Cattle ticks.

AgForce Queensland says it supports moves by the Queensland Government to develop draft regulations to move towards two tick zones in Queensland, as reported yesterday.

AgForce Cattle President Bim Struss said the move will provide more flexibility and a risk-based approach for the movement of cattle across the zones.

Mr Struss said in any new system of tick management should:

• Provide financial and technical support to producers along the tick zones for their effort  in providing this frontline biosecurity service;
• Provide significant incentives or disincentives for producers to engage in control measures along the tick zone;
• Allow pathways for clean cattle to travel to other owner properties, point of sale, processing facilities or feedlots through tick zones;
• Introduce a permit-style system to fund outbreaks and provide support to producers on the border; and
• Move tick zoning to support geographical reinforcements, for example, highways or double fenced roads.

“Once the proposed changes are released AgForce will actively engage with members to ensure their voices are heard and thus an effective tick management system is put in place that reduces business impacts on producers,” Mr Struss said.