Sunday 29 July 2012
Australia
Problems in the grain crop
Victoria has given up trying to keep the disease mytle rust out of the state.
It's ended a five-month ban on imports from Queensland and NSW of plants that could carry myrtle rust.
Biosecurity Victoria says the fungal disease has been found in 60 locations in that state and is now considered to be endemic.
Myrtle rust first entered Australia almost two years ago and affects members of the plant family that includes eucalypts, lilly pillies, bottle brushes and paperbarks.
Queensland authorities say they're currently getting 20 reports of the disease a day and more than 1,580 cases have been confirmed along the east coast.
Queensland's Nursery and Garden Indstury Association says Victoria's ban had a small impact on trade and it has welcomed the decision to rescind it and allow clean plant material to be sent south.
Source: None
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