This year has been one to remember. The once in a century pandemic we are now experiencing has taught us important lessons about disease spread that we had perhaps forgotten. One lesson we have learned is that the key to the spread of COVID-19 is people. People infected with COVID-19 can easily infect others. Reducing the spread of the virus relies on limiting contact between people through measures such as social distancing, quarantining, and restrictions on people travelling and gathering. We are all now familiar with these measures and how we can play our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and the importance of following these measures to protect ourselves, families, and communities.
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People can also spread other diseases that don't impact human health, but can lead to devastating impacts on animal and plant health and our agricultural systems. Similar to COVID-19, the key to preventing this from happening relies on simple measures that can reduce and prevent the spread of viruses, bacteria, and pests onto farms. Managing people coming onto farms such as seasonal and utility workers can prevent them from introducing pests and diseases that can devastate farms and agricultural industries.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our families and communities is everyone's responsibility and farm biosecurity is no different. Everyone has a role to play in stopping the introduction of pests and diseases onto farms including; farmers and farm workers, farm visitors, field officers, utility workers, veterinarians, agronomists, contractors, consultants, agents, transporters, researchers, and any anyone else stepping onto a farm.
Farmers need to have a farm biosecurity plan in place. They also need to ensure farm visitors follow their biosecurity requirements. This may include limiting farm entrances, having a farm biosecurity sign at farm entrances with a contact number for visitors to call before entering, a visitor register to record farm visitors, limiting access to production areas on the farm, having a wash down area for vehicles, and machinery, and having dedicated equipment such as gumboots available.
For visitors to the farm, there are also measures they must follow. Farm visitors must read and follow biosecurity signs and call the number on the sign before entering the property. Visitors to farms should arrive in a clean vehicle, park vehicles in designated areas, and use wash down areas if they are available.
If biosecurity practices are in place and visitors to farms adhere to those practices, Tasmanian farms and agriculture will be given the best possible protection against pest and disease outbreaks. COVID-19 has shown that we can all work together and prevent the spread of the virus through simple but effective measures. We can be just as effective in preventing pest and disease outbreaks on Tasmanian farms through actions that are just as simple and effective.
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