to be undertaken on-farm • The business’ biosecurity plan • Biosecurity checklist • Risks posed by exotic and endemic pests to the business • Key exotic pests of concern.
Install biosecurity signage at property entrance points.
When a visitor arrives at the designated parking area, further signage should direct them to the farm office to sign-in. Keeping a visitor register is important for both biosecurity and safety purposes, and should request details including name, phone number, sign-in time, sign-out time, and purpose of visit.
3 THE first step to limiting the spread of pests and diseases on-farm is to install biosecurity signage at property entrance points.
An example of a farm biosecurity induction manual can be found online at: farmbiosecurity. com.au/wp-content/ uploads/2019/03/ Biosecurity-InductionManual-for-BundabergHorticultural-Farms.pdf.
Biosecurity signage is also available from AUSVEG free-ofcharge. Please send an email to science@ausveg.com.au or call (03) 9882 0277 to request signs or for further information on developing a biosecurity induction.
