August 2022

Queensland fruit fly management workshops, Wednesday August 17

Guest speakers at an upcoming fruit fly workshop will include James Altman from Biological Services, Andrew Jessup, Janren Consulting Pty Ltd, Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs as well as Nick Secomb, PIRSA and Andrew Creek from NSW DPI.
The workshops will be held at two locations on Wednesday, August 17. The morning session will be held at the Loxton Research Centre on Bookpurnong Road from 8:30am-12pm. The afternoon session will be held at GM Arnold & Son, 57 Dunstan Rd, Waikerie (meet at the shed).
Topics will include pest fruit flies in Australia, systems approach, QLD fruit fly biology, impact of temperature, frosts, rain and drought, crop protection plan, fruit fly monitoring and explanation of different traps.
Andrew Creek and James Altman will cover the citrus IPDM extension program, and grower survey results.
Nick Secomb will talk about the integrated package to eradicate fruit fly this spring while the orchard session with Dan Papacek will cover monitoring, male annihilation blocks and bait spray demonstrations.
Corteva and AgNova representatives will also be in attendance to answer grower product questions.
Please RSVP to Andrew Creek, NSW DPI, 0428 934 952


Fruit fly in the Riverland – where things are at for the citrus industry?

There are 13 Queensland fruit fly outbreaks in the Riverland with the most recent outbreak declaration an extension to the Queensland fruit fly outbreak at Renmark South. It is important to check the map on the fruit fly website to see how restrictions affect you.
To give us all the best chance at getting fruit fly numbers right down ahead of warmer spring weather in September, PIRSA is starting the Spring Eradication Plan in August.
Citrus SA chair Mark Doecke says with growers’ help, this spring the eradication effort will achieve a greater reach and greater intensity than previously possible.
Commercial growers in red outbreak areas will be eligible to be a part of the new self-baiting program. Growers with properties inside a declared 1.5km red outbreak area are encouraged to register as soon as possible with PIRSA by emailing fruitfly@sa.gov.au or call 1300 666 010 to request a registration form (see detailed information below).
“The citrus industry has been working closely with PIRSA to explore new ways of responding to the Riverland fruit fly outbreaks,” Mr Doecke said.
“We’ve had good support from PIRSA and we encourage all growers to contact PIRSA with any questions and be upfront and clear about what they need.
“The citrus industry is confident these outbreaks will be eradicated, following the success with Berri, Cooltong, Monash and with the 12 Adelaide outbreaks last year.
“Please be a responsible grower and keep your orchard clean, and don’t forget your own home garden because how you care for your property and home garden now is a critical part of the eradication process.”


Fruit fly spring eradication - get on board
Spring will see more grower involvement in fruit fly eradication efforts, with the Department for Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) supplying free bait, as well as lures and traps, to growers in red outbreak areas.
Riverland commercial growers in the 1.5km red outbreak areas are strongly encouraged to register for the 2022 self-baiting program, which together with PIRSA’s efforts in the highest risk areas will reduce fruit fly numbers ahead of widespread sterile fly release in the last half of the year.
Starting in August, the self-baiting program will run until December 2022 and offers more options and flexibility in eradicating the Riverland fruit fly outbreaks. Grower involvement will ensure greater reach and greater intensity than previously possible. PIRSA will be focussing its response activities on high-risk areas including intensively baiting detection sites and placing Cera Traps® in residential gardens across outbreak areas. Sterile flies will also be released comprehensively across affected areas from August onwards for 36 weeks.
Naturalure® will be supplied to growers (who are in a red area) when they register; it is the preferred option as it is organic, and PIRSA has plenty on hand ready to distribute in August and September. Lures and traps (collectively known as ‘attract and kill devices’, or AKDs) will also be made available free of charge for growers in outbreak areas to put out on their properties.
Once registered with PIRSA, you can collect bait and AKDs from PIRSA at the Loxton Research Centre, 8am – 4pm weekdays or Ramco Heights, 8am - 4pm weekdays. Further information on the program’s terms and conditions will be provided when you register.
If you are a commercial grower in a red outbreak area and would like to be part of the self-baiting program, email fruitfly@sa.gov.au or call 1300 666 010 to request a registration form.


Production tips
Pruning: It is a good time to begin your annual pruning program, especially before flowering begins. Those who prune generally see a vast improvement in class one fruit pack outs.
Fertilizing and Fertigation: Soil temperatures will soon start to warm up, so start thinking about your fertilizer program to cover the spring flush. Those on drip irrigation or micro jets should also begin fertiliser programs. Foliar applications can be applied in late August to ensure a healthy spring flush.
Weed Control: Once fruit has been harvested it is important to control weeds to reduce the competition for water and nutrients, especially during the spring flush period.