Hay! Watch out for fire ants

20 Dec 2019

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has alerted livestock owners to a biosecurity risk, urging all to ensure hay and feed from south-east Queensland is free of red imported fire ants.

NSW DPI Invasive Plants and Animals director, Andrew Sanger, said the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program intercepted a truck carrying infested bales of uncertified hay, which had travelled hundreds of kilometres outside the fire ant biosecurity zone in Queensland.

“If stockfeed comes from a fire ant infested area, both the farmer and supplier need to ensure risk mitigation measures have been followed,” Dr Sanger said.

“Hay from the infested area must have a Plant Health Certificate which verifies it meets the strict conditions required to import hay into NSW from the fire ant biosecurity zone."

The Plant Health Certificate must certify:

• the hay or straw bales have been inspected and found to be dry and free of all soil
• the hay or straw bales have been treated with an APVMA approved chemical for the control of tramp ants in accordance with all label directions and permit conditions, and
• immediately following treatment, the hay or straw bales have been handled and stored in a manner that prevents infestation by tramp ants.

Hay or straw bales must remain in conditions which prevent tramp ant infestation until arrival in NSW.

Hay produced within the south-east Queensland fire ant biosecurity zone must comply with these requirements.

Red imported fire ants pose a significant agricultural and environmental biosecurity risk. They are aggressive, highly-adaptive and well-equipped for survival in Australian conditions.

The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program aims to eradicate the pest from Australia through a 10-year plan.

NSW biosecurity legislation has strict entry conditions for mulch, potted plants, turf and agricultural and earth moving equipment moving into NSW from the Queensland fire ant biosecurity zone.

• More information about Red Imported Fire Ants is available from NSW DPI.
• Exotic ants should be reported to the biosecurity hotline: 1800 680 244
• South-east Queensland red imported fire ant Interstate Plant Quarantine Zone (PDF, 2.62 MB)

Photographs available from bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Bernadette York 0427 773 785