Producer Guide to the National Voluntary Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard for the Grains and Oilseeds Industry - A Guide for Implementing Proactive Biosecurity into Farm Management

Outline of a Biosecurity Management Plan for Your Farm

Equipment Entry and Access (specifically regarding transmission of soil borne diseases)

Insist on inspections (for soil and plant material) of any purchased or rented equipment, by farm management before entry to the farm.

Basic

Use certified seed and/or test farm-saved seed to ensure it meets all equivalent purity and pest standards.
Ensure (for example, inspect trucks) in your own seed handling (or custom trucking) that no impurities are commingled.
Use seed treatments to suppress disease and/or insects, dependant on crop and pest profile.

Moderate

Determine regions where you should not source seed and check all seed sources for the area of origin before purchasing. Generally, it is expected that local seed is less likely to have new pest issues that you do not already have, but that may not always be the case. Regions that are at higher risk may not be easy to determine. Vigilance is required.

Advanced

Consider testing seed to specific disease and/or purity standards beyond those of certified seed. There may be a limited number of seed testing labs able to test for specific diseases. Ask your lab about their testing procedures and what samples are required. Seek the advice of your agronomist or production advisor on what tests are required, and the interpretation of results.

Basic

Monitor your own trucks and/or custom truckers for adequate cleanout of previous loads. Identify where the cleanout should take place and what to do with the cleanout material. Truck inspections are important. Stay in touch with your local farm organization as further guidelines are developed.

Moderate

Confirm with agricultural suppliers what precautions they take to ensure fertilizer purity and exclude suppliers that are unable to meet your requirements. For example, some crop input locations may (at times) blend canola seed with fertilizer in the fertilizer blender for floater application. Be aware of when this is occurring and what biosecurity risk it presents. Know your trucker and the care that they are prepared to take on your behalf. Make sure truckers are aware of your expectations. See potential contractual considerations in Appendix C.

Advanced

Inspect and/or sample fertilizer loads for impurities like weed/crop seeds and reject or redirect a load if necessary. The specific impurity found may be more manageable for certain crops or on certain areas of the farm. Adjust accordingly (for example, a few rogue wheat seeds in a field being planted with canola are far less of a problem than herbicide tolerant canola in a soybean field).

Basic

Understand product origin and content. In the case of manure, origin should include where the feed source came from. Some suppliers of manure may have used feed from their own farms while others may have no idea of the origin of the feed source. For example, the introduction of weeds like velvet leaf through manure can have very long term implications.

Moderate

Do independent testing of content characteristics like nutrients, heavy metals and weed species. Ask your lab about their testing procedures and what samples are required. Testing for everything is not likely required. Seek expert advice.

Advanced

Consider only composted (biodigested) material to mitigate the risk, such as weed seeds. There is very limited availability of composted material and testing may be required to ensure adequate digestion/composting has occurred.

Basic

Inspect all purchased or contracted equipment before arrival at the farm for excess soil, plant material or weed seeds to ensure compliance with your requirements. Inspections can be done by farm staff or a third party. As much as possible, inspections and cleaning should be done at the point of last use.
Ensure that non-agricultural equipment requesting access to your property is inspected and cleaned.
For long distance purchases, verify “clean enough” using digital photos.
Special consideration should be given to trucks hauling grain from your farm. Question whether the trucks have been adequately cleaned out before they arrive empty at your farm. If there is something left in it, a plan is required. (For example: Is it better to clean the truck on-site or is it better to leave the material left in the truck knowing that, depending on the clean-out material, the grain elevator is in a better position to deal with the material as dockage? Do not encourage truckers to clean out on the road a mile before arriving at the farm. Consider a specified area for cleanout on your farm.) Stay in touch with your local farm organization as further guidelines are developed.

Moderate

Identify the history of where the equipment, including non-agricultural equipment, has been located, when practical.
Clean equipment to remove soil and plant material either off-site, or in a specified and contained catchment area on your farm, with access to washing capability and appropriate drainage.
Consider methods for reducing the potential for mud retention and further movement.

Advanced

Deny access and/or do not purchase/rent/custom contract equipment (agricultural or non-agricultural) from any supplier that does not have a verifiable protocol for cleaning equipment to your required standard (Potential Contract Considerations). Although it is unlikely you will ever eliminate all risk, it is clear in the case of soybean cyst nematode or clubroot that the level of risk drops rapidly with any additional cleaning effort.
Your cleaning requirements can be built into all farmer/supplier/access agreements.

Basic

Remove soil or plant material accumulations on equipment before moving from any field. The first level of cleaning effort makes the biggest difference.
A hammer on a shank or the sweeping off of the header on a combine can dramatically reduce the probability of spreading a pest. Consider using a mobile pressure washer in cleaning at the field. For combines, air compressors can be installed, or gas powered leaf blowers can be used for clean-offs. Cleaning off the combine may be considered more critical than cleaning out the combine.

Moderate

Consider a designated area within the yard for more thorough cleaning by pressure washer. Consider a specified catchment and contained area on your farm with access to washing capability and drainage.
Consider reducing the potential for mud retention and further movement. Prevent transmission from the wash area.
The wash water needs to be adequately isolated and/or decontaminated (cleaned/disinfected).

Advanced

Under some circumstances equipment may require disinfectant. It is believed that this additional step of disinfection may be particularly effective for clubroot, soybean cyst nematode and/or other pathogens.
A standard disinfectant, at a suggested rate (1 to 2% solution of bleach [hypochlorite]), can be used. Check with suppliers and/or manufacturers of washers for effective alternatives. The majority of soil material must be removed off of the machine for the disinfectant to be effective.
Note – do not confuse bleach solution with an ammonia solution often used for a sprayer tank clean out, and never combine the two.

Basic

Complete field operations on clean areas first before traveling into areas with known or potential spreadable pests to minimize the probability of transfer and the number of cleanings required.
Although the sequencing of events may not always work out, some advance planning back to planned seeding dates could prove beneficial and save considerable time and effort in cleaning.

Moderate

Isolate and limit exposure to suspected pest-infested areas. If farming with multiple pieces of equipment, assign only one machine to the infested areas in order to minimize the exposure and the number of intensive cleanings required. Log equipment usage.

Advanced

Alternatively crop or plant grass on known pest infested areas. Construct a new field access to avoid high traffic. This technique is being used in clubroot areas where infested areas are known to be near field exits.

Basic

Rotate crops according to agronomic best practices to minimize the development of ideal conditions for the introduction of new pests. Choose best available resistant and/or tolerant varieties.
Rotate between varieties with different primary tolerances if required. Focus variety choice on the highest priority protection issues.
Always follow mandated refuge seed requirements where applicable to minimize the selection pressure for resistant pests.
Rotate herbicide group. Rotating crops does not automatically mean rotating of herbicide groups. Be aware of the need to rotate both.
Rotate fields, based on your knowledge of each field’s conditions.
Adjust the sequence of crops to minimize the host effect; for example, canola on soybean stubble (white mold) or wheat on corn stubble (fusarium). If you have shortened the rotation of a certain crop due to especially high expected returns, consider years where the return spread is not so substantial to “get back” in rotation.

Moderate

Use multiple modes of action if available; some pesticides are packaged with a combination of modes of action and effectively reduce the likelihood of the development of resistance.
Ensure field selection considers emphasis on field conditions in rotation decisions.
Consider application of pesticides in “spot treatments”, for managing specific pest infestations and perimeter control.

Advanced

Consider swapping land for a growing season with other producers of alternate and applicable crops to stay in rotation. When producing higher-value specialty crops, you may be able to swap land with other farmers who prefer to specialize in a different crop. There have been some successful examples with potatoes and/or lentils.

Basic

Routinely monitor fields for unusual occurrences symptoms and patterns. When detected early, pest infestations are easier to manage and impacts are reduced.
Consult with agronomists and production advisors to determine how to manage new or unknown observations.
Keep notes or maps of important areas for future reference. Photocopies of soil maps, aerial photos, or satellite images may serve as a backdrop to keep important notes and observations.
Be prepared to act quickly with appropriate mechanical or chemical control measures to control and/or contain new pest infestations. The window of opportunity for effective control can be very short and specific.
Control decisions need to make economic sense in both the short run (annual) and the long run (5-10 years).

Moderate

Contract out scouting and monitoring to third party service providers capable of providing timely reports and investigating findings. This addresses capacity and efficiency issues if your farm size now makes it nearly impossible to scout and evaluate every acre.
Keep electronic records of areas requiring special consideration. Handheld computers and smart phones now have GPS geo-reference capability. Movement and severity of specific problems can be effectively tracked over time.
Adjust cropping plans to improve control and containment measures. For example, if you suspect you have group one resistance, consider rotating to alternative chemistry in the future. Minimize the selection pressure for the resistant variety.
Adjust field operations (for example, scheduling, tillage practices, spraying coverage) to improve containment (see Managing Equipment Movement).
Undertake analysis of benefits and compare to relevant costs. Consider all acres, not only those currently affected.

Advanced

Employ advanced technologies, such as satellite imagery, aerial photos, and yield maps, and monitor for changes in growth activity and yield capability. Digital technologies allow for layering of observations to look for patterns and problems.
If necessary, take critical areas out of annual production (for example, establish grass) to further contain problems that cannot be adequately controlled through other means.
As crop input decisions are made (for example: whether or not to apply pesticides), consider all crop growth dynamics and market outlook conditions in the decision.

Basic

Inform guests of the potential risks they may bring to your farm to enhance their understanding of the need to take precautions. Awareness alone is a powerful tool.
Park guest vehicles in a low-risk area in your yard, and travel throughout the farm in one of your own farm vehicles that is known to be adequately cleaned.
Use gates where appropriate to limit access.
Plan access roads and gates to limit access when designing the layout of a farmyard.
Post signs to discourage unnecessary access (“No Trespassing”; “Food Production Area: Do Not Enter”).

Moderate

Establish procedures for farm service/trade people and travelers that can be communicated before they arrive (see Communications Plan Outline). For example, for a custom soil sampler, identify what you expect of them, how they should conduct themselves and what they should do with your samples and/or the samples from previous fields.
Ensure that the procedure is crop and/or season specific as required.
Minimize people movement, limit access, and ensure people follow the required protocol to reduce exposure where there is no potential benefit to do otherwise.

Advanced

Provide visitors with a clean up zone and/or protective clothing prior to access. If someone does present a risk to your farm and you still have a need to grant them access, then it should be your farm’s responsibility to provide adequate equipment, clothing and/or sanitation options to minimize the risk to your satisfaction. For example, you should consider using disposable overalls and booties.
You do not have the responsibility to be a tourist attraction or a demonstration farm. If you do host tourists or crop demonstrations, you need to have protocols in place to limit potential pest introduction.

Basic

Start with clean bins and keep transport and handling equipment clean between crop movements. Sweep bins thoroughly, let concrete floors fully dry prior to using. Empty hoppers, run augers backward. Remove all spoiled grain.
Ensure grain storage quality through moisture and temperature control using adequate aeration, drying, and/or turning bins as required. Each crop has an ideal moisture and temperature range. Stay within that range.
Monitor bins frequently; probe bins for changes.
In the event that insects and/or molds are found, follow appropriate fumigation, aeration or other management strategies to reduce impact.
Tarp trucks for any road travel.
Declare to grain buyers any pests that could be of concern. If the buyers know of the pest risk, they may be able to handle the product in a way that puts no other farms, or the supply chain, at risk. The next time, it might be you that is being protected.

Moderate

Bin grain from pest infested areas separately to isolate the risk.
Keep samples from each bin or lot of production that may have different characteristics.
Fumigate when appropriate and required.
Treat grain with recommended pesticides when appropriate and required.
When using temporary field storage, monitor grain condition and the integrity of the storage facility frequently.

Advanced

Document storage use year over year to monitor possible pest propagation.
Purchase temperature-monitoring systems for large bins. The larger the bin, the more cost effective the available technology and tools are for monitoring storage conditions.

Basic

Develop awareness of the need for biosecurity risk management with yourself and staff.
Document at least one management practice, using a format (Input Procurement Practices) which addresses your primary concern for each category discussed in this Guide.
Identify and document contact information for professional agronomists, and provincial or municipal weed specialists to be contacted and or informed should a potential biosecurity risk be suspected.
Train your staff on the management practices required.
Implement the plan.
Review and update the plan bi-annually, or as any biosecurity risk is identified and addressed.

Moderate

Identify and prioritize specific issues facing your farm that introduce biosecurity risk.
Develop and document management practices that will address these risks. Consider including practices that address soil movement, unwanted people access, and the introduction of possible pests when bringing supplies or services onto your farm.
Geo-reference map your farm enterprise; use that map to help guide the movement of supplies, equipment and inventory.
Develop and document a procedure for reporting pests and other biosecurity risks to the appropriate plant health authority and specialist as required. Be aware that there are provincially and federally regulated pests.
Include clauses within supplier or service contracts that specify biosecurity management considerations.
Conduct management and staff meetings at the beginning of each production season to communicate and review biosecurity management protocol.
Review and update the plan annually, or as any biosecurity risk is identified and addressed.

Advanced

Consider contracting expert advice in the development of a biosecurity management plan for your farm. This may include agronomic specialists, farm management specialists, and agriculture extension professionals. Discuss and document appropriate biosecurity management procedures for all aspects of your farm enterprise.
Present your biosecurity protocol to all suppliers and visitors arriving at your farm.
Develop a risk zone map for your farm, identifying low to potentially high biosecurity risk areas to enable management plans specific to pest infestations.
Develop and document a procedure for tracking the movement of vehicles and equipment as they are used in or near high risk areas (Equipment Log).
Develop and document a procedure for logging the access and movement of people, particularly in higher-risk areas (People Log).
Review and update the plan seasonally, or as any biosecurity risk is identified and addressed.