GINGIN grain and hay growers along with sheep, goat and cattle farmers will support a range of priority animal disease and pest control programs next financial year.
The growers and farmers contribute to industry funding schemes allowing industry to raise funds to address key biosecurity issues.
Department of Agriculture and Food scheme executive officer Rebecca Heath said programs to tackle the weed threats of three-horned bedstraw and skeleton weed, control virulent footrot and regulatory programs for cattle diseases were among the programs being funded in 2017-18.
The contribution rates remain unchanged for cattle, sheep and goats, while there has been a reduction for grains, seeds and hay.
Ms Heath said industry-based management committees had determined which pest priorities were to be addressed, the area of operation and the producer contribution rate.
She said grain contributions were being reduced from 30 cents on the first sale of every tonne of grain and seed to 25 cents.
Hay producer contributions will reduce from 15 cents on the first sale of hay to 12.5 cents.
The new contribution rates will come into effect from July 1.
“With strong grains harvests in recent seasons, the funding scheme account balance for grains, seeds and hay has grown.
“The skeleton weed and bedstraw programs will be fully funded during 2017-18, ensuring the programs continue to meet grower needs and expectations.”
For the 2017-18 financial year cattle producers will pay a 20 cent contribution on the sale of each animal-carcase to fund surveillance programs for bovine tuberculosis, enzootic bovine leucosis and Johne’s disease in cattle.
Sheep and goats producers will pay a 10 cent contribution on the sale of each animal-carcase produced within the state, to fund a program to control virulent footrot, including research into the effectiveness of a footrot vaccine.
Grains and seed producers will pay a 25 cent contribution on the first sale of every tonne of grain and seed grown within the South West Land Division, to fund continuing programs to control skeleton weed and eradicate three-horned bedstraw.
Hay producers will pay 12.5 cents per tonne on the first sale of hay grown within the South West land Division, to fund skeleton weed and three-horned bedstraw programs.
Ms Heath said after discussions with Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan the cattle and sheep and goat industry funding scheme management committees were also examining the possibility for the schemes to address wild dog control during 2017-18, and would liaise further with producers about this.
Producers who wish to opt out of the schemes must submit a 2017-18 Notice of Opt Out form before 30 June 2017, but lose all entitlements to assistance and compensation via the scheme.
Ms Heath said the opt out rates for the schemes had been low, signalling industry acknowledgement of the value of the schemes.
