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Irrigation Program Well Supported Despite Tough Seasons

Gippsland farmers have continued to strive for greater irrigation efficiency on their farms over the past twelve months, despite the tough financial circumstances experienced by the dairy industry.

By Department of Primary Industries - 15th July 2004 - Back to News

This was highlighted by the fact that irrigation farm plans were completed on more than 8700 hectares during the financial year, an area representing more than one-eighth of all irrigated land in Gippsland. This impressive investment in planning demonstrates the farming community’s commitment to both their future and to ensuring that Gippsland retains it’s reputation for a healthy environment.

In addition, farmers have installed more efficient spray irrigation on at least 750 hectares and re-use systems on 940 hectares during the year. Efficient irrigation reduces water-use, increases production, improves product quality and reduces the off-site impacts of irrigation such as salinity and nutrient loss. This was a major win for both the farmers and for the environment.

This excellent result was achieved with the financial support of the Victorian State Government’s Water for Growth Initiative, Water Smart Farms Initiative and Gippsland Lakes Future Directions and Action Plan that invested almost a million dollars to stimulate a change to more sustainable and productive irrigation practices.

Funding will continue to be available through the Water Smart Farms Initiative and Gippsland Lakes Future Directions and Action Plan during the coming financial year to assist farmers with farm planning and to upgrade their irrigation layouts to achieve greater water-use efficiency. Contact Ken Slee or Gavan Lamb at the Department of Primary Industries at Maffra for further information.

CITRUS CANKER

The exotic disease citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) had been discovered recently on a farm at Emerald in Queensland.

This disease causes leaf and rind spotting, significantly reducing crop yields and general plant health. It affects all types of citrus crops, including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons and limes. The disease is caused by a highly contagious bacterium and infected trees continually decline in health and fruit production until no fruit is produced at all.

Introduction of this bacterial disease into Victoria would significantly impact on the citrus production and export market, especially to USA and NZ.

Bacteria can be spread by windborne rain, lawn mowers and landscaping equipment, animals and birds, people carrying the infection on their hands, clothing or equipment, or by moving infected or exposed plants or plant parts.

Citrus canker is common in many tropical and sub‑tropical citrus-growing areas of the world, including Japan, South and Central Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and some areas of South America. It has had a devastating impact on the citrus industry in Florida, US.

There have been several outbreaks of the disease in Australia, most notably in the Northern Territory in 1912, 1991 and 1993. All were successfully eradicated by removing and destroying host plants in the wider vicinity of infected areas.

Queensland and Federal authorities have acted swiftly to introduce quarantine and containment and expect to have the current outbreak cleaned-up quickly.

Victoria – like all states and territories – has put a temporary restriction on imports of citrus from Queensland pending the Queensland Government providing certification for citrus canker, based on nationally approved protocols currently under consideration.

DPI has inspectors checking on the movement of citrus fruit from Queensland at wholesale markets and distribution centres throughout the state to ensure compliance with the restrictions.

DPI has taken these steps to protect the integrity of Victoria's citrus industry and to protect Victoria's citrus export markets, estimated to be around $60 million annually.

SALINITY SOLUTIONS

The conference 'Salinity Solutions: Working with Science and Society' will be held in the Capital Theatre in Bendigo from 2-5 August.

The conference is being convened by the CRC (Co-operative Research Centre) for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the Victorian Departments of Primary Industry and Sustainability and Environment.

The theme of the conference has been chosen to reflect the important partnership between science and the community in providing appropriate solutions to address dryland salinity on this continent.

In supporting this theme the organising committee has put together a program of speakers who are actively engaged in developing or implementing solutions to the range of social, environmental and agronomic problems posed by dryland salinity across Australia.

Papers presented will provide relevant information to assist the exchange of ideas between researchers, natural resource decision-makers and the community at all levels.

Bus tours to look at salinity and salinity rehabilitation works across the region have been included in the conference.

For more information contact Conference Design Pty Ltd in Hobart on (03) 6224 3773 or email mail@cdesign.com.au

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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