AUSVEG represents the biosecurity interests of vegetable and potato 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
In 2018–19, vegetable and potato production was valued at $2.6 billion (LVP). Major crops include potatoes, carrots and lettuce. Potato production alone was valued at $659 million (LVP). Exports of vegetables, including potatoes, were valued at $292 million.
Australia’s diverse climate and soils accommodate vegetable cultivation in all states and territories, ensuring a constant supply of fresh vegetables. Australian growers provide the majority of fresh vegetables consumed in Australia, and an increasing amount of fresh vegetables are consumed overseas.
The Australian vegetable industry is committed to building its capacity to respond to potential biosecurity threats. The employment of two full-time biosecurity officers, a tomato potato psyllid national coordinator and a potato pest surveillance officer allows the industry to participate in a range of biosecurity related initiatives.
In 2020, the biosecurity officers visited numerous growing regions in Australia including Bundaberg in Queensland, Katherine and Darwin in Northern Territory, Southern Tablelands in New South Wales, and the Lockyer Valley in Queensland. They held a series of regional biosecurity awareness seminars in these regions and visited 18 individual farms. Due to Covid-19, further farm visits were not possible after mid-March. Instead, the officers conducted extensive grower consultation and interview sessions by telephone and Zoom. They also ran more than 10 biosecurity webinars and developed several videos and podcasts. Recordings of these are available at ausveg.com.au
The biosecurity officers also participated in technical committee, consultation and project development meetings with the DAWE, and engaged with state government departments, other industry bodies and PHA. They also facilitated a Melbourne-based pilot program that focused on exotic plant pest awareness in urban environments. Officers engaged with community gardeners and urban farmers, raising awareness of exotic plant pests and reporting protocols.
In 2020, the National Potato Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy was finalised, which involved significant engagement with potato growers, processors, seed suppliers and certifiers, industry bodies, the Australian Government and governments in Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland.
Value of production and distribution
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Annual value of vegetable production, 2008–19
Distribution of vegetable production by state and territory, 2018–19 (based on LVP)
Biosecurity plans, manuals and resources
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Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the vegetable 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 Biosecurity Plan for the Vegetable Industry outlines key threats to the industry, risk mitigation plans, identification and categorisation of exotic pests and contingency plans. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email admin@phau.com.au
The Farm Biosecurity Manual for the Northern Adelaide Plains Vegetable Growers 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 self-assessment checklist, and templates to record pest surveillance records and visitors.
An integral part of the Biosecurity Induction Manual for Bundaberg Horticultural Farms is the 'Induction and farm biosecurity risk checklist'.
More information about on-farm biosecurity for both plant and livestock producers is available from the Farm Biosecurity website.
The Exotic Pest Identification and Surveillance Guide for Tropical Horticulture was developed with funding from the Australia Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Inspecting crops for signs of new pests is one way growers can protect Australia’s plant industries from exotic pests, as early detection and reporting improves the chances of successfully containing or eradicating new pests. The guide is in two sections:
• Biosecurity and surveillance
• Identification of key exotic pests.
Pollination information
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Fact sheets and web links about the pollination of vegetables are listed below. Please be aware that some of the information was developed overseas, and environmental and seasonal variations may occur.
Vegetables for seed pollination fact sheet, The Pollination Program (Agrifutures Australia and Hort Innovation)
Capsicum pollination fact sheet, The Pollination Program (Agrifutures Australia and Hort Innovation)
Cucurbits pollination fact sheet, The Pollination Program (Agrifutures Australia and Hort Innovation)
Crop pollination requirements (including cantaloupe, cucumber, squash and other vegetable crops), the University of Georgia
Carrot seed profile, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Bee pollination of cucurbit crops, University of Nebraska
Honey bee pollination of cantaloupe, cucumber and watermelon, University of California
Pumpkin and squash production, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Pests Expand
Exotic pests (not in Australia)
The following is a list of high priority exotic pests of vegetables. These pests were identified during the development of the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Vegetable 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 admin@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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allium leaf miner | Phytomyza gymnostoma | FS | |||
American serpentine leaf miner | Liriomyza trifolii | FS FS FS | CP | DP | |
Banded leaf and sheath spot of maize | Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii | CP | |||
Bean seed fly | Delia florilega | FS | |||
Black bean aphid | Aphis fabae | FS | CP CP | ||
Brown-marmorated stink bug | Halyomorpha halys | FS FS FS | CP | ||
Bud necrosis disease | Groundnut bud necrosis virus (Tospovirus) | ||||
Bulb mite | Rhizoglyphus setosus | ||||
Carambola fruit fly | Bactrocera carambolae | FS FS FS FS | DP DP | ||
Carrot cyst nematode | Heterodera carotae | ||||
Carrot rust fly | Psila rosae | FS | |||
Chickpea cyst nematode | Heterodera ciceri | CP | |||
CLso | Zebra chip | Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum | 2 | FS FS | CP | DP |
False codling moth | Thaumatotibia leucotreta syn Cryptophlebia leucotreta | 2 | FS | CP | |
Fijian fruit fly | Bactrocera passiflorae | FS | DP DP | ||
Giant African snails | Achatina fulica and Achatina achatina | FSFS | CP | ||
Late wilt of maize | Harpophora maydis | CP | |||
Leaf spot of field pea | Alternaria humicola | CP | |||
Lesser bulb fly | Eumerus strigatus | FS | |||
Melon fruit fly | Zeugodacus cucurbitae | FS | DP DP | ||
New Guinea fruit fly | Bactrocera trivialis | 3 | FS FS | DP DP | |
Onion fly | Delia antiqua | FS | |||
Oriental fruit fly | Bactrocera dorsalis | 2 | FS FS FS FS FS FS FS | DP DP | |
Potato late blight (exotic strains) | Phytophthora infestans (A2 mating type and exotic strains of A1 mating type) | FS | |||
Root knot nematode | Meloidogyne enterolobii syn. Meloidogyne mayaguensis | FS | |||
Silverleaf whitefly | Bemisia tabaci (exotic strains) | FSFS | |||
Tomato leaf miner (Liriomyza bryoniae) | Liriomyza bryoniae | FS | CP CP | ||
Tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) | Tuta absoluta | FS | |||
Vegetable leaf miner | Liriomyza sativae | 3 | FS FS FS FS FS FS FS | CP | |
Watermelon bud necrosis | Watermelon bud necrosis virus (Tospovirus) | ||||
Western plant bug | Lygus hesperus | FS |
Other pests
The following is a list of documents for other exotic and endemic pests of vegetables. 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 the vegetable industry and are included for information only.
Common name | Scientific name | EPPRD Category | Fact sheet | Contingency plan | Diagnostic protocol |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bacterial ring rot | Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus | 3 | FS | ||
Bacterial wilt | Ralstonia solanacearum, race 3 (exotic strains) | ||||
Bakanae | Gibberella fujikuroi | CP | |||
Banana spider mite | Tetranychus piercei | 4 | FS FS | ||
Bean weevil | Acanthoscelides argillaceus | FS | |||
Beet pseudo-yellows virus | Beet pseudo-yellows virus (Closterovirus) | CP | |||
Blue-striped nettle grub | Parasa lepida | 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) | ||||
Brown rot | Monilinia fructigena | 3 | FS FS FS | ||
Bruchids | Multiple species in the Acanthoscelides, Bruchus, Bruchidius, Callosobruchus, Caryedon and Zabrotes genera | FS | |||
Cabbage leaf miner | Phytomyza rufipes | FS | |||
Cabbage seedpod weevil | Ceutorhynchus obstrictus | FS | CP | ||
Cassava spider mite | Tetranychus truncatus | FS | |||
Coconut bug | Amblypelta cocophaga | FS | |||
Colorado potato beetle | Leptinotarsa decemlineata | 3 | FS | ||
Corn earworm | Helicoverpa zea | CP | |||
Cotton aphid | Aphis gossypii (exotic strains) | FS | |||
Currant-lettuce aphid | Nasonovia ribisnigri | FS | |||
False codling moth | Thaumatotibia leucotreta syn Cryptophlebia leucotreta | 2 | FS | CP | |
Greenhouse whitefly | Trialeurodes vaporariorum | FS | |||
Grey pineapple mealybug | Dysmicoccus neobrevipes | FS | |||
Gypsy moths | Lymantria dispar and Lymantria mathura | FS FS FS | CP | ||
Impatiens necrotic ringspot virus | Impatiens necrotic ringspot virus (Tospovirus) | CP | |||
Indian green jassid | Amrasca devastans | FS FS | |||
Japanese beetle | Popillia japonica | FS | |||
Leaf blight | Botrytis squamosa | FS | |||
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 | ||
Lentil anthracnose | Colletotrichum truncatum (lentil strain) | FS | CP | ||
Lesser bulb fly | Eumerus strigatus | FS | |||
Lettuce infectious yellows virus | Lettuce infectious yellows virus (Crinivirus) | CP | |||
May beetle | Phyllophaga spp. | CP | |||
Mediterranean fruit fly | Ceratitis capitata | FS | DP | ||
Mediterranean pulse beetle | Bruchus emarginatus | FS | |||
Melon thrips | Thrips palmi | FS | |||
Mexican bean weevil | Zabrotes subfasciatus | FS | |||
Omnivorous leaf roller | Platynota stultana | FS | |||
Orange tortrix | Argyrotaenia citrana syn A. franciscana | FS | |||
Pacific spider mite | Tetranychus pacificus | FS | |||
Papaya mealy bug | Paracoccus marginatus | FS | CP | ||
Pea enation mosaic virus | Pea enation mosaic virus (Enamovirus) | ||||
Pea leaf miner | Chromatomyia horticola | FS | CP | ||
Pea leaf weevil | Sitona lineatus | CP | |||
Pepino mosaic virus | Pepino mosaic virus (Potexvirus) | ||||
Poinsettia thrips | Echinothrips americanus | FS | CP | ||
Potato cyst nematode (golden) | Globodera rostochiensis (exotic strains) | 3 | |||
Potato cyst nematode (white or pale) | Globodera pallida | FS | |||
Potato late blight (exotic strains) | Phytophthora infestans (A2 mating type and exotic strains of A1 mating type) | FS | |||
Potato spindle tuber viroid | Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroidae) (exotic strains) | 3 | FS | ||
Potato virus Y | Potato virus Y (Potyvirus) (exotic strains) | ||||
Queensland fruit fly | Bactrocera tryoni | FS | DP | ||
Rust of field pea | Uromyces pisi (field pea strain) | FS | CP | ||
Serpentine leaf miner | Liriomyza huidobrensis | FS FS FS FS | CP | ||
Southern corn rootworm | Diabrotica undecimpunctata | FS | |||
Spotted stem borer | Chilo partellus | CP | |||
Stewarts wilt of maize | Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii | FS | |||
Strawberry spider mite | Tetranychus turkestani | FS | |||
Tarnished plant bug | Lygus lineolaris | FS FS FS | CP | ||
Texas root rot | Phymatotrichopsis omnivora (syn Phymatotrichum omnivorum) | 2 | FS FS | ||
Tobacco etch virus | Tobacco etch virus (Potyvirus) | CP | |||
Tomato black ring virus | Tomato black ring virus (Nepovirus) | FS | |||
Tomato-potato psyllid | Bactericera cockerelli | 3 | FS FS | CP | |
Tomato spotted wilt virus | Tomato spotted wilt virus (Tospovirus) | CP | |||
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus | Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (Begomovirus) | CP | |||
Verticillium wilt | Verticillium dahliae (exotic defoliating strains) | 3 | FS | ||
Western corn rootworm | Diabrotica virgifera | FS | |||
Western flower thrips | Frankliniella occidentalis | FS | |||
Western plant bug | Lygus hesperus | FS |
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