Farm biosecurity planning workshops will be held across North West Queensland and are aimed at maintaining market access to the Northern Territory.
Organised by the Livestock Biosecurity Network, workshops in Cloncurry and Winton will provide Queensland producers with templates and information on how to design a biosecurity plan that is specific to their property.
Biosecurity and Extension manager Rachael O’Brien said this was to allow producers to continue to trade with Northern Territory markets.
“In 2016, Queensland reduced Johne’s disease regulation in favor of an industry led market driven approach,” she said.
“In February 2017, the Northern Territory legislated minimum entry requirements of Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (JBAS) of 7 for all cattle moving in to the NT.
“Until 30 June 2017, all Johnes disease free properties in QLD are JBAS 7. However, from 1 July 2017 all QLD properties that fail to implement a biosecurity plan will fall to the lowest level of assurance JBAS 0.”
Topics will include information on pest management, disease management and basic biosecurity priorities.