Grains Knowledge Networks leaves lasting legacy
Phosphine is a valuable tool for the management of insects in stored grain. It is currently the most commonly used fumigant with 80 per cent of all Australian stored grains farmers applying it.
Phosphine is cheap, effective for most commodities, compatible with grain handling logistics and accepted by domestic and international markets as residue-free, hence its popularity. However, due to the deregulation of the grains industry and new players emerging in the marketing and export business there is a substantial rise in on-farm grain storage. This makes it more important than ever to ensure those in the industry, both new and established, are aware of the implications of improper application of phosphine.
One of the biggest challenges the grains industry faces with regard to fumigation is phosphine resistance. Low levels of phosphine resistance were first found in Australia in the early 1990s, and in 1997 highly resistant borers were discovered in storages in Queensland. There is currently no practical replacement for phosphine and the challenge for the grains industry is to reduce or prevent the further spread of resistant biotypes of grain insect species with a management plan based on a sound understanding of the mechanisms of resistance.
In order to improve phosphine insect resistance management, those within the industry need to be informed about the issue and trained in fumigation procedures. To address the issue, the recently completed CRC project Grains Knowledge Networks led by Plant Health Australia (PHA) developed an effective knowledge exchange strategy for the grains industry to improve its phosphine insect resistance management outcomes through identification of the methods in which information is delivered and exchanged throughout the grains supply chain.
One of the major outcomes of this project was the appointment of Grains Biosecurity Officers (GBOs) who were partly funded through the Grains Knowledge Network project and managed by Plant Health Australia (PHA). The role of the GBOs includes the delivery and promotion of technologies to manage the emerging problem of phosphine resistance.
GBOs have been employed in the five major grains states of Western Australia (WA), Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales (NSW) to increase biosecurity awareness and deliver training to growers, consultants and other industry stakeholders. The GBOs work closely with growers, extension officers and consultants to promote biosecurity awareness and facilitate efforts to protect crops from exotic pest threats at the farm level.
The first GBO was appointmented in WA (April 2007) and the most recent appointment in NSW (March 2010). Since their appointments, awareness of phosphine resistance has increased and uptake of correct application practices also increased through the development of material outlining issues around phosphine resistance and correct application and its targeted dissemination. The GBOs also worked closely with rural media outlets resulting in almost 50 articles being published throughout the course of the project.
Furthermore the GBOs have worked closely with farmers targeting leading growers to act as industry champions. This is aimed at enabling leading growers to help promote aspects of best practice in biosecurity and grain storage amongst the farming community and peers. They have also engaged with farming and consultancy groups in training activities that promote awareness of phosphine resistance and grain storage issues.
The success of the GBOs is demonstrated through commitment to the continued funding of the GBOs by the national peak body for grains and the respective state government agencies. The industry acknowledges the importance of improving biosecurity awareness amongst producers and the need to develop biosecurity capability and capacity in the industry.
