AUSVEG Biosecurity Feedback Survey 2017-2018

What is farm biosecurity?

Farm biosecurity is a set of measures designed to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests, diseases and weeds. Growers play a key role in protecting Australian plant industries from pests and diseases by implementing sound biosecurity measures on the farm.

Please note that questions 1-4 are optional.

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* 1. What is the size of your farm?

0 – 10 ha

10 – 30 ha

30 – 100 ha

100 – 500 ha

500 – 1000 ha

More than 1000 ha

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* 2. In which state/territory is your farm located?

Victoria

New South Wales

Tasmania

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

ACT

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* 3. What is the average gross yearly income of your farm?

$0-50,000

$50,000-100,000

$100,000-200,000

$200,000-400,000

$400,000-600,000

More than $600,000

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* 4. How important do you consider biosecurity best practice in agriculture?

Not at all

Slightly important

Moderately important

Very important

Extremely important

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* 5. Which statement best describes how much you are doing to reduce the potential for pest and disease incursions on your farm?

I implement few biosecurity measures on my farm (proceed to question 6)

I do as much as I am willing, however, I realize that I could do more (proceed to question 7)

I feel that biosecurity measures on my farm are at a high standard (proceed to question 7)

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* 6. Perceived barriers to implementing biosecurity best practice (Please choose one or more options).

I implement few biosecurity measures on my farm because…

I lack adequate knowledge of common biosecurity practices

I lack knowledge of potential plant pests and diseases in my region

I have more important priorities

Biosecurity practices take up too much time

I do not understand how biosecurity practices could help my farm

My neighbours do not implement biosecurity measures so it seems pointless for me to carry out them out

The cost of establishing or retaining biosecurity practices is too high

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Level of biosecurity best practice implementation (Please choose one or more options).

Which (if any) of the following biosecurity practices have you instituted on your farm?

Wash down facilities are provided on site for machinery, equipment and vehicles

Run-off water from wash down facilities are collected in a tank for disposal or drains into a special pit as used for
spray tank runoff

Clean down facilities are located near farm entrances and away from growing areas

A hard surface is provided in vehicle wash down area

High pressure water and air hoses are available for removal of plant and soil from machinery, equipment and vehicles

Wash-down facility and surrounds are inspected frequently for potential sources of contamination (eg. organic matter)

Records of wash down facility inspections are logged

Machinery is inspected and disinfected before entering growing areas

Visitor vehicle access is restricted to designated parking areas

Only on-site vehicles are used to transport equipment and visitors around the farm

Vehicle movement is kept to a minimum in growing areas

Designated tracks are used to limit vehicle movement on growing areas

Machinery and vehicles are cleaned before moving off property

Footbaths and scrubbing brushes are easily accessible for staff and farm visitors

Visitor clothing, footwear and tools are checked for soil and organic matter before entering the farm

Staff are trained in biosecurity and farm hygiene practices

Visitors are inducted in biosecurity expectations prior to moving around the farm

Visitors sign a register to monitor on-farm movements

Appropriate hygiene supplies are available to staff and visitors (hand sanitiser, gloves, foot baths, overalls, boots)

Contractor entry is conditional to a biosecurity induction and hygiene protocols

Biosecurity gate signs requesting phone check-in and providing farm contact numbers are visible at main entrances

Farm is divided into ‘zones’ with restricted or minimised people, machinery and equipment movement between zones

A sanitation procedure is in place where there is regular movement of people, machinery or equipment between zones

There is regular communication with neighbours and government agencies regarding minimising plant pest transmission

Boundary fences are regularly inspected and maintained

Vermin, feral animal, weed and wildlife populations are managed in line with regulations to prevent the spread of plant pest and planting incubations

Plant waste is disposed of away from growing areas

Records of planting inputs are maintained

Planting material for all crops grown are sourced from reputable suppliers

Imported seed has been tested as per BICON conditions if applicable

Records of seed or seedling tests are logged

New seedlings are quarantined from growing areas for a period of time before planting

Staff are trained to recognise high priority pests and diseases

Symptom monitoring is regularly conducted in crops

Symptom monitoring is regularly conducted in neighbouring vegetation

Staff are trained to recognise symptoms of disease

Staff know how and where to report suspect plant disease symptoms

Activities and results of pest surveillance are recorded, including lack of observations

Monitoring records are well organised and maintained

Traps are used to maintain insect populations

Cardboard packaging materials are new and never recycled

Unused boxes and bins are stored on clean hard floors in a covered area

Pallets are clean of organic material and soil

Dirty pallets are cleaned in the wash down area

A farm biosecurity plan is maintained

Other (please specify)

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* 8. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for maintaining on-farm biosecurity?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 9. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for maintaining biosecurity procedures at state and federal borders?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 10. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for reporting of suspect plant pests?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 11. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for funding eradication of plant pests harmful to the vegetable / potato industries?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 12. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for reporting of suspect plant pests?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 13. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for the management of endemic plant pests?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 14. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for regular monitoring for trade sensitive or harmful plant pests?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 15. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for proving property freedom from trade sensitive plant pests?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 16. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for proving regional or state freedom from trade sensitive plant pests?

100% industry responsibility

Mostly industry responsibility

Shared responsibility

Mostly government responsibility

100% government responsibility

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* 17. How interested are you in receiving biosecurity related information?

Not at all interested

Slightly interested

Moderately interested

Very interested

Extremely interested

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* 18. What is your preferred method for accessing biosecurity information?

Websites e.g. Plant Health Australia, AUSVEG, Farm Biosecurity

Email e.g. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources newsletters, AUSVEG Weekly Update

AUSVEG Front Line e-Bulletin

Consultants (e.g. Regional agronomists)

Word of mouth from other growers

Biosecurity seminars held locally

Printed material e.g. Fact Sheets, Industry Biosecurity Plans, Vegetables Australia Magazine, Potatoes Australia Magazine

Other (please specify)

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* 19. What practical resources would you view as useful for implementing/maintaining on-farm biosecurity?

Template for a farm biosecurity action plan

Checklist to aid in development of a biosecurity action plan

Pest surveillance record sheet

Pest surveillance smartphone or tablet application

Regular discussion with the AUSVEG Biosecurity Officer

Other (please specify)

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* 20. What specific information would be useful when deciding which (if any) biosecurity measures to put in place on farm?

Cost Benefit Analysis of implementing basic biosecurity measures on farm

Case studies of how individual growers have benefited from implementing farm biosecurity measures

Metrics on changes to pest/disease occurrence following implementation of biosecurity measures

Metrics on changes to proportion of marketable produce following implementation of biosecurity measures

Information on how farm biosecurity measures can aid in market access

Other (please specify)

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* 21. Please include additional biosecurity related comments in the field below.

Thank you for completing this survey.

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* 1. What is the size of your farm?

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* 2. In which state/territory is your farm located?

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* 3. What is the average gross yearly income of your farm?

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* 4. How important do you consider biosecurity best practice in agriculture?

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* 5. Which statement best describes how much you are doing to reduce the potential for pest and disease incursions on your farm?

Question Title

* 6. Perceived barriers to implementing biosecurity best practice (Please choose one or more options).I implement few biosecurity measures on my farm because…

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* 7. Level of biosecurity best practice implementation (Please choose one or more options).Which (if any) of the following biosecurity practices have you instituted on your farm?

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* 8. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for maintaining on-farm biosecurity?

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* 9. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for maintaining biosecurity procedures at state and federal borders?

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* 10. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for reporting of suspect plant pests?

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* 11. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for funding eradication of plant pests harmful to the vegetable / potato industries?

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* 12. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for reporting of suspect plant pests?

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* 13. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for the management of endemic plant pests?

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* 14. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for regular monitoring for trade sensitive or harmful plant pests?

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* 15. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for proving property freedom from trade sensitive plant pests?

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* 16. In your view, what level of responsibility should industry and government have for proving regional or state freedom from trade sensitive plant pests?

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* 17. How interested are you in receiving biosecurity related information?

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* 18. What is your preferred method for accessing biosecurity information?

Question Title

* 19. What practical resources would you view as useful for implementing/maintaining on-farm biosecurity?

Question Title

* 20. What specific information would be useful when deciding which (if any) biosecurity measures to put in place on farm?

Question Title

* 21. Please include additional biosecurity related comments in the field below.

* 6. Perceived barriers to implementing biosecurity best practice (Please choose one or more options).

I implement few biosecurity measures on my farm because…

* 7. Level of biosecurity best practice implementation (Please choose one or more options).

Which (if any) of the following biosecurity practices have you instituted on your farm?