Baled hay, straw or sugarcane originating from within fire ant biosecurity zones is considered high risk for the spread of fire ants.
Bales of hay, including lucerne and straw, and sugarcane provide both a food supply, shelter and micro-climate that is highly attractive to fire ants.
The Biosecurity Regulation 2016 prescribes outlines what management techniques methods you must follow when producing, storing and moving hay or straw from a property within a fire ant biosecurity zone.
Source: Business Queensland, Queensland Government – Date: April 2021