Vegetables Australia May-June_MR

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As VegNET approaches the end of its first year, vegetable growers continue to benefit from 10 regionally-based
extension projects. VegNET Industry Development Officers will share some of their success stories at Hort
Connections 2017 on 17 May, while delegates can also find more VegNET information at the Trade Show. In
the meantime, VegNET has provided some recent highlights from South Australia and the Northern Territory.
VEGNET CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR
FLOOD RECOVERY ASSISTANCE AND DUTCH
TECHNOLOGY ON SHOW IN SA
South Australian vegetable growers are being kept up-to-date with
the latest R&D following the rollout of VegNET in South Australia.
AUSVEG SA Industry Development Officer Hannah McArdle has been
busy communicating with growers through newsletters, workshops
and farm visits.
Soil recovery and soil borne disease management workshops were
held after flooding devastated the Adelaide Plains in September 2016.
The workshops were presented by RM Consulting Group’s Dr Doris
Blaesing, and have enabled growers to identify how to best manage
their farms following the flood.
Dutch technologies in horticulture were also showcased during
a visit from the Dutch Government in November. The technologies
included irrigation, protected cropping and harvesting machinery. As a
result of the workshop, some protected cropping growers are looking
to invest further in capital that can improve their production systems.
This year, the South Australian VegNET team is focusing on the
delivery of events and resources to assist grower needs in post-
harvest management, weed control and biosecurity. Starting in late
May, a series of grower meetings on weed management will be held
with Chris Fyfe from the University of New England. These meetings
are part of the project, Strategic approach to weed management for
the Australian Vegetable Industry , which includes multiple trial sites in
South Australia (see page 36 for more information).
Two workshops on post-harvest management of vegetables will
be held in July and will be presented by Dr Jenny Ekman and Adam
Goldwater from Applied Horticultural Research.
Project updates, upcoming events and summaries of the latest
R&D can be found in the AUSVEG SA newsletter. To hear more about
VegNET in South Australia or to sign up for events, please contact
Industry Development Officer Hannah McArdle.
• Phone: 0408 475 995
• Email:
• Twitter: @AUSVEG_SA
NT GROWERS GET SET FOR THE 2017 DRY SEASON
Northern Territory vegetable growers, melon growers and horticulture
industry representatives met at the NT Department of Primary Industry
and Resources (NT DPIR) Coastal Plains Research Farm (CPRF) to
hear the latest on the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV)
incursions across Australia. The group heard the latest NT regulatory
requirements for cucurbit production and the progress of the national
CGMMV research and development project that is being led by the
NT DPIR plant pathology molecular biology unit. Printed workshop
materials were available in English, Vietnamese and Cambodian.
The meeting was held at CPRF to introduce growers to the
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) demonstration site. Insect
resistance to chemical-only management programs has been
increasing over the last 10 years, which is why the VegNET team
has developed the IPM demonstration site. There is now increased
enthusiasm by okra and snake bean growers to embrace IPM.
Growers visited a green manure crop of forage sorghum and
were able to identify a number of pest and beneficial insects already
at the site. Growers were encouraged to use the recently developed
Field Guide to Pests, Beneficials, Diseases and Disorders of Vegetables
in Northern Australia to identify different insects during the field walk
and to consider how the use of a refuge area of sorghum or tall
grasses can keep the existing beneficial insects on farm and ready
to protect the vegetable crops. This field guide is available in
English and Vietnamese and can be requested from the NT Industry
Development Officers (details below).
The demonstration site will be used to further improve pest
identification and monitoring skills, which will form the basis of a
grower’s own IPM program. Upcoming field activities at the site will
include demonstrations of improved fertigation systems and soil
moisture monitoring. Follow NT Farmers on Facebook to keep up-
to-date with these future events.
To hear more about VegNET in the Northern Territory, please
contact Industry Development Officers Greg Owens and Samantha
Tocknell or follow them on Twitter and Facebook:
• Phone: 0437 092 551
• Email:
• Twitter: @NTFarmers
• Facebook: @NTFarmersAssociation
For more information on the National Vegetable Extension Network and
upcoming events, please contact Adam Goldwater on 02 8627 1040 or adam.
.
This project has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using
the research and development National Vegetable Levy and funds from the
Australian Government.
Project Number: VG15049
INFO
R&D
R&D | VEGNET |
In February, the destructive tomato-potato psyllid was discovered in a Perth
backyard. After an incident definition phase lasting six weeks, this incursion is now in
the response phase. AUSVEG Biosecurity Adviser Dr Kevin Clayton-Greene explains.
FOCUS ON TOMATO-POTATO
PSYLLID INCURSION
Much has been written about the tomato-potato psyllid (TPP;
Bactericera cockerelli) and the threat that it poses to Australian
horticulture. At the time of writing, a short-term Response Plan
has been enacted by the National Management Group (NMG)
following the detection of TPP in Western Australia.
The purpose of this Response Plan was to allow more
time to gather critical information to determine the extent
of the incursion and enable a more informed decision about
eradication feasibility.
Importantly, it also allowed owner reimbursement costs to
flow to those properties affected, however it needs to be kept
in mind that this will only be to growers who are covered by a
Plant Health Levy (for example, potato and capsicum). Tomato
producers are excluded as they are not signatories to the
Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed and do not have a levy.
At the conclusion of this Response Plan, the NMG decided
that eradication was not feasible due to the widespread
distribution of TPP in the Perth metropolitan area; that available
treatments cannot guarantee eradication; and the difficulty in
detecting TPP on crops when they exist in only small numbers.
As a consequence, a 12-month Transition to Management
Program is being developed so that the impact of the pest
can be both managed and minimised. This plan will be put
together by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western
Australia with the involvement of all parties, both government
and industry. Once developed, the Plan will be put through the
Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests and NMG
process for approval.
ZEBRA CHIP UPDATE
At the time of writing, we have still not detected Candidatus
Liberibacter solanacearum, the organism which causes zebra
chip in potatoes, and plant death. However the organism
only occurs in a low percentage of psyllids, therefore proving
absence may take some time.
We do know that the type of TPP is the same as the one
detected in New Zealand and in the western states of the United
States (there are four known biotypes). However, it is not known
how it arrived in Western Australia – and we probably never will
know. It either arrived on produce, on clothing or was carried
there naturally by wind.
TPP TRAPPING
Noting the seriousness of this pest and its multi-million dollar
impact upon the vegetable and potato industries, it is incumbent
for everyone to be especially vigilant for any sign of an unusual
insect in crops.
Adult TPP is black with a white stripe on its back. It resembles
a small winged cicada and is about three millimetres long.
The adult psyllids are relatively easy to identify once caught,
although catching them usually requires sticky traps as the
adults fly a short distance as soon as foliage is disturbed.
Sticky traps can be purchased from outlets such as Bunnings
or other nurseries. They should be erected about 30 centimetres
above the crop and checked regularly – at least weekly – and
if anything unusual is spotted, contact the Exotic Plant Pest
Hotline (1800 084 881) and seek advice immediately.
For more information, contact AUSVEG on 03 9882 0277 or email info@ausveg.
.
This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia
Limited using the research and development National Vegetable Levy and funds
from the Australian Government.
Project Number: VG15023
INFO
R&D
R&D | BIOSECURITY BRIEF |
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