Biosecurity concerns in the crop industry may involve various threats, such as: pathogens causing infectious plant diseases, insect pests, mites, plant parasitic nematodes and weeds. Avoiding or minimizing the potential introduction and establishment of these types of causal agents will help to avoid or minimize economic losses in crops.
The recently released Crop Biosecurity Guidelines are intended for user groups accessing agricultural lands and operations in Saskatchewan. The primary aim of these guidelines is to assist non-producer groups in minimizing the potential spread of crop pests, including diseases, insects and weeds, which can impact productivity and are challenging to manage. These guidelines are designed for a diverse audience, including individuals and groups accessing private and public agricultural properties in Saskatchewan for both business and recreational purposes. It is crucial to identify and address potential high-impact pests and biosecurity risks associated with such access, utilizing education to ensure adherence to proper biosecurity practices.
These guidelines are not meant to be prescriptive, but rather to guide the creation of company- or project-specific biosecurity protocols aimed at reducing the risk of inadvertently introducing or spreading high-risk crop pests within agricultural operations. The guidelines offer examples of assessment tools to evaluate pest risks linked to various activities conducted by third-party contractors on agricultural operations. Additionally, the guidelines suggest some practical strategies to be considered for mitigating these risks.
Invasive plants, insects and plant pathogens can significantly threaten both native and human-made ecosystems. They can be expensive, challenging, or very difficult to manage or eradicate. The economic and societal repercussions include, but are not limited to, reduced crop productivity and quality, negative impacts on human health, diminished aesthetics and the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity.
These guidelines are intended to help third parties involved in crop production, as well as utilities, customers, visitors and various industry groups that may occasionally access farm and ranch lands. The suggestions provided can help develop specific protocols to manage high-impact pests and biosecurity risks associated with these activities.
To learn more, visit our Biosecurity for Preventing the Introduction of Crop Pests webpage.
