August 27, 2018
About 30 cattle producers gathered at the Kingaroy TAFE college on Monday to give their feedback on tick issues to representatives from Biosecurity Queensland.
The meeting, organised by AgForce Queensland, followed presentations at Proston and Durong on Friday, and was to be followed on Monday afternoon with a similar event at Yarraman.
The meetings collected feedback from producers about changes introduced two years ago to various tick procedures.
Former stock inspector David McNab, from Biosecurity Queensland, explained current requirements, government assistance, surveillance activities and compliance.
AgForce South-East Queensland Regional President – and South Burnett cattle producer – Carolyn Stone said the discussion included the need for better resources for stock inspectors.
She said the obligation had been turned back on to cattle producers to look after their own businesses.
“Producers would like to see a shared responsibility – and shared costs – with the government,” she said.
The discussion included whether maps showing tick infestations which had been reported in clean country should be made available to other producers, or whether this was a breach of privacy.
Carolyn said probably 99 per cent of producers were doing the right thing, but she would like to see more information and more education about ticks for producers.
Producers who discover ticks on their animals in clean country could run up costs of up to $100,000 – plus three years’ work – to eradicate a problem which most likely was not caused by them.
Their neighbours on adjoining properties would also face substantial costs.
However, tick-infested cattle can also die from diseases such as red water (tick fever) which makes treatment vital.
“I would like to see information sent out with rates notices – that way, it will reach everyone and prompt people to be vigilant, even in clean country,” Carolyn said.
She said AgForce would be following up the issues raised at the meetings.
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