CASSOWARY Coast region banana growers now have access to a free, practical guide to control feral pigs.
Panama TR4 program leader Rebecca Sapuppo said even though the infested property at Tully is being taken out of production, growers shouldn’t be complacent about on-farm biosecurity and should manage all disease pathways, including potential spread by feral animals.
“To arm growers with the necessary resources and information, and to reduce the risk of spreading the disease, the Panama TR4 Program has collaborated with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Invasive Plants and Animals program, and Terrain Natural Resource Management to produce a practical guide for banana growers to control pigs in the Cassowary Coast region.”
The guide was launched today by Ms Sapuppo and Cassowary Coast Regional Council mayor John Kremastos.
Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, feral pigs are classed as restricted matter.
“This means all landholders are obliged to control feral pigs on their property,” she said.
“To help growers meet their obligations, the new guide offers access to the local resources, such as where to hire traps and how best to prepare a trapping program.
“We believe this is the first multi-agency publication to be made available with information specific for growers on the Cassowary Coast.
“The information in the guide draws upon the years of practical experience of council pest management officers, park and wildlife rangers and farmers on the Cassowary Coast. It includes tried and tested methods and local advice on how to run a best practice feral pig trapping program suited to our terrain and climate.
“It’s important that whatever control methods local authorities and landholders adopt, they are coordinated.
“We still don’t know how Panama disease tropical race 4 arrived in Far North Queensland, or if it has already spread to other farms, which is why we need to remain vigilant.”
The Panama TR4 Program will distribute the guide to all banana growers in the region, or it can be downloaded from www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23 for a copy.
For more information on preventing the spread of Panama disease visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au
