Last week, members of the AUSVEG Engagement & Extension team travelled to Western Australia to meet with growers, agronomists, and stakeholders to provide updates on serpentine leafminer, American serpentine leafminer and vegetable leafminer.

These discussions form part of the Hort Innovation-funded project Management strategy for serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis (MT20005).

AUSVEG’s Zarmeen Hassan receives a tour a carrot crop at Castro Farms with grower Joe Castro.

AUSVEG National Manager Engagement & Extension Zarmeen Hassan and AUSVEG Project Officer Cherry Emerick met with WA VegNET Regional Development Officer Michael Bartholomew, and together, they covered over 2,000km to visit 13 vegetable farms at Myalup, Manjimup, Ginigin, Anketell, Bunbury, Carabooda, Lancelin, Muchea and Mandaglup.

The team also attended a PotatoLink field day in Manjimup, and toured a Biological Services insectary as well as the Perth Markets.

Ellement Produce’s David Ellement in a field of kale.

Current pest and diseases, integrated pest management solutions, and other standard biosecurity measures were also discussed.

Management strategy for serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis (MT20005) is funded by Hort Innovation, using the Vegetable, Potato (Fresh), Potato (Processing), Onion and Melon industries research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

(left) Rose Farms’ grower Graham Rose holding some of his Broccolini and (right) VegNET RDO Michael Bartholomew, Graham Rose and AUSVEG Project Officer Cherry Emerick.