Staff and visitor biosecurity

BY MADELEINE QUIRK BIOSECURITY OFFICER, AUSVEG

One 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 biosecurity risk, as many organisms Induction of all staff (including casual can hitchhike on clothing, hands, workers and backpackers), contractors, footwear and vehicles, and they can service providers, and suppliers should seriously affect a grower’s bottom line. be undertaken prior to commencement However, if implemented correctly, farm of any work on-farm. Induction hygiene practices have the potential to sessions should outline the following: significantly reduce these risks. • Biosecurity measures to be Visitor inductions undertaken on-farm The first step to limiting the spread • The business’ biosecurity plan of pests and diseases on-farm is to • Biosecurity checklist install biosecurity signage at property • Risks posed by exotic and endemic entrance points. Gate signs should pests to the business display a contact mobile number in clear, large • Key exotic pests of concern. writing, encouraging visitors to register their presence with the business owner or farm manager prior to entry. 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/ Additional signage directing uploads/2019/03/ visitors to a designated Biosecurity-Inductionparking area may be useful. Manual-for-BundabergWhen a visitor arrives at the designated Horticultural-Farms.pdf. parking area, further signage should Biosecurity signage is also direct them to the farm office to sign-in. available from AUSVEG free-ofKeeping a visitor register is important charge. Please send an email to for both biosecurity and safety purposes, science@ausveg.com.au or call and should request details including (03) 9882 0277 to request signs or for name, phone number, sign-in time, further information on developing a sign-out time, and purpose of visit. biosecurity induction.

3 THE first step to limiting the spread of pests and diseases on-farm is to install biosecurity signage at property entrance points.

Come clean, go clean

Many pests and diseases are spread mechanically by footwear, clothing, gloves, hair, cars, and personal equipment. To ensure that staff, contractors, service providers and other visitors ‘come clean and go clean’ (meaning they are not spreading diseases or insect pests from one farm to another), staff and visitors should have access to the following items and should use them when required: • Footbaths and scrubbing brushes • Disposable booties • Disposable overalls • Hand sanitiser • Clean gloves. It is very common for contractors, service providers, casual staff, and tourists to visit multiple properties in one day and with that comes a greater risk of spreading pests and diseases from one property to another. Entry on-farm should always be conditional to a biosecurity induction.

Limiting on-farm vehicle movement

Limiting worker, contractor or visitor movement from different areas of the property can reduce the spread of plant pests, both on-farm and between farms. Separating a farm into different zones will help to limit movement between different areas. A farm can be separated into an exclusion zone, separation zone, and farming zone: • The exclusion zone restricts nonessential visitors and staff from internal roadways, pathways, and farming areas. Visiting vehicles are to be limited to specific car parks at the farm entrance. • The separation zone consists of internal roadways and pathways on-farm. Only essential vehicles should have access to these areas. • The farming zone is considered the area where crops are grown.

Only dedicated farm vehicles and machinery should operate in these areas. Zones should be separated by physical barriers such as fencing and signage. It is also important to ensure that proper sanitation procedures are in place between zones, and only essential vehicles and personnel can access these areas.

3 ENSURE footbaths and scrubbing brushes are easily accessible for staff and farm visitors.

Introducing

farm biosecurity checklists

A farm biosecurity checklist is a good way to monitor your existing practices and identify the current gaps. Below is a checklist that can be used when assessing your ‘staff and farm visitor’ practices.

Biosecurity practice

Footbaths and scrubbing brushes are easily accessible for staff and farm visitors. Visitor clothing, footwear and tools are checked for soil and organic matter before entering the farm. Staff is trained in biosecurity and farm hygiene practices. Visitors are inducted in biosecurity expectations prior to moving around the farm. Visitors sign a register in order to monitor on-farm movements. Appropriate hygiene supplies are available to staff and visitors (hand sanitiser, gloves, boots, overalls). Contractor entry is conditional to a biosecurity induction and hygiene protocols.

In place

In progress

Not practiced

To download a full Farm Biosecurity checklist, visit pages 12-13 of the AUSVEG biosecurity toolkit: ausveg.com.au/app/uploads/2017/05/ Biosecurity-R-1.pdf.

On-farm biosecurity can be simple, yet these simple steps can significantly protect your farm business. For information on other farm hygiene practices, including advice on managing biosecurity risks associated with packaging/pallets/bins, waste and weeds, planting material, and wind, please visit farmbiosecurity.com.au/ essentials-toolkit.

N/A

MORE INFORMATION

Find out more: Any unusual plant pest should be reported immediately to the relevant state or territory agriculture agency through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881).

Contact AUSVEG Biosecurity Officer Madeleine Quirk on (03) 9882 0277 or madeleine.quirk@ausveg.com.au. The Farm Biosecurity Program is funded by the Plant Health Levy.