Canola tourists urged to stay out of crops

South Australian grain producers are urging tourists enjoying the State’s flowering canola crops to stay on the right side of the fence.

Grain Producers SA says it has already received reports of people jumping fences and entering paddocks to take photographs as canola crops turn bright yellow across regional areas.

Chief Executive Officer Brad Perry says growers understand the appeal of the crops, but entering farmland without permission can damage plants and create biosecurity and safety risks.

He says people walking through crops can break stems and flatten plants, while footwear, vehicles and other equipment can carry soil, weed seeds, pests or disease between properties.

There are also safety risks on working farms, with machinery potentially operating nearby and other hazards not always visible to visitors.

Mr Perry says tourists are welcome to enjoy the canola flowering season, but should take photographs from public land, pull over in safe locations and respect fences and private property.

He says growers want visitors to enjoy the landscape while leaving crops exactly as they found them.