{"id":216594,"date":"2018-08-27T18:55:15","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T08:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=216594"},"modified":"2020-09-23T17:21:55","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T07:21:55","slug":"cattle-producers-discuss-tick-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/08\/27\/cattle-producers-discuss-tick-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Cattle Producers Discuss Tick Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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AgForce regional president Carolyn Stone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 27, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

About 30 cattle producers gathered at the Kingaroy TAFE college on Monday to give their feedback on tick issues to representatives from Biosecurity Queensland.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The meetings collected feedback from producers about changes introduced two years ago to various tick procedures.<\/p>\n

Former stock inspector David McNab, from Biosecurity Queensland, explained current requirements, government assistance, surveillance activities and compliance.<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She said the obligation had been turned back on to cattle producers to look after their own businesses.<\/p>\n

“Producers would like to see a shared responsibility – and shared costs – with the government,” she said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Their neighbours on adjoining properties would also face substantial costs.<\/p>\n

However, tick-infested cattle can also die from diseases such as red water (tick fever) which makes treatment vital.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

She said AgForce would be following up the issues raised at the meetings.<\/p>\n

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