Agriculture Victoria is sharing the stories of Victorian hobby farmers to highlight how everyone can help safeguard the State against emergency animal diseases by implementing biosecurity measures in their backyards.
Launching the Department’s campaign, Minister for Agriculture, Gayle Tierney said the Biosecurity – it’s up to all of us campaign featured a series of videos from four small-scale landholders and demonstrated the critical role everyone has in protecting Victoria’s biodiversity from disease threats.
“The campaign includes Lynda who operates a young and progressive alpaca and miniature donkey stud in Belgrave South, utilising important biosecurity practices to keep her animals safe on 20 acres of highly productive pasture,” Ms Tierney said.
“Erica breeds Scottish Highland cattle on a five-acre farm in Traralgon, and her featured video not only highlights her dedication to keeping her cattle safe, but also emphasises her efforts in connecting people with learning disabilities to nature and agriculture,” she said.
“The initiative also features Nat and Jono’s regenerative farm in Blampied – where they are raising British White cattle, Berkshire pigs, and Finn sheep, while Rhonda in Drouin keeps a variety of specialty goat breeds.”
Ms Tierney said the campaign would run across various platforms, including newspapers, radio, websites, and social media, ensuring broad coverage across Victoria.
“Biosecurity is up to everyone,” she said.
“All landholders and people with livestock can take simple steps to protect their animals from diseases, which in turn protects communities, commercial farms and the agriculture industry.”
