Floriculture Sector Biosecurity Guide
2.0 Biosecurity Practices

2.1 Education, Training and Communication

Education, Training and Communication^Footnote 3

Benefits: A comprehensive understanding of your biosecurity plan helps ensure that it is effectively implemented – your biosecurity plan is only as good as its implementation.

Risks: After your biosecurity plan has been developed, education, training and communication is the first priority, as employees are the most important part of your biosecurity plan. Nearly all components of your biosecurity plan will be executed by your employees and, without proper education and training, the biosecurity practices may not be implemented properly. This increases the risk of pest introduction and spread into your facility and delays the detection of newly established pest populations. In addition, visitors, suppliers and service providers ("visitors" in the rest of this document) will frequently be present in your facility; communicating relevant biosecurity measures to them is vital to prevent them from introducing or spreading pests.

Guidelines

1. Employees, consultants and contractors ("employees")
   • Include employees in the design of your biosecurity plan. This may result in them taking more "ownership" of the biosecurity plan.
   • Establish and include in your biosecurity plan a formal training program for new employees (depending on their role) that includes modules on the following:
     • Pathways of pest transmission;
     • Signs and symptoms of pests;
     • Pest identification;
     • Response measures for key pests of concern to your facility;
     • Biosecurity measures that are in effect at your facility.
   • Update the training program as the biosecurity plan evolves due to new information.
   • Establish in your biosecurity plan a periodic refresher training program for existing employees that includes any new information.
   • Assess the effectiveness of your training program. Using established criteria (e.g. review of practices during daily activities), assess whether employees are applying biosecurity measures appropriately or if there is a need for clarification.
   • Use signage and visual aids to communicate the biosecurity measures in place at your facility, e.g. signs with images of common pests and symptoms for your crops. See Appendix 1 for examples of pest identification signs.
   • Use plain language in training and communication materials.
   • Provide information in the appropriate language for employees. Translate training and communication materials when necessary.
2. Visitors
   • For visitors who come to your facility regularly, provide training on the biosecurity measures that must be followed. (See section 2.4 for details on communication of measures to occasional visitors.)

Based on the above guidelines:

1. Are there procedures and communications tools in place at your facility to inform employees and visitors of the biosecurity measures in place?

2. What actions can you take to provide the necessary biosecurity information to employees and visitors?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Education, Training and Communication

2.2 Location and Layout

Location and Layout^Footnote 4

Benefits: Understanding the pest risks from your facility's surroundings can help you develop efficient measures to prevent pest introductions. The design of your facility's layout can also help prevent the spread of pests between areas within your facility.

Risks: Factors related to the location and layout of your facility can increase the potential frequency and severity of pest introductions. For example:

• The environment of the area surrounding a facility, including neighbouring activities or the prevailing wind direction, may pose a pest risk.
• Drainage patterns and surface water movement can affect the potential for pest introduction and distribution.
• Alternate hosts in the vicinity of a facility may harbour pests and increase the risk of pest introduction.
• Layouts where employees must pass through infested areas can facilitate the spread of pests.

It is recognized that some of the biosecurity measures outlined in this section may only be applicable when building a new facility. However, some of these biosecurity measures can be implemented in existing facilities. For example, if plant material is received and shipped from the same area of the facility, the timing of these activities can be staggered so that plant material is not received at the same time as plant material is being prepared for shipping. It is also recognized that some transmission pathways associated with location and layout are more easily managed than others; for example, wind and water can be difficult to control.

Guidelines

1. Selecting a location
   • Neighbouring activities may pose a pest risk for your facility. Use this information to make risk management decisions on site selection. For example:
     • Crops in production can serve as alternate hosts for pests.
     • Timing of harvest can result in mass pest migration.
     • Composting practices can result in pest migration.
     • Importation of produce can introduce new pests.
     • Non-agricultural activities can spread pests.
   • Examine the plants surrounding your location, as these plants may harbour pests that could be introduced into the facility. Treatment or removal of these plants may be required.
   • Plant crops on sites that are not at risk of pest introduction from the direction of prevailing winds, as wind can carry pests such as spores or insects.
   • Select sites that are free from pests or alternate hosts of pests of concern.
   • For plants that will be grown in open fields, conduct an assessment of the previous use of newly acquired or leased land. This will provide information on pests of concern that may be present and on potential buildup of chemical control products.
   • Assess below-ground concerns such as compacted soil and low water-holding capacity that may impede drainage and increase the risk of pest entry through floodwater.
   • Consider pest risks related to water availability, quality and accessibility, such as local water-taking regulations and the risks associated with the use of rainwater. If surface runoff water is used, assess the risks from the surrounding land use, such as pesticide runoff or animal manure. In addition, if water is recirculated, there is a risk of cross-contamination between different crops.
2. Orienting and structuring a facility
   • Use topography to assist with drainage and reduction of standing water in production areas. Drainage patterns and surface water movement can affect the potential for pest introduction and distribution.
   • Designate separate areas for processing, cultivation and propagation and locate these areas away from the production areas.
   • Lay out the facility so that employees do not need to travel through restricted access or other high-risk areas in order to access other areas.
   • Locate designated receiving areas for inspection of propagative material and plants from other sources away from production areas. Design receiving areas to allow for cleaning and treatment of inputs as needed and of the area itself.
   • Locate washing stations for cleaning and disinfecting equipment and vehicles in a designated area. Consider the capacity for water supply and for wastewater collection and management.
   • When designated areas cannot be separated by distance or physical barriers, consider other options such as timing (e.g. carrying out different activities within a certain area at different times).
   • Locate areas for holding and disposal of growing media and crop waste at a sufficient distance from production areas and from water sources to prevent pest reintroduction. Consider wind direction, surface drainage and the location of vents in structures such as greenhouses when locating waste holding and disposal sites to avoid reintroduction of pests into production areas.
   • Develop a map of the facility that illustrates the layout and includes areas such as production, propagation, receiving and shipping, as well as any outdoor production activities. It is recommended that the flow of people and material through the facility be indicated on the map.
3. Surrounding pest pressure
   • Ensure that enclosed growing structures and their entryways are designed and constructed to exclude outdoor pests.
   • Consider screening key vents and air intake openings to exclude outdoor pests. Use screens that are appropriate for expected pests, e.g. thrips-proof screening if crops are especially susceptible to thrips.
   • Pest pressure may vary throughout the year and activities could be scheduled for times when pest pressure is lower. Seasonality of pest incursions may include spring emergence of potential pests, immigration in fall, cropping activities at neighbouring facilities or seasonal production of favoured hosts such as poinsettia.
   • Surroundings activities at certain times of the year may also influence pest pressure. For example, if pest pressure is high because a neighbour is harvesting crops, it may be best to keep crops indoors or check vent screens for holes.
4. Perimeter management
   • Maintain a weed-free buffer around the facility and around production areas, for example by regular mowing, to reduce the risk of pest introduction from weeds. In some instances, perimeter management is required for the management of specific pests such as Japanese beetle.
   • For facilities that include outdoor production activities, cover crops can be used to suppress some insect pests and weeds. Cover crops can also promote some beneficial insects.
   • Consider using shelter belts, berms, fencing and hedgerows to reduce pest immigration and manage drainage.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. Have pathways of pest transmission been considered in the location and layout of your facility?

2. What biosecurity measures can be implemented to mitigate the risks presented by the location and layout of your facility?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Location and Layout

2.3 High-Risk Areas

High-Risk Areas^Footnote 5

Benefits: Pests are contained and vulnerable areas are protected.

Risks: Different areas within a facility pose a higher or lower pest risk depending on the type of material or the activities carried out within them. Each area in a facility should be assessed and a level of risk should be assigned accordingly. Assessing the risk level of each area and identifying high-risk areas can inform biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction and spread of pests in a facility, reducing the biologic or economic impact of pest incursions.

Controlled and Restricted Access Zones are used to prevent the spread of pests into or out of high-risk areas.

There are two main reasons why an area would be designated as high-risk:

1. The area contains material that is especially vulnerable to pest incursions because of potential biological or economic impacts. For example:
   • The area is used for propagation or contains mother plants that are used for propagation.
   • The area contains crops that are highly valuable such as crops with long production cycles.
   • The area contains plants that are particularly vulnerable to a certain pest.
2. The area is more likely to contain pests. For example:
   • An area that is used to store or receive inputs that pose an unknown pest risk, such as plants from an outside source that have not yet been inspected for pests.
   • An area where potentially infested material is stored or disposed of, such as disposal sites.
   • The area or plants can serve as a source of pests that can be transmitted to other areas of the facility (e.g. infested or quarantined areas).
     • Infested areas may have a high prevalence of pests that have a low impact, e.g. fungus gnats.
     • Infested areas may have a low prevalence of pests that have a high impact, e.g. leaf miners and mealy bugs.

Guidelines

1. Designate high-risk areas
   • Identify and designate specific high-risk areas to indicate where biosecurity intervention is warranted in the facility and in the production continuum.
   • High-risk areas may require restricted or controlled access to protect plant material or to limit the spread of a pest from an infested area or plant.
2. Manage risks related to moving people and equipment into and out of high-risk areas

   See also section 2.4: Movement of People, Equipment and Vehicles.

   • Space and physical barriers:
     • Control access to high-risk areas with locked gates, automated doors and signs indicating traffic flow (see Appendix 2 for an example). Note that other factors such as emergency escape routes may need to be considered.
     • Limit access to high-risk areas to authorized employees only.
     • Include contact information for employees responsible for administering the high-risk areas on signage.
   • Process:
     • Based on the location of high-risk areas, use specific routes to move inputs, people, equipment, vehicles and outputs to ensure pests are not spread from infested areas to vulnerable areas (e.g. one-way routes between these areas).
     • If high- and low-risk activities are carried out within the same area, use timing to mitigate pest risk. For example, arrange for receipt and inspection of inputs at a different time from shipping finished product, with time allotted to clean the shipping and receiving area between activities as needed.
     • Use dedicated equipment in high-risk areas. Clean and disinfect equipment before moving it between areas of different risk.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. Does your facility have areas that should be designated as high-risk and would benefit from controlled or restricted access?

2. What steps can you take to better isolate high-risk areas?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: High-Risk Areas

2.4 Movement of People, Equipment and Vehicles

Movement of People, Equipment and Vehicles^Footnote 6

Benefit: Avoiding the introduction and spread of pests within a facility via people, equipment and vehicles reduces costs and production losses.

Risks: The movement of people, equipment and vehicles may introduce or spread pests within your facility. For example, visitors can introduce pests from outside your facility and employees can spread pests from quarantine areas to production areas.

Guidelines

1. Managing people (see also 2.1: Education, Training and Communication)
   • Employees and visitors:
     • Ensure only areas that are necessary for a person's activities are accessed.
     • Make a map of the facility available to help provide an understanding of the biosecurity measures in place.
     • Place signs at main entrances of the facility and entrances to high-risk areas to indicate that biosecurity measures must be respected. See Appendix 2 for an example of a sign used to control access to high-risk areas.
     • Provide sanitation infrastructure (e.g. hand-wash stations, alcohol-based sanitizers, foot baths) at appropriate points in the traffic flow to prevent spread of pests between or within areas. For example, alcohol-based sanitizers can be used to prevent transmission of bacterial leaf spot on workers' hands in orchid production.
   • Employees:
     • Incorporate information about traffic flow and areas of different risk into employee training.
   • Visitors:
     • Have visitors report to the office or have an employee meet them in a designated area to receive a briefing on applicable biosecurity measures.
     • Keep a visitor log at the facility entrance. Information recorded may include the date visited, the areas visited and the most recent contact with floriculture material prior to visiting your facility. This information may be useful when responding to pest detections.
     • Ask visitors if they have been to other production sites that day. If yes, assess the risk and ensure that appropriate biosecurity measures are followed (e.g. cleaning footwear, wearing disposable outerwear or boot covers).
     • Ensure that visitors understand and respect the biosecurity measures for the areas of the facility they visit, such as by having an employee accompany them. Use signage to provide reminders of the biosecurity measures that must be followed.
     • Provide disposable outerwear and footwear to people entering production areas.
2. Managing equipment
   • Clean and disinfect equipment when moving it between different production areas to prevent the spread of pests.
   • Clean equipment prior to storage to prevent the spread of pests to the storage
   • When using tools in the same production area, clean and disinfect tools prior to use, between crops, between mother plants and/or on a regular schedule.
   • Equipment and tools must be cleaned to remove any soil and debris prior to disinfection. The presence of organic debris can reduce the effectiveness of disinfectants.
   • Strategically sequence activities to minimize cleaning of equipment.
3. Managing vehicles
   • Drive vehicles on designated routes where possible.
   • Designate parking areas for employee and visitor vehicles.
   • Use a vehicle from your facility to transport visitors within the facility. When this is not possible, inspect off-facility vehicles and clean and disinfect them as needed prior to entry into the facility.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. Do you have a process in place to manage the flow of people, equipment and vehicles within your facility?

2. What steps can you take to more fully implement or improve these processes?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Movement of People, Equipment and Vehicles

2.5 Maintenance

Maintenance^Footnote 7

Benefits: Good maintenance of your facility makes it easy to clean, prevents the entry and spread of pests, and enhances timely detection of pests, potentially reducing pest management costs.

Risks: If buildings and equipment are not kept in good repair and cleaned and disinfected regularly, the risk of pest introduction and spread may increase. For example, weeds in and around the facility may harbour and support pest populations, while irrigation tanks may provide a reservoir of pathogens.

Guidelines

• Develop and implement a routine facility and property maintenance program that includes preventative maintenance activities. This may include separate biosecurity plans for the interior and exterior of the facility.
• Keep the production areas (including under benches) free from weeds, as they may harbour pests.
• Maintain a weed-free buffer around the facility.
• Keep a record of maintenance activities. A checklist may be used to record the timing and activities that have been completed.
• Particularly for areas protected by insect screening, minimize or eliminate areas where pests can enter by ensuring holes and gaps in screening are fixed, doors close properly and windows can be closed.
• Include cleaning and disinfection of the structure, irrigation system (including lines and tanks), walkways, benches, tarps, containers and other equipment in the maintenance program.
• Some facilities are highly mechanized and this equipment is not always easy to clean. When using this machinery, inspect and verify that propagative material is free from pests of concern to mitigate the risk of pest spread.
• Conduct clean-up between crops and at the end of the season. Specific temperature extremes can be used to eliminate pests when the facility is empty between crops. Consult the manufacturer's specifications as some extreme temperatures can damage equipment or the structure or threaten insurance coverage.
• Follow label directions when using cleaners and disinfectants, and ensure an appropriate contact time with the equipment.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. Do you have a maintenance schedule for your facility, including cleaning and disinfection?

2. Are there points in the production cycle that present an opportunity for post-crop sanitation? How can this be achieved?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Maintenance

2.6 Production Inputs

Production Inputs^Footnote 8

Benefits: Managing production inputs ("clean start") is the single most effective measure to prevent the introduction of pests into your facility.

Risks: Inputs such as propagative material, soil, growing media, water or packaging material can potentially introduce pests to the facility, including pests resistant to chemical controls due to repeated exposure at other facilities. Failure to effectively manage biosecurity risks from inputs may lead to pest problems being encountered more frequently, which can increase crop waste and the costs associated with correcting pest problems. Treating large areas of production later is also less cost-effective than treating small plants at receipt or shortly thereafter (e.g. cutting dips using registered products, preventative fungicide treatments).

Guidelines

1. All inputs
   • The desired quality of inputs is identified and a Standard Operating Procedure for inspection is in place that clearly identifies the criteria for acceptance of an input. Quality can include freedom from pests as well as factors that contribute to the growth of healthy crops, which can help prevent pest issues by avoiding plant stress (see also section 2.7 Plant Health).
   • Ensure inputs have been inspected and quality-assured or certified as required (e.g. produced under the Greenhouse Certification Program) prior to shipment and arrival at the facility.
   • When inputs arrive, segregate, inspect and/or store them as appropriate in a designated area away from production areas prior to any distribution or movement further within the facility.
   • Manage any pests found. This includes but is not limited to:
     • Disposal of the infested input.
     • Cleaning or disinfection of the input.
     • Management of the pests using chemical, biological, physical or cultural controls.
   • Use information on the condition of an input to guide your production practices (e.g. redirect water of a less-than-ideal quality to more pest-tolerant crops).
   • Maintain purchasing records for inputs. Records of the source of an input and, for plants, the number of plants and date planted, can be important when responding to pest detections.
2. Nutrients, growing media and water management
   • Soil and growing media may contain pests. Source sterile media or consider treatment options such as heat pasteurization, solarization or fumigation^Footnote 9 prior to planting if pests are present at levels that may cause damage to plants.
   • Know the source of the water supplied to the facility and schedule regular testing for pathogens, nutrient levels, pH and salt level. Water quality and quantity may impact the health of a plant and increase vulnerability to pests.
   • Conduct testing for water quality and pathogen detection after a significant event, for example, after harvest or spraying at a neighbouring property, or after a storm with heavy rainfall.
   • If recycling water, consider a treatment system to prevent the spread of pests within the facility. Recycled water can also be redirected to crops that are more pest-tolerant.
3. Plant material
   • Propagative material can be the source of pest introductions. Assess the pest risks associated with different suppliers and geographical sources of plant material. If the risk level is unknown, it may be considered high by default.
   • Provide training to employees regarding which pests might be present and how to inspect for them.
   • Inspect material upon entry into the facility and isolate it for a period of time to monitor and identify pests that may be present, especially for material that is more likely to be infested due to source or susceptibility to pests. If isolation is not possible, other options such as increased monitoring may be considered. Base the duration of the isolation on risk level and the life-cycle of pests of concern. For example, insect pests may be present as eggs and are therefore difficult to detect immediately; a follow-up inspection after an appropriate length of time may be needed.
   • Avoid co-mingling of new plants or product coming into the facility with older material and mother stock.
   • Where possible, avoid co-mingling plants that are hosts of the same pest, especially highly susceptible crops.
   • When possible, choose pest-tolerant varieties or cultivars.
4. Biological control agents
   • Check that biological control agents are alive and vigorous upon receipt, as per publicly available quality control guidelines.
5. Containers
   • Clean and disinfect recyclable or reusable containers prior to reuse.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. Which inputs could potentially introduce pests into your facility?

2. What steps can be taken to reduce the pest risk posed by these inputs?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Production Inputs

2.7 Plant Health

Plant Health^Footnote 10

Benefit: Healthy plants are better able to withstand pest pressure.

Risks: If biosecurity measures are not applied to complement your production Best Management Practices, the risk of pest introduction and spread may increase. Poorly managed growing conditions and environmental controls may increase plant stress and create an environment that allows pests to thrive.

Guidelines

Please see Appendix 5: Additional Resources for detailed guidance on growing practices.

1. Growing conditions
   • Manage growing conditions to support crop growth while minimizing their susceptibility to pest attack. Certain growing conditions such as high humidity can promote the establishment of pests (fungus or mould), but may be required for the production of some plants. In these situations where growing conditions may create risks, consider counter-measures such as increased airflow or increased plant spacing to minimize potential outbreaks.
   • Physical injury to plants from equipment, pruning or environmental conditions (e.g. hail, frost, heavy rains) can make the plants more vulnerable to pest attacks and damage.
   • Ensure that an adequate fertilizer program is in place, as nutrient-deficient or over-fertilized crops are more vulnerable to pests.
   • Different types of irrigation systems (e.g. flood, drip, hydroponics, overhead irrigation) pose different plant health management concerns. Become familiar with common problems posed by the type of irrigation system at your facility. For example, overhead irrigation increases humidity and moisture on plant surfaces, which can promote the growth of fungi; you may wish to use additional airflow to compensate.
   • Do not keep personal houseplants or vegetable plants in production areas.
2. Environmental impacts and stress
   • Environmental stress, such as frost damage or water stress, can increase crop susceptibility to pest attacks and the severity of pest impacts. Reducing plant stress by maintaining optimal environmental controls and protecting crops against inclement weather can minimize pest outbreaks.
3. Stress as a production tool
   • It is recognized that intentional or managed plant stress (used to maintain vegetative growth, induce flowering, or for hardening off) can be used as a production tool. Moderate stress may increase plant resistance to pests, but excessive stress (distress) may increase susceptibility, resulting in increased pest damage. If stress is used, it may be necessary to apply additional pest risk mitigation measures, such as increased pest monitoring.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. What growing conditions in your facility could affect the health of your crops and make them more vulnerable to pests?

2. How can you adjust the growing conditions in your facility to make your crops more resistant to pests?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Plant Health

2.8 Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management^Footnote 11

Benefits: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) reduces crop losses by offering a wide range of pest prevention and response options, including production practices that can be used in combination for maximum effectiveness.

Risks: IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on prevention and management of pests through a combination of techniques. The cornerstone of IPM is pest monitoring. Without pest monitoring, common pests may not be detected in a timely manner and the effectiveness of any control program will not be known. IPM also includes preventative and curative pest management measures. Without preventative measures, pest populations may reach levels that cause greater damage to crops and are more costly to manage. For pests that establish, formal response plans allow for an effective and timely response if a pest of particular concern is introduced and/or spreads within a facility.

Guidelines

i. Pest monitoring

• Identify the pests of concern for your facility, their symptoms and appropriate monitoring methods (see the tables at the end of this section for examples). Pest monitoring tools can include sticky cards, light traps, pheromone traps, plant tapping, trap plants or visual pest scouting.
• A good monitoring program is timed such that it allows for different responses. For example, detecting a pest population early, even though it may not be above the threshold for a pesticide spray, may allow the manager to employ slow-acting measures such as changes to agronomic practices (adjusting plant spacing, fertilisation, watering, temperature), physical tools (sticky traps) or biological agents (require time to disperse in the crop and predation or parasitism may have a delay in effect). Some pesticides are slow-acting (e.g. stomach poisons, insect growth regulators), and some are preventative (many fungicides) and are used when environmental conditions warrant or are recommended due to a predictive model. Include in the monitoring program a focus on susceptible times in the production cycle (e.g. flowering) or periods where control options are more likely to be successful or cost-effective. Also take into account the pest stage that is most effectively detected.
• Monitoring can be both informal and formal. Both types of monitoring may be included in a monitoring program.
  • Informal monitoring is constant and complements scheduled formal monitoring. It occurs instinctively during regular production activities: any employee can engage in informal monitoring. It is therefore useful to provide training to employees on recognizing pests of concern and their signs and plant symptoms, as well as on the process for reporting pest detections. Consider providing pest fact sheets (see for example Appendix 3 and Appendix 4) that explain how to identify pests of concern. (See also section 2.1 Education, Training and Communication.)
  • Formal monitoring is a planned, systematic process to detect and quantify pests. Successful facilities have a trained, dedicated individual for this who knows what to look for, whether a designated employee or an outside consultant.
• When an unknown pest is detected, preserve a sample to allow accurate identification. If possible, collect multiple samples and life stages, including adult stages, as these are often required for a successful insect identification.
  • Preserve insects and other arthropods in 70% ethanol, or by freezing.
  • Preserve plant material showing disease symptoms in a paper bag (not a sealed plastic bag as opportunistic fungi will likely contaminate the sample).
  • Preserve weeds by pressing between sheets of paper.
  • Any pest can be recorded by photography, but identification is not always possible from a photograph.
• Refer unknown pests to qualified individuals for identification (e.g. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's National Identification Service, Guelph diagnostic lab, provincial ministry of agriculture specialists).
• Include surveillance of indirect pests such as vectors in your monitoring program. Insects may act as vectors for pests of concern (e.g. thrips can vector plant viruses such as Impatiens necrotic spot virus); consider this risk in an IPM program.
• Conduct follow-up monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the control strategy implemented. Record information on the follow-up strategy used and its success.
• Maintain records of monitoring activities, especially pest detections, including the location of the pest in the facility, location on the plant, date and crop type. Analyze your records regularly to predict high-risk times and locations and to assess the efficacy of preventative or corrective actions.

Example of an inventory of pests of concern and their symptoms, created to facilitate pest scouting^Footnote 12

Example of an inventory of pests of concern and appropriate monitoring methods^Footnote 13

ii. Pest management

All pests

• Stay informed about the regulated and non-regulated pests of concern to your facility and to your export markets, including pest life cycles and signs and symptoms of infestations.
• Implement an IPM program that includes a process to quickly build a situation-specific response to a pest find. Include processes to confirm the pest identity, assess the pest risk and determine the most appropriate control measures.
• When a pest is found, enhanced monitoring may be necessary in order to quantify the level of infestation or assess the effectiveness of applied control measures.
• For non-regulated pests, pest thresholds may be established to trigger the use of a particular treatment. What constitutes a threshold is complex as there are different thresholds for different crops, pests and methods of control. When determining thresholds, there is also a difference between the objectives of suppression, eradication, and management. (This does not apply for regulated pests as even a single pest find must be reported; see below for details.)
• Note that there is value in applying treatments preventatively before pests are detected, to prevent pests from establishing damaging populations. Treatments may also be applied preventatively when pests are present at a low level to keep populations at a non-damaging level.
• Be aware of the secondary impacts of actions taken to treat pests. For example, chemical pesticides can cause phytotoxicity and harm biological controls. Impacts of insecticides on biological controls can be researched on online databases before application. There can also be negative interactions between different biological controls; detailed records of all treatments applied and responses of pests and natural enemies can help identify such conflicts.
• Develop a pesticide resistance management strategy^Footnote 14. Regularly rotate pesticides in different chemical classes^Footnote 15 to avoid developing a pesticide-resistant pest population. Pests on imported plants or cuttings may already be resistant to pesticides used in Canada. Ask suppliers about the chemical program used on imported material to inform IPM decisions. When pesticide resistance is encountered, alternative control methods such as biological controls may be considered.
• Activities on neighbouring facilities, such as harvesting, may increase the risk of pests migrating into your fields or entering your greenhouse through vents or other openings. When this occurs, additional methods of pest control may need to be considered, such as prophylactic release of biological control agents or the use of pesticides or mechanical controls (e.g. mass trapping).
• Crop rotation may be used to disrupt the life cycle of pests.
• To limit the spread of pests, do not mix infested material with other product or allow them to come into contact with each other. Contain (bag or box) or treat infested materials prior to moving them through the facility.
• Periodically assess the effectiveness of the pest management plan to foster continuous improvement and efficiencies. For example, has the monitoring program successfully detected non-regulated pests at low population densities or has the pest management tool achieved its purpose?

Regulated pests

• When a regulated pest^Footnote 16 is identified, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the provincial or territorial government must be contacted to report the detection. In your response plan, include the contact information of the local CFIA office, provincial extension specialists and sector association(s).
• If a regulated pest is suspected, limit potential spread by controlling or restricting movement of plant material, people and equipment in and out of the infested area.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. What are the pests of concern for your facility?

2. What monitoring measures would allow you to detect these pests in a timely manner?

3. What is your treatment plan for each of these pests, both preventative and curative?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Integrated Pest Management

2.9 Production Outputs

Production Outputs^Footnote 17

Benefits: Pest-free products are more valuable to your customers, while managing waste products reduces risks of pest re-infestation.

Risks: If outputs such as finished products and production wastes are not managed, the risk of pest introduction and spread within a facility to neighbouring places of production or to areas where the product may be received (both domestic and international) is increased. Implementing biosecurity measures helps ensure that finished material is free from pests of concern, particularly regulated pests, and allows you to sell healthy, high-quality products that meets a more uniform quality standard. This reduces customer complaints, aids in the maintenance of current markets and facilitates access to new markets.

Guidelines

1. Finished product
   • Implement a record-keeping system that allows traceback of production outputs in the event of a pest detection once the product has left the facility. The system may be based on labelling, shipping records, production records, invoices, etc.
   • Quality assurance is an important consideration for production outputs. Inspect final product leaving the facility for pests of concern and maintain records of these inspections. Performing inspections of finished material in conjunction with routine inspections of growing product ensures the best chance of pest detection.
   • Wherever possible, maintain separation between finished material and products at other stages of production. This will maintain the integrity of finished product and prevent transfer of pest problems to future product.
2. Waste material
   • Contain infested material during removal in an appropriate manner based on the pest's pathway of transmission (e.g. sealed bags to contain flying insects) and avoid transporting infested material through production areas.
   • Choose an appropriate disposal method for infested material based on the pest's pathway of transmission (e.g. for pests spread by wind, dispose of by deep burial or transport off-site to a municipal landfill).
   • Locate compost and waste piles away from production areas. Make sure waste receptacles such as dumpsters located near the production facility are emptied frequently; the frequency may need to be increased in times of pest infestation.

Based on the above guidelines:

1. Does your facility have a routine procedure for inspecting finished product prior to shipping?

2. How can your inspection and disposal practices be improved to reduce pest risks at your facility?

Self-assessment checklist

Complete the following checklist to assess existing biosecurity practices at your facility and identify new biosecurity measures that should be incorporated into your biosecurity protocols. Indicate with a checkmark which of the following applies for each measure:

• Yes: Biosecurity measure is currently implemented and does not require further action.
• Sometimes: Biosecurity measure is not always successfully implemented and may require additional action.
• No: Biosecurity measure is not implemented and requires action.
• Not applicable (NA): Biosecurity measure does not apply to your facility and no action is required.

Biosecurity measures: Production Outputs