Farm biosecurity
Information sheets
DAFWA has made available three information sheets on topics essential to maintaining good biosecurity:
- Sampling
- Disposal and destruction
- Decontamination
They provide detailed information on disposal options, how to collect samples for CGMMV testing, and how to clean and wash-down clothing, vehicles and equipment to prevent infection or spread.
The information sheets can be downloaded from this page.
Farm biosecurity checklist
Growers must observe strict on-farm biosecurity practices to minimise the risk of introducing and spreading CGMMV.
DAFWA strongly encourages the implementation of a Farm Biosecurity Plan. A CGMMV Farm Biosecurity Plan template can be downloaded from this page.
Below is a checklist of biosecurity measures that farms should aim to have in place. The checklist can also be downloaded from this page.
- Do you have biosecurity signs in place at property entrance? Does it include a phone number and instruction for visitors to contact the farmer before coming on farm?
- Can you manage access to your property through a single access that is able to be shut/locked?
- Do visitors, contractors and staff park in designated signed areas?
- Do you use certified CGMMV clean seed or own ‘clean and tested’ seeds?
- Are seedlings from a registered nursery and supplied in new trays?
- Has a seed/seedling register been completed?
- Are staff trained in biosecurity? Has the training been recorded?
- Are clothes and equipment cleaned daily or on re-entry?
- Are boots and secateurs used only on farm and cleaned between tunnel/planting blocks?
- Are footbaths available on your property?
- Do you restrict movement of vehicles on-farm?
- Do all visitors and contractors to the site sign a register and are they informed of your farm’s biosecurity measures and not to bring plant material on farm?
- Do all visitors use a footbath before entering the production area?
- Is there a concrete wash down area located near to the front of property with run-off collected so as not to contaminate the growing area?
- Do you clean any machinery or vehicles coming onto the growing area or leaving the farm with a high pressure cleaner and detergent?
- Is wash down water collected in confined area (sump, evaporation pond)?
- Do you maintain a complete register of machinery coming onto the farm?
- Do you use on-farm only vehicles, if possible, for transport around the growing area?
- Are all deliveries and produce pickups done at a designated area?
- Are field crates and bins washed and disinfected when moving from one production area to another?
- Are wooden pallets cleaned in a 1% Chlorine bath before going into the farm area and placed on a stand or hard surface area? Do you avoid used or recycled packaging?
- Is there a hardstand loading area that is cleaned once produce has been picked up?
- Do you know and can you identify the host weeds for CGMMV on your farm?
- Do you monitor host weeds and remove where possible, especially around wash down areas?
- Are fences and nets maintained to restrict access to production areas?
- Do you remove waste away from the growing area to a designated area?
- If possible do you dispose of waste by deep burial, burning or feeding to stock?
- Do you monitor your crops regularly for disease symptoms?
- Do you train workers to identify and report the symptoms of CGMMV?