An outbreak of the apple scab fungal disease in Mount Barker earlier this year cost Western Australia its scab-free status, and the industry is considering the costs of various management plans.
The cost of re-establishing area freedom from the disease is being weighed against simply controlling its impact, according to the Donnybrook Bridgetown Mail.
Western Australia produces 30,000 tonnes of apples annually, about 11 per cent of the national crop.
“Until 3 April 2009, WA was the only state in Australia free from the disease,” said WA Fruit Growers Association (WAFGA) management committee member Ben Darbyshire.
“WAFGA’s preferred position is to maintain area freedom,” he said.
The problem lies in paying for management of the disease. The West Australian Agriculture Department’s initial response to the outbreak cost about A$100,000, a figure that has yet to be paid off by WAFGA, stalling any further monitoring of the disease by the Department.
“After the incursion phase, DAFWA indicated it could not continue with the surveillance phase unless industry paid the outstanding amount it had agreed to pay, with respect to an earlier outbreak,”Mr Darbyshire said.
“DAFWA expected the cost sharing agreement with industry to continue at Mount Barker if surveillance was to continue.
“WAFGA indicated four to five weeks ago it was unable to meet its earlier liability to DAFWA and could not contribute its share of surveillance at Mt Barker.”
If the cost were transferred to growers, Mr Darbyshire said it would cost them A$500 a hectare.
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