Grains

Grain Producers Australia represents the biosecurity interests of grain producers and the industry. They are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. Their responsibilities include:

  • biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
  • liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
  • funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
  • participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.

Industry overview

Most of Australia’s grain is produced across the region known as the wheat belt, which stretches from central Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern Western Australia. Due to the wide-ranging soil types and climatic variability across Australia, a range of crop species and varieties are grown, each of which has specific pests and diseases that pose a threat to production and can influence access to markets (both domestic and overseas).

Grains Farm Biosecurity Logo_COL_web
Grains Biosecurity Officers are located in most states through the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program. The program is delivered by Plant Health Australia and funded by growers via Grain Producers Australia together with the Western Australian, Queensland, Victorian, South Australian and New South Wales state governments. More

National Grain Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy

The National Grain Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy 2019-29 was developed in conjunction with industry to ensure it is effective and robust, yet flexible enough to adapt to emerging technologies and industry structures outside that of government, and is underpinned by core biosecurity capacity.

The strategy will guide the implementation of national leadership, management and coordination of surveillance activities for high priority grain pests and pests of market access concern for the grain industry.

Specific actions and tasks are listed that will improve pre-border and border pest risk and pathway assessment by better understanding pest risk profiles and pathways and targeting surveillance efforts. For post-border surveillance, it describes an enhanced partnership approach between Grain Producers Australia, Plant Health Australia, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Grain Growers Ltd, bulk handlers, traders and Australian governments through a national surveillance program. This program is supported by enhanced diagnostic networks, practical training and reporting services to enable surveillance efforts to be captured, monitored and improved.

Download the strategy

Grains IBPIndustry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry

Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the grains industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.

The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry provides a framework for biosecurity risk mitigation measures in the industry. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email biosecurity@phau.com.au

Biosecurity manuals for grain producers

The Biosecurity Manual for Grain Producers contains information to help producers to implement biosecurity on-farm. Manuals usually contain an overview of biosecurity, fact sheets to identify the high priority pests of a crop, tips on crop management, and how to manage people, vehicles and equipment to minimise biosecurity risks. Manuals also contain a biosecurity self-assessment list, and templates to record pest surveillance records and visitors.

More information about on-farm biosecurity for both plant and livestock producers is available from the Farm Biosecurity website.

Organic Grains Farm Biosecurity ManualThe Farm Biosecurity Manual for the Organic Grains Industry contains biosecurity information specifically for growers of organic grains.

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Armyworm Continuity Plan for the Australian Grains Industry

The Fall Armyworm Continuity Plan was developed for use by professionals, specialists and consultants to prepare localised and industry specific communication and extension material. The plan focuses on the grain industry and provides:

  • background information on the current knowledge and status of fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) in Australia
  • key considerations in developing localised management strategies
  • future research and development for the Australian grain industry.

The purpose of the plan is to provide a reference point and a basis for industry to build upon when designing resistance management strategies, area wide management plans, crop-specific management manuals, and other extension materials such as audio and visual products for the management of FAW within Australian broadacre farming systems.

With zero market tolerance for live pests in grain, storage is no time to forget about biosecurity. Working closely with grains storage specialists, the Monitoring stored grain on farm manual pulls together information from a number of other resources, complementing those already produced by the GRDC Grains Storage Projects.
Grains farm biosecurity gate sign Signs can be used to indicate to visitors the importance of following biosecurity procedures on your property. This template can be downloaded and used to print a 900 x 600 mm gate sign. Remember to include contact details in the space provided. For signage to be effective:

  • ensure signs are clear, visible and well maintained
  • signs should contain simple messages
  • support your signage with other biosecurity measures such as restricted access points.

The grains industry and PHA have created some fact sheets to increase biosecurity awareness.

Grains biosecurity fact sheet Grains high priority pest fact sheet Biosecurity guidelines for contractors fact sheet
Grains biosecurity Fact sheet Grains high priority pests Fact sheet
Is your agronomic business biosecurity risk? Is your field day a biosecurity risk? Is your field research a biosecurity risk?
Grains agronomic business risk Grains field day risk Fact sheet Grains field research risk Fact sheet

Fact sheets and web links about pollination of grain crops  are listed below. Please be aware that some of the information was developed overseas, and environmental and seasonal variations may occur.

The Pollination Program (AgriFutures Australia and Hort Innovation)

Sunflower pollination fact sheet

Faba beans pollination fact sheet

Canola pollination fact sheet

Soybean pollination fact sheet

Lupin pollination fact sheet

NSW Department of Primary Industries

Honey bees in faba bean pollination

Honey bees on canola

Others

Growing faba beans, Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries

Bees on canola: what are the benefits, Manitoba Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Canada

Bees and canola: a sweet relationship, Canola Council of Canada

Exotic pests (not in Australia)

The following is a list of high priority exotic pests of grains and pulses. These pests were identified during the development of the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry in consultation with industry, government and scientists. They have been assessed as high priority pests based on their potential to enter, establish, and spread in Australia (eg environmental factors, host range, vectors) and the cost to industry of control measures.

PHA has a range of fact sheets, contingency plans and diagnostic protocols relevant to these pests. Pest risk review documents are also available for some pests. Please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email biosecurity@phau.com.au for more information.

Endorsed National Diagnostic Protocols are available from the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network webpage.

Common name Scientific name EPPRD Category Fact sheet Contingency plan Diagnostic protocol
Banded leaf and sheath spot of maize Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii CP
Barley stem gall midge Mayetiola hordei FS CP
Barley stripe rust Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei FS CP DP
Bruchids Multiple species in the Acanthoscelides, Bruchus, Bruchidius, Callosobruchus, Caryedon and Zabrotes genera FS
Cabbage seedpod weevil Ceutorhynchus obstrictus FS CP
Cabbage stem weevil Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus FS
Cereal cyst nematode Heterodera filipjevi (exotic strains) CP
Cereal cyst nematode Heterodera latipons (exotic strains) CP
Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (Geminivirus) CP
Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus (Polerovirus) CP
Chickpea cyst nematode Heterodera ciceri CP
Downy mildew of sorghum Peronosclerospora sorghi FS CP
Downy mildew of sunflower Plasmopara halstedii FS CP
European wheat stem sawfly Cephus pygmeus FS CP CP
False codling moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta syn Cryptophlebia leucotreta 2 FS CP
Fusarium wilt of chickpea Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris FS CP DP
Fusarium wilt of lupin Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini CP
Greenbug Schizaphis graminum FS CP
Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor 3 FS CP DP
Karnal bunt Tilletia indica 2 FS CP DP
Khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium 2 FS FS CP DP
Late wilt of maize Harpophora maydis CP
Lentil anthracnose Colletotrichum truncatum (lentil strain) FS CP DP
Mungbean yellow mosaic virus Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (Begomovirus) FS
Northern corn rootworm Diabrotica barberi FS
Peanut stripe virus Peanut stripe virus (Potyvirus) CP
Philippine downy mildew of maize Peronosclerospora philippinensis CP
Rape stem weevil Ceutorhynchus napi FS
Southern corn rootworm Diabrotica undecimpunctata FS
Soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines FS CP
Spotted stem borer Chilo partellus CP
Stem rust of wheat Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (pathotype Ug99) FS CP
Stewarts wilt of maize Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii FS
Sudden death syndrome of soybean Multiple species including: Fusarium virguliforme, F. brasiliense, F. cuneirostrum and F. tucumaniae FS
Sunflower moth Homoeosoma electellum FS
Sunflower stem canker Phomopsis helianthi DP
Sunflower stem weevil Cylindrocopturus adspersus FS
Sunn pest Eurogaster integriceps FS CP
Western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera FS
Wheat bug Nysius huttoni CP
Wheat stem sawfly Cephus cinctus FS CP

Other pests

The following is a list of documents for other exotic and endemic pests of grains and pulses. Please note that this is not a complete list of pests: rather it includes pests for which documents exist in the Pest Information Document Database.

Some of the documents presented here are not tailored to grains and pulses and are included for information only.

Common name Scientific name EPPRD Category Fact sheet Contingency plan Diagnostic protocol
American serpentine leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii FS FS FS CP
Bacterial leaf streak Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens CP
Bacterial leaf streak Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa CP
Bakanae Gibberella fujikuroi CP
Barley mild mosaic virus Barley mild mosaic virus (Baymovirus) FS
Barley miner fly Agromyza megalopsis CP
Barley stem rust Puccinia graminis f. sp. hordei (exotic strains)
Barley stripe mosaic virus Barley stripe mosaic virus (Hordeivirus) CP
Bean weevil Acanthoscelides argillaceus FS
Black wheat leaf miner Agromyza albipennis FS
Branched broomrape Orobanche ramosa FS
Brassica pod midge Dasineura brassicae CP
Broad bean mottle virus Broad bean mottle virus (Bromovirus)
Broad bean stain virus Broad bean stain virus (Comovirus)
Broad bean true mosaic virus Broad bean true mosaic virus (Comovirus)
Bruchids Multiple species in the Acanthoscelides, Bruchus, Bruchidius, Callosobruchus, Caryedon and Zabrotes genera FS
Cabbage leaf miner Phytomyza rufipes FS
Cassava spider mite Tetranychus truncatus FS
Cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae (exotic strains) CP
Cereal leaf miner Agromyza ambigua CP
Chickpea leaf miner Liriomyza cicerina CP
Chinch bug Blissus leucopterus FS
Crown rust of barley Puccinia coronata f. sp. hordei
Durum leaf rust Puccinia reconditia (exotic strains)
Dwarf bunt of wheat Tilletia controversa CP
Fusarium wilt of canola Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans FS CP
Fusarium wilt of lentil Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis CP
Goss’s bacterial wilt blight of corn Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis
Greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum FS
Spongy moths Lymantria dispar and Lymantria mathura FS FS FS CP
Indian green jassid Amrasca devastans FS FS
Japanese beetle Popillia japonica FS
Leaf blight of wheat Alternaria triticina CP
Leaf blotch of cereals Bipolaris spicifera CP
Leaf miners Multiple species in the Agromyza, Cerodontha, Chromatomyia, Liriomyza, Phytomyza and Pseudonapomyza genera FS FS FS FS FS FS CP CP CP
Leaf rust Puccinia triticina (exotic strains)
Leaf spot of field pea Alternaria humicola CP
Lentil rust Uromyces viciae-fabae (lentil strain) FS CP
Lupin rust Uromyces lupinicola FS
Lupin rust Uromyces renovatus FS
Maize cyst nematode Heterodera zeae CP
Maize dwarf mosaic virus Maize dwarf mosaic virus (Potyvirus) CP
May beetle Phyllophaga spp. CP
Mediterranean pulse beetle Bruchus emarginatus FS
Melon thrips Thrips palmi FS
Mexican bean weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus FS
Net form of net blotch Pyrenophora teres f. sp. teres CP
Oat leaf miner fly Chromatomyia fusicula CP
Pacific spider mite Tetranychus pacificus FS
Pea early browning virus Pea early browning virus (Tobravirus)
Pea enation mosaic virus Pea enation mosaic virus (Enamovirus)
Pea leaf miner Chromatomyia horticola FS CP
Pea leaf weevil Sitona lineatus CP
Red clover vein mosaic virus Red clover vein mosaic virus (Carlavirus) CP
Russian wheat aphid Diuraphis noxia 3 FS CP
Rust of field pea Uromyces pisi (field pea strain) FS CP
Serpentine leaf miner Liriomyza huidobrensis FS FS FS FS CP
Soil borne viruses of wheat
Sorghum shoot fly Atherigona soccata CP
Stem nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci FS
Sudden death syndrome of soybean Multiple species including: Fusarium virguliforme, F. brasiliense, F. cuneirostrum and F. tucumaniae FS
Tarnished plant bug Lygus lineolaris FS FS FS CP
Tomato leaf miner (Liriomyza bryoniae) Liriomyza bryoniae FS CP CP
Vegetable leaf miner Liriomyza sativae 3 FS FS FS FS FS FS CP
Verticillium wilt of canola Verticillium longisporum CP
Western plant bug Lygus hesperus FS
Wheat aphid Sitobion avenae CP
Wheat blast Magnaporthe grisea (Triticum pathotype) FS
Wheat leaf miner Chromatomyia nigra CP
Wheat sheath leaf miner Cerodontha denticornis CP
Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (Bymovirus) 4
Wheat stem maggot Meromyza americana CP
Wheat stem maggot Meromyza saltatrix CP
Wheat stripe rust Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (exotic strains)
Witchweed Striga asiatica and Striga hermonthica FS