Melon growers need biosecurity fund says peak body

Discovered at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-22/watermelon-levy-biosecurity-virus/641…

Sites:

IBIS PH

Publish date:

Wed 2015-Apr-22

Author:

Amy McCosker

Channel:

Industry

Text (summary):

Posted April 22, 2015 12:58:10

The melon industry peak body is calling for growers to get behind a levy supported biosecurity fund in the wake of the discovery of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) in Queensland.

The virus was first discovered in the Northern Territory in 2014 and has now been found on a north Queensland watermelon farm.

While it does not pose a risk to human health, the virus makes members of the cucurbit family unsaleable so it is not only a risk to Queensland’s $90 million melon industry, but also to growers of cucumbers, zucchinis, pumpkins and squash.

Australian Melon Association (AMA) chair Mark Daunt said the with the serious virus looming over the industry, it was time to start a biosecurity fund.

“We’ve had a couple of failed attempts at trying to introduce a levy,” he said.

“Growers have felt that they couldn’t see the benefit but… this gets the message through to growers and to industry that it is of high importance to have a… levy for these sort of biosecurity issues.”

Original language:

English

Original title:

Melon growers need biosecurity fund says peak body

Original text (summary):

Posted April 22, 2015 12:58:10

The melon industry peak body is calling for growers to get behind a levy supported biosecurity fund in the wake of the discovery of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) in Queensland.

The virus was first discovered in the Northern Territory in 2014 and has now been found on a north Queensland watermelon farm.

While it does not pose a risk to human health, the virus makes members of the cucurbit family unsaleable so it is not only a risk to Queensland’s $90 million melon industry, but also to growers of cucumbers, zucchinis, pumpkins and squash.

Australian Melon Association (AMA) chair Mark Daunt said the with the serious virus looming over the industry, it was time to start a biosecurity fund.

“We’ve had a couple of failed attempts at trying to introduce a levy,” he said.

“Growers have felt that they couldn’t see the benefit but… this gets the message through to growers and to industry that it is of high importance to have a… levy for these sort of biosecurity issues.”

Issue(s) that this article relates to, if applicable.

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Promoted