The CropSafe program – providing a biosecurity service to Victoria’s agriculture industry

28 July 2023

Exotic plant pests and diseases pose a significant threat to Victoria’s agriculture industry, especially our cropping sector.

With international travel reaching pre-COVID-19 levels, and the increasing movement of plant materials and farm products throughout the state, the risk of incursions of plant pests and disease is high.

Agriculture Victoria Grain Services Program Manager, Jo Cameron said the CropSafe Surveillance Program delivers a reassurance to the Victorian Grains Industry by increasing the monitoring, reporting and identification of plant pests and disease by agronomists.

‘The CropSafe network covers 85% of grains agronomists within Victoria, with more than 1.7 million hectares, or 22,500 paddocks surveyed during 2022.

‘This area of research and identification ensures 14 high priority pests and diseases, including Federal and State identified exotic pests, are reported.’

As outlined in the 2022 CropSafe report, Ms Cameron said 68 crop samples were submitted during 2022 from across Victoria, with the majority delivered from the Wimmera and Mallee regions.

‘Samples were from a range of crop types including wheat, lentil, barley, faba bean, lupins, canola, vetch and chickpea.

‘The report found that all Victorian lupin samples submitted to CropSafe during 2022 were negative for anthracnose, which is a disease of great concern to the state.’

Ms Cameron said of the findings, endemic diseases accounted for 38% of the samples submitted, with the rest of the samples mostly affected by physiological or environmental conditions.

The full 2022 report is available via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Agronomists are encouraged to join the CropSafe network by contacting crop.safe@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Further information about the CropSafe program is available on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Media contact: Makayla Rimington

Phone: 0473 914 662