Biosecurity in our Industry Why is it important

Biosecurity in our Industry Why is it important and what should I do?

Outline Ø Ø Ø What is biosecurity Who is responsible for biosecurity Overview of SIBC Examples What should I do on my farm

What is Biosecurity Ø Ø Farm biosecurity is a set of measures designed to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests, diseases and weeds. Why bother?

Who is responsible General Biosecurity Obligation Under the GBO, individuals and organisations whose activities pose a biosecurity risk must: • take all reasonable and practical steps to prevent or minimise each biosecurity risk • minimise the likelihood of causing a ‘biosecurity event ’, and limit the consequences if such an event is caused • prevent or minimise the harmful effects a risk could have, and not do anything that might make any harmful effects worse. • • • You Me Us Them Everyone

Ø Sugar Industry Biosecurity Committee (SIBC) • SRA, CANEGROWERS, ASMC, DAF/BQ • ACFA, Prod Services • Two key functions • Advice from SIBC gives direction for industry to follow in order to meet GBO • Conduit for information flow between DAF/BQ and industry – both directions • SIBC has no authority, is an advisory committee that links various industry partners

Biosecurity in Practice • It is really hard to know when you have had a biosecurity win and its often a thankless task. • Eg: machinery inspections – transport companies get very frustrated when they are held back with a dirty harvester. Yet we don’t acknowledge the risk that has been managed that well • Hot water treatment and distribution of approved seed cane. Huge logistical exercise, however beneficial for the whole of industry.

Biosecurity examples � Officers at Cairns International airport seized several unusual souvenirs during the Christmas and New Year period in 2015. � This included: ◦ A fresh bunch of mistletoe for a marriage proposal ◦ Sticks of raw sugar cane that a passenger intended to chew on ◦ Dried possum testicles removed from a stone axe

Smut in Jamaica • First discovered in the 1970 s • One worker found an ‘unusual’ looking black whip growing from a plant • In his excitement to ‘manage’ the problem, he rode from one side of the island to the other to take it to supervisors • This would have been the perfect method of transmission of smut spores across the district…. • THINK before you take action with samples/specimens or management. If you have any concerns, call the Biosecurity Hotline immediately (13 25 23)

Orange Rust Q 124 • MAPS staff contact SRA pathology in 2000, after observing rust in Q 124 , which had not previously contracted orange rust • Some brown Q 124 crops were observed in 1999, but people assumed it was yellow spot (based on the assumption Q 124 did NOT get rust) • DO NOT ASSUME and BE OBSERVANT and ASK QUESTIONS • LOOK at what is in front of you (symptoms), don’t rely on your opinion or observations to date • In this instance, many growers had 90% of Q 124 on their farm and faced significant crop loss • Balance your risk by having a range of varieties

Fiji Leaf Gall • NCO 310 was a very popular variety in southern districts (70 -80% of total crop), increasing Fiji was detected, however industry continued propagating and increasing the variety • Increase susceptible variety = increase in disease pressure = decrease in overall productivity • Eventually they had to move to a new suite of varieties. If NCO 310 wasn’t increased so much, end result could have been better, and more knowledge about newer varieties would have been acquired quicker • Variety mix is important • Sometimes we need to look beyond our own farm productivity/profitability to ensure long term productivity of a region

Fiji Leaf Gall • But, its not all bad news…. • Fiji Leaf Gall was found in Mackay, stopped growing NCO 310 and moved to a moderately susceptible variety and it performed adequately as disease pressure was low • And even better news…. • We are hopeful that Fiji Leaf Gall is close to eradicated, none has been detected since 2005 in QLD • If positive action is taken, biosecurity risks can significantly be reduced, and productivity maintained or improved

Burdekin RSD Example • Every year, BPS staff test top and bottom of every row of sugarcane in approved seed plots. • In 2016, an uncertain/inconclusive result was detected on a single sample • No other samples of the same variety in the same row tested uncertain or positive • I made the decision to stop sale of all approved seed cane immediately • This decision was met by frustration from growers, planting contractors who were expecting seed cane. • Some industry staff also disagreed with the decision • Example of how sometimes decisions made to minimise biosecurity risk will not be popular

Burdekin RSD Example • Second test result took a few days to sample (we flew samples down and hand delivered to the lab, SRA worked as quickly as possible) • Came back as negative (ie: No RSD) • Plot reopened immediately • After the event, all growers – even those who were critical of the shutdown – appreciated that it was the best approach to take • Managing biosecurity risk depends on the risk, likehood of spread, and economic impact. In this example, even though the likelihood of it being RSD was low, the impact would have been quite large, leading to unacceptable risk

Burdekin Itch Grass Example • Itch Grass bagged samples displayed at shed meetings • Roots, leaves, seed heads all displayed and explained • Grower observed an unusual plant on roadside • Reported to BPS • Identified as Itch Grass, found in 3 neighbours • All committed to control • Positive result from education and observation

Burdekin Itch Grass Example • Grower was aware of Itch Grass on the farm in previous years • Made reasonable effort with control • Laser levelled block…resulting in an explosion of Itch Grass • Laser level also ran across the headlands! • A small problem turned into a large problem. Don’t be complacent

Why bother? • Is biosecurity really an issue if a new pest or weed comes into a district or industry? • Exponential growth is real, and many biosecurity issues will spread incredibly quickly

RSD Survey Results � BPS are concerned about the current state of RSD Positive Results 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Actions to ‘flatten the curve’ • RSD test a block on every farm every year • Targeted ‘contact tracing’ of RSD positive growers • Shared machinery • Planting contractors • Harvesting contractors • Meetings with planting/harvesting groups • Shed meetings/social media/newsletters • One on one support for RSD positive growers • Seed cane subsidy

What Should I Do On Farm? • Be alert, observant and curious • Report anything suspicious immediately • Don’t rely on past experience or assumed knowledge – look at the symptoms/facts now • If you find something unusual, consider containment (don’t put a smut whip on your pushbike!) • Consider your risk profile and manage varieties appropriately • Wash down machinery entering and exiting your farm • Sometimes you may need to consider the greater industry or region over individual productivity to minimise a biosecurity risk • Remember, everyone has an obligation to minimise biosecurity risk.