The purpose of this Biosecurity Alert is to:
- Provide links to an updated Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) Biosecurity Bulletin containing current operational requirements for the wine industry, confirmed today by PIRSA.
- Provide links to revised maps of the Riverland fruit fly outbreaks.
- Convey advice received from the AWRI on the fruit fly bait applied within the 1.5km Outbreak Areas.
OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS The current operational requirements for vineyards, and for the movement of grape material between vineyards and wineries is provided in this recently updated Qfly Biosecurity Bulletin (version 2.2). This updated Bulletin contains two changes that PIRSA has made in consultation with industry and Vinehealth Australia. We have also changed the format of this Bulletin to improve clarity.
Please read this Qfly Biosecurity Bulletin carefully to ensure you adhere to all relevant requirements and play your role in supporting PIRSA’s efforts to eradicate Q-fly in the Riverland.
For clarity, the two changes recently made to this Qfly Biosecurity Bulletin are:
Transiting
There is no longer a requirement for harvested winegrape loads that originate from a SA vineyard either outside the Outbreak Area or Suspension Area (these areas are collectively termed the “fruit fly affected area” (FFAA)), that are being transported through the FFAA en-route to a SA winery or processing facility that is also outside the FFAA, to be accredited or certified by PIRSA.
There is also no longer a requirement for SA wineries receiving these transiting loads to be accredited or certified by PIRSA.
As is standard practice, however, all winegrape loads destined for the production of wine must carry a Grape Despatch Docket, cartnote or similar, detailing source vineyard location and processing destination.
It is best practice that transiting loads are processed within 24 hours of arrival at the receiving winery or processing facility.
A reminder that loads transiting must not stop, backload or offload in the FFAA and bins and trucks must be filled to prevent spillage.
Secure Movement Notifications
IVCA-accredited wineries or processing facilities that are either (1) inside the FFAA and receiving winegrapes from vineyards inside the outbreak area, or (2) outside the FFAA in SA and receiving winegrapes from vineyards inside the FFAA, must email their booking schedules through vintage to PIRSA at marketaccessrenmark.aaslocal@sa.gov.au as an indication of expected delivery date of the accredited or certified winegrape loads. PIRSA recognises that booking schedules include loads coming from multiple regions and growers for any particular day/week. You can simply send through your full booking schedule each time, rather than having to modify this to flag or only show those loads coming from the FFAA. Booking schedules are to be forwarded to PIRSA at least every seven days.
MAPS
Further detections of fruit fly in the Riverland and realignment of outbreak area boundaries have resulted in new maps for the FFAA.
Click here for the current Monash outbreak area map. Last updated on 8 January 2021. The current quarantine lifting date for Monash is 22 March 2021.
Click here for the current Renmark West outbreak area map. Last updated on 15 January 2021. This map includes an extension to the south and north west of the originally-declared outbreak area. The current quarantine lifting date for Renmark West is 6 April 2021.
Click here for a map showing both the Monash and Renmark West outbreak and suspension areas. Last updated on 15 January 2021. For those vineyards that fall in both the Renmark West and Monash suspension areas (where the yellow circles overlap), the later quarantine lifting date applies.
ADVICE RECEIVED FROM THE AWRI
As part of PIRSA’s eradication efforts for these outbreaks, treatments are applied to susceptible host plants within the 1.5km outbreak areas, including to grapevines. For winegrape vineyards, this includes bait treatments applied to trellis posts or other non-fruiting parts of the vine, such as the trunk. The bait used by PIRSA under permit from the APVMA is Naturalure Fruit Fly Bait Concentrate. Naturalure is registered for use in viticulture and contains 0.24g/L spinosad as the only active ingredient, with 1 L of product applied per hectare. Application of spinosad at this rate poses no residue risk to grapes or wine.
The attractant in fruit fly bait is autolysed yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), but when applied correctly this poses no risk. In the unlikely event that a significant amount of the Naturalure applied was harvested (e.g. 500 mL/ha), this could result in a must with elevated levels of nitrogen and vitamins. Yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) analysis is a standard winemaking test that will indicate if nitrogen levels are elevated. Similarly, in the unlikely event that some bait is harvested, an elevated level of microorganisms originating in the vineyard could be present in the must as the bait would be colonised by naturally occurring yeast and bacteria. The typical sulfur dioxide (SO2) addition (40 to 60 mg/L) made to the harvest bin or at the crusher to manage unwanted microbial populations might therefore need to be increased to the 60-100 mg/L range.
For further information on this or any other technical grapegrowing or winemaking questions, contact the AWRI helpdesk on helpdesk@awri.com.au or 08 8313 6600.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Current maps and quarantine end dates are available on PIRSA’s website and on Vinehealth Australia’s Current Outbreaks webpage. We recommend industry keeps abreast of any changes.
- If you need help to identify which part of the FFAA your property falls in, please call Vinehealth Australia’s Technical Manager Suzanne McLoughlin on 0412 859 882 for assistance.
- For all information relevant to table grapes, please visit PIRSA’s website or call the Industry Hotline on 1800 255 556.
- An incident command centre has been established by PIRSA in the Riverland at the Loxton Research Centre. A dedicated phone number – 1800 255 556 – is available for all industry queries between 8:30am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours, the after-hours service will answer calls.
- To report suspected fruit fly and for non-commercial enquiries, phone the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
Vinehealth Australia will continue to work alongside PIRSA and Riverland Wine to support eradication programs and assist industry to comply with requirements.