Message from the CEO

Welcome to the September edition of Tendrils!

In this edition we cover the relaunch of the Pest and Disease Image Library (PaDIL), the recent Annual Surveillance and Diagnostic Workshop held in Melbourne, and the Grains Farm Biosecurity two-day meeting that was held at the PHA offices in Canberra. I'm also delighted to announce that we have released two new online training packages to assist more people in recognising exotic pests and diseases.

Improving Australia's biosecurity toolkit

To continually improve Australia’s biosecurity toolkit and to aid the effective and efficient detection of plant biosecurity risks, PHA in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Museums Victoria and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia (DPIRD, WA) recently relaunched the Pest and Disease Image Library (PaDIL).

Biosecurity plan for mixed producers key amid FMD threat

Foot and mouth disease is considered one of Australia’s greatest biosecurity risks and an incursion could devastate Australia’s agricultural industry. The rapid spread of FMD in Indonesia has led to the implementation, heightened alert and screening activities in Australia, and an increased need to update farm biosecurity plans.

New eLearning courses for hitchhiker and nursery Pests

PHA has recently introduced two new online courses: Hitchhiker Pests and Nursery Pests and Diseases, to the Biosecurity Online Training (BOLT) platform.

The new Hitchhiker Pests online course is aimed at businesses that deal with goods and cargo at critical points along the supply chain, including warehouses, distribution centres, and large retail chains.

WA bee biosecurity update 

So far, 2022 has been a busy year for the DPIRD Western Australia apiculture team, delivering training, developing biosecurity resources, inspecting apiaries, conducting port surveillance and overseeing honey bee exports to Canada and Asia.

Grapevine red blotch virus fact sheet updated

The Grapevine red blotch virus fact sheet has been updated. Originally referred to as Grapevine red blotch-associated virus (GRBaV), the virus is associated with red blotch symptoms on leaves, as well as causing a significant reduction in sugar accumulation in grapes.

Coordination of HTS data key to biosecurity protection

With Australia’s biosecurity system under increasing threat, faster and more accurate identification of plant pests and diseases is more important than ever.  High throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies can increase our diagnostic capacity and preparedness and deliver rapid, more accurate results to support our agribusiness and environment.

Annual Surveillance and Diagnostics Workshop (ADSW)

In the first live event in two years, this year’s ADSW event saw 132 diagnosticians and surveillance practitioners gather over three days at AgriBio at La Trobe University in Melbourne, to network, share knowledge and learnings on how to successfully bring new and innovative elements of the biosecurity system together.  

NFFC to host SITplus research discussion

Following on from the 31st National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) meeting, the Council will be hosting a joint meeting with the SITplus Strategic Advisory Committee.

Protect your farm from hitchhiker pests

While state and federal governments have put many measures in place to reduce the risk of hitchhiker pests such as khapra beetle entering and spreading in Australia, it is impossible to inspect every item that enters the country.

Unlike endemic stored grain pests, khapra beetles do not fly, so the most likely place for them to show up on the farm is not in the stored grain in the silo but in something that humans bring to the farm – for example, in groceries, deliveries or new equipment including household white goods.

Good signs on grain farm biosecurity signage

As part of an initiative to protect grain growers, Grains Producers Australia is distributing biosecurity signs at agricultural field days to heighten awareness across the country, and help reduce the risk of spreading weeds, pests and diseases.

Managing multi-million dollar hazards to food security

Biosecurity is an insurance policy for primary producers that yields dividends in the long run. Aimed specifically at Australian farmers, the Farm Biosecurity Program is dedicated to providing growers with up-to-date information on how to protect their crops and livestock and ultimately, our nation’s food security.  

Footbaths add protection against pests and diseases

While foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has not been detected in Australia, the Australian government is doing all it can to ensure it stays that way. Having a footbath on-farm provides your property and our broader industry with an added layer of protection against the devastation of disease outbreak.