Mango and lychee growers in Australia should become familiar with and be on the lookout for the exotic pest, Mango shoot looper (Perixera illepidaria) – detected in Far North Queensland last year, and most recently in the Northern Territory. About mango shoot looper Mango shoot looper larvae (Perixera illepidaria). Image courtesy of Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF). Mango shoot looper is found in several parts of Asia and can be carried long distances by wind as an adult moth. Mango shoot looper has a short life cycle (15-19 days) and the larvae feed voraciously on m ..read more

The 2021-2031 National Plant Biosecurity Strategy (NPBS) released by Plant Health Australia (PHA) provides a framework to strengthen Australia’s plant biosecurity system over the next decade. The second-generation strategy outlines four focus areas needed to build a resilient and contemporary national plant biosecurity system that will continue to support Australian plant industries, economy, environment and communities. “Plant biosecurity risks are mounting as is the challenge of maintaining Australia’s pest free status,” says PHA Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Corcoran. “The strategy sets th ..read more

Plant pests and diseases can have a serious impact on your business, industry and community. By reporting anything unusual, you help protect your bottom line but also help reduce the likelihood that new pests are here to stay. Growers and their employees are at the forefront of managing pests and diseases and will generally be the first to identify new and unusual pest or disease symptoms. Early detection and reporting of an exotic pest and diseases provides the best opportunity for containment and eradication. It’s always better to report something, even if it turns out to be a false alarm, t ..read more

A vehicle biosecurity kit is a useful tool to help limit the spread of unwanted pests, diseases and weeds on-farm or between farms. A kit should be carried and used by anyone working on-farm such as agronomists, extension officers and farm staff, including itinerant workers and contractors. Having a vehicle biosecurity kit is the easiest way to ensure that you are prepared and able to clean down and implement hygiene measures. The contents of a biosecurity kit can vary from farm to farm. They provide provisions for protecting clothing against contamination and keeping footwear and small equipm ..read more

Tomato Potato Psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli or TPP) is a pest that all potato, tomato, eggplant, capsicum, chilli, tamarillo and sweet potato (Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae) growers across Australia should be familiar with. Also known as ‘jumping plant lice’ and established in some parts of Western Australia, all Australian growers should know the signs of TPP and regularly monitor their crops for this pest. TPP is a tiny sap-sucking insect that can significantly impact production and is found in the USA, Central America and New Zealand. TPP was first detected in Western Australia (WA) in ea ..read more

When we talk about farm biosecurity, we almost always talk about it from an on-farm producer or growers’ perspective. However, as an agronomist, vet or contractor visiting multiple sites, you can unintentionally carry pests, diseases and weeds off the farm and between sites. Concerned? With a few adjustments to your off-farm biosecurity practices, you can help reduce the spread of pests and diseases. The basics When arriving at a property, do not enter without permission of the owner or manager. From there: follow all instructions and signage report to management and ask for any specific bios ..read more

The AUSVEG Farm Biosecurity Project, a collaboration between AUSVEG and Plant Health Australia (PHA), continues to improve preparedness and response capability to manage biosecurity risks for the vegetable and potato industries. The second phase of the two-year project funded through the National Vegetable and Potato Levies, kicked off in July 2021, after the successful completion of the first phase. The project is scheduled to conclude in June 2023. The key differentiator in the second phase of the project is the increased focus on the role and importance of urban biosecurity, with emphasis o ..read more

New research into ironstone gravel soils in the western and southern regions of Australia is working to unlock potential and increase the yields of crops planted on this challenging soil type. The three-year Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) phase 2 investment aims to provide tools for growers to identify and understand their ironstone gravel soils, and make more informed management decisions on cropping, fertiliser and water. Led by Dr Francesca Brailsford from Murdoch University, the project is part of a SoilsWest alliance initiative, which also includes The University of We ..read more

Plant Health Australia (PHA) and Melons Australia have teamed up for a new one-year Melon Industry Extension for Biosecurity project to strengthen melon growers’ resilience in biosecurity response, recovery capacity and understanding of proactive on-farm biosecurity practices. With global trade and travel opening up, the threat of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia remains. More than ever, growers are required to be vigilant in implementing proactive and preventative biosecurity measures to protect their livelihood and the industry. Melons are produced right across Australia (with th ..read more

Promising results in trials of a new chickpea variety could see the popularity of this pulse grow significantly amongst Western Australian growers in the 2022 growing season. The new variety, CBA Captain, is an erect desi type with early to mid-flowering, moderate lodging resistance and excellent harvestability. Its release is part of the Chickpea Breeding Australia (CBA) initiative; a five-year, $30-million breeding program, launched in early 2020, that is working to expand the geographic reach of chickpeas from their traditional northern NSW and QLD region stronghold into central and souther ..read more