Frequently Asked Questions

What should I be looking for on plants and animals?

Plants

Plant symptoms to keep and eye out for include:

  • plant death
  • die-back of shoot-tips
  • failure of plants to thrive such as a reduction in growth or low production
  • low germination rates
  • yellow, black, brown or orange spots on leaves
  • unusual markings or colouration on leaves or fruit
  • leaf curling, and
  • keep an eye out for new weeds.
Livestock and Birds
  • sores or ulcers
  • excessive dribbling from the mouth
  • diarrhoea especially with blood
  • large discharges from any orifice such as the nose
  • not eating properly or off their feed
  • dramatic decreases in production such as milk from cows or eggs from chickens
  • non-responsive animals
  • staggering or head drooping
  • severe lameness
  • swollen heads
  • inability to rise, and
  • unexplained deaths.

 

What should I do if I suspect a pest or disease outbreak?

If you suspect a pest or disease outbreak or have seen something unusual and you're not sure whether it's an exotic pest or disease - report it! Don’t worry how insignificant it may be – small signs may be an early indication that something’s wrong.

Reporting hotlines for plant, animal and marine invasives

 

What to tell authorities when you report an outbreak

Upon contacting your vet or Department of Primary Industries, you will need to provide some basic information that will assist in determining the most appropriate course of action - this could include:

 
Livestock and Birds
Plants, Crops & Trees
  • what pest or disease is suspected on the property?
  • (if not you) the name of the owner and/or farm manager
  • full address and telephone number of the property
  • types (eg. sheep and cattle) and approximate numbers of animals on the property (including feral animals)
  • the type of animals that are affected (eg. only cattle?)
  • brief description of clinical signs and any lesions observed
  • date when you first noticed these signs
  • approximate numbers of sick or dead animals, and
  • whether any susceptible animals have recently left or been brought onto the property
  • what pest or disease is suspected on the property?
  • (if not you) the name of the owner and/or farm manager
  • full address and telephone number of the property
  • types of planting, broad acre, orchard
  • type of planting, wheat, barley, citrus etc
  • where were the affected plants sourced from?
  • quantity of planting in number or hectares
  • current harvest cycle, eg currently harvesting or recently sown
  • signs of disease or description of pest
  • are there pickers on the property?
  • is there a packing shed on the property?
  • what action has been taken so far?
  • has machinery moved on or off the property?
  • is machinery shared with neighbouring properties?
  • is the property in an exclusion zone, eg fruit fly or rice exclusion?
  • details on access to the property
  • recent use of chemical or calendar sprays
  • is irrigation used and if so what type?

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What do I need to do at the site of an outbreak?

Once you have reported the outbreak (sometimes referred to as an incursion) remember to cooperate with your local Department of Primary Industries or Agriculture – they are there to help you and have well-tested response plans in place to deal with incursions.

During a confirmed emergency disease outbreak the following biosecurity measures should be adhered to.

Livestock and Birds:
  • do not move livestock or birds on or off the property (stock standstill)
  • isolate suspected livestock or birds in well fenced paddocks, yards, buildings, pens or cages
  • some diseases are air-borne so keep your stock away from the boundary of your property
  • avoid the unnecessary movement of people and vehicles on and off the farm, and
  • if dealing with suspect animals, clean and disinfect afterwards (including any gear or equipment that the animal has had contact with).
Plants, Trees and Crops:
  • do not touch or disturb the site to minimise spreading the risk
  • describe the detection site in sufficient detail to allow a person to return to the exact location if necessary
  • tag or mark the site with a non-degradable ribbon or flag to assist relocation
  • mark the site on a map or sketch a map to identify the detection site
  • take note of the symptoms and the plant upon which you found the pest
  • clean any boots, clothes and equipment of soil and plant material you may have come into contact with at the site, and
  • take reasonable action to isolate the problem area to avoid the risk of spreading the pest.

Should you be waiting for confirmation of a pest, then use the following precautionary measures:

  • restrict operations in the area
  • withdraw people, vehicles and equipment from the area
  • restrict access to the area
  • clean and disinfect your hands and any equipment that has been in contact, and
  • use interim control or containment measures.
Marine Invasives

After reporting your find, you should also do the following:

Collect a sample for identification. Where possible, collect one or two samples of suspect organisms, place in a plastic bag along with a little seawater and freeze as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to collect samples if it is not safe to do so or if you are in a protected area such as a marine park, national park, aquatic reserve or any area closed to fishing.

Note the exact location. As well as the geographical location, write down as many details as possible, including shore markers, depth of water, substrate or infrastructure the organism was found on etc. Also note the date, how many individuals you saw and any other characteristics you think might be useful.

 

How can I protect my property from pest and disease incursions?

Having good biosecurity measures in place is the key to avoiding pest and disease incursions.

It doesn't matter if you are a large-scale producer of livestock or crops, or just have a household pet and small vegetable patch in your backyard, implementing simple biosecurity measures can prevent a pest or disease incursion on your property.

The DAFF website has easy to follow advice on:

 

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