Moving bits and suckers between farms is an easy way to spread banana pests and diseases, putting your farm and the wider industry at risk.
Not all pests and diseases are easy to spot, so even planting material that looks healthy could pose a serious biosecurity risk. Once introduced, pests and diseases can increase production costs, threaten the viability of farming businesses and have serious consequences for the entire industry.
The Australian Banana Growers’ Council has been speaking with growers about the risks associated with moving planting material, and has developed a new poster to help reinforce the importance of doing it right.
The poster will also be included in any future copies of the Grower Kit and can be sent/delivered on request.
Put simply, good biosecurity starts with clean planting material. The best option is to source QBAN-accredited tissue culture plants.
If you have concerns about bits and suckers being shared or dirty machinery being moved, contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.