PASTURES & SOILS

New app to help farm biosecurity

A new app can help with farm biosecurity management.

Staff writer

This article is 5 years old. Images might not display.

Developed as part of an industry collaboration between Dairy Australia and Agriculture Victoria, the biosecurity tool enables dairy farmers to create a biosecurity plan tailored to their farm, based on Dairy Australia's Healthy Farms Biosecurity Framework.

Dairy Australia technical and innovation manager Dr John Penry said it was important for all farms to have a biosecurity plan to manage disease risk.

"It's crucial for dairy farmers to maintain a biosecurity plan tailored to their herd and farming system," Dr Penry said.

"An outbreak of the diseases identified by the biosecurity tool could create significant and measurable losses in farm performance or the wider dairy industry.

"The biosecurity tool allows dairy farmers to manage their risks around 14 separate diseases such as salmonella and BVD."

For each disease, dairy farmers can identify control measures under the seven categories of stock movements, herd health, farm inputs, visitors, effluent and waste, neighbours and dead animals.

Agriculture Victoria development specialist Dr Sarah Chaplin said the new online tool will help farmers understand how to manage their own biosecurity risks.

"The control measures offered by the tool for each disease are evidence-based, based on the level of risk that you have chosen," Dr Chaplin said.

"Users decide what level of control they want to apply to different diseases with the tool's risk matrix. It's still subjective - it's up to the farmer to decide whether they consider the consequences minor, moderate or severe.

"Once the farm's specific animal health risks are identified, scientifically valid control measures are suggested."

Focused control measures have a better cost benefit ratio than blanket application of all possible control measures.

More details:  https://biosecurity.dairyaustralia.com.au/login

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Research Report: Large Square Baler Testing (March 2025)

This month Kondinin Group has capacity tested four high-density, large square balers in what is believed to be a first for Australia. Balers from Krone, Kuhn, Massey Ferguson and New Holland were put through their paces, working in windrowed straw.

editions

Research Report: Rural Communications (February 2025)

With the departure of 3G technology and the emergence of 5G and satellite options, there are significant changes on the connectivity horizon. This month Kondinin Group engineers Ben White and Josh Giumelli investigate what is the best way to stay connected in regional and remote areas.

editions

Research Report: Chaser Bins (January 2025)

Chaser bins play a vital role when it comes to on-farm grain logistics. The January Research Report features a comprehensive round up of the latest chaser bins of 30 tonnes-plus capacity.

editions

Research Report: Succession Planning (December 2024)

This month's research report, compiled with the input of John White, Rural Generations, is a great resource for succession planning. A key message from the report is to start succession planning as soon as possible.