Representatives
Research Committees
ACGRA is the cotton industry foundation member of Plant Health Australia Ltd. (ABN 97 092 607 997) since 27th April 2000. The Association is represented by Mr. Ben Stephens, ACGRA Chairman.
Cotton
Industry Biosecurity status
Plant Health Australia is supporting pre emptive planning processes so that the cotton industry is better placed to maintain domestic and international trade, negotiate access to new overseas markets and reduce the social and economic costs of pest incursions on both growers and the wider community.
A
cost sharing and management arrangement between the Australian
government and Australian plant industries, the Emergency Plant Pest
Response Deed (EPPRD) has now been finalised with all state and
territory governments having ratified the document. The Deed is now in
effect and ready to be used in the event of an emergency plant pest
incursion and will result in faster, more successful and less costly
responses to emergency plant pests that could significantly impact on
Australia’s $20.3 billion plant industries.
Plant Health Australia is currently developing a national Cotton Industry Biosecurity Plan to help protect the cotton industry from exotic plant pests and diseases. To raise awareness of exotic plant diseases and pests, Plant Health Australia encourages commercial plant producers who spot anything unusual in their crops to ‘Look. Be Alert, Call an Expert’, or to telephone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Signatory to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed
Australian Cotton Growers Research Association has formally entered (signed) the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed after the industry consultation process to gain support for participation and for a new EPPR levy during 2006.
Pest categorisation
Four of the key pest threats to the cotton industry (as listed in the first draft cotton industry biosecurity plan) have been categorised within the Deed, with eight more to be categorised:
1. White fly (Bemisia tabaci) - Not categorised
2. Boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) – Category 3
3. Melon aphid (Aphis gossypii exotic strains) – Not categorised
4. Tetranychus mites (Tetranychus spp.) – Not categorised
5. Green Jassid (Amrasca devastans) – Not categorised
6. Tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) – Not categorised
7. Cotton leaf curl virus (Gemini virus) – Not categorised
8. Fusarium wilt (exotic races) (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum) – Not categorised
9. Texas root rot (Phymatotrichopsis omnivorum) – Category 2
10. Verticillium wilt (defoliating strains) (Verticillium dahliae) – Category 3
11. Baterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum) – Category 3
12. Blue disease (Luteovirus, suspected) – Not categorised
Industry Biosecurity Statement
While not a signatory, the cotton industry does have an Industry Biosecurity Statement in the EPPRD. ACGRA recognises the need for the cotton industry to work with the federal and state governments to help reduce the potential for incursions of emergency plant pests and diseases that could adversely impact on domestic and international trade and the regional economy and environment. The cotton industry is committed to ensuring responses to any pest incursions that may occur are undertaken as effectively as possible to minimise costs to growers, the industry, other plant industries, government parties and the wider community.
The first draft of an industry biosecurity plan for Cotton has been prepared, and was officially launched in November, 2006.
Cotton Industry
Biosecurity Group
Steve Allen*, Cotton Seed Distributors
Mike Cole, Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer
Linda Smith*, QDPI&F
David Murray*, QDPI&F
Robert Mensah*, NSW Department of Primary Industries
David Nehl*, NSW Department of Primary Industries
Bruce Pyke, Cotton Research and Development Corporation
Lewis Wilson*, CSIRO Plant Industries
Sharyn Taylor*, Plant Health Australia
* Cotton Catchment Communities
Cooperative Research Centre
Key outputs and outcomes for Cotton Industry Biosecurity - 2007
· Industry biosecurity group to review cotton industry biosecurity plan
· National Management Group Training for ACGRA Executive
· Submission of industry consultation package for new EPPR levy
· Industry stakeholder group Cotton Leaf Curl Disease study tour (Pakistan)
Cotton Industry Biosecurity Plan Version 1, Nov. 2006 (PDF 4.32Mb)
PLANTPLAN is the generic emergency response plan for emergency plant pest incursions and will be used by all plant industries and government agencies as a guide to management of emergency plant pest incursions.
Industry Liaison Coordinator / Industry Liaison Officer TOOLKIT June 2006 (PDF 619KB)
Cotton Seed Production Protocol [revised 2004] (PDF 95KB)
Further detailed plant biosecurity information can be found at www.planthealthaustralia.com.au