Farmers have been left with no income after biosecurity officers told them their hay was not stacked correctly

A hay for sale sign on a farmer’s front driveway has alerted biosecurity officers, who then shut down the operation.

A fire ant inspection vehicle outside a Clarendon property. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

Auditors equipped with body cams and “special powers” are shutting down hay farming operations despite farmers being unaware of fire ant biosecurity hay storage protocols.

It sparked fury and frustration with Clarendon hay producers and Somerset councillors who this week spoke about feeling targeted and ambushed by department of agriculture workers.

Councillor Sean Choat called the recent audits on local producers “ambushing” by “jackbooted dictators”.

“The officer’s cavalier attitude with his body camera running, proceeded to interrogate this poor woman who made it clear at several points she was not involved in the processing of hay,” Cr Choat said.

READ MORE: ‘We just wanted info’: Vital income lost for local hay growers

“This family’s livelihood and potentially that of many more has been effectively wiped out, given that apparently, they now reside in Fire Ant Zone 1.

“It’s noted that not a single fire ant was detected on the property, and the officer only stopped when he saw a ‘hay for sale’ sign on the fence.”

Somerset Regional Councillor Sean Choat is frustrated by the department’s lack of communication with primary producers.

At last Wednesday’s council meeting, Cr Choat reminded councillors he raised “serious concerns” about the “disgraceful lack of urgency and response” in treating imported red fire ants in the Somerset region.

In November 2020, council received a deputation from the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication program where officers and the programs general manager Graeme Dudgeon went to great lengths to ensure council the program was thorough and effective, Cr Choat said.

A spokesman from the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication program wouldn’t confirm how many properties across the Somerset had been inspected or shut down.

Instead, the spokesman said relevant peak bodies and associations were made aware of industry audits from the outset.

“Key stakeholders, including relevant peak bodies and associations, were made aware of this from the outset,” the spokesman said.

“Our compliance team is currently checking hay farms and produce agencies operating inside the fire ant biosecurity zones to be sure operators are doing the right thing when producing, storing and moving hay.”

The Gatton Star asked if officers were wearing body cameras and why, but no response was provided.

The Star also asked why farmers were not notified about pending audits and if officers were allowed, but no response was provided.

“Changes to the production, storage and movement of hay, as well as fire ant biosecurity zones were updated in May 2020,” the spokesman said.

“The zones were updated again in June 2021 and communicated via media, social media, electronic stakeholder communication and information distributed to relevant peak bodies and associations.”

The spokesman said it was a legal requirement that individuals and organisations — whose activities pose a biosecurity risk — took all reasonable and practical steps to prevent or minimise the spread of fire ants.

“Anyone who doesn’t do this may be issued with a biosecurity order, which legally stops them moving non-complaint material. Financial penalties may also apply.”

Cr Choat moved to write to the minister and director general asking them to come to the region as a matter of urgency.

“We require them to meet with council representatives of the agricultural community and other business interests to clarify what exactly requirements are to assist producers whose likelihoods are at stake,” Cr Choat said.

His motion was unanimously approved.