As a wet and warm summer arrives, parasites, disease-causing bacteria and viruses are thriving on farms and amongst livestock. We’ve compiled a list of resources to help inform you about what signs and symptoms you should be on the lookout for, along with disease management insights and tactics. It’s important to know that some diseases can also spread to humans; be prepared and protect yourself as well as your livestock.
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As leftover food starts to pile up this festive season, it’s important to remember that swill feeding (supplying pigs with meat products, or anything that has been in contact with meat) is both illegal and poses a significant risk to your pigs. Swill, or prohibited pig feed, may harbour serious viruses such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever that can be passed on to pigs, potentially devastating our livestock industries. Remember to only provide pigs with commercial pig feed from an accredited stockfeed manufacturer.
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More than 7.7 million sheep across 10 abattoirs were monitored for 20 different health conditions around the country last financial year, with bladder worm and nephritis recording the highest levels of incidence throughout Australia. Find out what this means for you as a sheep producer.
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Beekeepers can now benefit from the revamped Biosecurity for Beekeepers course that makes it easy for beekeepers to find out how to care for honey bees in accordance with the Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice. PHA has redeveloped the online course that now offers an enhanced learning experience with improved functionality and navigation, interactive elements and a fresh look and feel. The course is free for all beekeepers based in Australia and $40 for international enrolments
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A revised version of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) came into effect earlier this month to meet the needs of signatories and a contemporary Australian biosecurity system. The new EPPRD offers enhanced operation and clarity across a number of provisions and outcomes.
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Roadside grain dumping may not seem like a serious offence, but in addition to being illegal and unsafe, it also poses biosecurity threats with widespread implications for the grains industry and the general public. Dumped grain provides an untreated, unmonitored, unmanaged and very attractive opportunity for stored grain insects and pests to thrive and spread into neighbouring paddocks, farms and districts, creating a significant biosecurity risk.
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Guava root knot nematode has recently been detected in the Northern Territory. It is most frequently recorded in vegetables and aggressively spreads through soil and planning material. Root knot nematode affects growth, yield, lifespan and tolerance to environmental stresses of infested plants. Above ground symptoms include yellowing and wilt while the roots have large galls. Damage to the crop varies from small patches of poor growing plants to complete crop failure. Find out what to look for and how it spreads.
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Australia is experiencing one of the wettest seasons in many years, with the third successive year in a La Nina cycle (a naturally occurring climatic event). As a result, grain producers are experiencing wet soil (mud), full rivers and dams, isolated flooding, and the threat of a wet harvest.
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