BIRD FLU THREAT DEMANDS ACTION BEHIND EVERY SINGLE FARM GATE

By Grain Producers Australia Chair Matthew Madden

The detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in wild seabirds in Australia has understandably placed the poultry industry on alert, but the implications extend much further across agriculture.

While there have been no detections in Australian poultry production systems or the broader livestock industries, the presence of H5N1 in wild birds is a reminder of how closely connected our production systems are and why every agricultural industry has a part to play in maintaining Australia’s biosecurity.

This is particularly relevant for grain producers.

Many cropping properties have dams, wetlands or water storages that attract wild birds, while mixed farming businesses may also run sheep, cattle or pigs and keep a small number of chickens or other poultry.

At the same time, grain grown and stored on these properties can move into feed supply chains servicing poultry, piggeries, dairies and other livestock enterprises.

There is also regular movement of contractors, trucks, machinery, workers and advisers between properties.

These everyday connections between wildlife, farms and agricultural supply chains need to be managed carefully as the bird flu threat increases.

For growers, this does not mean introducing impractical restrictions or treating every wild bird as a disease risk.

It means taking a sensible look at where contact may occur and making sure sound biosecurity practices are part of normal farm management.

A written biosecurity plan is one of the most useful places to start. It allows growers to identify the main risks for their property and set out how visitors, vehicles, machinery, livestock, grain storage, feed and water will be managed.

It should also make clear what workers and contractors are expected to do and who needs to be contacted when something unusual is found.

A plan does not need to be lengthy or complicated, but it does need to suit the individual business and be understood by the people who work there.

It should also be reviewed as the enterprise, seasonal conditions and biosecurity risks change.

The Grains Farm Biosecurity Program provides practical information and resources to help growers develop and improve their farm biosecurity plans.

These resources are available at grainsbiosecurity.com.au

In relation to bird flu, domestic poultry should be kept separate from wild birds where practical, with their feed and water protected from contamination.

Grain spills around sheds, silos and handling areas should be cleaned up, bird access to stored grain should be limited and dogs should not be allowed to investigate or scavenge sick or dead birds around paddocks, dams or wetlands.

Growers should remain alert for unusual illness or deaths among wild birds, particularly waterbirds, seabirds, shorebirds and birds of prey.

Sick or dead birds should not be handled.

People, livestock and dogs should be kept away, and unusual incidents reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

The same basic approach applies to the movement of people onto farms, which is especially important while canola is flowering across many grain-growing regions.

A bright canola crop may look like the perfect backdrop for a photograph, but entering a paddock without the grower’s permission is trespassing.

It also carries a genuine biosecurity risk, as weed seeds, soil and plant material can be moved on footwear, clothing and vehicles, potentially bringing unwanted pests or diseases onto the property.

Unauthorised visitors may also damage crops, disturb livestock or enter paddocks where chemicals have recently been applied.

This is why biosecurity signs at farm entrances matter.

They are not there for decoration or to make visitors feel unwelcome.

They provide a clear point of contact and allow growers to manage who enters the property, where they go and whether any cleaning or hygiene measures are needed.

However, putting up a sign is only part of the job. Visitors and contractors need to respect it by contacting the grower before entering and following the farm’s instructions.

Growers should also make sure signs are visible, contact details are current and the entry process is reflected in the property’s biosecurity plan.

Grain Producers Australia has a formal role in national plant biosecurity as the grains industry signatory to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.

This gives grain producers representation in decisions made when an emergency plant pest threatens the industry, including decisions about response arrangements and cost sharing.

The Deed relates to emergency plant pests rather than animal diseases such as bird flu, but the underlying lesson is the same.

Australia’s biosecurity system relies on governments, industry bodies, researchers, advisers and producers sharing information and responding early, with each part of the system supporting the others.

No industry can protect itself in isolation.

Good biosecurity on grain farms helps protect crops and individual farm businesses, while also reducing risks to the livestock industries and supply chains that rely on Australian grain.

As the threat from bird flu develops, grain producers do not need to panic, but we should not assume it is somebody else’s problem.

Having a current farm biosecurity plan, managing access, protecting feed and water and reporting anything unusual are practical steps that strengthen both the farm business and Australia’s wider agricultural biosecurity system.

This article was first published by FarmOnline on September 10, 2026 HERE