The importance of biosecurity was highlighted to citrus growers at the New Zealand Citrus Growers Association annual meeting.

Australian citrus expert Pat Barkley spoke about two major diseases affecting citrus worldwide and some golden rules for growers.

The experience of a citrus canker outbreak in an area of Queensland provided some valuable lessons, she said.

“Many hundreds of thousands of trees were pulled out. Everything from orchards to backyard trees and native citrus. It was a major exercise, but it worked.”

At a cost of $18 million to the government, the outbreak was declared eradicated about four years ago.

“It affected the whole citrus industry though, and Emerald, the area where the outbreak was, shut down completely.”

Anywhere there had been fruit movement also needed rigorous inspection and in nearby Queensland, fruit had to be dipped in bleach or another anti-contaminant before it could be transported.

Another disease affecting citrus is known as the “Citrus Greening Disease,” or Citrus Huanglongbing.

It is a serious bacterial disease that is adversely affecting citrus groves worldwide.

The disease has already been responsible for the significant decrease in citrus production in Asia, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Brazil, and has been devastating in Florida.

HLB disease, spread by an insect identified as a citrus psyllid, has no known cure, affects all of the main types of citrus, and can ultimately kill the trees.

A different strain of the disease is also present in South Africa and is spread by a different bug, but with the effects being less destructive.

Australia is worried, as the fatal form of the disease is close by in Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Indonesia.

Mrs Barkley said it was important have good biosecurity and there were some dos and don’ts.

“Don’t illegally import material. That is very dangerous. And there is also danger in bringing in things like curry leaf.”

Another basic thing was if a person had been overseas and visiting orchards, they should not wear the same clothing and shoes back home without thorough washing.

In addtion, itinerant workers could have bugs on their equipment.

“It may mean you need to provide them with your own clippers and picking bags.”

New equipment on a property also needed to be checked.

Vigilance in the orchard — always checking for any new bug — was vital and it was crucial to always get new trees from a reputable source, she said.

“And if you find anything, notify the authorities quickly. Any disease, if you can get it early enough, has a good chance of eradication. If it goes on it becomes more difficult to eradicate.”

This is basic advice and things growers should already be doing but if there was a biosecurity incursion, as well as the previously mentioned precautions, growers would also need to disinfect tyres and the underside of vehicles moving on and off properties.

People should not get panicky about the possibility of a biosecurity incursion but be cautious, she said.