Why you will see footbaths at the upcoming Future Orchards Harvest Orchard Walks
If you attended the Future Orchards® Spring Orchard Walks in November 2022, you will have noticed that APAL has introduced footbaths for attendees to use prior to stepping out into the orchard hosting the walk.
Footbaths will once again be out at the upcoming Future Orchards Harvest Orchard Walks from 6–10 February.
What is the purpose of footbaths?
Dirty boots can carry pests and diseases. This means that people can unintentionally carry unwanted pests and disease-causing organisms onto your orchard or into your packhouse.
These may include soil-borne pests such as Phytophthora or weed seeds that can be carried in soil stuck on boots. High-risk visitors may include those who have been on other farms.
Dirty boots can carry unwanted pests and disease-causing organisms onto your orchard. Photo: Priscilla Du Preez
A simple way to reduce this risk is to make sure that people coming onto your property have clean shoes.
One way to reduce the risk of pests being introduced on footwear is by correctly using boot brushes and foot/boot baths to clean and disinfect shoes prior to entering the property.
Key points
- Ask where your visitors and their shoes have been prior to coming to your property.
- Clean footwear with brushes and footbaths containing a sanitising product. An alternative is to use a spray bottle with a disinfectant solution. Be sure to follow the label on the product.
Find out how to make your own footbath.
Join your nearest Harvest Orchard Walk
Harvest Orchard Walks will take place in each growing region from 6–10 February. Find out where your nearest walk will take place and register now.
Guest presenters Ross Wilson and Jonathan Brookes, horticulture consultants at AgFirst for Future Orchards, will use block data to lead discussions around block targets set for the season, management and potential new options, and solutions if you are not tracking on target.
