Biosecurity Commons^™

Bean Yellow Mosiac Virus In Lupins, Roger Jones

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) is a threat to lupin crops in high rainfall areas of south-western Australia, particularly in districts where subterranean clover pastures are prevalent. The disease causes markedly reduced grain yield in all types of lupins. Worldwide this is the most important virus affecting lupins. The author outlines the symptoms, spread and management of this serious disease.

Skeleton Weed : The Current Situation, Peter Scott, Jon Dodd

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Skeleton weed is a major threat to western Australia's grain industry. This weed established itself throughout the entire eastern States wheatbelt in just over 50 years and is now found from south-east Queensland to South Australia. It was first founs in Western Australia at Ballidu in 1963, and since that time has been the subject of an ongoing and intensive eradication campaign. Peter Scott and Jon Dodd report on the present status of skeleton weed in Western Australia and outline the progress to date and future directions of the eradication campaign.

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus And Its Management, Lindrea Latham, Roger Jones

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In 1993, western flower thrips, an important pest of horticultural crops, was found in Western Australia. Since then there has been an upsurge in damsging virus disease epidemics caused by tomato spotter wilt virus in horticultural crops. This has occurred because western flower thrips is a more effective vector of tomato spotted wilt virus than other thrips species. Lindrea Latham and Roger Jones outline the symptoms, spread and management of this serious virus disease in vegetables and ornamentals.

Virulent Footrot : Mild Or Severe?, Laurie Depiazzi

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The footrot eradication scheme in Western Australia has resulted in a low prevalence of severe footrot.

To appreciate the achievement, we need to understand what exactly is being eradicated. 'S' strains of Dichelorbacter nodosus, the infectious bacterium of footrot, are the target of footrot eradication. Laurie Depiazzi examines the basis for eradicating 'S' strains.

Bulletin 4307 - Grass Control In Pastures Using Herbicides, Alexandra Wallace

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin discusses three methods for herbicide control of grasses in pastures:

• pasture manipulation, in the early stages of pasture growth;
• spray-topping late in the growing season; and
• hay freezing, late in the growing season.

Proceedings Of The Blackwood Catchment Remnant Vegetation Management Workshop, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Agriculture reports

The Remnant Vegetation workshop is the third in a series designed to help the Blackwood Catchment Coordinating Group develop its policies for the Blackwood River System. The next step is the development of draft policies and Codes of practice for Remnant Vegetaiton Management in the Blackwood River Catchment. Be assured that any policy adopted by the Blackwood Catchment Co-ordinating Group will have been developed with maximum community participation.

A Field Study Of The Predatory Mite Metaseiulus Occidentalis Overwintering In Apple Orchards In The South West Of Western Australia, K. J. Lacey

Horticulture published reports

The twospotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) is one of the major pests of horticultural crops in Australia, and can cause severe damage in deciduous tree fruit crops such as apples, pears and peaches if left unchecked (Seymour 1982).

This study was conducted to determine whether the predatory mite Metaseiulus occidentalis, once introduced into orchards in the south west of Western Australia, could survive through the winter period and repopulate the orchard the following season. Two orchards in the Manjimup region where M. occidentalis had been released in the early summer of 1990/91, were selected for the study.

On-tree shelters were placed …

Bulletin 4265 - Termites, Peter Davis

Bulletins 4000 -

Termites are small, soft-bodied, social insects that feed on wood, grass, dead leaves, bark, humus, fungi or the dung of herbivore. They are commonly known as white ants, but are not related to true ants.

There are over 2300 species of termite of which about350 occur in Australia, and of these about 12 damage sound timber.

Resource Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Ord River Regeneration Reserve, John De Salis

Natural resources published reports

It is now some 33 years since the Ord River Regeneration Project, the largest and most ambitious of its kind in Australian rangelands, commenced.

During this time there have been a number of publications and miscellaneous reports about the project, but this publication is by far the most comprehensive produced to date. Although the field work was undertaken in 1981, the findings recorded here will stand in a good stead as a detailed account and reference work for years to come.

Much has changed within the Regeneration Reserve area since the project commenced. Cattle and feral donkey numbers have finally …

Eradication Of Apple Scab, John Cripps, Ralph Doepel

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The detection of apple scab in two orchards at Pemberton and New/ands in December 1989 ended Western Australia's 41-year, scab-free span for apple growers .

Without eradication orchardists would have had to apply up to 20 fungicidal sprays a year, at an annual cost of $1-2 million, to be able to market a high proportion of scab-free fruit. The industry chose eradication as the cheaper alternative, but the location of infected orchards at Pemberton in particular, with its high rainfall, suggested that it would be difficult .

Scab, or black spot, is the most serious fungal disease of apples in …

Worm Control In Sheep In Western Australia. Crack Down On Worms: An Information Guide For Advisers, Consultants, Livestock Personnel And Farmers, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock published reports

In Western Australia’s winter rainfall areas, the control of gastro-intestinal sheep worms is based on the strategic timing of drenches.

Sheep are drenched at a time that reduces the contamination of pastures with worm eggs and larvae in late summer and autumn. The timing of the drenches is particularly important for the control ofbrown stomach worms (Ostertagia species) and black scour worms (Trichostrongylus species)

Drenches given in late spring, when pasture is starting to dry off, and again in summer, successfully reduce pasture contamination in mid summer and autumn. A faecal egg count will determine the need and timing of …

Bulletin 4241 - Chemical Control Of Insect Pests In Field Crops And Pastures, T. P. Quinn, G. P. Mangano, P. J. Michael

Bulletins 4000 -

Chemicals currently registered in Western Australia for use against pests of field crops and pasture are given in the table below. Trade names are listed alongside each chemical formulation.

Department of Agriculture Bulletin 4185 "Insect and allied pests of extensive fanning" will help you identify the pest(s) through coloured photographs, descriptions and keys. Information on the type of damage, life cycle and control is also provided. Further information is available in Farmnotes on specific pests and on pests of a particular crop.

The Poison Schedule for each product is indicated in the table. Extremely toxic chemicals are labelled as "dangerous …

Bulletin No 4219 - Chemical Control Of Insect Pests In Field Crops And Pastures, T. P. Quinn, G. P. Mangano, P. J. Michael

Bulletins 4000 -

Chemicals currently registered in Western Australia for use against pests of field crops and pasture are given in the following tables. Trade names are listed alongside each chemical formulation.

Department of Agriculture Bulletin 4185 "Insect and allied pests of extensive farming" will help you identify the pest(s) through coloured photographs, descriptions and keys. Information on the type of damage, life cycle and control is also provided. Further information is available in Farmnotes on specific pests and on pests of a particular crop.

The Poison Schedule for each product is indicated in the table. Extremely toxic chemicals are labelled as "dangerous …

Coping With Brown Spot And Root Rots Of Lupins, Mark Sweetingham

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

There is increasing concern that brown spot and root diseases may limit the long term viability of lupin cultivation in close rotations in the agricultural areas of Western Australia. Research has found several useful strategies to reduce the impact of brown spot and Pleiochaeta root rot so that losses can be kept to a minimum. Rhizoctonia has proved more difficult to combat. Although less widespread than Pleiochaeta, it has caused severe losses and appears to be increasing in incidence, particularly in the northern wheatbelt. Research has vastly expanded our knowledge of the strains of Rhizoctonia present in our soils and …

Eradication Of The Liver Fluke In Dairy Cattle, Dave Muirson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In July 1987, a meat inspector found liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in a cow at an export abattoir at Waroona. This was the first evidence of the liver fluke completing its life cycle in Western Australia. Fortunately, the Department of Agriculture is reasonably confident that a comprehensive drenching programme has eradicated the liver fluke. The establishment of liver fluke in the south-west coastal areas could cause a serious problem for cattle producers and the small number of sheep producers. Stock would need additional drenching, and if it was not carried out effectively production could be lost or stock could die. …

Insect And Allied Pests Of Extensive Farming, W Woods, P Michael, M Grimm

Bulletins 4000 -

Produced in conjunction with the Plant Protection Society of WA. The Society is an organisation of farmers, scientists, commercial representatives and others interested in all aspects of plant protection. It provides essential liaison between farmers, industry & Government. It aims to inform members, Government, Industry and the public on: plant pest management and control, including weeds, insects, diseases and vertebrate and invertebrate pests, stored plant products protection, the importance of plant protection, pesticides and the environment, safe handling of pesticides; and pesticide application methods and technology.

Control Of Phytophthora Root Rot In Proteas, P Mcr Wood

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

88BU1.

Table 3

Comments

1080 Does Not Threaten The Northern Quoll, D R. King

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The poison 1080 is used in baits to control animal pests such as dingoes, rabbits and, indirectly, foxes. There is always the risk that some "non target" animals, particularly our native animals, might eat the baits and die, although investigations indicate that many southern native mammals are tolerant of 1080. The compound 1080 is found in many native plants growing in southern Western Australia, in the genera Gastrolobium and Oxylobium, and over the centuries native animals have built up resistance to its effects. Until recently the tolerances to 1080 of only a few animals from the pastoral areas were known. …

Crop Establishment Trials With Knockdown Herbicides., R Madrin

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

The effect of timing of Roundup and Sprayseed application and cultivation on crop growth, 88WH57. The timing of knockdown herbicide application and fungicidal seed treatment on crop establishment and growth, 88WH59. Interaction between coleoptile length, depth of seeding and knockdown herbicide, 88WH73. Herbicides for weed control in early sown wheat, 88A33. Grass and radish control in lupins with herbicide tank mixes, 88NO13. Tolerance of cereals to grasp, 8834. Tolerance of Barley to grasp + oil and wetter, 88WH65. Control of wild oats and radish with Hoegrass/Glean mixes 88NO111. Hoegrass/Glean mixtures in wheat, 88ME119. The effect of timing of Hoegrass, application …

Btec Campaign Ends In 1992, Carole A. O'Dwyer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BTEC, the national brucellosis and tuberculosis eradication campaign, is funded jointly by cattle producers and the Commonwealth and State Governments. When the campaign was launched on July 1,1970, its aims were to remove a potential export trade barrier and to improve the level of herd health. The campaign should be substantially completed by the end of 1992.

The Kimberley region of Western Australia was declared free of brucellosis in April 1980, and the entire State was declared free in 1985, the first mainland State to achieve this status.

All parts of Western Australia south of the 20th parallel were declared …

The Awassi Fat Tail Sheep Project, R J. Lightfoot

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Australia's first Awassi fat tail lambs arrived at Kununurra in January 1987, completing the first major step in an ambitious project to establish a fat tail sheep breeding industry in this country.

Fat tail sheep bred in the Middle East attract much higher prices than merino wethers imported from Australia. The question to be resolved through our product development and market research is what premiums will Middle Eastern buyers pay for fat tail sheep bred in Australia and exported to the region.

The Department of Agriculture believes that there is potential for Sustralian producers to enter these new markets without …

Barley Agronomy., K. J. Young

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 87E6, 87MT45, 87SG11, 87ES8

Locations: Esperance Downs Research Station, Mount Barker Research Station, Salmon Gums Research Station, Melijinup Field Station,

Barley variety x time of planting

To study phenological development and its effect on yield in a range of barley cultivars at four planting dates.

Trial 87E42

Aphicide toxicology x barley variety.

Location: EDRS

To measure the effect of disulfoton (Disyston *R) applied as granules at seeding on barley, to determine if there is any phytotoxicity.

Trial 87ES40, 87E32

Barley variety x cereal aphids.

Location: Malijinup Field Station, Esperance Downs Research Station

To study the development of cereal aphids …

A Spray Programme For Table Grape Production In Western Australia, I. J. Cameron, P. Wood, A. Sproul

Viticulture published reports

This bulletin details the main sprays that can be used in table grape vineyards in Western Australia. Growers are advised to refer to the manufacturer's label for detailed recommendations since rates vary according to formulation. New chemicals are continually being marketed and any omissions are regretted and no preferences for any material or supplier is implied.

Eradicating Fruit Fly From Carnarvon, Kingsley Thomas Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Late last year the Mediteranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Weidemann) was eradicated from Canarvon, Western Australia by using an intergrated programme of sterile insect releases and bait spraying.

The eradication marked the end of a four-year study on the use and effectiveness of the Sterile Insect Technique, a biological control technique which uses an insect pest against itself. such a study can be used as a basis for treating other threatening insect pests, such as the serious cattle pest screw-worm fly, should they be found in Asustralia.

Being a biological control method, the Sterile Insect Technique is an exellent …

Clover, Bluegreen Aphid And Red Legged Mite Screening, Medicago Murex Evaluation, D J. Gillespie

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Clover scorch: In spite of poor seasonal conditions, adequate levels of clover scorch developed in the test plots to readily identify susceptible clovers. Of the 333 introductions tested, 23% scored 3.0 or less indicating a high level of resistance. Bluegreen aphid screening: Two hundred and twenty four randomly selected subterranean clovers from all Western Mediterranean collections were tested for resistance to BGA in Nov/Dec of 1983. The susceptibility of annual legumes to Bluegreen aphid. Red legged earth mite screening: Results of two preliminary experiments to develop techniques for mass screening for RLEM resistance in subterranean clover were reported last year. …

The European Wasp : A New Threat To W.A, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The European wasp was detected in Western australia for the first time in January and February 1977 in the metropolitan suburbs of Mosman Park, Cottesloe and Attadale.

So far it has only been found within an area of 8 km radius from Fremantle but the outer boundries of the infestation are still uncertain.

It is Department of agriculture policy to eradicate the European wasp, if possible, and to destroy all nests detected.

W.A. Alert For Aphid On Lucerne, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The spotted alfalfa aphid which is devastating lucerne crops in the Eastern States, could be introduced to Western Australia on lucerne hay which is fed en route to imported livestock. The Department of Agriculture has therefore alerted all inspection points about the possible danger.

The Department of Agricultureis maintaining traps specifically for the aphid, and has found no evidence of it yet.

Ryegrass Disease Could Spread, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The disease annual ryegrass toxicity kills sheep and cattle grazing pastures which contain infected annual ryegrass. In Western Australia the first confirmed outbreak was in 1968 in the Gnowangerup area.

The disease has noe spread over a range of 450 kilometres and with a total area of perhaps 100 000 hectares. because annual ryegrass is the major sown pasture grass in W.A. the disease could spread throughout the South-West.

There are some precautions that can be taken.

Rural Radio Reports - Animals And Birds Declared Vermin, A R. Tomlinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Animals and birds are declared vermin by the Agriculture Protection Board if they are a threat to primary industry.

Quarantine : Two New Inspection Centres Built, C R. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A BIGGER population, a busier State; more travellers, more goods from more places; faster, more frequent transport—these things have demanded for Western Australia greater efforts to protect its primary industries from the chance introduction of disease and pests which could attack our plants and animals.