Agricultural
7 October, 2025
Keep your harvest and NSW clean with parthenium-free machinery
As our grain growers begin a bumper 2025 harvest, people are reminded they must ensure harvesting equipment crossing the border from Queensland into NSW is free of the devastating parthenium weed and its seeds.
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Weed Response team leader, Jodie Lawler, said headers pose a high risk of introducing parthenium weed into NSW.
“Farmers need to know harvest equipment coming onto their property is clean and should ask contractors for their valid Carrier Biosecurity Certificate to ensure the gear is free of parthenium,” Ms Lawler said.
“The law requires that all harvesting machinery, equipment and vehicles which has been in Queensland must be properly cleaned and inspected before entering the state.
“The person in charge of a header, including the comb and comb trailer, must submit a completed Record of Movement form online or directly to an authorised NSW DPIRD officer at one of our inspection stations.”
The form includes a declaration that the header and comb have been cleaned in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Biosecurity Order (Permitted Activities) 2019.
Operators of all machinery have a legal duty to prevent their equipment from spreading parthenium weed into NSW under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015.
It is illegal to bring grain harvesters and comb trailers from Queensland into NSW unless you have a Carrier Biosecurity Certificate from DPIRD inspection sites, which costs $75 for processing and delivery.
To expedite the process, call to book your inspection 24 hours prior to arrival at the DPIRD inspection sites at Boggabilla (07) 4671 1227, Hebel (07) 4625 0916 or Mungindi (02) 6753 2323.
Machinery and equipment, including harvest field bins, augers and grain movers, trucks and low loaders carrying a header, harvest support and escort vehicles, mineral exploration drill rigs and vehicles transporting rigs must be cleaned to remove all plant material, dust, soil and accumulated grease or be treated with a seed sterilant.
Parthenium is the greatest weed threat to NSW. Contact with the plant or pollen can cause serious allergic reactions in people. It is dangerous to grazing animals, hosts crop viruses, prevents desirable plants from establishing and reduces crop and land values.
