More Sugarcane Smut Found
Late today, teams at the infected Childers-area property located a section in which there are a significant number of plants suspected of having sugarcane smut, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
Mr Mulherin said the discovery highlights the need to implement surveillance across the district, but it would not change the focus on planning to eradicate the disease.
“This does not alter the fact that we are going to do everything we can to eradicate the disease,” Mr Mulherin said.
There have been no suspect plants discovered on any other properties, to date.
The response to the disease is a collaborative project involving BSES Limited, industry organisations and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
Sugarcane smut will be dealt with under the Plant Health Australia “Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed”, to which Canegrowers is a signatory.
Owner reimbursement costs will be paid for all plants or crops destroyed as part of the response. Full provisions of cost sharing will apply, which will include an industry contribution of 20 percent towards all costs.
Under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, the Australian Government is liable for 50% of the government component of costs, with the remaining 50% shared among state governments. Due to the national distribution of sugarcane production, Queensland will be liable for much of the state government component.
Sugarcane Smut is a serious, but controllable disease of sugarcane, which can reduce yields by 20-30 percent.
