Biosecurity Resource Tools

Biosecurity refers to measures to prevent and manage pests and diseases from your production areas. Biosecurity measures are implemented to reduce the likely hood and minimize the spread risk.

On-farm practices can easily be incorporated into everyday farm practices, such as biosecurity gate signage, regular monitoring and surveillance of crops, using a visitor register, and cleaning risk-exposed equipment (Car tyres, shoes, etc.).

Here are a few West Australian-specific resources that the vegetablesWA Regional Development Officers have compiled that are useful for biosecurity planning and implementation.

DIY Biosecurity

Likely, the simplest and easiest place to start when implementing a biosecurity plan on your farm. This follows alongside the vegetablesWA biosecurity videos as a companion checklist you can follow after watching.

Farm Biosecurity Action Plan
Biosecurity Booklet

Biosecurity Checklist

A checklist similar to the one below includes essential considerations in your next step to enhance your biosecurity plan.

Biosecurity Booklet

Pest and Disease Preparedness

The link below is the guide on which the vegetablesWA biosecurity videos are based. It is a practical way of assessing your farm; to check what you’re already doing and what you can do further to enhance your business’s pest and disease protection.

Pest and Disease Preparedness Guide

Visitor Register Template

A visitor register template will enable you to track who enters your farm and help you identify the potential sources of biosecurity problems in the future.

Visitor Register Template

Biosecurity Risk Assessment

Helpful in developing a farm biosecurity plan that helps you assess the likelihood and severity of a pest incursion – To help you better prepare.

Biosecurity Risk Assessment

Biosecurity Manual

Although targeted toward onion growers, the information contained within this biosecurity manual is comprehensive. It is an excellent document to assist in developing a farm biosecurity plan as it covers many important topics.

Biosecurity Manual

Vehicle Cleaning Fact Sheet

Helpful information to consider when setting up a vehicle washing facility to minimize the spread of pests, diseases and weeds on farms via your own or visitor’s vehicles.

Vehicle Cleaning Factsheet 1
Vehicle Cleaning Factsheet 2

Good Practice Guide

The vegetablesWA good practice guide has a section on pest and disease management. It can be an excellent starting point in understanding the common threats to WA vegetable production.

vegetablesWA Good Practice Guide

List of Exotic Tropical Plant Pests

A guide on correctly recognising exotic tropical plant pests, including hosts and problems with similar symptoms. The vegetable category begins on page 188.

List of Exotic Tropical Plant Pests

Soil-Borne Diseases Guide

The guide is a visual and detailed guide on common and uncommon soil-borne diseases by crop type. The guide enables quick and easy identification and management of soil-borne diseases.

Soil-borne Diseases Guide

Biosecurity Alerts

Here is a website containing information and updates on recent exotic pest incursions. Current examples include Fall Armyworm and Serpentine Leafminer.

Biosecurity Alerts

Pest Management of Common Vegetables

Here is a website that provides information on crops most relevant to your production. It Identifies the common pests and diseases and highlights the most effective control methods.

Pest Management of Common Vegetables Website

Fall Armyworm Engagement Hub

The Fall Armyworm (FAW) Engagement Hub is an initiative run by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) that provides the latest updates on FAW, including movement reports and control. Use the links on the right-hand side of the page to view resources and reports relating to FAW.

Fall Armyworm Engagement Hub

Agrochemical Database

One of the most user-intuitive and friendly ways of browsing the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) database. This tool can help you pick agrochemicals based on a certain pest problem, list all chemicals available to use on a specific crop and provide all details of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), application information and labels. This tool currently costs $55/year. However, it is a comprehensive and thorough platform. If you have specific agrochemical-related questions, please reach out to the extension officers for free assistance.

Agrochemical Database

MyPestGuide Reporter App

This app allows you to send photographs and descriptions of unknown pests and diseases to plant pathologists and entomologists at DPIRD, who will respond within a few days with a result and management options. This app can be downloaded onto your mobile phone.

My Pest Guide Reporter App

Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions

Import and export regulation search for agricultural commodities.

Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions

Biosecurity for Backpackers

If your farm utilises backpackers or temporary staff that may have travelled from other farms either locally, interstate or overseas, they must know about the importance of biosecurity. Here are a few links to factsheets in multiple languages to inform seasonal workers about biosecurity’s importance.

Biosecurity for Backpackers

Quarantine Zones

A website that highlights the national produce movement restrictions currently in place.

Quarantine Zones

Biofumigation

Here is a thorough guide that introduces growers to biofumigation. It covers why and where you might want to use it and how to do it properly. Biofumigation is an alternative to traditional fumigation methods, is Integrated Pest Management (IPM) compatible, and has numerous side benefits.

Biofumigation Guide

Integrated Weed Management

A thorough guide on implementing Integrated Weed Management (IWM) on farms in different stages. If you are looking to implement a plan on your farm, this is an excellent resource full of detailed information. It is suggested to read it chapter by chapter to easily digest the information.

Integrated Weed Management Guide

What is Integrated Pest Management

A simple description of what Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is and how you can use it on your farm. Following further links on the page can take you to specific crops and their recommended IPM strategies. If you have any questions on how you can begin to use IPM on your farm, please contact our extension officers.

Integrated Pest Management

Biosecurity Signs

Printed on high-quality ACM. Sign availability is limited and currently available for pickup from our office during business hours, or delivery can be arranged through our extension officers.

Pathogen Testing

Soil, plant or water pathogen testing may be available via one of our extension officer’s projects. For more information, contact your local extension officers.

Biosecurity Video Guide

These West Australian-specific vegetable production biosecurity video series cover the six most common pathways for pests, diseases, and weeds to enter your farm and the steps you can take to prevent them. Videos are coming soon.

Contact Us

Do you need assistance with implementing or updating your biosecurity plan? Please contact the vegetablesWA Regional Development Officers.

Contact

Contact Us

Do you need assistance with implementing or updating your biosecurity plan? Please contact the vegetablesWA Regional Development Officers.

Contact