Cobram grower Adrian Conti at the fruit fly forum in Shepparton on September 16. He pointed out growers had enough issues managing their orchards without having to be responsible for backyard pest infestations.
An award-winning fruit fly program for the Goulburn Murray Valley has funding for this financial year, but a doubt remains over its long-term future.
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A delegation from the City of Greater Shepparton to Victorian Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle was unable to secure any guarantee of future funding.
Industry stakeholders have been pressing for a million dollar annual commitment, but the current management and awareness program is funded to about $469,000.
A meeting of stakeholders in Shepparton heard that the horticulture industry generates about $1 billion for the region.
Queensland Fruit Fly is a prevalent pest which damages fruit and puts exports to sensitive countries at risk.
Fruit Growers Victoria grower services manager Michael Crisera told the recent fruit fly forum unmanaged backyard fruit trees harboured the pest and were a major concern for the industry.
Public land was also a reservoir for pests.
Both these sectors were addressed in past fruit fly programs, but the free fruit tree removal offer had to be withdrawn because of a lack of funding.
Cobram District Fruit Growers Association president Adrian Conti pointed to the impact of backyard trees: “We can look after our own orchards, but we can’t look after the whole community.”
He echoed the emerging theme of the evening, that effective management required support from all levels of government, backed by support of the community.
“We can’t do it on our own.”
Regional co-ordinator for the fruit fly program Ross Abberfield said this spring, over-wintering Queensland fruit flies in urban areas were emerging and searching for mates to reproduce.
“Any early maturing fruit and vegetables are targets for the female fly to lay her eggs and create another generation in four to five weeks,” Mr Abberfield said.
“Queensland fruit fly monitoring traps are essential at this time year.
“After pollination, bud burst and fruit set, fruit fly netting can protect your fruit and vegetables until it reaches maturity.
“If you detect Queensland fruit fly in your traps, help reduce populations by installing traps, baits and spraying.
“Removal of unwanted or unmanaged fruit trees is essential as they provide an ideal breeding habitat for Queensland fruit fly.
“Unless populations are managed in urban areas they will increase and migrate into commercial crops later in the season,” Mr Abberfield said.
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