Canola fields: Insta-worthy photos are not worth the biosecurity risks, farmers say

Fields of gold are springing up across many parts of Australia right now, and a quick scroll on Instagram reveals countless selfies of people standing in fields of canola.

"The canola fields are so beautiful," one woman posted after walking through a farm in Western Australia recently.

Around five millions tonnes of canola are produced by WA farmers each year and the biosecurity risks of people entering farms can have a significant impact.

"Mud on boots and tyres trampled from one farm to the next is a risk of triggering fungal and bacterial disease, that crops suffer from heavily," Western Australia Farmers Federation CEO Trevor Whittington said.

"You don't see people jumping fences to pat a horse, and you don't see people jumping fences in city areas to smell roses."

The crop is vital to the state's economy as a food source and large quantities are exported to Europe for use in biofuels.

"It's worth twice the amount that wheat is worth," Mr Whittington said.

Destination NSW is encouraging people to "get your canola field Insta shot" on its website, but there's no mention of biosecurity risks to farmers or that tourists shouldn't trespass.

It does however state that "while locals and farmers welcome Instagrammers with open arms, visitors are asked to practise canola etiquette and not trample across the fields and precious crops".

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Canola is at its most vulnerable when it's flowering, NSW Farmers grain committee chair farmer Justin Everitt said.

The longtime canola farmer from Howlong, near the NSW/Victorian border, said social media is fueling the trend of people wanting selfies in the golden fields.

"It is so frustrating that they want to jump the fence [for a photo]," he said.

"Finding people have walked around in your paddock and trampled your plants, it's not a nice feeling."

York Visitor Centre in Western Australia urges people to visit 'canola for tourism locations', and to stay out of canola crops and respect farmers' private property.

"Canola for tourism locations are specifically planted for visitors to walk through canola and take photos," its website states.

"Outside canola for tourism locations, it is illegal to enter private canola properties. There are many risks including snakes, chemical spraying and biohazard risks you pose to the crop."

Mr Everitt said regional communities across the country are always keen to welcome tourists, and photos of canola from outside the boundary fence are just as good.

"We'd love them to be in the area and don't mind them checking things out, but just stay on the roadside of the fence," he said.