Reducing farm biosecurity risks and better preparedness in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall is the focus of the Building Biosecurity Capacity and Resilience within the NSW Vegetable Industry project.
Vegetable growers have faced additional challenges over recent years due to extreme or prolonged rain events, impacting on various stages of crop production and farm profitability. While extreme weather events are generally outside the control of growers, there are things that can be put in place to be better prepared, reduce risks and enable a return to production more quickly.
Local events run by AUSVEG as part of the Building Biosecurity Capacity and Resilience within the NSW Vegetable Industry project are bringing together growers, scientists and advisors to build knowledge and confidence to reduce farm biosecurity risks and be better prepared in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall.
The program has taken the approach to deliver events and content based on local needs and circumstances, bringing experts and local advisors into the regions, to hold practical sessions on farm, and linking these topics to highlight biosecurity best practices. As well as directly damaging crops, excess water can also bring agronomic challenges and biosecurity risks, changes in pest and disease pressures, soil and water quality, and the movement of biological and other hazards via soil and water.
Focus for each region
A Community of Practice (CoP) for interested and engaged growers, agronomists and scientists has been established to share and discuss locally relevant issues that guide the focus of upcoming regional events. At the most recent CoP meeting Dr Sukhvinder Pal (SP) Singh, Senior Research Scientist, NSW DPI presented highlights from his research in improving food safety and traceability in horticulture. Dr Singh highlighted several commonalities in risks and best management practices between food safety and biosecurity, for example the risk of water and soil runoff in spreading soil or food borne pathogens.
"The field day programs included topics identified by the CoP, growers and advisors as locally challenging since the floods and erratic rain events over recent years," said Project Coordinator Marguerite White. "Soil structure and compaction issues have been a concern because of water sitting on the soil surface for extended periods and from machinery working on wet ground."
Simplot Australia's farm near Cowra was affected when the Lachlan River flooded, causing yield variations across impacted blocks as well as loss of soil and riverbanks. Farms in the region also reported damage to spray infrastructure and soil compaction due to the large volumes of water. Other growers and advisors echoed the sentiment that it has had on yield, disease management and other farm activities.
Source: ausveg.com.au