TAG
Biosecurity
FMD fragments detected shows system working, but highlights need to continue to strengthen system: Simson, NFF
The DAFF statement regarding the interception of items containing fragments of Foot and Mouth Disease brings home the urgent need to ramp up the resourcing of Australia's biosecurity systems and implement 100% screening of passengers returning from high-risk areas ... Fiona Simson responded to a question from ARR.News about border closures.
Apiarists on edge as mite threatens
Parts of New South Wales are in the grip of a Varroa mite infestation, the most serious pest for honey bees ... Narrandera apiarist and owner of King Bee Honey, along with his wife Wendy, David Mumford, is one of the region's beekeepers to be affected. The Riverina region has fared well so far compared to other areas which have had hives eradicated.
NSW backs industry calls for national electronic ID scheme for sheep and goats amid FMD threat
The NSW Government is backing growing industry calls for the urgent development of a national mandatory sheep and goat electronic identification system in light of the serious threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) entering Australia ... “Individual traceability for sheep and goats will be crucial during an emergency disease outbreak and deliver benefits across the supply chain" : Dugald Saunders, NSW Agriculture Minister.
Farmers call for riverside camping halt over biosecurity fears: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has written to Victorian Minister Lily D ‘Ambrosio, Minister for Environment and Climate Action calling for an immediate suspension of the rules that allow camping on riverside farmland due to the biosecurity risks posed by both Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). VFF President Emma Germano said both LSD and FMD pose a very real risk to the agriculture industry and the Victorian Government must take swift action to prevent disaster.
Biosecurity efforts continue to ramp up: MacTiernan
The Western Australian Government is continuing to ramp up biosecurity outbreak preparedness planning in light of the increased risks presented by foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease ... The State has established an Industry and Government Preparedness Task Group to boost WA's emergency animal disease prevention, preparedness and response capacity.
Outgoing farm leader sees hope on horizon: NSW Farmers
Outgoing NSW Farmers President James Jackson says there is a great future ahead for Australian agriculture if governments and the public support the vital sector ... “Australia as a nation lags behind on backing farmers, with a government paper on food security this week revealing we have one of the lowest levels of agricultural support across the 37 OECD member countries – and when compared to major emerging economies."
Beekeepers beware
Expected but also dreaded, the Varroa mite that has decimated hives overseas has been detected in Australia ... If it turns out that the mite is here to stay and we have to live in a ‘new normal’, as our counterparts overseas have had to do, it will be a sad time for beekeeping in Australia ... Lindsay Callaway, of Warral Maldon ... is receiving daily updates on the situation from those on the front line.
Australia supports Indonesia’s response to Foot and Mouth outbreak: Wong and Watt
The Australian Government will provide $1.5 million to support Indonesia’s response to the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). The funding will provide at least 1 million FMD doses for Indonesia’s vaccination program, following a formal request for assistance from the Indonesian Government ... The Australian Government has also committed an initial $500,000 to Meat and Livestock Australia, responsible for coordinating support from Australian industry for the Indonesian feedlot sector’s emergency response to these diseases.
Foot and Mouth Disease – is the Government doing enough?
The Nationals Leader, Shadow Agriculture Minister and Member for Maranoa, the Hon David Littleproud MP has claimed the Federal Labor Government’s response last Thursday to foot and mouth disease (FMD) is inadequate and leaves Australia vulnerable. Following a brieï¬ng from the Department of Agriculture, Mr Littleproud said Labor’s new protocols to respond to the threat of FMD failed to go far enough to protect against a disease that could cost the nation almost as much as JobKeeper.
Innovative bee tracker measures real-time pollination, supercharging yield and profit
Casey Dunn. Australian agritech startup, Bee Innovative is revolutionising the centuries-old practice of commercial pollination. Its groundbreaking technology gives growers a real-time insight into how well bees are pollinating a crop, enabling interventions that boost yield, quality and profitability ... And the recent detection of Varroa ... further demonstrates the importance of cutting-edge technology in the early detection, tracking, and eradication of incursions ... BeeID utilises advanced facial recognition technology ...
