The Grains Farm Biosecurity Program welcomes Kate Glastonbury as the new Grains Biosecurity Officer (GBO) for New South Wales (NSW), based in Orange.
GBO’s are at the frontline of protecting Australia’s second largest agricultural industry by helping growers manage biosecurity risks at a farm and industry level.
Launched in 2007, the program is managed by Plant Health Australia (PHA) and funded by growers through Grain Producers Australia (GPA) and state governments. NSW has been involved with the program since 2010.
Each of the mainland grain growing states have dedicated GBO’s who engage with growers, agricultural advisors and the supply chain, focusing on biosecurity prevention, preparedness, surveillance and emergency response.
The program develops key information resources and tools such as farm gate biosecurity signs, fact sheets, communication products and management guides to assist the officers in raising awareness.
Prior to her new role, Kate was part of the NSW Khapra Beetle Response for 18 months where she was responsible for managing the sample processing lab and contributed to site surveillance activities.
Kate has also previously taken part in a high priority plant pest emergency response relating to the grains industry. This experience has enabled her to gain knowledge in plant pests as well as understanding the complete process from collecting the samples in the field, to the lab and final reporting.
“I have gained useful skills and knowledge working in the plant pest response that I can share with industry partners such as sample submission processes, surveillance techniques, information about key exotic plant pests and diseases and how emergency responses operate,” Kate said.
She also has experience working for the NSW Rural Assistance Authority that provides financial assistance to primary producers and small businesses. Kate worked with growers and the wider agricultural industry as well as those affected by natural disasters.
“I am looking forward to assist farmers even more in my new role, making sure they know that biosecurity support is available to them through the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program,” she said.
Kate is excited to work with her state GBO counterparts, continuing the work of the previous NSW GBO, Bill Gordon. She plans to get stuck into a few new projects, including research and reviewing and developing useful fact sheets and resources that will be available on the Grains Farm Biosecurity website.
More specifically, Kate will be instrumental in delivering regional exercises and training with industry and Local Land Services (LLS) focussing on exotic grains pests. These activities aim to develop surveillance skills while collecting data to support pest absence and improve preparedness and response capability. Exploring opportunities for surveillance of exotic pests while spreading the message that biosecurity is a shared responsibility, is also high on her to-do list.
Contact Kate at kate.glastonbury@dpi.nsw.gov.au or 0417 687 307 for:
NSW growers and industry are encouraged to contact Kate for any biosecurity assistance, to get actively involved in biosecurity and to meet her at upcoming field days and grower events around the state.