The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is leveraging National Biosecurity Week to underscore the critical role farm owners and operators play in the state’s defence against invasive pests and diseases. For the agritourism sector, which operates at the intersection of agriculture and public access, maintaining robust biosecurity is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental component of business resilience and brand integrity.
At the forefront of the state’s community surveillance efforts are the MyPestGuide Reporter app and the annual Biosecurity Blitz, both of which are marking their 10th anniversary this year. These tools are designed to empower farmers, agronomists, and the general public to act as the eyes and ears of the state’s biosecurity system.
Digital Tools for On-Farm Surveillance
The MyPestGuide Reporter app is a key tool that allows operators to photograph and report any unusual pest or disease symptoms directly from the paddock or backyard. This information is a crucial element of Western Australia’s surveillance program. According to the government, data gathered from thousands of reports has been instrumental in demonstrating pest and disease absence, a factor that is vital for protecting the state’s access to valuable export markets.
Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis highlighted the app’s utility.
“The MyPestGuide Reporter app is a fantastic community surveillance tool which is easy to use to make reports anywhere from the paddock or the backyard,” she stated.
“Every report made – whether it finds something or not – helps build a clearer picture of pest presence or absence in Western Australia.”
The Importance of Early Detection in Agritourism
For agritourism businesses, the presence of visitors on-farm, while economically beneficial, introduces a heightened level of biosecurity risk. Visitors can inadvertently carry soil, plant material, or pathogens on their vehicles, footwear, and clothing. An undetected incursion of a pest or disease could have devastating consequences not only for the individual operator but for an entire agricultural region.
Proactive monitoring and swift reporting are therefore essential. The government’s emphasis on community reporting serves as a reminder for operators to integrate biosecurity protocols into their daily operations and visitor management plans. This includes clear signage, designated visitor zones, and regular checks of crops, pastures, and livestock for any signs of abnormality.
Upcoming Biosecurity Blitz
DPIRD’s annual Biosecurity Blitz is scheduled to run from 16 October to 16 November 2025. This initiative encourages a concentrated period of surveillance across the state. Agritourism operators are well-positioned to contribute significantly to this effort, given their intimate knowledge of their own properties. Minister Jarvis urged participation, stating, “I encourage all Western Australians to become citizen scientists and sign up early to join this year’s Biosecurity Blitz to help protect the State from invasive pests and diseases.”
Operators can download the MyPestGuide Reporter app for free from Google Play and the Apple App Store, and find more information on the Biosecurity Blitz on the DPIRD website.
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