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EDITION 10 | OCTOBER 2023
Message from the CEO
Welcome to the fourth quarter of 2023 and another exciting edition of Tendrils!
Late last month, I travelled with our Board to the Northern Territory for Board Meeting (BM) 112 in Darwin. The agenda included national and organisational strategy, finance, budgeting and related policy, a review of corporate risk, policy and auditing, Membership applications, and preparations for our 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), 36th Plant Industry Forum and second meeting of the Government Members Forum formed earlier this year. While in Darwin, the Board took the opportunity to visit key sites and facilities in the region.
Board Meeting 112 communique
The Plant Health Australia (PHA) Board travelled to the Northern Territory from 19 – 20 September to convene for BM 112.
Member meetings
PHA Member Meetings will be held at the East Hotel in Canberra from 27 - 29 November 2023.
The Notice of AGM, agenda and proxy forms will be circulated in the coming weeks.
PHA's Annual Report is now available
PHA’s 2022-23 Annual Report has been released and is now available on our website. The Annual Report highlights PHA’s key achievements over the past year against key performance indicators.
Virtual ADSW 2023 brings surveillance and diagnostic practitioners together
The National Implementation Working Group (NIWG), Plant Surveillance Network Working Group (PSNWG), and PHA presented the virtual Annual Diagnostic and Surveillance Workshop (ADSW) 2023 earlier this month, with more than 130 members in attendance.
New mobile app to record tree pests
A new mobile application, MyPestGuide® TREES, is now available to industry, government, and citizen scientists, empowering them to mitigate the impact of invasive pests and diseases on our forests.
The MyPestGuide® TREES app is designed to promote, encourage, and make it easy for everyone to get involved in reporting new pest sightings in high-risk areas.
Boosting Victorian grapevine biosecurity
Agriculture Victoria Research (AVR), Biosecurity and Agricultural Services (BAS), PHA and Wine Victoria (WV) facilitated two workshops on grapevine biosecurity in Mildura and Melbourne during September.
2023 Industry Liaison Officer Training
PHA has delivered Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) training workshops across Australia throughout the year. Workshops in Brisbane, Tasmania, Perth, and Adelaide attracted 79 participants from 14 industries across a number of different sectors including broadacre, forestry, horticulture and honey bees.
PHA has four new NBRT cadets
PHA’s Luke McKee, Mandy Jarvis, Emily Sears and Niki Sheperd recently attended the latest National Biosecurity Response Team (NBRT) Cadet training program, held in Canberra from 12 - 13 October. The workshop included a range of scenarios and tasks designed to build foundational knowledge and help develop the necessary skills to address potential animal and plant incursions in a biosecurity emergency preparedness and response.
The PRBI Symposium is coming to Cairns in 2024
The Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) Symposium, a showcase of plant biosecurity research, development, and extension, will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre from 8 – 9 May 2024. The program will include presentations on preparedness, diagnostics, surveillance, sustainable pest management, capability building and industry resilience.
Varroa transition to management
The National Management Group confirmed at its meeting on 19 September 2023 that eradication of Varroa destructor (Varroa mite) is no longer feasible based on technical grounds, following advice from the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests, and has now entered a transition to management phase.
An easier way to find out about pest and disease incursions
Outbreak.gov.au has had a makeover. It is easier for you to find information on how to respond, prevent and prepare for exotic pest and disease outbreaks in Australia.
Small hive beetle restrictions easing
No more small hive beetles have been found in the Bee Movement Restriction Area (BMRA) since the resumption of hive inspections earlier this month. As a result, Biosecurity Tasmania is implementing a staged process to ease restrictions.
El Niño and positive IOD underway
An El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are underway. Oceanic indicators firmly exhibit an El Niño state. Central and eastern Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) continue to exceed El Niño thresholds.
Rural Women’s Award applications close soon
Online applications for the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award close on 25 October. Winners stand a chance to win a grant, access to professional development, media training and more.
WA’s Biosecurity Blitz kicked off
WA’s Biosecurity Blitz is an annual event that runs from 16 October - 16 November and is an opportunity to join in and discover many interesting organisms to protect agri-industries, the environment and lifestyle from exotic pests.
Tassie takes big bite of national apple funding
The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) has secured an impressive $3.7 million in national funding for research that will boost production and profits for Australian apple growers.
2023 State of Blueberry Industry report released
The 2023 State of the Blueberry Industry report provides valuable information on trends and new developments taking place in this fast-growing industry worldwide.
Fall armyworm engagement hub
The Fall armyworm eHub offers the latest research and development and extension activities for horticulture.
Scholarships for women working in horticulture and farming
Advance your career with a Horticulture Sector Women’s Leadership Scholarship. Partial scholarships of $1,000 - $5,000 are available to help women in select industries participate in leadership courses.
AUSVEG launches Vegalogue podcast
Vegalogue is AUSVEG’s new podcast that will take a look at issues affecting the Australian vegetable, potato and onion sectors, unpacking levy-funded research and meeting some of the incredible people who make up the vegetable industry.
Contractor agreements: a guide to biosecurity
If you use contractors to assist with your vineyard management activities, it’s important that biosecurity expectations are addressed as part of the contracting process.
Latest edition of Passion Vine now available
The first edition of The Passion Vine produced under the new project ‘Passionfruit Industry Communications Program (PF22001)’ funded by Hort Innovation using the passionfruit levy fund with contributions from the Australian Government.
What's happening for grain producers
GPA Chair Barry Large and Chief Executive Colin Bettles speak to host Jack Creswell about the hot button issues facing Australian grain producers right now including: the 10% biosecurity tax, Varroa mite, grain production outlook, and more.
Grower profile: Ron and Mel Caccianiga
Seven years ago, Ron and Mel Caccianiga changed from cattle and mixed farming to macadamia growing. They now have two macadamia orchards in Northern NSW where a swathe of new orchards are being developed.
RSD testing at mill and block now possible in north
Through the Local Expert Analysis project in the north facilitated by Sugar Research Australia, it was found that the best way to manage Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) in the area was to first understand where it is.
Suction trap targets winged exotic pests
A newly developed insect trap that targets winged exotic insects is being tested before it’s rolled out nationally. They trap is being evaluated for use in border surveillance.
New opportunities for forestry development
The Australian Government is seeking expressions of interest to establish two research centres under Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) to deliver innovative forestry research and development.
Improving industry preparedness for Xylella fastidiosa
Xylella fastidiosa is the number one exotic National Priority Pest for Australia, which could have severe impacts on a broad range of horticultural industries.
Moveable beast: Genomics detective work reveals pest moth travels
The fall armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a notorious pest in agriculture. It devastates essential food crops and threatens global food security. It has been reported to feed on more than 350 plant species, ranging from maize to cotton and vegetables.
NT DITT seeking EOIs for jackfruit evaluations
Commercial jackfruit growers interested in potentially providing fruit to a processing market are encouraged to submit fruit to Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (NT DITT) for a free evaluation to determine whether or not they will be suitable for processing.
Latest from Prevent Fruit Fly
Getting on top of fruit flies in Spring
Spring, as the first fruits start to form, is the time to make sure your fruit fly management practices are up to date to protect your produce and nearby properties. While they are found in different parts of the country, similar control methods and strategies can be used to control the two main pest species of fruit fly in Australia: the Queensland fruit fly and the Mediterranean fruit fly.
APVMA suspends dimethoate products to protect human health
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has suspended the registration and labels of specific chemical products containing dimethoate, following reports that the maximum permitted level of pesticide residue for dimethoate had been exceeded in avocados and mangoes.
Latest from Grains Farm Biosecurity
Is your field day a biosecurity risk?
Field days provide invaluable opportunities for growers, agricultural professionals and extension workers to learn about the latest farming technology, different seed varieties and techniques to boost production.
Q&A with WA Grains Biosecurity Officer Jeff Russell
Jeff Russell has been the grains biosecurity officer (GBO) for Western Australia since October 2010. In this article, Jeff takes time out from his busy schedule to answer some questions about himself and the role.
Latest from Farm Biosecurity
Biosecurity essentials: videos to help implement on-farm biosecurity
The best defence against pests and diseases is to implement sound biosecurity practices on your farm. Quick and simple measures built into everyday practice will help protect your farm and your future. These videos provide a brief overview of steps you can take to protect your farm.
Staff movements
Welcome to Ashley Thomson, Kirsten Shultz, and Lorissa McCosh
This month we welcomed three new staff members to PHA, Ashley Thomson as Governance and Corporate Support Officer, Kirsten Shultz as Governance and Corporate Support Officer, and Lorissa McCosh as a Training Coordinator.
Ashley studied sociology, literature and medical anthropology at the Australian National University (ANU), completing a Master of Culture, Health and Medicine (Advanced) with commendation in 2017. With a background in the arts, especially publishing and live music, Ashley now focusses on high-level administrative and executive support work.
Kirsten has worked in administration and business management focused roles for the last 15 years with experience across a variety of industries. She has qualifications in Business and Health Sciences and is currently studying a Bachelor of Zoology majoring in Wildlife Ecology/Botany. She is looking forward to expand her knowledge and experience in PHA’s governance and corporate space.
Lorissa McCosh joined PHA to use her relationship-building, communication and engagement experience in her role as Training Coordinator. Lorissa has extensive experience working in digital communication, social media and biosecurity response within the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. More recently, Lorissa has worked in Biosecurity Queensland where she led digital projects to raise awareness of biosecurity risks, developing training courses and platforms, and promote positive behaviour change among stakeholders.
Please join us in welcoming Ashley, Kirsten and Lorissa to PHA.
Out and about
PHA’s Board recently met in Darwin for Board Meeting 112 and visited local fruit farms to familiarise themselves with the operating environment in northern Australia.
The PHA Board also visited the Darwin Aquaculture Centre to learn about the Black lip oysters and Black jewfish projects.
PHA’s CEO Sarah Corcoran attended the National Biosecurity Committee meeting in Brisbane recently and visited the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ insect collection where she recognised the specimens of spongy moth she reared from eggs, 21 years ago.
PHA’s Luke McKee, Mandy Jarvis, Emily Sears and Niki Sheperd recently attended the National Biosecurity Response Team (NBRT) Cadet training program in Canberra. Here they are with Elissa Tarling (left), Animal Health Australia’s Learning and Development Manager, and Craig Elliot (centre), facilitator from P2R2 Consulting.
South Australia’s GBO, Shafiya Hussein, spent time talking to growers about grain pests and surveillance at the recent Yorke Peninsula Field Days.
New South Wales GBO, Kate Glastonbury, shared grains biosecurity advice with growers at the recent Henty Machinery Field Days.
