Workshops have been held around the region to help farmers understand a series of complicated changes to livestock accreditation that will take effect from October 1.
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While accreditation under the Livestock Production Assurance Program (LPA) is voluntary, farmers in NSW can’t move stock for sale without it.
Bonnie Skinner from the Livestock Biosecurity Network recently held a workshop in Wagga, attended by 140 people.
“A lot of people walked away comforted by the fact they’re already doing what they need to,” she said.
Under the new changes, farmers must have completed a biosecurity plan and have a copy of the animal welfare guidelines specific to their stock by October.
Ms Skinner said the new modules are really just “a new word for common sense, practical, old ideas.”
Multiple templates for plans are available online but farmers can also construct their own following the LPA biosecurity requirements.
Accreditation, which was free, will now be reviewed once every three years at a cost of $66.
Guidelines as to how the LPA will be audited are yet to be released.
