Winter is a good time to focus on re-evaluating, improving or creating an effective biosecurity plan, as the orchards and pests and diseases that threaten them lie dormant.
Pests and diseases pose a higher risk establishing in the warmer months. Therefore, using the winter months to put in place biosecurity plans ensures that this biosecurity plan can protects crops while the growers are busy in spring and winter.
Growers should a look at:
- the biosecurity plans currently in place – are they working? It is time to re-evaluate plans to ensure they remain effective
- the current industry high-priority pests that threaten farms – making sure what they are and the signs to look for.
- current hygiene practices – the sort of visitors to the farms and their risks posed
- obligations under any Quality Assurance Schemes. Growers should be ready for an audit
Apal.org.au advises growers to start their biosecurity plans soon, by going to farmbiosecurity.com. This site will provide farm biosecurity measures tailored to any farmer’s needs. Farm Biosecurity aims to help producers reduce the risks posed by weeds, pests and diseases to their enterprise by the use of helpful apps, tool kits, manuals and more.
