A FEW fines for biosecurity breaches within the sugar cane industry might not be a bad thing according a to Burdekin-based stakeholder.
"I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of prosecutions to prove the system actually works," said Burdekin Productivity Services manager and extension agronomist, Rob Milla.
Speaking at the CaseIH Step Up conference in Bundaberg last week, Mr Milla addressed the importance of biosecurity to the sugar industry.
While he said the old line that biosecurity was "everyone's business" was well worn, there was a definite need for growers to be on the front foot.
"If you know that someone has bought a variety that is off the approved list or they have done something silly, it's up to you, the person with the knowledge, to report to Biosecurity Queensland," Mr Milla said.
RELATED READING
He described maintaining biosecurity measures as a thankless task and one that was difficult to document results from.
Practices such as hot water treatment and the distribution of approved seed cane were hugh logistical exercises with benefits to the entire industry.
"I'm pretty confident we never get a thank-you for that," he said.
But he maintained the importance of growers being alert and ready to report anything unusual.
He encouraged growers to balance their own on-farm risks, perhaps with a spread of varieties to minimise the impact should there be a disease outbreak.
Among the examples provided, two were cases of detection of itch grass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis), a weed that looks similar to sugar cane but grows prolifically and is unpalatable to livestock, with leaf sheaths covered in stiff hairs that cause irritation if allowed to penetrate skin.
The first involved a grower spotting some beside the road on a neighbouring farm having been made aware of the weed at a recent shed meeting.
It was reported and three contaminated properties committed to controlling it.
"It was a positive result from education and observation," Mr Milla said.
On the other hand, another grower found itch grass on his farm but pulled it out and left it beside the paddock.
The block, including the headlands, was subsequently laser levelled, spreading the seed evenly throughout resulting in a massive reproduction of the weed.
"Here, a small problem turned into a large problem, so don't be complacent," Mr Milla said.
"If we take preventative measures on our farms, we can really slow down the spread of diseases on our farms."
Mr Milla said there were currently some concerns about the recent increase in cases of Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) within the Burdekin region, most likely spread by contract machinery between farms, and his team was looking into heightened control measures.
Sign up here to Good Fruit and Vegetables weekly newsletter for all the latest horticulture news each Thursday...
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
