EDITION 19 | AUGUST 2022
Message from the CEO
Welcome to the August edition of Tendrils!
Watch this months video message where I share a round-up of plant biosecurity news including the inaugural National Biosecurity Strategy, PHA's FMD webinar for mixed producers and welcome the new faces at PHA.
PHA Meetings
Upcoming Board Meeting #108
Board meeting #108 will be held in Mildura, Victoria on 22 September 2022.
Biosecurity Collective welcomes National Biosecurity Strategy release
The founding partners of the Biosecurity Collective welcome today’s release of Australia’s first National Biosecurity Strategy, which marks the start of transformative change to the Australian biosecurity system.
The release of the Strategy completes the first step of the Biosecurity Collective’s five-point plan, which also aims to establish 2021-2030 as the Decade of Biosecurity,
Webinar: An introduction to FMD
With Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on our borders, it is vital that producers know the potential impacts they may face and what they can do as a mixed farmer to prepare.
PHA hosted an introduction to FMD webinar on Tuesday, 16 August with presentations focused on what is happening at the national and jurisdictional level; what plant industries can expect to happen in an Emergency Animal Disease response, and the role of biosecurity planning in preparing your property.
Updated Forestry Biosecurity Plan
The Biosecurity Plan for the Plantation Forests Industry was recently updated.
Aimed at decision makers, the third edition of the plan provides the plantation forests sector and governments with a framework to guide actions and investments over five years, and is designed to mitigate biosecurity risks and protect Australia’s plantation forests.
National Science Week 2022
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and acknowledges the important contribution of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge.
Science is at the core of the work we do at PHA and once again this year we explored the role of science in plant biosecurity.
2022 Queensland
Agriculture Awards
Nominations are now open for the Queensland Agriculture Awards 2022, which celebrate the passionate innovators and key influencers in agriculture, fisheries, or forestry.
Keep varroa mite out of Queensland
A new Movement Control Order means there will be no movement of bees or beehives into Queensland from anywhere in Australia without a permit.
Tamania's new mail X-ray machines
Three industry-leading X-ray machines will be installed in three Australia Post mail sorting and distribution centres, further bolstering Tasmania's border efforts to maintain its pest and disease-free status.
Agriculture exports by states and territories
Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports reached a record of $62.8 billion in 2021. Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia experienced record exports.
Demand for table grapes grows in Vietnam
Australian table grape exports to Vietnam reached record levels in 2021–22, thanks to improved trading conditions and ongoing export diversification efforts.
Brown marmorated stink bug update
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has declared China and UK emerging risk countries as of
1 August 2022.
Biosecurity Northern Territory: the facts
Biosecurity. It's a word that's been around since the 80s but has gained more traction in the past few years. So what does it mean and what does a Northern Territory Government biosecurity officer do? In simple terms, biosecurity refers to all the measures and strategies aimed at preventing the introduction / spread of harmful diseases to animals and plants in order to minimise the risk of transmission.
NSW Biosecurity and Food Safety Strategy consultation
The NSW Government is developing a biosecurity and food safety strategy to better protect the state’s economy, environment, and community against growing biosecurity and food safety threats; whilst creating opportunities for future growth of the primary industries sector to $30 billion by 2030.
Integrated disease management of black core rot in citrus
Consumers are caught by surprise when they tuck into a healthy piece of fruit but discover a black rotten mess inside (figure 1). A new Hort Innovation project aims to shed some light on how this happens in the field so that we can learn how to better manage it.
From little things, big things grow
Captivating the interest of school children is the latest approach taken by the Panama TR4 Program to spread the message, not the disease. A new book called 'Charlie goes bananas!' has been released.
Biosecurity received boost in NTG budget
The 2022/23 Northern Territory Government budget includes an annual increase of $1.9M for increased biosecurity capacity. As part of Budget 2022, the Territory Government has announced an ongoing $3.19 million package to accelerate fishing and aquaculture and to protect agribusiness in the Territory.
Hort Innovation's Ag-Chem update
Hort Innovation’s Ag-Chem Update for growers was recently published, with more information on various regulatory issues and chemical reviews underway both locally and internationally.
Latest from Prevent Fruit Fly
Hypothetical exploration a success
The National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) recently hosted an exercise with a difference. Almost 90 stakeholders in Brisbane and Melbourne participated in an hypothetical exercise to explore potential trade disruptions if Australia’s fruit fly distribution were to change and what it would mean for industry.
Improving national fruit fly management
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has recently commissioned several projects related to improving the management of fruit fly in Australia. These projects are all operating concurrently and involve consultation with similar stakeholder groups, however they each have distinct scopes and objectives which complement each other.
Latest from Grains Farm Biosecurity
Vehicle washdowns - prevention is better than cure
Vehicle and machinery hygiene on-farm is crucial to prevent the spread of hitchhiker pests, diseases and weeds that could potentially devastate Australian agriculture.
In Australia, the impact of weeds, pests and disease varies across species, but it is estimated to contribute to a yield gap of between 20 – 40 per cent in grain crops each year. Weeds alone are estimated to impose an overall average cost of $5 billion a year, with chemical control and production loss making up most of this.
Good farm hygiene reduces the spread of pests
Winter is an ideal time for grain growers to proactively prevent the build-up of pests, diseases and weeds by implementing good farm hygiene.
Cold weather minimises pest activity and keeps numbers under control. However, early action is recommended before pests establish and become costly to control.
Latest from Farm Biosecurity
FNQ Field Day in Mareeba
The inaugural FNQ Growers R&D Field Day in Mareeba was a great success recording more than 400 visitors. The event offered opportunities for growers to network and engage with peak industry bodies, industry stakeholders and commercial operators and learn more about the latest updates in horticulture.
PHA and AHA under the Farm Biosecurity Program sponsored the event and provided plant biosecurity collateral to create awareness of plant pests and diseases.
Out and about
PHA's Stuart Kearns, GPA Chair and WA grower, Barry Large, Rosemary Richards from the Australian Oilseeds Federation and GPA Northern Director and Moree grain producers, Matthew Madden at the Australian Grains Industry Conference held in Melbourne at the end of July.
PHA’s Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen and Lisa Kelly from Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries at the recent 11th Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium (ASDS) that was held in Cairns.
Kym McIntyre, GBO for Queensland, recently met with grain growers in Miles, Pittsworth and Goondiwindi to chat about pests and disease at the Grains Research and Development Corporation's (GRDC) Queensland Updates.
Shafiya Hussein, GBO for South Australia, recently met more than 300 growers to talk about grains farm biosecurity, pests and surveillance at the Eyre Peninsula Field Days.
Jim Moran, GBO for Victoria, shared grains farm biosecurity information with growers at the Mallee Machinery Field Days in Speed, earlier this month.
Kate Glastonbury, GBO for New South Wales, caught up with growers at the AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah this week.
As part of National Science Week celebrations, PHA's Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen presented 'Important Resources in the Diagnostician's Toolbox' at the Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer's August webinar.
PHA's Dr Maggie Mwathi attended the 2022 Crawford Fund Annual Conference held in Canberra this week.
Staff movements
Congratulations to Andrew Vossen
Andrew Vossen has been promoted to the role of Coordinator Biosecurity Planning. His strengths in detailed data and information management are key to PHA's plans for continuous improvement and innovation in our Biosecurity Planning processes.
PHA is committed to retain and invest in talented staff of Andrew's caliber. Congratulations Andrew!
Welcome to Cheryl, Matt, Carolyn and Mandy
This month we welcomed Dr Cheryl Grgurinovic in the role of Manager, Diagnostics with a focus on diagnostic special projects. She has strong technical skills including a PhD in mycology and a wealth of experience in many areas of plant biosecurity. She has experience of two emergency plant pest responses in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
We also welcomed we welcomed Matt Hill to PHA as the Manager, Digital Systems. He comes to us from CSIRO, where he was a Research Scientist in Data Science and Ecology for Biosecurity Risk. His career has focused on applied entomology and ecology to support integrated pest management, biosecurity, and market access.
Dr Carolyn Blomley also recently joined PHA in the role of Project Officer in the Emergency Response team. She has a strong background in plant pathology, project management and stakeholder engagement, and holds a PhD in plant pathology and microbial ecology. She will be working on EPPRD and incursion management activities, reporting to Felicity Andriunas.
The Marcomms team also welcomed Mandy Jarvis in the role of Marketing and Communications Specialist. She is a seasoned communications professional with more than 20 years’ experience in diverse industries including property, publishing, professional services and advertising.
Please join us in welcoming Cheryl, Matt, Carolyn and Mandy to PHA.
