Grain Producers Australia represents the biosecurity interests of grain producers and the industry. They are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. Their responsibilities include:
- biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
- liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
- funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
- participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.
Industry overview
Most of Australia’s grain is produced across the region known as the wheat belt, which stretches from central Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern Western Australia. Due to the wide-ranging soil types and climatic variability across Australia, a range of crop species and varieties are grown, each of which has specific pests and diseases that pose a threat to production and can influence access to markets (both domestic and overseas).
Grains Farm Biosecurity Program
Grains Biosecurity Officers are located in most states through the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program. The program is delivered by Plant Health Australia and funded by growers via Grain Producers Australia together with the Western Australian, Queensland, Victorian, South Australian and New South Wales state governments. More
Surveillance
National Grain Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy
The National Grain Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy 2019-29 was developed in conjunction with industry to ensure it is effective and robust, yet flexible enough to adapt to emerging technologies and industry structures outside that of government, and is underpinned by core biosecurity capacity.
The strategy will guide the implementation of national leadership, management and coordination of surveillance activities for high priority grain pests and pests of market access concern for the grain industry.
Specific actions and tasks are listed that will improve pre-border and border pest risk and pathway assessment by better understanding pest risk profiles and pathways and targeting surveillance efforts. For post-border surveillance, it describes an enhanced partnership approach between Grain Producers Australia, Plant Health Australia, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Grain Growers Ltd, bulk handlers, traders and Australian governments through a national surveillance program. This program is supported by enhanced diagnostic networks, practical training and reporting services to enable surveillance efforts to be captured, monitored and improved.
Biosecurity plan, manuals and sign
Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry
Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the grains industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.
The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry provides a framework for biosecurity risk mitigation measures in the industry. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email biosecurity@phau.com.au
Biosecurity manuals for grain producers
The Biosecurity Manual for Grain Producers contains information to help producers to implement biosecurity on-farm. Manuals usually contain an overview of biosecurity, fact sheets to identify the high priority pests of a crop, tips on crop management, and how to manage people, vehicles and equipment to minimise biosecurity risks. Manuals also contain a biosecurity self-assessment list, and templates to record pest surveillance records and visitors.
More information about on-farm biosecurity for both plant and livestock producers is available from the Farm Biosecurity website.
The Farm Biosecurity Manual for the Organic Grains Industry contains biosecurity information specifically for growers of organic grains.
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Fall Armyworm Continuity Plan for the Australian Grains Industry
The Fall Armyworm Continuity Plan was developed for use by professionals, specialists and consultants to prepare localised and industry specific communication and extension material. The plan focuses on the grain industry and provides:
The purpose of the plan is to provide a reference point and a basis for industry to build upon when designing resistance management strategies, area wide management plans, crop-specific management manuals, and other extension materials such as audio and visual products for the management of FAW within Australian broadacre farming systems. |
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With zero market tolerance for live pests in grain, storage is no time to forget about biosecurity. Working closely with grains storage specialists, the Monitoring stored grain on farm manual pulls together information from a number of other resources, complementing those already produced by the GRDC Grains Storage Projects. |
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Signs can be used to indicate to visitors the importance of following biosecurity procedures on your property. This template can be downloaded and used to print a 900 x 600 mm gate sign. Remember to include contact details in the space provided. For signage to be effective:
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Fact sheets
The grains industry and PHA have created some fact sheets to increase biosecurity awareness.
| Grains biosecurity fact sheet | Grains high priority pest fact sheet | Biosecurity guidelines for contractors fact sheet |
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| Is your agronomic business biosecurity risk? | Is your field day a biosecurity risk? | Is your field research a biosecurity risk? |
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