The government’s agricultural biosecurity website is now officially up and running.

Biosecurity Minister David Carter launched the FarmsOnLine property information database yesterday in Wellington saying it will allow government and industry to react swiftly in the event of a national catastrophe or emergency.

The $8.4 million management system collates farmers’ property and stock information, and also their contact details. Mr Carter says it will be an invaluable tool in any biosecurity emergency.

“The biggest risk to New Zealand’s economy is biosecurity. The genesis of FarmsOnLine follows work by the previous government following the hoax Waiheke scare when we did not have enough information to mount an adequate response to the suspected foot and mouth outbreak.

“That rang alarm bells with me. I was an opposition MP, but frankly it rang alarm bells throughout Parliament because obviously we are an economy that is so dependent on primary production.”

During the launch the Minister looked up the details of his own farm and said he would be encouraging other farmers to do the same.

“My brief look at it so far shows me there is a lot more information that I can put in which would assist in a biosecurity response.

“I’m certainly going to take the opportunity of encouraging farmers right throughout New Zealand to log in, have a look, and put on simple things like contact phone numbers and the amount of stock they carry, because it’s in the farmers interests to help New Zealand.

“Because in the event of a major incursion that needs an immediate response time is of the essence in such occasions."

Without farmers having to lift a finger the programme currently has 98 percent of farmland on its system and can contact 74 per cent of farmers in the event of an emergency.

A Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson says the FarmsOnline team will continue updating and upgrading the database and are confident of shortly being able to contact more than 90 percent of farmers.