Western Australia
Sepetmber 15, 2015
DAFWA research officer Dominie Wright spoke at the Australasian Plant Pathology Conference about her work on improving biosecurity extension.
Farmers and agricultural consultants on the front line of defence against exotic plant pests and diseases require targeted education and support to identify key threats to grains crops.
According to a recent survey of 135 grain growers and 113 agronomists in Western Australia and Victoria, there is a significant lack of skill and confidence in identifying the four high priority pest and disease threats to the Australian grains industry.
The findings and conclusions of the survey, undertaken by Department of Agriculture and Food research officer Dominie Wright, were profiled at the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference in Fremantle this week.
The survey asked participants to list the characteristic symptoms associated with Karnal bunt, Khapra beetle, Barley Stripe rust and Russian wheat aphid.
Ms Wright said the variable results demonstrated that a range of communication strategies were required to raise awareness about high priority pests and disease threats.
“Early identification is the key to a rapid and effective biosecurity response so it is imperative that our farmers, agronomists and consultants have the skills and knowledge to identify biosecurity threats and their symptoms,” she said.
The survey showed that while18 per cent of respondents could correctly identified all four threat symptoms, more than 60pc of all participants were not able to identify any of the symptoms.
The results revealed that 18pc of responses for Karnal bunt were correct, 17pc Khapra beetle, 25pc Barley Stripe rust and 17pc Russian wheat aphid.
While consultants faired better than growers (18pc compared with 1pc) for most responses, the results were more even for Barley Stripe rust (12pc consultants and 13pc growers) due to industry experience with the wheat form of the disease.
Ms Wright will share the survey results with agricultural extension professionals as part of her PhD scholarship, supported by the University of WA and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
The survey was undertaken with financial support from the Council of Grain Grower Organisations.
To learn more about identifying the four high priority and other grains pest and disease threats visit agric.wa.gov.au and search for ‘mycrop’ or ‘mypestguide’ or ‘grainguard’ or see planthealthaustralia.com.au
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