Level II Agricultural Business Operations

 Objectives ◦ Understand what biosecurity is ◦ Identify farm biosecurity risks & methods of transmission ◦ Be able to give examples of notifiable weeds, pests and diseases. ◦ Consider farm biosecurity measures that can be practically implemented

 Biosecurity refers to measures that are taken to stop the spread or introduction of harmful organisms to human, animal and plant life.  Harmful organisms could be either: ◦ Diseases ◦ Pests ◦ Weeds

 Farm biosecurity is a set of measures designed to protect a farm from the entry and spread of pests and diseases.  The same principles apply within the farm, preventing disease weeds and pests spreading between fields or batches of stored produce.

 Farm biosecurity is your responsibility, and that of every person visiting or working on your property.  This includes: ◦ Employees ◦ Contractors ◦ Those delivering goods or services

WindSoilAnimals Seed Farmyard Manure Straw MachineryWaterPeople

 The major foliage disease of potatoes  Spread by wind, water, soil or direct contact.  Fungicide problems  Potato dumps - First source of infection  Control volunteers/ground-keepers  Use inoculum free seed

Grain Weevils/ Saw toothed grain beetles Grain spoilage & rejections Clean & fumigate stores before use Badgers Spread of bovine TB Close doors to grain stores Potato cyst Nematode Reduces potato yield and quality Follow good hygiene practicesPESTPROBLEMSOLUTION

PCN Potato Eelworm Reducing the Risk  Soil can harbour PCN  Cysts can survive in soil for up to 25 years  Widespread in ware potato land  Builds up with regular potato cropping  Rotation  Plant certified basic seed  PCN soil sampling when using farm saved seed  Clean shared machinery  Dispose of grader waste to an on-farm tip or field of origin  Do not feed or spread untreated vegetable waste  Be wary of imported animal manures

Methods of SpreadBiosecurity Measures  Manure or Straw  Wind  Seed  Balers  Combine Harvesters  Only import FYM from known source  Use home saved or certified seed  Harvest weed infested fields last  Blow down/clean machinery  Control noxious weeds

Brown Rot Ring Rot Notifiable Diseases Colorado Beetle Potato Cyst Nematode Notifiable Pests Wild Oat Thistle Ragwort Dock Notifiable Weeds

Implementation of EU Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) Announced by UK Government in July 2012 Requirements IPMP Operator Certification Sprayer Testing What is IPMP?

The holistic use of all available plant protection methods and subsequent integration of appropriate measures to discourage the development of weed, pest and disease populations and keep the use of pesticide and other interventions to levels that are economically and ecologically justified and minimize risks to human health and the environment. (Based on the FAO and Sustainable Use Directive definition).

 What- Integrated pest management plan  Why- Requirement of SUD  Who - Any farm using professional pesticides to produce crops  When – Once (reviewed annually)  Where-

 Farm biosecurity - measures designed to protect a farm from the entry and spread of pests and diseases.  Routes of entry – be aware of the risks  Minimising the disease risk & reducing weed spread  Pest problems  Notifiable weeds, pests and diseases  IPMP