Why robust bio-security starts with visitor management

We understand that bio-security is one of the biggest risk areas for farmers today, so we’ve developed some ideas for protecting your property and livestock. A foundation is effective visitor management.

Keeping track of who’s on your farm, and where they’ve been, is essential for maintaining good practice entry procedures.

Entry to farms

Although most farms are the private property of their owners, it’s not always clear to visitors. It’s one thing to know who’s authorised to be on your land at any given time, but you need to know if there’s anyone who’s not authorised to be there as well. 

• Unauthorised Visitors
  These are people who don’t have permission to be on the farm property. They might be taking a shortcut home during the day, or they may have snuck onto the farm during the night and are up to no good. You and your staff have the right to safety and security at all times, and the right to keep unwelcome visitors away.
  
  
• Authorised Visitors
  This is someone who visits a farm with the permission of the farm owner or manager. Authorised visitors call on farms for work (e.g. contractors and reps), recreation (e.g. hunting and fishing) or leisure (family friends). Because most farms are private property all visitors have a responsibility to follow the farms visitor procedures. 

Farm Entrances
Most farms have multiple entry points which makes it difficult to restrict who visits and when. To be sure that farm bio-security procedures are properly followed, it’s important to restrict access and, where possible, minimise the number of entry points. Limiting entry points for vehicle access and designating driving lanes and parking areas for visitors is achievable for most farms. By closing off and securing alternative entrances and having a single point of entry, it’s easier to control who comes and goes, meaning bio-security risks can be minimised. 

Biosecurity Signage
Typically, bio-security signage at the entrance to a farm is in place to:

• confirm that the farm has bio-security measures in place
• inform visitors who they should make contact with
• communicate the biosecurity protocols and directions
• prevent unauthorised entry

Having appropriate signage in place at the farm entrance is a means of communicating to first-time and repeat visitors that they’re required to follow the farm’s bio-security requirements. Signage that is clear, simple and highly visible supports the farm’s bio-security message.

Example Signage:

What does good practice look like?

Get in touch with us today to learn more about good bio-security practices and how technology can help.