Hay trapped in red tape tangle

The fodder industry is seething at changes proposed in a Natural Resource Commission (NRC) review of weed management, which growers say is a "tangle of red tape".

The draft review, Weeds - Time to get serious, was released for public comment in February with a final version expected to land on Primary Industries Minister's Katrina Hodgkinson's desk this week.

While changes are not expected for several years and potentially only then alongside a proposed Biosecurity Act, due later this year, Natural Resource Commissioner John Keniry stressed the significance of the report, which aims to tackle the estimated annual cost to farm business of $475 million (according to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006-2007) in weed management.

"It may not be the most opportune time to put the argument, but the cost of weeds in NSW is growing," Dr Keniry said.

"We hope with significant changes in the rules we can turn it around."

But for the Australian Fodder Industry Association the victimisation of its sector poses serious questions.

The association's executive officer Darren Keating said while he had received some informal, verbal communication about the review, he wasn't aware of the gravitas until after the submission period closed last month.

The process started with an issues paper last year, which received about 200 submissions.

There were a series of public consultations when the draft report was released in February and, according to the NRC, it received a further 100 submissions from green groups, weeds groups, local government and farmers.

Mr Keating said it was bizarre the report had singled out one sector and he had "no idea" how the changes would be policed.

According to the recommendations, properties larger than one hectare would be inspected and issued with a weed certificate every five years.

Fodder growers would use their weed certificate to then apply for a license to sell.

"There's no standardised ID for hay bales," he said.

"I'm not sure how they would tell the difference between hay from each area."

Mr Keating said the fodder association felt strongly about controlling weeds and it supported the current use of voluntary declarations.

"There are already restrictions on moving weeds - they have the basics of the regulation that they already can't enforce," he said, adding the changes could cause major difficulties during community fodder drives in difficult times.

"It's going to be a big tangle of red tape."

Dr Keniry said there wouldn't be exceptions made for charitable organisations and "everyone had to play their part in weed control".

He agreed the fodder legislation already existed, but said these changes would allow it to be acted on.

Dr Keniry said it wasn't just fodder, which is a "high risk weed dissemination pathway" the report targeted but strict rules for nurseries and plant aquariums had also been suggested.

He said grains and livestock had been "omitted so far" but that there was already a mechanism in place for certified grain, just not for fodder.

But for Junee district hay producer Bob McCormack, "Lenton Park", Winchendon Vale, the grain industry doesn't have voluntary declaration and the changes will likely impact the 80 per cent of NSW properties that he says, at some time, will produce hay.

"Grain producers become fodder producers, especially during the drought and then they will have to qualify for a permit.

"There's nothing in there about interstate trading.

"Are they going to stop interstate hay or let them come in without any permit?"

Dr Keniry said as there would be no changes to interstate trade, the report recommended the NSW Government should discuss the issues with other States.

"But getting registered and having a weed free certificate is not all negative.

"For people concerned about buying weeds, it should be a plus."