BIOSECURITY BULLETIN By Shafiya Hussein, Grains Biosecurity Officer, South Australia Roadside grain dumping may not seem like a serious offence, but in addition to being illegal and unsafe, it also poses biosecurity threats with widespread implications for the grains industry and the general public. Both dumping and receiving illegal waste can attract significant penalties, with individuals facing up to four years of jail time and fines of up to $500,000 if dumping is found to cause serious environmental harm. Corporations may be fined up to $2 million under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1993. Dumped grain provides an untreated, unmonitored, unmanaged and very attractive opportunity for stored grain insects and pests to thrive and spread into neighbouring paddocks, farms and districts, creating a significant biosecurity risk. Seed germinating on roadsides can be vectors of dangerous fungi, bacteria and viruses that can migrate into crops adjacent to roadways. Green bridges are considered high-risk pathways for rusts, mites, aphids, moths, locusts and other serious biosecurity pests and pathogens. Dumped grain is also a food source for insects, birds, rodents and wild animals. Wildlife feeding on these piles of grain near highways can pose a significant risk to motorists. Rodent and pest populations grow with access to unmanaged food sources such as dumped grain, which can result in serious pest infestations for neighbouring farms. It is understood that most grain is dumped to reduce excess weight before weighbridges or to clear grain remnants after delivery and before picking up the next commodity. Grain dumps are often found along transport corridors to and from ports. The increased biosecurity threat, loss of commodity and risks to motorists and neighbouring farms caused by grain dumping are serious concerns and some local governments are requesting the public to report illegal dumping in their communities to curb this illegal practice. The Australian Grains Industry Transport Code of Practice states: “All participants in the supply chain have a primary duty of care under Chain of Responsibility legislation to ensure the safety of road transport operations, including managing the risks of speed, fatigue, mass dimension and loading – so far as reasonably practicable.” This Code Of Practice reinforces the responsibility for producers and transport operators to ensure their trucks are not overloaded to avoid the need to dump excess grain. When transporting grain, hauliers should check trailer load limits, weigh loads before delivery and avoid overloading. They should ensure trailers are clean and dispose of any leftover grain at designated receival and cleaning depots. Grain transporters are also encouraged to carry polybags to package any leftover untreated grain remnants, that can be used for stock feed. If the excess grain is treated, it must be disposed of by legally burying it or returning it to the farm for the next sowing season. For more information on the penalties for illegal dumping, download the Illegal dumping information sheet published by the South Australian Environment Protection Authority. Australia's robust biosecurity system relies on a partnership between government, industry, and the community. Biosecurity is everyone's responsibility, whether you are a grower, grain handler, food or feed manufacturer, transporter, tourist, or community member. The South Australian grains biosecurity officer role is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Plant Health Australia (PHA), and Grain Producers Australia (GPA) to improve the management of, and preparedness for, biosecurity risks in the grains industry at the farm and industry levels. The Grains Farm Biosecurity website offers practical resources that include fact sheets, videos, how to guides, online training and strategies to assist in the management of grains farm biosecurity risks. For more information and advice on South Australian grains farm biosecurity practices, please contact Shafiya Hussein Shafiya.Hussein@sa.gov.au Article published in Stock Journal on 27 October 2022. Image: Jim Moran

Resources and Tools

Fact sheet: Is your farm at risk? – People movement

Related Crops