Heads of wheat in a crop ready for harvest against a perfect blue sky
By Marianne Coquilleau, Grains Farm Biosecurity Project Officer
Australian grain growers are placing a higher priority on biosecurity, both for their own grains businesses and for the grains industry at large. This is based on a recent national survey commissioned by the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program (GFBP).
Delivered by Plant Health Australia (PHA) in partnership with Grain Producers Australia (GPA), the program provides grain biosecurity information and resources to help address key regional risks.
Independent agricultural market research firm Kynetec conducted the survey in October and November 2024, gathering responses from 300 grain specialists and mixed grain and livestock growers nationwide. A 2021 survey provided a baseline for comparison.
The nationwide survey sought to understand growers’ attitudes toward biosecurity, their biosecurity priorities and procedures, and their appetite for assistance with farm biosecurity.
PHA National Manager for Preparedness, Stuart Kearns, said that the results from this survey were consistent with previous years in showing the industry’s positive outlook on biosecurity.
Farm biosecurity: as important as the industry’s
The importance of biosecurity among respondents remained high and unchanged from 2021, with 90% of them recognising it as moderately or extremely important. They also placed greater importance on biosecurity at the farm level, now seen as equally critical as the industry level.
“This is a really encouraging trend, because there are a number of steps growers can take to advance their practices in biosecurity to strengthen the safety of their crop, their business, and their wider community.”, said Mr Kearns.
The survey included questions regarding:
Inspect, collect, detect
Ninety-two percent of grower respondents reported routinely monitoring their crops, reflecting a rise in farm hygiene practices.
“In-crops pests and diseases are where respondents showed the greatest concern, closely followed by potential pests and disease contaminations within farm inputs”, noted Mr Kearns. “In comparison, grain stored on farm and pastures were seen as lower sources of risk”.
Ninety-seven percent of growers occasionally or routinely sought external advice for unusual symptoms, highlighting strong support for pest and disease reporting.
A particular highlight in this year’s survey results was the ongoing management of stored grain and its associated biosecurity measures. Most growers reported monitoring stored grain regularly, with over half inspecting monthly.
Cleaning spilled grain from storage areas helps to reduce pest risks. Photo courtesy of Alex Conway of the GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team.
“With a greater number of growers storing grains on-farm for three to twelve months, stored grain presents a biosecurity threat,” said Mr Kearns.
“Knowing what growers are doing and how we can best support them – by addressing concerns or simplifying critical tasks like monitoring stored grain – is an important role for the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program.”
Only one in four growers reported keeping records after stored grain inspections – an opportunity for the program to support improved recordkeeping to reduce risk.
Protecting crops and businesses
Growers showed a strong willingness to seek help with developing or improving their Biosecurity Plans. The survey also highlighted preferred formats for receiving that support.
“There is a need for us to continue bringing awareness of the program’s existence together with the support provided by GBOs and the information resources they develop for growers and agronomists,” said Mr Kearns.
PHA, through the GFBP, remains a trusted source of reliable information and guidance for growers.
“These results help us pinpoint areas of focus so to increase our impact in helping growers better protect themselves.”
PHA thanks participating growers for their time and insights.
For more information on grain storage hygiene and biosecurity, visit storedgrain.com.au or contact your local grains biosecurity officer:
Launched in 2007, the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program (GFBP) is managed by Plant Health Australia (PHA) and funded by growers through Grain Producers Australia (GPA). The GFBP is an initiative to improve the management of, and preparedness for, biosecurity risks in the grains industry at the farm and industry levels.