Fodder, pasture fears in wake of armyworm discovery at Longreach

The latest biosecurity threat to Australia arrived at the tip of Queensland likely via natural pathways in January 2020.

It has subsequently been found in several locations across the state including Croydon and Georgetown, South Johnstone, Tolga, Lakeland, the Burdekin, Bowen, Bundaberg, Emerald, Richmond, Clermont, Biloela, Mackay and Dysart.

The Queensland Department of Agriculture found two male moths in one of its traps at Longreach, part of a statewide network, on June 9.

A spokesman said it wasn't unexpected as fall armyworm moths were highly mobile.

AgForce spokeswoman, Marie Vitelli, said it was not known what attracted it to Longreach in the first place as it generally sought out lush plants to feed on.

"It was probably an opportunistic thing," she said.

Saying it was anticipated that fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) would persist across northern Australia, Ms Vitelli said they foresaw a possible problem for hay and fodder growers, as well as for organic producers that would be unable to use chemicals to control the biological threat.

"They can feed on 350 host species, they're a very generalist feeder," she said. "They have been known to affect buffel grass overseas."

According to the departmental spokesman, grasses that fall armyworm infest overseas include Johnson grass, Rhodes grass, bent grasses, pangola, digit or finger grasses, green couch, couch grass, annual Poa, winter grass, and panics.

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He said they were working with industry to find ways to address the threat posed by the moth and its larvae to Queensland's agriculture industry.

According to Ms Vitelli, there were no control options available at the moment for their management in pasture or fodder crops.

"AgForce is very concerned about this, and has alerted organic producers, both of livestock and crops," she said.

"We'd like to see their needs met, perhaps by parasitoids."

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the $600,000 grant would enable Plant Health Australia to fund a number of projects over two years to boost national research and development to better manage the impacts of the pest.

"Fall armyworm is a serious agricultural pest," he said. "The larval or caterpillar stage of the moth's life cycle can damage and destroy a wide variety of crops causing, in some cases if not controlled, large economic loss.

"It also has the potential to impact on our native and garden plants, so it can be a serious problem in our parks and backyard gardens too."

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The funding provided to PHA will support a range of activities, beginning with the coordination of a workshop that will bring local and international experts, research organisations, governments and industries together to identify gaps in fall armyworm knowledge of national interest.

The outcomes of that will inform the development of a national management plan and guide investment in projects for monitoring and ongoing management of the pest.

That includes a series of projects to investigate fall armyworm genetics, pesticide resistance, commercial and native hosts, and modelling of seasonal impacts on population dynamics.

"Through this funding and its deliverables, we are supporting industry to minimise the impact of fall armyworm in Australia," Mr Littleproud said.