Growers need to take part in preventing FMD spread in Australia

GRAIN growers are being urged to create or update a biosecurity plan, with the increasing threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) entering Australia posing a serious risk to all farming operations, not just livestock producers. FMD is an incredibly contagious disease which affects all cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and deer. It causes blisters and ulcers to infected animals, most apparent in the hooves and mouths. While FMD does not directly impact grain production, an Australian case of the disease would potentially cut all Australian exports of animal products and hay, and significantly inhibit the movement of livestock and agricultural products from farms. This threat is heightened when considering that of the about 16,000 cropping farms in Australia, about 8900 are mixed operations, according to ABARES’ Financial performance of cropping farms 2019–20 to 2021–22 report. GrainGrowers chair and Quambatook grower, Brett Hosking, told an FMD Biosecurity ...