Producers across NSW are on the lookout for fall armyworm (FAW), following confirmation of the pest at Hillston, Croppa Creek, Breeza, Forbes, Dubbo, Narrabri, Wee Waa, Maitland, Moree and Boggabilla.
An exotic insect, known as a Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium), forced the lockdown of two retail outlets in Canberra back in August 2020. It resulted in a biosecurity response through the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Since its detection across northern parts of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia in February 2020, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has been quick to establish in these locations, but Plant Health Australia (PHA) has announced new resources to assist in defending crops against the pest.
Ensuring farmers, researchers, government, industry and the community work together with impact has been the lasting legacy left by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions long-standing Chair Helen Cathles, who has retired from the position.
The path towards a more coordinated and sustainable fruit fly management system to protect the future productivity and profitability of Australia’s horticulture sector is now clearer with the release of the 2020-25 National Fruit Fly Strategy.
With COVID-19 and other biosecurity risks placing unprecedented pressure on our biosecurity system, more than 250 champions from across Australia’s and New Zealand’s biosecurity sector came together for a virtual workshop to discuss how we can mobilise a 25-million-strong biosecurity mass movement.
Grain growers battling to understand the potential impact of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and how to manage this foreign invader can tune into a specialised Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) webinar next week.
Australia needs a more innovative, coordinated and collaborative biosecurity system if it is to keep up with the threat from increasing and severe biosecurity events, like COVID-19, according to a new report released by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.