Producers play key role in reporting suspect pests and diseases

Most of the world’s most damaging plant pests and diseases do not exist in Australia. Maintaining freedom from these exotic pests and diseases are vital to protect our environment, food production, agriculture industries, and Australian way of life.

It is estimated that the broadacre and horticultural crop industries could lose $29.3 billion if the top 40 exotic plant pests become established in Australia.

Biosecurity allows us to preserve existing trade opportunities and provide evidence to support access to international markets.

Producers play a key role in protecting Australian plant and livestock industries from pests and diseases by implementing sound biosecurity measures on-farm.

By implementing the recommended measures in day-to-day operations, producers will improve biosecurity, while minimising production losses and unnecessary costs.

Check your property frequently for signs of new diseases, plant pests, and anything unusual. Familiarise yourself with common pests and diseases, to allow you to spot anything unusual.

The earlier a suspect pest or disease is detected and reported, the higher the chance of eradicating it or implementing effective control measures, and the lower the long-term damage to the individual grower and the industry. Put simply, catching a pest early is in everyone’s interest.

Calls to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline are forwarded to an experienced person in each state or territory. Every report is investigated and treated confidentially.

If you suspect you have found an exotic plant pest or emergency animal disease, take the following general precautions:

• Do not touch, move or transport affected plant material or livestock without advice from your state Department of Primary Industries.
• For plants, mark the area to make it easy to find again later.
• Isolate the affected livestock immediately.
• Do not allow movement of people and equipment near the affected area and animals.
• Wash hands, clothes and boots that have been in contact with affected livestock, plant material or soil.