Biosecurity

EAD Bill strengthening our defences

AN amendment passed by State Parliament late last year has increased South Australia’s ability to respond to emergency animal disease incursions. The Livestock (Emergency Animal Disease) Amendment Bill was passed late last year, allowing...

SA Farmer

April 2023

Ag News

Extension for Waikerie’s tree replacement program

MORE Waikerie residents can now volunteer to have their unwanted backyard fruit trees replaced – and cut the region’s fruit fly risk – thanks to the extension of the voluntary tree replacement pilot program. Interested residents and...

SA Farmer

February 2023

Biosecurity

Chaffey fruit fly outbreak region’s 28th

Further information regarding Riverland fruit fly outbreaks is available by visiting the website

SA Farmer

February 2023

Ag News

Landscape board offering local weed support

RIVERLAND property owners needing assistance to manage weed infestations caused by flooding have been encouraged to contact the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board (MRLB). MRLB district manager Casey Henderson said expertise in identifying and...

Staff Contributors

February 2023

Ag News

New challenge after two commercial fruit fly outbreaks

A SENIOR State Government representative says removing potential fruit fly host material from Riverland orchards is “crucial” to eradicating the pest, after two outbreaks occurred on commercial properties within a week. PIRSA last Wednesday...

Staff Contributors

February 2023

Ag News

Growers bank on fruit fly taking the bait

RIVERLAND fruit growers, like Waikerie citrus grower Phillip Kroehn, are accessing free bait and lures to kill fruit flies to protect their crops and support fruit fly eradication in the region. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions’...

SA Farmer

December 2022

Ag News

Pig biosecurity in focus

PIG owners are being urged to be biosecurity aware when feeding pigs, with foot and mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF) still close to Australia’s border. Meat and meat products, or human food waste – including cooking oil – that...

SA Farmer

December 2022

Ag News

Be on the lookout for locusts

THE Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is urging landowners and primary producers to be on the lookout for any signs of Australian plague locusts. A number of regions, including the Riverland and Mallee, have been identified as...

SA Farmer

December 2022

Bees

Varroa mite: It only takes one

VARROA mite is a pest that many people are growing to learn all about, including Paringa beekeeper Robbie Johnstone, who is concerned about the potential affects that a varroa mite outbreak would have on the Riverland bee industry. Varroa mite was...

Alexandra Bull

November 2022

Ag News

Scriven calls for SIT facility expansion

A STATE minister has suggested a South Australian facility producing sterile fruit flies should be expanded to support the eradication of fruit fly from the Riverland. Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven last week...

SA Farmer

September 2022

Bees

Varroa mite pesticide now in development

THE South Australian bee industry will benefit from a world-first hormone-based pesticide that is safe for honey bees but fatal to the destructive varroa mite. Amid Australia’s first varroa mite outbreak, the grower-owned research and development...

Alexandra Bull

August 2022

Bees

Restrictions in place to combat varroa mite

Restrictions on bees, hives and associated materials entering the Riverland from New South Wales have been put into effect to protect the state from varroa mite.

Alexandra Bull

July 2022

Bees

Beekeeper’s varroa forecast... buzzkill

A RIVERLAND beekeeper predicts the varroa mite parasite devastating the New South Wales bee industry will be “everywhere” by this time next year. Varroa is a tiny external parasite of honey bees, feeding and living on adult honey bees, as well...

Alexandra Bull

July 2022

Biosecurity

Riverland fruit fly outbreaks hit unlucky 13

Further information regarding fruit fly outbreaks in the Riverland is available by visiting the website

SA Farmer

July 2022

Biosecurity

Pasin’s foot and mouth concern

TONY Pasin says he is “seriously concerned” about the Bali outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and the federal government’s response. The Barker MP said an outbreak of FMD in Australia would send shock waves through the economy and damage...

SA Farmer

July 2022

Biosecurity

Latest fruit fly defence gets hand delivered

THE latest strategy in tackling the fruit fly threat was hand-delivered to the Riverland by a state minister this week. SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven delivered 1000 fruit tree tags to a Waikerie garden...

Christine Webster

July 2022

Biosecurity

‘Destructor’ mite detection puts SA beekeepers on alert

SOUTH Australian beekeepers are on high alert after the detection of varroa mites in biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle, NSW...

SA Farmer

June 2022

Ag News

Importance of grain storage hygiene against pests

For more information, refer to the GRDC stored grain hygiene and structural treatments website

SA Farmer

June 2022

Biosecurity

Maintaining vigilance in fruit fly outbreaks

Further information regarding fruit fly outbreaks in the Riverland can be found by visiting the PIRSA website

SA Farmer

June 2022

Ag News

Riverland fruit fly outbreaks continue to grow

Further information regarding fruit fly outbreaks in the Riverland is available by visiting the website

Hugh Schuitemaker

May 2022

SA Farmer

Backyard battle as Riverland fruit fly list grows

RIVERLAND backyards are the new battlegrounds amid the declaration of an eighth local fruit fly outbreak. PIRSA last week declared a new fruit fly outbreak at Renmark North, following the detection of five wild flies within 14 days, all inside a 1km...

Hugh Schuitemaker

May 2022

Citrus

Citrus SA: Riverland fruit fly update

Fruit fly outbreak restrictions have been extended across many parts of the Riverland. These include: Renmark West: Queensland fruit fly – 14 December 2022 Pike River: Queensland fruit fly – 14 December 2022 Pike River West: Queensland fruit fly...

SA Farmer

May 2022