The result is easier management and reduced costs. Good biosecurity can also reduce the spread of an exotic disease incursion and significantly reduce eradication costs. In a partnership with Agriculture Western Australia and the Agriculture Protection Board through the HortGuard TM , GrainGuard TM , StockGuard TM and BeeGuard TM initiatives, plant and animal industries have begun to prioritise protection strategies for the pests, diseases and weeds that may seriously affect their livelihoods. The Industry Protection Plans, developed as part of the 'Guard' approach, identify key threats to productivity, sustainability and marketability and outline preventive and response strategies involving government agencies, farmers, agri-businesses, processors, grain handlers, exporters, veterinary practitioners, agricultural consultants and other organisations. By supporting the development of their industry's protection plan, and adopting relevant parts of it, farmers will make faster progress towards good levels of biosecurity for their production systems and the safeguarding of their businesses.
Many farmers appreciate the benefits of marketing quality-assured produce.
Among other attributes, QA schemes can ensure plant and animal products have a known genetic make-up, that they are produced with minimal and safe use of chemicals and they are free from specified pests, diseases and weeds. QA schemes may include elements of farm biosecurity to ensure a required freedom from pests, diseases and weeds. Many farmers involved in these schemes are already extending the principles to all aspects of their farming because they can see the business benefits of doing so. The successful marketing of many of our agricultural products will depend increasingly on being able to demonstrate that producers are regularly checking for serious pests and diseases on their land and are taking steps to prevent their entry and establishment. If producers do not do this, when a new problem arises it is hard to demonstrate that the property is not widely contaminated and that neighbours are not also affected.