Back to Basics: What is Bio Security and Why is it So Essential to the Agricultural Industry

There is a lot of talk of bio-security at the moment but many people are not clear on what it means, how to follow bio-security best practices, and why it is so important to the agricultural industry in particular. Read on to get the facts and contact Pressure-Pro at 772-461-4486 if you want to invest in a hot water pressure washer that can help you achieve your bio-security goals.

The Definition of Bio Security

At its base level, bio-security refers to a system of management practices designed to reduce the risk of introducing either new diseases or agents that could cause disease, to a farm or a stable. In the current conditions, in which people are understandably worried about safety in general but the safety of the food they are eating in particular, this is an important consideration for the agricultural industry.

The Main Goal of a Good Biosecurity Program

If you want the optimal biosecurity program, it will likely cover a number of things. That said, at the end of the day the most important thing should be addressing the prevention of diseases entering and spreading on a farm, in a stable, or even in a farm home. While the program can address other things, it is important to remember that this is the prime concern and goal.

Procedures Typically Associated with Biosecurity Plans

The procedures involved in any particular biosecurity plan will depend largely on the organization that is running the plan. However, common procedures we see and recommend include:

• Barn sanitation
• Transportation sanitation
• Rodent control
• Worker entry policies
• Visitor Worker polices
• General farm security measures

Again, these are just some of the procedures that are often looked at for a good biosecurity plan.

Prevention Isn’t the Only Factor a Biosecurity Plan Will Consider

While the ideal option is to prevent the disease from getting anywhere near your facility, a biosecurity plan should be taken into consideration that you may at some point deal with disease. That is why the plan should also work to prevent disease from spreading. If you have disease present in one segment, or even several segments of the herd, you can use biosecurity measures to prevent disease from spreading to other segments and causing more issues.

Biosecurity is Nothing New

While many companies are looking at their biosecurity practices in light of COVID-19, it has been an important factor to consider since the outbreak of Asian flu in poultry farming, and the outbreak of African Swine Fever in pig farming.

Biosecurity is a global issue that is best dealt with upfront and not avoided. If you have questions about what types of cleaning machinery can keep your facility as safe and sanitized as possible, we encourage you to contact Pressure-Pro at 772-461-4486 for help.