Panama makes return
Fungal disease identified on Tully farm
QUEENSLAND’S Agriculture Minister says the latest outbreak of Panama Tropical Race 4 in the Far North shows more needs to be done to prevent the disease from spreading.
Biosecurity Queensland officials have confirmed that a Tully property, understood to be Mackays, has had a positive TR-4 detection.
The farm, one of the largest in the region, also had the devastating fungal disease confirmed in July 2017.
The latest suspect plant was found on the property through routine on-farm surveillance.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said as the initial detection was made earlier this month, his department wanted to wait until there was definitive proof, and the growers and industry were informed, before they notified the community.
He said the disease was “nearly impossible to eradicate”, but that had not diminished the Government’s resolve to protect the banana industry.
“We will continue to support the industry to minimise the impact of Panama (disease) on our $580 million banana industry,” he said.
“Since the original detection in 2015, banana growers have increased their biosecurity processes, and have increased on-farm surveillance.
“The industry now has protocols in place that allow the harvesting of bananas from properties with TR-4 around.”
He said the Government had so far allocated more than $27 million to limit the spread of the disease.
“This rapid rollout, administered by Biosecurity Queensland, has ensured farms that have returned positive results have been able to continue to operate,” he said. “But this latest detection shows that there is more to be done.”
The department has funded an advertising campaign, which hit the airwaves and social media last week.
The campaign, which features local grower Mark Nucifora, reminds everyone associated with the banana industry to remain vigilant when it comes to protecting farms.
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