R[0]="2007"; T[0]="Farmers warned of mite with increasing pesticide resistance"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20070331"; Dt[0]="Saturday 31 March 2007"; Acats[0]="a22a24a33a86"; B1[0]="      One of Australia's most devastating crop and pasture pests is showing signs of resistance to pesticide.... "; B2[0]=" "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      One of Australia's most devastating crop and pasture pests is showing signs of resistance to pesticide.
      The discovery in "; S2[0]=" Western Australia is a world-first, with farmers now being told to consider alternative control methods for the red-legged earth mite.
      Dr Paul "; S3[0]=" Umina, from the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaption Research at Melbourne University, says resistance was first suspected in the late 1990s, but there is "; S4[0]=" now no doubt.
      'One particular case we had a farmer in Western Australia who had a canola crop that was emerging in "; S5[0]=" Autumn in 2006,' Dr Umina said.
      'He sprayed this crop four separate times with a mixture of synthetic pyrethroids and was not "; S6[0]=" able to control that red-legged earth mite population.
      'So the levels of resistance that we are talking about are certainly high enough "; S7[0]=" that we're not getting adequate control in the field.'.. "; R[1]="2002"; T[1]="Termites get the vibe on what tastes good"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20070331"; Dt[1]="Saturday 31 March 2007"; Acats[1]="a39a86"; B1[1]="      Researchers from CSIRO and UNSW@ADFA have shown that termites can tell what sort of material their food is made of, without having "; B2[1]="to actually touch it.
      The findings may lead to improvements in the control of feeding termites... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      Researchers from CSIRO and UNSW@ADFA have shown that termites can tell what sort of material their food is made of, without having "; S2[1]=" to actually touch it.
      The findings may lead to improvements in the control of feeding termites.
      By offering them "; S3[1]=" a choice between normal wooden blocks and specially designed blocks made of wood and other materials, the researchers found that the termites always preferred the "; S4[1]=" blocks containing the most wood - even though they could not touch or see the other materials.
      The results are published in "; S5[1]=" the Journal of the Royal Society Interface ('Termites live in a material world: exploration of their ability to differentiate between food sources' by Dr RA "; S6[1]=" Inta, Professor JCS Lai, Mr EW Fu and Dr T Evans (doi: 10.1098/rsif.2007.0223)).
      Dr Ra Inta, from UNSW@ADFA [external link] and CSIRO "; S7[1]=" Entomology, says the ability to differentiate between food sources is based on the vibrations of the food that the termites are eating, although the exact "; S8[1]=" mechanism for this ability is yet to be explored.
      'The researchers are designing further experiments to test termites' assessment methods in an "; S9[1]=" attempt to determine precisely what aspect of the vibrations termites are responding to in assessing food.' 'Scientists have known for some time that termites are "; S10[1]=" receptive to vibrations,' Dr Inta says.
      'But these results demonstrate that termites' methods of food assessment are much more sophisticated that previously "; S11[1]=" thought.
      'When offered a choice between blocks of their normal wooden food, and specially engineered blocks made of wood and other materials, "; S12[1]=" they could tell when there was another material attached and always chose the blocks that contained the most wood.' The researchers are designing further experiments "; S13[1]=" to test termites' assessment methods in an attempt to determine precisely what aspect of the vibrations termites are responding to in assessing food.
    "; S14[1]="   'If we understand how they use vibrations to assess their food, we might be able to exploit this to manipulate their feeding habits, and "; S15[1]=" address the very significant problem of termite damage in buildings and other structures,' Dr Inta says.
      This research is a partnership between "; S16[1]=" CSIRO and the University of New South Wales and is funded under the Australian Research Council Discovery project... "; R[2]="1992"; T[2]="Camels blighting rural Australia: expert"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20070331"; Dt[2]="Saturday 31 March 2007"; Acats[2]="a86"; B1[2]="      A leading scientist says feral camels are emerging as one of the biggest problems facing rural Australia.... "; B2[2]=" "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      A leading scientist says feral camels are emerging as one of the biggest problems facing rural Australia.
      Dr Glenn "; S2[2]=" Edwards says there are one million feral camels across the nation, with the biggest flocks in desert country on the borders of South Australia, the "; S3[2]=" Northern Territory and Western Australia.
      Dr Edwards says camel numbers are doubling every eight years.
      He says the Federal "; S4[2]=" Government has given him three years and $800,000 to formulate a plan to cull their numbers.
      The scientist has floated the idea "; S5[2]=" of shooting feral camels and using the meat for human consumption or pet food.
      'Already, we have major impacts of camels on "; S6[2]=" production values, for example, cattle production,' he said.
      'We also have seen major environmental impacts on things like wetlands and impacts on "; S7[2]=" the cultural values of Aboriginal people who live in areas where there are camels.' Dr Edwards says Aborigines should be given a key role in "; S8[2]=" any national management program for camels.
      'Aboriginal people are key stakeholders in camel management,' he said.
      'Aboriginal people rightly "; S9[2]=" would like to make some money out of the camels which are on their land, so we may well see strong support in those communities "; S10[2]=" for using camels for things like pet meat but also for maybe human consumption.'.. "; R[3]="1962"; T[3]="Spider venom could help repel insects, researcher says"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20070308"; Dt[3]="Thursday 8 March 2007"; Acats[3]="a86"; B1[3]="      A University of Queensland researcher says spider venom could help genetically modify crops to make them resistant to insects.... "; B2[3]=" "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      A University of Queensland researcher says spider venom could help genetically modify crops to make them resistant to insects.
      "; S2[3]=" Professor Glenn King says spider venom has components that specifically target insects without affecting other animals.
      Professor King says the technology could "; S3[3]=" be available within 10 years.
      'These things are genetically-encoded peptides,' he said.
      'There's no reason why you couldn't engineer "; S4[3]=" plants to make them.
      'They're very, very safe - they have no activity against vertebrates.
      'They're natural compounds as "; S5[3]=" well.
      They're little tiny proteins so they don't hold any ecological consequences in terms of breakdown in the environment.' He says venom "; S6[3]=" could also have commercial value as an insecticide.
      Professor King says it is hoped that technology will be commercially available in about "; S7[3]=" four years and it will have many uses.
      'Everything from trying to control ecto-parasites on livestock, controlling ecto-parasites on companion animals like "; S8[3]=" cats and dogs to controlling really nasty pests on crops like the cotton bowl worm to controlling, say, mosquitos in the public health arena,' he "; S9[3]=" said... "; R[4]="1959"; T[4]="Trade secrets revealed to home gardeners"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20070308"; Dt[4]="Thursday 8 March 2007"; Acats[4]="a17a18a86"; B1[4]="      NSW Department of Primary Industries horticulturist, Jeremy Bright, says home gardeners who manage pests and disease in their backyards are also supporting "; B2[4]="local fruit growers and helping protect a multi-million dollar industry... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      NSW Department of Primary Industries horticulturist, Jeremy Bright, says home gardeners who manage pests and disease in their backyards are also supporting "; S2[4]=" local fruit growers and helping protect a multi-million dollar industry.
      Home gardeners will have the opportunity to learn how to look "; S3[4]=" after backyard fruit trees when local commercial growers reveal their trade secrets at this month's Central West Garden & Outdoor Expo.
      NSW "; S4[4]=" Department of Primary Industries horticulturist, Jeremy Bright, will take the floor with the growers to talk about the importance of controlling pests and diseases.
  "; S5[4]="     'Growing good fruit can be hard work but you don't need to use a barrage of chemicals to produce healthy fruit while protecting "; S6[4]=" the environment and the local economy,' Mr Bright said.
      'Local growers spend a lot of effort producing quality fruit that is highly "; S7[4]=" sought-after here and overseas but the industry is potentially under threat if pest and disease aren't managed in home gardens.' Mr Bright will outline which "; S8[4]=" pests and diseases are important to control and how best to manage them in a backyard situation.
      'Fruit fly is a high "; S9[4]=" priority pest which along with codling moth should be managed by gardeners,' Mr Bright said.
      'Not only does fruit fly ruin backyard "; S10[4]=" fruit crops, including tomatoes and capsicums, if not controlled their presence puts at risk our multi-million dollar fruit industry.
      'Some pests such "; S11[4]=" as dimple bug cause only cosmetic damage and can be tolerated in backyard fruit.' Gardeners can hear Mr Bright's fruit growing tips at 4pm on "; S12[4]=" Saturday and 3pm on Sunday at the Australian National Field Days (ANFD) Borenore site on March 17 and 18... "; R[5]="1958"; T[5]="NSW DPI traces cattle ticks to Wauchope district"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20070308"; Dt[5]="Thursday 8 March 2007"; Acats[5]="a26a27a86"; B1[5]="      NSW Department of Primary Industries has acted quickly to quarantine a Wauchope-district property following the detection of cattle ticks last week.... "; B2[5]=" "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      NSW Department of Primary Industries has acted quickly to quarantine a Wauchope-district property following the detection of cattle ticks last week.
  "; S2[5]="     The cattle tick infestation at Upper Rollands Plains near Wauchope on the NSW mid north coast is the most southerly detected in NSW "; S3[5]=" for many years.
      Cattle Tick Program staff traced the infestation after discovering cattle ticks on one animal in a consignment of five "; S4[5]=" head of cattle at Casino abattoirs during a routine check.
      NSW DPI Program Manager (Cattle Tick Control), Mr Peter McGregor, said the "; S5[5]=" Rollands Plains property and its neighbours had been placed in quarantine to prevent the spread of cattle ticks.
      'Inspectors are carrying out "; S6[5]=" investigations to determine whether there are other infestations in the area.
      'Movements of stock on and off the Rollands Plains property will "; S7[5]=" be traced to determine both the spread and the source of the ticks,' he said.
      Initial information is that the animals were "; S8[5]=" previously on a drought-affected property in the Tamworth area.
      They were transported to the Wauchope area in early February and sold through "; S9[5]=" the Wauchope saleyards before going to slaughter at Casino.
      'Our investigations will include following up on the Tamworth property and the Wauchope "; S10[5]=" saleyards,' said Mr McGregor.
      Mr McGregor said the NSW north coast had a favourable climate for cattle ticks, the most serious external "; S11[5]=" parasite of cattle in Australia, but cattle ticks were capable of surviving anywhere in NSW.
      'Cattle ticks were found at Bellingen in "; S12[5]=" 1991 and eradicated but normally we don't get infestations this far south,' he said.
      Mr McGregor asked stockowners to report any unusual "; S13[5]=" ticks to NSW DPI or the Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) for identification.
      'Cattle ticks are a notifiable disease in NSW, meaning "; S14[5]=" stockowners must report findings,' he said.
      'They have the potential to cause significant damage to the NSW beef and dairy industries.
  "; S15[5]="     When found in NSW they must be eradicated.' Mr McGregor said there had been 16 infestations of cattle ticks detected in NSW this "; S16[5]=" tick season which will continue until June when colder weather traditionally brings an end to the period of tick activity.
      He said "; S17[5]=" there were a total of 78 infestations reported during 2006... "; R[6]="1943"; T[6]="Public vigilance aids in European wasp removal"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20070304"; Dt[6]="Sunday 4 March 2007"; Acats[6]="a86"; B1[6]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food is calling on the community to remain vigilant and report any European wasp activity, with nine "; B2[6]="nests destroyed in Perth suburbs since December last year... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food is calling on the community to remain vigilant and report any European wasp activity, with nine "; S2[6]=" nests destroyed in Perth suburbs since December last year.
      The Department destroyed the nests in Welshpool, Kewdale, Bellevue, Midvale, Mindarie, Malaga and "; S3[6]=" Forrestfield, five of the nests as a direct result of reports from the community.
      Department technical officer Marc Widmer said he praised "; S4[6]=" the community for their vigilance and encouraged people to continue to report suspected European wasp activity.
      'The European wasp is a declared "; S5[6]=" pest and currently not established in Western Australia,' he said.
      'It is often confused with the common paper wasp, however, there are "; S6[6]=" some distinct features people can look for to distinguish between the two.' 'The European wasp is identified by its all-black antennae compared to the orange/yellow "; S7[6]=" antennae of the paper wasp, and was also more bee-shaped while the paper wasp is slimmer.
      'The European wasp also flies fast "; S8[6]=" and directly with its legs tucked up in flight, whereas the paper wasp flies much slower and tends to hover with it back legs hanging "; S9[6]=" down.' Mr Widmer said as the European wasp was a declared pest, the nests were removed free of charge by the Department.
      "; S10[6]=" 'European wasp nests are generally found in the ground or concealed in trees or wall voids with many thousands of insects, much like a busy "; S11[6]=" beehive,' he said.
      'Paper wasp nests are usually above-ground and are small and greyish and papery with honeycomb cells and only contain "; S12[6]=" about two dozen wasps.' The Department of Agriculture and Food only removes European wasp nests, not those of the common paper wasp.
      "; S13[6]=" To help distinguish between the European wasp and the paper wasp, and for advice on control of paper wasps visit www.agric.wa.gov.au, and search for the "; S14[6]=" Gardennote 30 'Wasp Identification Guide.' People who suspect they have sighted a European wasp, or for further information, contact the Department's Pest and Disease Information "; S15[6]=" Service on freecall 1800 084 881.
      Media Contacts Katrina Bonser/Lisa Bertram, media liaison,.. "; R[7]="1905"; T[7]="Scientists seeking growers' knowledge on orchard pests"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20070222"; Dt[7]="Thursday 22 February 2007"; Acats[7]="a18a86"; B1[7]="      Far North Queensland (FNQ) fruit growers are being asked to share their knowledge and experience of orchard pests to help scientists assess "; B2[7]="and design sustainable crop protection measures... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      Far North Queensland (FNQ) fruit growers are being asked to share their knowledge and experience of orchard pests to help scientists assess "; S2[7]=" and design sustainable crop protection measures.
      With funding from FNQ Natural Resource Management Ltd, scientists from CSIRO in Cairns and Atherton have "; S3[7]=" teamed up with peak horticulture body Growcom to conduct a region-wide survey to investigate the pros and cons of different pest control methods, from the "; S4[7]=" growers' perspective.
      In particular, the scientists are keen to understand real costs and effectiveness of exclusion netting.
      'Managing orchard "; S5[7]=" pests is a difficult task, but growers have developed some innovative strategies to protect their fruit trees, so we'd like to know more about what's "; S6[7]=" working and what's not,' says CSIRO researcher Dr Louise Shilton.
      Growcom Board member Keith Noble is urging growers to get involved in "; S7[7]=" the survey.
      'The more hard data that we are able to collect about the size and range of pest populations affecting fruit "; S8[7]=" orchards the more the industry can tackle these problems by securing research funding into innovative environmentally friendly solutions,' Mr Noble says.
      The "; S9[7]=" scientists hope to gather first-hand information about the habits and impacts of a range of pests affecting fruit orchards, including flying foxes.
      "; S10[7]=" 'It is the first FNQ-wide survey conducted since the use of lethal electric grids was banned as a flying fox control method.' 'From talking with "; S11[7]=" a range of fruit growers across the region, it's clear that parrots may be the main threat to certain fruit crops in one season, while "; S12[7]=" in another it could be fruit moths or flying foxes,' Dr Shilton says.
      'We hope that responses for this survey will provide "; S13[7]=" insights into which pests have had the greatest impact on different orchard types across the region, from 2004 through to the recent lychee season.
  "; S14[7]="     'This survey is different from past ones since it is the first survey of FNQ growers that can be interpreted in light of "; S15[7]=" sound ecological data on spectacled flying fox roosting and movement patterns.
      'Cyclone Larry has had a significant impact on flying fox distribution "; S16[7]=" and behaviour, and we might expect this to be reflected in the growers' experiences of orchard impacts from a range of wildlife since then.' It "; S17[7]=" is the first FNQ-wide survey conducted since the use of lethal electric grids was banned as a flying fox control method.
      The "; S18[7]=" researchers will be visiting FNQ orchards to speak with growers over the next three months.
      Growers can complete the CSIRO Orchard Pests "; S19[7]=" and Protection Survey online, or download and print a copy by visiting www.csiro.au/science/FNQorchardsurvey.
      Growers who prefer to receive a copy by post "; S20[7]=" should phone 07 4091 8824 and leave their postal and phone details.
      Surveys can be returned by REPLY PAID post (no stamp "; S21[7]=" required)... "; R[8]="1893"; T[8]="Summer spraying to minimise 2007 locust populations"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20070213"; Dt[8]="Tuesday 13 February 2007"; Acats[8]="a86"; B1[8]="      Spraying to control locust populations, which have emerged as a result of summer rains, has commenced in southern shires this week.... "; B2[8]=" "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      Spraying to control locust populations, which have emerged as a result of summer rains, has commenced in southern shires this week.
  "; S2[8]="     The Department of Agriculture and Food has been working in conjunction with landholders and has identified priority target zones in the West River, "; S3[8]=" Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup areas.
      Department locust incident manager Simon Merewether said despite the success of the 2006 locust control program, new locust "; S4[8]=" populations were starting to emerge due to the unseasonal summer rainfall and cooler conditions experienced in parts of the wheatbelt and in the south of "; S5[8]=" the state.
      'As a result of the summer rain, there is plenty of green pasture in the southern areas and some parts "; S6[8]=" of the wheatbelt, making the conditions ideal for locust survival,' he said.
      'Landholders are responsible for locust control on their own properties, "; S7[8]=" however current circumstances mean that the Department will undertake some targeted spraying to contain high density newly emerged locust populations on the south coast.
  "; S8[8]="     'It is important for landholders to spray properties now, if required, to minimise the prospect of large local populations posing a risk to "; S9[8]=" emerging crops and pastures once the 2007 seasons gets underway.
      'The Department's control program will be focused on minimising the scale of "; S10[8]=" the next cycle of egg laying in autumn, in order to reduce the likelihood of another major infestation in the spring and summer of 2007.' "; S11[8]=" The Department will continue to monitor the situation closely over the coming weeks.
      Any questions about locust control should be directed to "; S12[8]=" local Department and Food offices or through the Pest and Disease Information Service on 1800 084 881... "; R[9]="1840"; T[9]="Control measures tighten for pest Lorikeets in Swan Valley"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20070129"; Dt[9]="Monday 29 January 2007"; Acats[9]="a86"; B1[9]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food has confirmed control activities are underway in the Swan Valley to manage the damage being caused "; B2[9]="by rainbow lorikeets... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food has confirmed control activities are underway in the Swan Valley to manage the damage being caused "; S2[9]=" by rainbow lorikeets.
      This follows the extension of the rainbow lorikeet's status as a declared pest to include the metropolitan area.
  "; S3[9]="     Department project manager and Rainbow Lorikeet Working Group executive officer Marion Massam said lorikeets posed a significant threat to horticulture crops in the "; S4[9]=" south west of WA, including the commercial table grape crops in the Swan Valley.
      'The Department recently sent letters to about 1700 "; S5[9]=" residents of the Swan Valley area advising them of the legal status of lorikeets, raising awareness of the damage the birds are doing and listing "; S6[9]=" the options for their control,' she said.
      Ms Massam said lorikeets could be legally shot on private land throughout the South West "; S7[9]=" Land Division without the need to obtain a damage licence.
      They could also be live-trapped, once a trapping licence had been obtained "; S8[9]=" from the Department of Environment and Conservation.
      The Officer in Charge of Midland Police, Senior Sergeant Ivan Bennison said it was important "; S9[9]=" growers were aware of the provisions of the Firearms Act and regulations prior to undertaking any shooting on their property and the consequences of breaching "; S10[9]=" the Firearms Act or Regulations.
      'Police are prepared to assist in this regard by talking to growers and neighbours to provide "; S11[9]=" advice on the suitability of firearms for the destruction of the lorikeets,' he said.
      Senior Sergeant Bennison said it was also important "; S12[9]=" for the grower to notify both neighbours and Police of the intended time and date of when the shooting was to be conducted so that "; S13[9]=" Police could assist the grower and immediate neighbours to work through any concerns.
      A suitable time period would be 24 hours.
  "; S14[9]="     Ms Massam said for the short term, the Department of Agriculture and Food was facilitating shooters to scare and remove lorikeets where "; S15[9]=" they were causing damage, as well as making damage assessments and trialling feeding stations.
      'In the long term, it would be more "; S16[9]=" beneficial for table grape growers and other horticulture producers to take pro-active action to protect their crops before the birds start to cause damage.
  "; S17[9]="     'Strategic use of scaring devices like gas cannon by rotating different types, varying their timing and placement and backing them up with real "; S18[9]=" danger to maintain the elements of surprise and fear, is more likely to be effective than setting and forgetting a scaring device,' she said.
  "; S19[9]="     'Providing alternative foods such as plants that flower at the same time as grapes ripen may also be worth considering.' Rainbow lorikeets are "; S20[9]=" noisy, continuously screeching while in flight and when at a food source.
      They have a swift direct flight with rapid whirring wing "; S21[9]=" beats, and display flashes of dark green and bright red.
      For further information about rainbow lorikeets including management options and to report "; S22[9]=" sightings, contact the Department's Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881, email info@agric.wa.gov.au or visit the website at: www.agric.wa.gov.au ... "; R[10]="1836"; T[10]="Freeze-dried rabbit Calicivirus to be developed"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20070129"; Dt[10]="Monday 29 January 2007"; Acats[10]="a86"; B1[10]="      A new research project to develop a freeze-dried form of the rabbit Calicivirus is expected to remove a major impediment to widespread "; B2[10]="distribution of the virus... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      A new research project to develop a freeze-dried form of the rabbit Calicivirus is expected to remove a major impediment to widespread "; S2[10]=" distribution of the virus.
      Calicivirus, also known as rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), inadvertently escaped during field trials in South Australia in "; S3[10]=" 1995 and, after being officially released a year later, has had a significant but uneven impact on reducing rabbit numbers.
      NSW Department "; S4[10]=" of Primary Industries (DPI) virologist, Dr Peter Kirkland, says methods for spreading the virus have had their faults - and this has limited wider distribution "; S5[10]=" of the virus.
      'Until recently, the only option was to inject captive rabbits.
      It was a matter of 'first "; S6[10]=" catch your rabbit' ….' Approval was recently given for rabbits to be infected orally, on treated carrots or grain.
      Although a step "; S7[10]=" in the right direction, there were still significant hurdles because the viral suspension still needs to be stored at ultra-low (dry ice range) temperatures to "; S8[10]=" remain viable.
      Dr Kirkland said the virus preparation has a long shelf life if stored at minus 80 degrees Celsius but only "; S9[10]=" 6 months at minus 20, and even less when temperatures are above that.
      He said that to ensure the virus reaches the "; S10[10]=" end user without losing potency and with its expected shelf life, it has to be shipped frozen on dry ice.
      'This means "; S11[10]=" it is classed as 'dangerous goods' and complicates the logistics and costs of transportation.' There can be lengthy delays or even a refusal to deliver "; S12[10]=" a consignment so that sometimes the virus is inactivated during transport.
      Dr Kirkland said his laboratory at DPI's Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute "; S13[10]=" would be undertaking research to produce a stock of virus in a freeze-dried form.
      'It is well recognised that freeze-drying increases the "; S14[10]=" stability of many virus preparations and allows for storage at either room temperature or standard refrigeration temperatures.
      'The ease of shipping and "; S15[10]=" longer shelf life will make it easier for the virus to be distributed and stored for release at a time when rabbits are most vulnerable', "; S16[10]=" he said.
      Rabbits are Australia's most significant vertebrate pest and two biological controls have been developed to manage them.
      "; S17[10]=" Compared to the first - myxoma virus - RHDV is a very efficient and humane method of rabbit control.
      A recent study "; S18[10]=" found that RHDV has had a significant effect on rabbit populations.
      In Victoria for instance rabbit numbers have dropped by 93 percent "; S19[10]=" since its release.
      The two-year research project managed by Drs Peter Kirkland, Andrew Read and Simon Humphrys is funded by NSW DPI, "; S20[10]=" the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and the Bureau of Rural Sciences through the National Feral Animal Control Program... "; R[11]="1794"; T[11]="Locust road safety this Christmas"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20061223"; Dt[11]="Saturday 23 December 2006"; Acats[11]="a86"; B1[11]="      Motorists travelling on the roads over the festive season in the Wheatbelt and South Coast areas are reminded to prepare for low "; B2[11]="density locust bands... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      Motorists travelling on the roads over the festive season in the Wheatbelt and South Coast areas are reminded to prepare for low "; S2[11]=" density locust bands.
      Due to the late rains some low density locust bands remain and could be a hazard to motorists.
"; S3[11]="       Motorists travelling in areas from Northampton down to Esperance should be prepared.
      Locust incident manager Simon Merewether "; S4[11]=" said drivers needed to take safety precautions including keeping headlights on, ensuring radiators and windscreens were kept clean.
      'Radiators should be "; S5[11]=" covered with a commercial-made screen or using well tied down fly wire or shade cloth,' he said.
      'The screen should be "; S6[11]=" cleaned at regular intervals with a small brush to maintain maximum air flow to prevent the engine from overheating.
      'Motorists should "; S7[11]=" also carry extra water with them and stop regularly to clean their windscreen and refill the washer bottle.' The Department will continue to monitor "; S8[11]=" the locust activity into next year, to track movement and assess the potential for a secondary locust outbreak.
      Motorists who have "; S9[11]=" any questions about areas they are travelling to should contact the Department's Pest and Disease Information Service on 1800 084 881... "; R[12]="1767"; T[12]="Growers on alert for Lettuce Aphid"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20061223"; Dt[12]="Saturday 23 December 2006"; Acats[12]="a17a86"; B1[12]="      The State's lettuce growers are being urged to check their crops for the serious pest lettuce aphid after the detection of the "; B2[12]="pest north of Perth this week... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      The State's lettuce growers are being urged to check their crops for the serious pest lettuce aphid after the detection of the "; S2[12]=" pest north of Perth this week.
      Aphid-infested lettuce leaves were provided to the Department of Agriculture and Food for identification, and "; S3[12]=" the pest has been confirmed as lettuce aphid.
      Lettuce aphid has not been previously found in Western Australia and the infected "; S4[12]=" crops will be sprayed within the next 24 hours.
      Growers in the Perth metropolitan, Albany, Mt Barker and Manjimup regions are "; S5[12]=" being asked to be on alert for the pest.
      Department entomologist Mike Grimm said lettuce aphid could be hard to detect "; S6[12]=" as it usually fed hidden in the centre of the lettuce heads.
      'Occasionally the aphid also feeds on the outer leaves, "; S7[12]=" but generally prefers to feed on new leaves deep inside the plant,' he said.
      Mr Grimm said adult aphids grow to "; S8[12]=" 2.7mm long and are green in colour with black stripes.
      'The juveniles may also have the stripes.
      Their "; S9[12]=" legs are quite spindly, giving them a spider-like appearance,' he said 'In large numbers, the aphids can cause young plants to be stunted and "; S10[12]=" leaves to become pale in colour and slightly deformed making them unacceptable to sell.
      The presence of the aphid in lettuce renders "; S11[12]=" it unsuitable for sale.
      'Additionally, the lettuce aphid can also become a vector for a number of viruses, including gooseberry veinbanding "; S12[12]=" virus, cauliflower mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic .. "; R[13]="1701"; T[13]="Managing fruit fly on the PNG frontline"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20061127"; Dt[13]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[13]="a86"; B1[13]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is keeping an eye on what has the potential to become a billion dollar pest "; B2[13]="for Australia's horticulture industry - fruit fly from Papua New Guinea... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is keeping an eye on what has the potential to become a billion dollar pest "; S2[13]=" for Australia's horticulture industry - fruit fly from Papua New Guinea.
      Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) affects around $1 billion of horticultural products "; S3[13]=" traded interstate as well as $370 million worth of exports, however QFF is only one species.
      DPI horticultural scientist, Andrew Jessup, an "; S4[13]=" internationally known researcher on fruit flies, recently led a study tour which will help in developing strategies for managing PNG fruit fly.
      "; S5[13]=" Mr Jessup said Papua New Guinea has many different species of fruit fly, and some of these could significantly affect market access for Australia's horticultural "; S6[13]=" crops should they successfully cross the Torres Strait.
      'Learning more about the control of these fruit flies will prove invaluable if they "; S7[13]=" do reach Australia.' Mr Jessup was accompanied on the tour by Professor Andrew Beattie, an entomologist from the University of Western Sydney.
      "; S8[13]=" Professor Beattie specialises in the use of spray oils to control insect pests.
      The project, funded in conjunction with the Australian Centre "; S9[13]=" for International Agricultural Research, aims to help farmers in PNG manage the pests.
      This will reduce the risk of the pest spreading "; S10[13]=" to Australia.
      The researchers visited a number of areas within Papua New Guinea as well as Rabaul, an island in New Britain "; S11[13]=" to the north-west.
      According to Mr Jessup, 'many of the villagers are subsistence farmers who rely on trading their crops at local "; S12[13]=" markets to earn a little cash.
      Unfortunately, fruit flies can make up to 75% of the crop unsaleable.' The project involves testing "; S13[13]=" a number of control methods and demonstrating the effectiveness to local farmers.
      'We are working with local Department of Agriculture staff to "; S14[13]=" set up trials in orchards and vegetable plots' said Mr Jessup.
      'They are really enthusiastic about the project and very willing to "; S15[13]=" help'.
      A series of workshops are planned for next year.
      These will help the farmers to control the pests "; S16[13]=" as well as communicate research results... "; R[14]="1699"; T[14]="Warm weather sparks fruit fly warning"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20061127"; Dt[14]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[14]="a18a86"; B1[14]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) today issued a warning to motorists travelling into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) this "; B2[14]="summer: Leave fruit behind... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) today issued a warning to motorists travelling into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) this "; S2[14]=" summer: Leave fruit behind.
      The high-risk period for fruit fly outbreaks is from late spring through to early autumn when warmer temperatures "; S3[14]=" occur creating an ideal environment for fruit fly activity.
      TriState Fruit Fly Co-ordinator Bernie Dominiak today said that motorists who ignore roadside "; S4[14]=" signs advising them to eat or dispose of fruit face a minimum $200 on-the-spot-fine at random mobile roadside blocks.
      'Motorists should plan "; S5[14]=" ahead to either eat or dispose of fresh fruit before entering the exclusion zone,' Mr Dominiak said.
      'This includes the Murrumbidgee Irrigation "; S6[14]=" Area, Murray Valley, Goulburn Valley, Sunraysia and the Riverland.
      'People travelling from Queensland or the NSW north coast where fruit fly is "; S7[14]=" endemic pose a high risk of bringing fruit fly infested fruit into FFEZ.
      'Fruit from these areas may look fine but fruit "; S8[14]=" fly eggs or maggots are sometimes too small to be seen by naked eye.' Mr Dominiak said travellers could unwittingly spread fruit fly into the "; S9[14]=" valuable fruit production areas of NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
      'All types of maturing or ripe fruit, such as stone fruit, citrus, "; S10[14]=" loquats and quinces, as well as some vegetables including tomatoes, capsicum and avocados, are hosts of fruit fly,' he said.
      'Any fresh "; S11[14]=" fruit accidentally brought into the FFEZ should be immediately destroyed.
      'This can be done by placing the fruit in a thick plastic "; S12[14]=" bag, tying the top, and leaving in the sun for a few days before disposing with normal garbage.'.. "; R[15]="1675"; T[15]="Pest busters launch new offensive in Torres Strait"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20061123"; Dt[15]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[15]="a86a93"; B1[15]="      Queensland and Commonwealth agencies are again joining forces to stop exotic fruit flies at Australia's doorstep during the coming wet season.... "; B2[15]=" "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      Queensland and Commonwealth agencies are again joining forces to stop exotic fruit flies at Australia's doorstep during the coming wet season.
  "; S2[15]="     Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service will work on the Torres Strait islands of Darnley, Saibai, "; S3[15]=" Dauan and Boigu to set up the front line defences.
      Proactive fruit fly eradication action is taken each year on these islands "; S4[15]=" during the wet season.
      Exotic fruit flies annually blow to these northern islands from Papua New Guinea and forward planning and action "; S5[15]=" can prevent them from establishing in Australian territory.
      'The mainland outbreak of Asian papaya fruit fly in 1995 was a costly incursion "; S6[15]=" for fruit farmers and local communities,' said DPI&F plant health scientist Rebecca Yarrow.
      'It cost $28 million to eradicate the pest, but "; S7[15]=" it was worth it to guarantee the profitability of our primary industries and the economic well-being of Queensland communities.
      'Exotic fruit fly "; S8[15]=" incursions can disrupt interstate and international trade and could mean another costly eradication campaign.
      'The wet season is the danger period when "; S9[15]=" several exotic fruit fly species from Papua New Guinea, including Asian papaya fruit fly are blown into the Torres Strait.
      'The islands "; S10[15]=" can become convenient stepping stones for them and that is why DPI&F and AQIS take the fight right up to them from the outset.' AQIS "; S11[15]=" checks monitoring traps throughout the year in Torres Strait to ensure no exotic fruit flies are present.
      They assist in fruit fly "; S12[15]=" eradication by applying a bait-spray to kill fruit flies on host trees.
      DPI&F complement this eradication work by installing male annihilation blocks.
"; S13[15]="       These are canite blocks soaked in a lure and an insecticide.
      This occurs not only on the four proactively "; S14[15]=" blocked northern islands, but on other islands in the Torres Strait as well as dictated by AQIS's monitoring results.
      'The male fruit "; S15[15]=" flies are attracted to this block from up to 800m away and are quickly killed by the insecticide when they land on it,' Ms Yarrow "; S16[15]=" said.
      'By using this combined approach to eradicate fruit flies on the islands, we can prevent them from establishing in the Torres "; S17[15]=" Strait and reduce the risk of exotic and potentially devastating species from reaching the mainland.'.. "; R[16]="1672"; T[16]="Insect pests to have a new foe"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20061123"; Dt[16]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[16]="a86"; B1[16]="      A new method for designing insecticides could produce chemicals which are deadly to specific pests yet harmless to other species.... "; B2[16]=" "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      A new method for designing insecticides could produce chemicals which are deadly to specific pests yet harmless to other species.
    "; S2[16]="   20 November 2006 A partnership between CSIRO and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is on the way to discovering new environmentally-friendly insecticides.
      "; S3[16]=" Safer insecticides targeting sheep blowflies and sheep body lice are being developed to save the wool industry millions of dollars in lost stock, while promoting "; S4[16]=" a clean green image for wool.
      Chief of CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, Dr Graeme Woodrow, says: 'A major benefit from this "; S5[16]=" approach to insecticide discovery is that these new chemicals will be designed to kill only the targeted pest insects and leave all other animals unharmed.' "; S6[16]=" The receptor for a hormone which controls moulting in insects, called ecdysone, is targeted by chemicals that mimic the natural hormone.
      These "; S7[16]=" chemicals initiate moulting at an inappropriate time, resulting in death of the insect.
      Each species has a unique receptor, so unique and "; S8[16]=" specific pesticides can be designed for each pest species.
      Once the process of moulting is interfered with, the insect dies.
    "; S9[16]="   The partnership with AWI is employing new molecular tools developed by CSIRO scientists working to aid the discovery of new insecticides for sheep pests.
"; S10[16]="       The integration of synthetic chemistry, molecular biology, fermentation science, protein chemistry and determination of the 3D structure of protein targets can be "; S11[16]=" applied to a wide spectrum of agricultural and animal health situations.
      Finding new, safer insecticides will produce benefits to farmers, the Australian "; S12[16]=" economy and to the environment.
      Speaking today at the annual AusBiotech conference in Sydney, Dr Woodrow, told leaders of the biotechnology industry "; S13[16]=" that there was a clear alignment between the capabilities at CSIRO and the needs of the biotech industry and that together they could deliver a "; S14[16]=" great impact for Australia.
      'The partnership with AWI is employing new molecular tools developed by CSIRO scientists working to aid the discovery "; S15[16]=" of new insecticides for sheep pests.' 'Biotech companies rely critically on innovation to succeed, yet much of that innovation requires capital-intensive infrastructure and multi-disciplinary scientific "; S16[16]=" capabilities.
      Most individual companies do not have these but CSIRO does and this is precisely where CSIRO can help,' Dr Woodrow said.
"; S17[16]="       The technique used to discover the 3D shape of each receptor protein is called structural biology.
      X-rays are passed "; S18[16]=" through crystals of the pure protein and from the data obtained a 3D structure of the molecule is determined.
      A well known "; S19[16]=" human health success story employing this technique is the development of the anti-flu drug Relenza.
      There is an historical link between the "; S20[16]=" development of Relenza and the current discovery program for new insecticides.
      The idea for looking at the ecdysone receptor protein and then "; S21[16]=" designing molecules to mimic the hormone binding to it came from CSIRO's pioneering research on influenza proteins... "; R[17]="1663"; T[17]="Starlings attack cherry orchards"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20061123"; Dt[17]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[17]="a86"; B1[17]="      Cherry orchards in central New South Wales are suffering major bird damage this year.... "; B2[17]=" "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      Cherry orchards in central New South Wales are suffering major bird damage this year.
      Large numbers of starlings are "; S2[17]=" attacking crops much earlier than normal, which growers believe is due to the drought and a lack of food.
      Cherry grower Guy "; S3[17]=" Gaeta says he has never seen so much damage.
      'They are getting to the cherries when they are still green,' he said.
"; S4[17]="       'Whether it is because they are hungry because of the drought.
      'I have never seem them before and everybody "; S5[17]=" in the district is having the same problems.
      They are not eating the cherries, they are just chopping them off.
    "; S6[17]="   'They go to taste them and then they are sour.
      They pull it off the tree and then they go to "; S7[17]=" another one hoping it is a bit sweeter.
      'They just keep on tasting the cherry, they are destroying the cherries because they "; S8[17]=" are still too green.'.. "; R[18]="1661"; T[18]="Sugar cane smut found on third cane farm"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20061123"; Dt[18]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[18]="a20a86"; B1[18]="      A third Mackay cane farm has been found to have sugar cane smut, confirming fears that the fungal disease is widespread.... "; B2[18]=" "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      A third Mackay cane farm has been found to have sugar cane smut, confirming fears that the fungal disease is widespread.
  "; S2[18]="     The disease has been found on a property, 20 kilometres from the original find near Mackay, which had been discovered on Melbourne Cup "; S3[18]=" day.
      Mackay Area Productivity Service spokesman Alan Royal says smut now looks to be well-established in central Queensland.
      'It's "; S4[18]=" very, very sad but it's right across the other side of town and the whips were reasonably advanced but they're certainly not big whips like "; S5[18]=" we've been seeing,' he said.
      'What did frighten me was on the weekend in one row at the initial farm, you know "; S6[18]=" we were seeing whips that were four, five feet long, so it's got a hold there but let's hope we can get on top of "; S7[18]=" it.' Meanwhile sugar cane farmers in Western Australia's Ord Valley are looking for new varieties, because some which were once resistant to cane smut are "; S8[18]=" not any more.
      The disease was first found in WA's north-west in 1998.
      CJ Ord River Sugar spokesman Wayne "; S9[18]=" Paul says 100 varieties have been tried in the past five years but only a handful have shown promise.
      He says smut "; S10[18]=" is also expected to reduce next year's crop.
      'Q95 is probably the worst.
      It's getting a bit of smut "; S11[18]=" now whereas it didn't have earlier on, so that will probably be mostly ploughed out over the next couple of years,' he said.
    "; S12[18]="   'We'll be looking for other varieties, Queensland's obviously going to have to find some smut-resistant varieties so we'll both be in the same boat.'.. "; R[19]="1623"; T[19]="Watch out for worms in the dry"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20061108"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 8 November 2006"; Acats[19]="a25a27a86"; B1[19]="      While farmers continue to focus on coping with drought, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has reminded producers to keep a watch "; B2[19]="on worms in sheep and goats... "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      While farmers continue to focus on coping with drought, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has reminded producers to keep a watch "; S2[19]=" on worms in sheep and goats.
      NSW DPI State worm control co-ordinator, Stephen Love, said some worms are better than others at "; S3[19]=" handling dry conditions.
      'Small brown stomach worm (Ostertagia) and thin-necked intestinal worm (Nematodirus) can survive and when conditions do turn good, some "; S4[19]=" worms can quickly take advantage,' Dr Love said.
      'Barber's pole worm (Haemonchus), especially in the summer rainfall areas of northern NSW, can "; S5[19]=" quickly build up numbers when conditions improve.' According to Dr Love, during drought sheep can also be more susceptible to worms due to nutritional stress, "; S6[19]=" physiological status (late pregnant or lactating ewes, or young lambs) and other management changes related to drought.
      'As long as producers "; S7[19]=" keep up regular worm egg count monitoring, which helps avoid unnecessary drenching, be guided by general worm control guidelines for your area and expert local "; S8[19]=" knowledge, you can keep on top of the situation,' he said.
      Producers should check the effectiveness of drenches.
      'If "; S9[19]=" you are not doing a full-blown drench resistance test, at least do a DrenchCheck, which is a simple worm egg count seven to 10 days "; S10[19]=" after a routine drench or longer in the case of sustained activity drenches - and don't forget liver fluke.
      'Many farmers are "; S11[19]=" unwittingly using drenches that have become ineffective due to worm resistance and resistance probably develops a lot faster in dry years than good years.
  "; S12[19]="     'Grazing management such as spelling and rotational grazing with cattle, admittedly a challenge during drought, can help avoid excessive worm burdens for susceptible "; S13[19]=" sheep.'.. "; R[20]="1616"; T[20]="High rabbit numbers worry graziers"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20061108"; Dt[20]="Wednesday 8 November 2006"; Acats[20]="a86"; B1[20]="      Graziers are concerned that high rabbit numbers will hinder the recovery of pastoral country after the drought.... "; B2[20]=" "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      Graziers are concerned that high rabbit numbers will hinder the recovery of pastoral country after the drought.
      David Lord "; S2[20]=" of Thackaringa station near Broken Hill says he is concerned that the calicivirus is losing its impact in controlling rabbit populations.
      Mr "; S3[20]=" Lord is calling for a complete stocktake of what is going on with rabbits and control methods.
      'General talk around the bush "; S4[20]=" [is] that rabbit numbers increased over the last six months,' he said.
      'Definitely need some finance to support a scientific team to "; S5[20]=" get a good handle on RHD so we know whether any resistance is developing.
      'Desperately need another biological agent, the most likely "; S6[20]=" chance of getting success would be another biological agent.'.. "; R[21]="1599"; T[21]="Queensland industry prepared for lettuce aphid"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20061103"; Dt[21]="Friday 3 November 2006"; Acats[21]="a17a86"; B1[21]="      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) biosecurity officers are undertaking targeted surveillance in Southern Queensland to determine the possible distribution of "; B2[21]="lettuce aphid in Queensland... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) biosecurity officers are undertaking targeted surveillance in Southern Queensland to determine the possible distribution of "; S2[21]=" lettuce aphid in Queensland.
      The surveillance program follows a finding of the pest at a Redland Bay property.
      Chris "; S3[21]=" Adriaansen, DPI&F General Manager Plant Biosecurity, said this is the first time lettuce aphid has been found in Queensland; however Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales "; S4[21]=" and South Australia all harbour the pest.
      'Since the pest was first identified in Australia in 2004, DPI&F has been working with "; S5[21]=" the Queensland industry to prepare for the pest's potential arrival,' Mr Adriaansen said.
      'Queensland has had entry conditions on lettuce coming from "; S6[21]=" those states for the past two years in a bid to delay the arrival of the pest in Queensland, and to enable industry to prepare "; S7[21]=" for what was considered to be the inevitable arrival of this new pest.
      'Now that lettuce aphid has been confirmed in Queensland, "; S8[21]=" these entry conditions will be lifted in accordance with standard national protocols.
      'Having time to prepare, I'm confident the local industry is "; S9[21]=" now well positioned to use resistant varieties and integrated pest management techniques to successfully manage the lettuce aphid,' he said.
      Lettuce producers "; S10[21]=" are encouraged to heighten routine pest management practices, and to be vigilant for the aphid.
      While it doesn't damage the lettuce itself, "; S11[21]=" lettuce aphid's ability to asexually reproduce means the vegetable can quickly be crawling with insects and therefore become unsaleable.
      The pest is "; S12[21]=" spread through wind and plant movement and can survive extreme cold and heat as well as very dry conditions.
      Lettuce aphid, a "; S13[21]=" pest of lettuce, petunia, artichoke and some other plants, poses no threat to human health and a crisp salad full of Queensland lettuce is still "; S14[21]=" safe to eat and enjoy.
      To report lettuce aphid contact DPI&F on 13 25 23... "; R[22]="1591"; T[22]="Muster slows cane toads' progress"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20061103"; Dt[22]="Friday 3 November 2006"; Acats[22]="a86"; B1[22]="      More than 48,000 cane toads have been caught in the Timber Creek region of the Northern Territory.... "; B2[22]=" "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      More than 48,000 cane toads have been caught in the Timber Creek region of the Northern Territory.
      A month-long "; S2[22]=" campaign has been running in an attempt to stop the poisonous pest crossing the Western Australian border.
      Coordinator Graeme Sawyer originally expected "; S3[22]=" to catch around 10,000 but he is hopeful the Great Toad Muster has slowed the toad's progress.
      'It's a combination of cane "; S4[22]=" toad biology and the way this landscape works, both ecologically and weather-wise, that makes me think you can actually stop toads out here,' he said... "; R[23]="1534"; T[23]="Report of Locust Hatching in Victoria"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20061017"; Dt[23]="Tuesday 17 October 2006"; Acats[23]="a86"; B1[23]="      The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has reported hatchings of the Australian Plague Locust at Gunbower Island in northern Victoria, prompting "; B2[23]="an alert calling on landholders to be vigilant in monitoring, reporting sightings, and spraying hoppers... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has reported hatchings of the Australian Plague Locust at Gunbower Island in northern Victoria, prompting "; S2[23]=" an alert calling on landholders to be vigilant in monitoring, reporting sightings, and spraying hoppers.
      The hatchings are of eggs laid during "; S3[23]=" Victoria's worst locust plague in 50 years (2004-05), with DPI principal scientist Dr Malcolm Campbell saying further hatching activity was expected around Mitiamo, Ararat and "; S4[23]=" the Swift Creeks region very soon.
      Locust information is available to farmers at www.dpi.vic.gov.au, and sightings should be reported by calling 1300 "; S5[23]=" 135 559... "; R[24]="1528"; T[24]="Termite breakthrough"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20061017"; Dt[24]="Tuesday 17 October 2006"; Acats[24]="a86"; B1[24]="      Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (DPI&F) research indicates that untreated wood at a termite infested site increases the need for higher "; B2[24]="concentrations of preventative chemicals in treated wood at the same site... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (DPI&F) research indicates that untreated wood at a termite infested site increases the need for higher "; S2[24]=" concentrations of preventative chemicals in treated wood at the same site.
      According to DPI&F Research Scientist Dr Brenton Peters, in the case "; S3[24]=" of borate treated timber at least, his team's research shows that how much untreated timber or other feed material available at a termite feeding site "; S4[24]=" has a direct relationship on how much preservative is enough to prevent termites from eating treated timber.
      'We instigated the study because "; S5[24]=" we were puzzled by conflicting results from laboratory and field studies that indicated that sometimes 0.5% borate retention would do the job, whereas at other "; S6[24]=" times considerably higher levels were needed,' Dr Peters said.
      'Our findings indicate that the bottom line for controlling termites chemically is to "; S7[24]=" limit the amount of untreated wood available for them to forage upon at any given site.
      'Laboratory data indicated that a borate "; S8[24]=" retention of 0.5% within the mass of the timber would cause greater than 90% termite mortality and restrict mass loss in timber to 5%, which "; S9[24]=" is a good outcome.
      'However, most field data suggested that borate retentions appreciably in excess of 0.5% mass were required.
    "; S10[24]="   So we wanted to find out why this was the case' 'The confusion is further compounded by differences in termite species, timber species and "; S11[24]=" test methodology.
      'To limit this we restricted our field study to an economically important Coptotermes species and a single type of treated "; S12[24]=" timber.
      'Our aim was to evaluate the response of Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) to borate-treated radiata pine sapwood in the presence of varying "; S13[24]=" amounts of susceptible timber in the field in an above-ground, weather-protected situation.
      'We have concluded that the untreated material probably has two "; S14[24]=" effects - firstly, a 'diluting' effect on individual termites and, secondly, it increases the number of termites feeding on the treated timber.
      "; S15[24]=" 'Commercially, a figure of 2% borate retention is registered for use in Australia.
      Our results have indicated that this is probably a "; S16[24]=" safe figure to keep in place, but it is satisfying to know what is really going on.
      'I would hope that further "; S17[24]=" investigations can determine how widespread this phenomenon is with different timber preservatives.' Dr Peters and colleague Chris Fitzgerald recently shared their findings with the International "; S18[24]=" Research Group on Timber Preservation, which met in Norway... "; R[25]="1416"; T[25]="DPI&F focuses on pests in urban Cairns"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20060921"; Dt[25]="Thursday 21 September 2006"; Acats[25]="a66a86"; B1[25]="      The fight against Australia's unwanted visitors continues in Cairns next week when the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) surveys suburban "; B2[25]="households for exotic plant pests and diseases... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      The fight against Australia's unwanted visitors continues in Cairns next week when the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) surveys suburban "; S2[25]=" households for exotic plant pests and diseases.
      The Cairns urban survey team will target households between Gordonvale and Ellis Beach between Monday "; S3[25]=" and Thursday, September 18 and 21.
      The team will knock on doors to seek cooperation from householders to scour their gardens for "; S4[25]=" signs of any potential problems.
      DPI&F plant health scientist Ceri Pearce said key pests for the survey would be mango leaf hopper "; S5[25]=" and electric ants, as well as the usual banana leaf diseases such as black Sigatoka.
      They will look out for exotic citrus "; S6[25]=" and mango pests as well.
      'Electric ants were detected in Smithfield in May this year and the Electric Ant Task Force is "; S7[25]=" carrying out treatment in the area,' Dr Pearce said Mango leaf hoppers have been gradually moving down the Cape from Papua New Guinea since 1997 "; S8[25]=" and were detected on mango trees in Mareeba last year.
      Specific management strategies have been put in place to deal with these "; S9[25]=" exotic pests.
      'But it is important to remain vigilant looking for these or new exotic pests in the Cairns area,' Dr Pearce "; S10[25]=" said.
      'Surveillance activities, such as the annual Cairns urban survey, help DPI&F to quickly detect any exotic plant pests that may pose "; S11[25]=" a threat to agricultural industries throughout North Queensland.
      'We will keep an eye out for any possible exotic plant pest or disease "; S12[25]=" during the survey.
      Early detection is a key factor in successful response to exotic pests.
      'We will check selected "; S13[25]=" suburban properties and target gardens which have a wide range of fruit and vegetable crops.' All team members will carry clear identification and will ask "; S14[25]=" permission before surveying a property.
      'The success of this survey relies on the cooperation of Cairns householders,' Dr Pearce said.
    "; S15[25]="   'They can play their part in fighting exotic pests and diseases by allowing us onto their properties and taking the time to let us "; S16[25]=" know about any unusual pests they have seen in their garden.
      'At the same time we will be pleased to discuss any "; S17[25]=" pest and disease issues with residents.' 'Residents of north Queensland have a good knowledge of quarantine issues because they have been at the frontline of "; S18[25]=" several incursions.
      'They know the importance of DPI&F's surveillance work and we appreciate their ongoing support'... "; R[26]="1357"; T[26]="First Sightings of Grasshoppers"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20060903"; Dt[26]="Sunday 3 September 2006"; Acats[26]="a86"; B1[26]="      Primary Industries and Resources SA has received its first reports of grasshopper hatchings in the north of South Australia.... "; B2[26]=" "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      Primary Industries and Resources SA has received its first reports of grasshopper hatchings in the north of South Australia.
      "; S2[26]=" The sightings, around Terowie, Hawker and Orroroo, have been reported to PIRSA staff in the lead-up to the start of the 2006 grasshopper management program, "; S3[26]=" which is due to begin on Monday, 18 September.
      Recent warmer weather is understood to have enabled the early hatchings, according "; S4[26]=" to PIRSA's grasshopper program manager Hugh Longbottom.
      'PIRSA field staff are ready for the program, and are in the final stages "; S5[26]=" of setting up a base at Orroroo.
      A few early sightings are very helpful for our planning, so we can know where "; S6[26]=" some initial hot-spots will be, but the majority of hatchings are still expected in the first two weeks of September so we are confident we "; S7[26]=" are well prepared,' he said.
      The infestation of grasshoppers is likely to be not as extensive as the severe outbreaks of small "; S8[26]=" plague grasshoppers in 1998-1999 in the area.
      The Small Plague Grasshopper, unlike locusts, do not migrate far and seldom move more than "; S9[26]=" 30 kilometres from where they have hatched.
      'They are not a threat to crops further south,' Mr Longbottom said.
      "; S10[26]=" The three-month program will be controlled from a PIRSA base, to be established at the Orroroo CFS headquarters.
      Mr Longbottom "; S11[26]=" urged any landholders with grasshopper sightings to contact the PIRSA hotline on 1300 666 010 before 17 September, or after that date to 8658 1532 "; S12[26]=" until the end of the program.
      He also urged landholders to undertake their own control programs where possible, and to complete "; S13[26]=" the 'Permission to Spray' form, which is available from the PIRSA website and can be faxed to 8664 1405, or delivered to local council offices "; S14[26]=" or PIRSA field staff.
      'Land owners are encouraged to undertake their own control where possible, and PIRSA will assist by treating larger "; S15[26]=" infestations.
      Please talk to your local chemical re-seller for advice, or visit the PIRSA website www.pir.sa.gov.au/grasshoppers to check on the list of "; S16[26]=" approved chemicals,' Mr Longbottom said.
      Landholders with beekeepers or kangaroo shooters operating on their properties are also encouraged to ring the "; S17[26]=" hotline number to seek advice... "; R[27]="1342"; T[27]="First Locust hatchings reported"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20060830"; Dt[27]="Wednesday 30 August 2006"; Acats[27]="a86"; B1[27]="      The first locust hatchings for the season were reported to the Department of Agriculture and Food over the weekend.... "; B2[27]=" "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      The first locust hatchings for the season were reported to the Department of Agriculture and Food over the weekend.
      "; S2[27]=" Locust incident co-ordinator Simon Merewether said hatchings had been reported in the Moora area, in line with the Department's predictions for early season emergence "; S3[27]=" in some regions.
      'We expect the bulk of the insects to emerge in this area over about the next two weeks,' "; S4[27]=" Mr Merewether said.
      'The Department has a well co-ordinated control management plan in place and teams of staff are now ground "; S5[27]=" monitoring and tracking the hatching patterns.
      'Farmers in the Moora area are encouraged to begin surveying their properties and look out "; S6[27]=" for any emerging locusts, which will only be about the size of a small ant but will hop when disturbed.
      'Any "; S7[27]=" sightings need to be reported to their local Department office or to 1800 084 881.
      Mr Merewether said it was also "; S8[27]=" important that farmers in the Moora area particularly, had returned their updated property information to the Department to ensure a smooth spraying program,' he said.
"; S9[27]="       'The Department's spraying program will target areas where high density swarms are expected to form.
      Farmers outside of "; S10[27]=" these target areas will be encouraged to undertake their own spraying programs.
      'Although the season has been very dry in some "; S11[27]=" areas, it will still be important for farmers to undertake their own control programs to protect any pasture or crops they have from locust damage.' "; S12[27]=" He said the Department would continue to work closely with landholders and communities to ensure the control program proceeded smoothly.
      "; S13[27]=" 'Hatchings are likely to commence in other areas soon and will vary across the state according to climatic conditions and other environmental factors.
    "; S14[27]="   'Egg bed monitoring will continue across the state and farmers will be advised when they should be starting look for locust hatchings,' Mr "; S15[27]=" Merewether said.
      Department staff will also be on hand at the Dowerin Field Days this week and at the Newdegate and "; S16[27]=" Mingenew field days in September to answer questions relating to locust control and monitoring.
      More information on locusts is available from "; S17[27]=" local Department offices, by phoning 1800 084 881or visiting www.agric.wa.gov.au and clicking on the 'Australian Plague Locust' link on the homepage.
      "; S18[27]=" Advice and information on health related issues is available by contacting the Department of Health Pesticide Safety Unit on 9383 4244... "; R[28]="1333"; T[28]="Department gearing up to start formal locust monitoring"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20060827"; Dt[28]="Sunday 27 August 2006"; Acats[28]="a86"; B1[28]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food is gearing up to commence formal locust monitoring, with the first hatchings expected in northern areas "; B2[28]="in mid September... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food is gearing up to commence formal locust monitoring, with the first hatchings expected in northern areas "; S2[28]=" in mid September.
      Recent monitoring of egg beds has confirmed predictions that this year's locust outbreak is expected to be similar "; S3[28]=" in size to the incident that occurred in 2000.
      Department locust incident co-ordinator Simon Merewether said the egg bed monitoring conducted "; S4[28]=" from Moora in the north down to Tambellup in the south over the past month, indicated the survival rate of locust eggs had been very "; S5[28]=" good, despite the dry seasonal conditions.
      'From the data collected, it is predicted the first hatchings will occur in the Moora "; S6[28]=" shire in mid September and then progressively move south.
      The majority of the hatchings for the rest of the state are expected "; S7[28]=" in the first week of October,' he said.
      Mr Merewether said the Department was well prepared to manage the outbreak, and "; S8[28]=" over the next few weeks would be making final preparations to commence formal monitoring, followed by the identification of high density swarms for control operations.
"; S9[28]="       'The Department will have a number of staff on the ground working closely with landholders during both the formal monitoring and "; S10[28]=" spraying phases of the control program,' he said.
      Mr Merewether reminded landholders in the shires of Moora, Victoria Plains, Tammin, York, "; S11[28]=" Quairading, Bruce Rock, Narembeen, Yilgarn, Corrigin, Kondinin, Wickepin, Kulin, Dumbleyung, Lake Grace and Kent to return any updates to their property information as soon as "; S12[28]=" possible.
      'This information will help the Department to contact landholders before control operations commence,' he said.
      'Department "; S13[28]=" staff will also be on hand at the Dowerin, Newdegate and Mingenew field days to answer questions relating to locust control and monitoring.' More "; S14[28]=" information on locusts is available from local Department offices or by phoning 1800 084 881.
      Website information will be available from Monday "; S15[28]=" 28 August 2006 - www.agric.wa.gov.au.. "; R[29]="1328"; T[29]="The good, the bad and the ugly of fungi"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20060827"; Dt[29]="Sunday 27 August 2006"; Acats[29]="a86a93"; B1[29]="      The relationship between plants and fungi is important for the survival of almost every plant in the world - our agricultural and "; B2[29]="forestry industries and our natural environment rely on fungi... "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      The relationship between plants and fungi is important for the survival of almost every plant in the world - our agricultural and "; S2[29]=" forestry industries and our natural environment rely on fungi.
      Unfortunately, there is a downside because many serious diseases in agricultural crops (such "; S3[29]=" as sugar cane smut) and native flora (such as phytophthora dieback) are caused by fungus.
      Put simply, good fungi and bad fungi "; S4[29]=" exist among the estimated 75,000 identified species around the world.
      These known species are believed to be only about five per cent "; S5[29]=" of the total number of fungi in the world.
      The good, the bad and the ugly of the fungus world, much of "; S6[29]=" it microscopic, is the focus of this week's Eighth International Mycology Congress (IMC8), a comprehensive week-long program of workshops and lectures that has brought some "; S7[29]=" 700 scientists to Cairns from around the world.
      On the bad and ugly side, the final plenary speech will be a "; S8[29]=" warning about the potential devastation of native flora and plantation forests.
      The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has sponsored leading international "; S9[29]=" forest protection scientist Mike Wingfield of the Forestry and Agricultural Research Institute, South Africa, to deliver a lecture entitled 'Emerging fungal diseases threaten world forests'.
"; S10[29]="       DPI&F's sponsorship of Dr Wingfield's visit is keeping with its ongoing work in surveying for forest pests and pathogens in Queensland "; S11[29]=" forests.
      DPI&F has lists of targeted exotic organisms causing problems overseas and keeps a constant lookout to ensure early detection if outbreaks "; S12[29]=" occur.
      Phytophthora dieback, known as the 'biological bulldozer', in some parts of Australia is a frightening indicator of how hectares of the "; S13[29]=" natural environment can be devastated.
      This dieback has ravaged natural forest ecosystems in Australia and elsewhere in the world.
      "; S14[29]=" It has badly affected fruit crops such as avocado and pineapple.
      As the native trees are dying in the wake of the "; S15[29]=" disease so are the plants and animals that rely on them.
      'The major cause of events such as phytophthora dieback in native "; S16[29]=" forests is human movement,' Dr Wingfield said.
      'The first recorded examples of epidemic diseases causing the destruction of forests occurred in about "; S17[29]=" 1900, a time when trade between northern and southern hemispheres began to materialise.
      'At the same time forestry industries were established with "; S18[29]=" the use of germplasm from other parts of the world.' Fungal diseases affecting forests include Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight, white pine blister rust and "; S19[29]=" eucalyptus (guava) rust.
      'All of our fabulous native forests are under threat from alien invasions of insect pests that carry the fungal "; S20[29]=" diseases,' Dr Wingfield said.
      'Other plants will eventually replace the natives that have died, but they won't be the same.
"; S21[29]="       Everything changes.
      'It will be a biological disaster of incomprehensible magnitude if we experience more fungal-related dieback events.
  "; S22[29]="     'Dieback will be difficult to stop.
      It becomes a matter of management and control.
      Australia and New "; S23[29]=" Zealand have the best and strictest quarantine procedures in the world, but only a couple of spores can bring about devastation.
      'Where "; S24[29]=" there is movement of people and products, there is a risk whether though the nursery trade, timber on a shipping crate or sand on your "; S25[29]=" shoes when you enter the country,' Dr Wingfeld said.
      Fungal diseases cut both ways.
      Australian native trees are "; S26[29]=" resistant to native diseases, but these diseases can cause similar problems if allowed into native forests of other countries.
      World-wide trends are "; S27[29]=" focusing on attempts to stem the flow of tree pathogens to new environments.
      Dr Wingfield's talk at the final plenary session "; S28[29]=" of IMC8 this Friday night (August 25) will look at the extent of the problem and the research being carried out to better understand and "; S29[29]=" tackle the problem... "; R[30]="1288"; T[30]="Insect 'noses' the key to Cybernose collaboration"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20060812"; Dt[30]="Saturday 12 August 2006"; Acats[30]="a13a86a93"; B1[30]="      A new $4 million collaboration announced today will help scientists in their efforts to produce a new generation of electronic nose, the "; B2[30]="'Cybernose'... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      A new $4 million collaboration announced today will help scientists in their efforts to produce a new generation of electronic nose, the "; S2[30]=" 'Cybernose'.
      Researchers in the collaborative Cluster between The Australian National University, Monash University and CSIRO's Food Futures National Research Flagship are trying "; S3[30]=" to understand how simple animals make sense of smells.
      The microscopic nematode worm will be central to the Cybernose research due to "; S4[30]=" its highly sensitive molecular recognition system, allowing it to sense smell and flavour qualities in grapes.
      The Cybernose will involve putting sensor "; S5[30]=" proteins from insects and nematodes in to an electronic nose to replace the current generation of electronic sensors that are not discriminating enough.
    "; S6[30]="   The Cybernose may also be used in future across other sectors of the food and beverage industries and, in the long term, the cybernose "; S7[30]=" technology could be developed to enhance Australia's biosecurity by detecting and intercepting pests and diseases The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, has "; S8[30]=" announced the first round of Flagship Collaboration Fund Cluster funding, designed to facilitate the involvement of the wider Australian research community in addressing the critical "; S9[30]=" national challenges targeted by the Flagships.
      As part of the $305 million over seven years provided by the Australian Government to the "; S10[30]=" National Research Flagships, $97 million was specifically allocated to further enhance collaboration between CSIRO, Australian universities and other publicly funded research agencies.
      "; S11[30]=" The Flagship Collaboration Fund enables the skills of the wider Australian research community to be applied to the major national challenges targeted by CSIRO's Flagship "; S12[30]=" Initiative.
      The University Cluster partners will receive $2.2 million from the Flagship Collaboration Fund over two and a half years.
    "; S13[30]="   This money will be matched in-kind by ANU and Monash.
      Dr Bruce Lee, Director of the Food Futures Flagship, says that "; S14[30]=" the Olfactory Pattern Recognition Research Cluster is one of the first Clusters to receive funding from the Flagships Collaboration Fund and university partners.
    "; S15[30]="   'This is the first time that we've had a real opportunity to collaborate with CSIRO to build on basic science to generate a potentially "; S16[30]=" extremely useful technology,' says Cluster leader, Professor Mandyam Srinivasan from ANU.
      'It is very exciting that the research will have applications in "; S17[30]=" a number of industries.' Dr Coral Warr from Monash University says the collaborative cluster is an exciting opportunity.
      'It is bringing together "; S18[30]=" Australian olfaction researchers using very different approaches to solve a common problem - how do animals detect and discriminate odours,' Dr Warr says.
    "; S19[30]="   She says that participation in the Flagship Cluster has enabled her to bring to Australia one of the foremost insect olfactory electrophysiologists, Dr Marien "; S20[30]=" de Bruyne, thus enabling her group to study odorant receptor function in the fruit fly Drosophila in entirely new ways.
      'The information "; S21[30]=" we generate about how these receptors function will directly benefit CSIRO's development of olfactory biosensors,' Dr Warr says.
      Although the applications will "; S22[30]=" be numerous, in the first instance, the group is working with the wine industry.
      'The Cybernose will draw on how the brains "; S23[30]=" of simple organisms such as insects and tiny nematode worms process information about smells and tell the difference between related odours,' says Dr Trowell, the "; S24[30]=" Flagship theme leader.
      'By 2013, we aim to have, in wineries around Australia, a Cybernose that will enable the wine industry to "; S25[30]=" objectively measure aroma and flavour - a more reliable measure than chewing some grapes.
      'This will enable winemakers to pick grapes at "; S26[30]=" the time of optimum ripeness and even to tailor the style of wine precisely and so improve its value.
      This has the "; S27[30]=" potential to contribute $750 million annually to the industry.'.. "; R[31]="1280"; T[31]="New Termite Data to Assist Councils"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20060812"; Dt[31]="Saturday 12 August 2006"; Acats[31]="a04a86"; B1[31]="      Research conducted for the Building Commission has indicated that there is no evidence to support that the whole of Victoria should become "; B2[31]="a designated termite zone... "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      Research conducted for the Building Commission has indicated that there is no evidence to support that the whole of Victoria should become "; S2[31]=" a designated termite zone.
      The research was commissioned to clarify data on the level of termite infestation in Victoria, following the release "; S3[31]=" of a CSIRO study of termite infestation in metropolitan Melbourne.
      In releasing the independent research report today, the Building Commissioner, Tony "; S4[31]=" Arnel, said that the research has shown that there is some termite activity in all undesignated and partially designated municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne but the "; S5[31]=" levels are relatively low.
      The level of activity ranged from less than one per cent (in the City of Darebin) to five "; S6[31]=" per cent (in the City of Maribyrnong) of all properties in undesignated or partially designated municipalities.
      In regional Victoria, the available "; S7[31]=" data showed little or no termite activity in many undesignated or partially designated municipalities.
      The western region of the state, which includes "; S8[31]=" Ballarat, Southern Grampians and West Wimmera, was not covered by the CSIRO report.
      However, the research commissioned by the Building Commission indicated "; S9[31]=" that the level of termite activity in this region was particularly low, and reinforced that there was not enough evidence to support that the whole "; S10[31]=" of Victoria should become a designated termite zone.
      'Under Victoria's building regulations, designation of an area as termite prone is up to "; S11[31]=" councils.
      Currently, out of the 79 municipalities in Victoria, 20 are undesignated and seven are partially designated termite zones,' Mr Arnel said.
"; S12[31]="       Designating a termite area is a significant decision for councils as it imposes additional costs on the building process.
      "; S13[31]=" Speaking of the research that had been presented to him, David Gay of the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) said that the research provided "; S14[31]=" further information for undesignated and partially designated councils in Victoria.
      'The independent research will be helpful for those councils to determine if "; S15[31]=" their current designation is appropriate for their area.
      We are hopeful that this research will act as the starting point to collect "; S16[31]=" further information on the level of termite activity in Victorian municipalities,' said Mr Gay.
      Mr Arnel said all councils will be provided "; S17[31]=" with the findings of the research, which collated data from the pest management industry, the Office of Housing and electricity retailer Powercor.
      "; S18[31]=" Under Regulation 803 of Victoria's Building Regulations 2006, councils can designate areas in their municipality in which buildings are likely to be subject to termite "; S19[31]=" infestation.
      Building work in areas designated as termite infested are required to comply with the provisions of the Building Code of Australia "; S20[31]=" (BCA).
      About termites in Victoria Almost 70 per cent of all Victorian municipalities are designated termite zones.
      "; S21[31]=" The Building Code of Australia (BCA) termite provisions, including the Australian Standard AS 3660.1, apply in designated termite-prone areas across Victoria.
      Victoria's "; S22[31]=" Building Regulations 2006 stipulate that all new houses and extensions built in termite prone areas must be protected against termites by either physical or chemical "; S23[31]=" barriers.
      Registered building practitioners have a responsibility to their clients and the industry to ensure that the appropriate termite management devices are "; S24[31]=" in place when constructing or renovating dwellings.
      Building surveyors and inspectors are aware of the importance of termite management requirements and "; S25[31]=" will check that builders have installed an appropriate and approved termite risk management system.
      To meet the requirements of the BCA "; S26[31]=" in relation to termite risk management, registered building practitioners need to consider the following: ' Determine the level of "; S27[31]=" termite risk - the level of termite activity varies across Victoria.
      Therefore, builders should contact the relevant council for the building site "; S28[31]=" to determine if the site is in a designated termite area.
      ' Which termite management system best "; S29[31]=" suits the project - physical or chemical ' Physical - termite resistant materials include masonry, concrete, termite resistant timber, steel and "; S30[31]=" fibre reinforced cement.
      ' Chemical - chemical soil barriers deter termites from gaining access to a building once "; R[32]="1276"; T[32]="Citrus growers prepare for fruit fly zone restructure"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20060810"; Dt[32]="Thursday 10 August 2006"; Acats[32]="a18a86"; B1[32]="      Citrus growers say they are close to winning a 10-year fight to have the Murray Valley's fruit fly zone restructured.... "; B2[32]=" "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      Citrus growers say they are close to winning a 10-year fight to have the Murray Valley's fruit fly zone restructured.
    "; S2[32]="   Access to important overseas markets, such as Taiwan, depends on the zone being free of a single fly detection for 12 months.
    "; S3[32]="   Murray Valley Citrus Board chief executive John Tesorerioro says that has been difficult for Murray Valley growers because of the size of the Sunraysia "; S4[32]=" area.
      'It's not just the area around Mildura in those documents, it virtually goes from the South Australian border through to areas "; S5[32]=" like Wangaratta on both sides of the Murray River,' he said.
      He says restructuring the zones will aid the fruit fly fight.
"; S6[32]="       'The real benefits of the three zones are that we are able to enforce sanctions against people carrying fruit into any of "; S7[32]=" the three zones,' he said.
      'We can't at the moment, we can only enforce infringements on people travelling into the large zone.'.. "; R[33]="1220"; T[33]="Community called on to take up fox fight"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20060804"; Dt[33]="Friday 4 August 2006"; Acats[33]="a69a86"; B1[33]="      State and federal politicians are calling for the community to redouble efforts to eradicate foxes in Tasmania, while arguing over who should "; B2[33]="foot the bill for the fight... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      State and federal politicians are calling for the community to redouble efforts to eradicate foxes in Tasmania, while arguing over who should "; S2[33]=" foot the bill for the fight.
      The discovery of a fox carcass in the northern midlands earlier this week has re-opened debate "; S3[33]=" about funding for eliminating the pest.
      State Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn wants conservationists, farmers and even hunters to form a 150-strong "; S4[33]=" force to track down the pests.
      Greens leader Bob Brown agrees more community involvement is needed.
      'Having foxes in "; S5[33]=" Tasmania is like having a grenade in Noah's ark,' he said.
      He says both the state and federal governments need to put "; S6[33]=" in more money.
      Federal Conservation Minister Eric Abetz says he will if Mr Llewellyn does.
      'I would be able "; S7[33]=" to convince Canberra that this was a serious problem, f Tasmania itself was to make an extra commitment, and just to rely on the public "; S8[33]=" isn't good enough,' he said.
      Mr Llewellyn says he has already committed $2.4 million over the next four years and the Commonwealth "; S9[33]=" should match that... "; R[34]="1200"; T[34]="International presentation on sheep worm research"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20060730"; Dt[34]="Sunday 30 July 2006"; Acats[34]="a25a86"; B1[34]="      Work by CSIRO Livestock Industries researcher, Kerri Tyrrell, which validates a new method of controlling a major parasite in Australian sheep, is "; B2[34]="being presented to the International Controlled Release Society conference in Vienna this week... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      Work by CSIRO Livestock Industries researcher, Kerri Tyrrell, which validates a new method of controlling a major parasite in Australian sheep, is "; S2[34]=" being presented to the International Controlled Release Society conference in Vienna this week.
      Ms Tyrrell successfully combined two chemicals in a unique "; S3[34]=" way to produce a single controlled-release formulation for effective long-term protection against the damaging intestinal worm, Haemonchus contortus.
      This required formulating a "; S4[34]=" capsule which combined tablets of Ivermectin - for continuous release over 100 days - with two pulses of Levamisole released over a 20-hour period after "; S5[34]=" day-50 and again after day-100.
      'The technology that enables the incorporation of Levamisole in pulse-release formulation has not previously been used in "; S6[34]=" conventional controlled-release products,' Ms Tyrrell said.
      'The unique combination of the two chemicals offered a real chance to break the worm's life-cycle "; S7[34]=" without resistance developing,' Ms Tyrrell said.
      As part of her project, a trial was conducted using 30 young Merinos infected with a "; S8[34]=" combination of susceptible and Invermectin-resistant Haemonchus contortus.
      While Invermectin alone controlled, but did not eliminate, the intestinal worm, the subsequent doses of "; S9[34]=" Levamisole reduced the number of eggs produced by the worms by 99.9 percent.
      'The sheep industry spends large sums of money controlling "; S10[34]=" parasites each year.
      However the development of new treatments in the future is uncertain and this combination technology is about making best "; S11[34]=" use of existing bioactives,' Ms Tyrrell said.
      'The technology that enables the incorporation of Levamisole in pulse-release formulation has not previously "; S12[34]=" been used in conventional controlled-release products,' Ms Tyrrell said Ms Tyrrell - who recently won an AFFA Science and Innovation Award for Young People - "; S13[34]=" undertook the three-year project at CSIRO Livestock Industries research facilities near Armidale with the assistance of Dr Leo Le Jambre and Dr Keith Ellis.
  "; S14[34]="     Her findings have been submitted in a report to the Bureau of Rural Science and two scientific papers are being prepared for publication.
"; S15[34]="       The presentation at the Vienna Conference, being held from July 22 to 26, is being made by Professor Ellis who has since "; S16[34]=" retired from CSIRO... "; R[35]="1160"; T[35]="High dioxins for Sydney fishermen"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20060720"; Dt[35]="Thursday 20 July 2006"; Acats[35]="a03a09a86"; B1[35]="      Blood tests on Sydney Harbour commercial fishermen and their families have found that every one of them has dangerously high levels of "; B2[35]="dioxins in their bodies... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      Blood tests on Sydney Harbour commercial fishermen and their families have found that every one of them has dangerously high levels of "; S2[35]=" dioxins in their bodies.
      The test results, which will be released to the families today, show all 95 people tested have dioxin "; S3[35]=" levels between twice and 10 times the Australian average.
      Information obtained by The Daily Telegraph shows the dioxin levels are generally "; S4[35]=" higher in the older people tested, although the figures are also alarming for the fishermen's children.
      And the fact that every "; S5[35]=" person tested positive could have serious ramifications for recreational anglers and consumers who have eaten significant quantities of seafood caught in the Harbour.
    "; S6[35]="   New South Wales Health officials admit, because so little is known about the dioxins, they can not say what the health consequences will "; S7[35]=" be for the men, their wives and children.
      However, the NSW Government - which for four months labelled the tests unnecessary "; S8[35]=" and refused to conduct them - is now promising special health assistance to the families.
      When contacted by The Daily Telegraph "; S9[35]=" last night, Health Minister John Hatzistergos said his department will introduce measures and assistance to the fishermen's GPs to ensure they are fully informed.
  "; S10[35]="     He said that when the fishermen and their families are given their results at Concord Hospital this morning, they also will receive "; S11[35]=" written advice addressed to their GPs.
      'We will also be convening a seminar to give the family GPs information on dioxins,' "; S12[35]=" Mr Hatzistergos said.
      'We will be establishing an ongoing link to the Health Department where GPs can contact the experts and get "; S13[35]=" advice.
      'It has been decided that because family GPs know their patients' medical histories, it is better for them to monitor "; S14[35]=" them, but we want to provide them with as much help as we can.' The blood tests were conducted about 10 weeks ago, although "; S15[35]=" the families became concerned about their health in January, when commercial fishing was banned in Sydney Harbour after elevated levels of dioxins were discovered in "; S16[35]=" prawns and bream.
      Virtually all the fishermen, their wives and children have always eaten large amounts of their catch - meaning "; S17[35]=" they have been exposed to higher levels of dioxins.
      It is understood that the levels of dioxins found in the families "; S18[35]=" was similar to that of fishing communities elsewhere, such as Finland and Canada.
      Australia's average levels are lower than other countries, "; S19[35]=" with some having levels three times higher than here.
      Fishing was banned in Homebush Bay in 1998, but in January this "; S20[35]=" year the Government banned commercial fishing in the Harbour - and advised anglers to eat just 150g of fish a month - after elevated levels "; S21[35]=" of dioxins were found in seafood.
      Homebush Bay is the source of virtually all the dioxins found in fish caught elsewhere "; S22[35]=" in the Harbour.
      Dioxins bio-accumulate, so a fish that has never been in Homebush Bay can have elevated levels of dioxins "; S23[35]=" because of the other marine life it has eaten... "; R[36]="1127"; T[36]="Worm drenching sheep on the way out"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20060717"; Dt[36]="Monday 17 July 2006"; Acats[36]="a25a86"; B1[36]="      The day when farmers no longer need to concern themselves with drenching sheep against worms may not be far away, according Dr "; B2[36]="Johan Greeff form the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, (DAFWA)... "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      The day when farmers no longer need to concern themselves with drenching sheep against worms may not be far away, according Dr "; S2[36]=" Johan Greeff form the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, (DAFWA).
      Dr Greeff says this is a highly likely outcome based "; S3[36]=" on the results from a long term sheep breeding experiment in the Great Southern for worm resistance.
      'The Rylington Merino flock at "; S4[36]=" the Mount Barker Research Station has been bred for low faecal worm egg count since 1988, and results from Sheep Genetics Australia show that it "; S5[36]=" is the most worm resistant Merino flock in Australia,' Dr Greeff says.
      'This is very important, as recent research results from a "; S6[36]=" large number of sheep tested in most sheep producing regions of Australia have shown that there is an alarming decrease in the efficacy of all "; S7[36]=" drench groups.' Dr Greeff said that indiscriminate use of the available drenches or treating sheep with slow release capsules would result in a continual increase "; S8[36]=" in drench resistance.
      'The fact that most of the old white and clear (BZ and LEV) drenches are highly ineffective is proof "; S9[36]=" that worms have become very resistant to some of these drenches.
      It is clearly time for sheep farmers look at alternative options "; S10[36]=" to control the buildup of worm resistance.
      'The best long term solution appears to be to use rams that are resistant to "; S11[36]=" worms.
      Using genetically worm resistant rams will result in an immediate drop in worm egg counts in the progeny, which will have "; S12[36]=" huge benefits for farmers in general,' Dr Greeff said.
      'Research results from the worm resistant Rylington Merino flock have shown that worm "; S13[36]=" resistant sheep produced $7.05 more per head than unselected control sheep under a scenario where it was not necessary to drench any sheep,' he said.
"; S14[36]="       'Worm resistant sheep have a lower worm burden, and therefore excrete less worm eggs on the pasture.
      This results "; S15[36]=" in fewer worms on the pastures.
      Young lambs grazing such pastures also have a higher growth rate and better wool production at "; S16[36]=" hogget age.' Dr Greef said researchers were currently investigating whether this higher growth rate at hogget age would persist through the animals' lifetime, and whether "; S17[36]=" it would result in higher reproduction rates... "; R[37]="1058"; T[37]="Govt urged to fund alternatives to 1080 poison"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20060710"; Dt[37]="Monday 10 July 2006"; Acats[37]="a03a42a86"; B1[37]="      The Wilderness Society wants the Tasmanian Government to fund studies into the cost-effectiveness of non-lethal techniques to control browsing animals.... "; B2[37]=" "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      The Wilderness Society wants the Tasmanian Government to fund studies into the cost-effectiveness of non-lethal techniques to control browsing animals.
    "; S2[37]="   A draft report on a $4 million project to find alternatives to the poison 1080 is recommending a choice of strategic options for managing "; S3[37]=" damage caused by browsing mammals.
      The 1080 alternative draft will be reviewed by the Department of Primary Industry and Water and the "; S4[37]=" Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry before being released to the general public.
      Wilderness Society spokeswoman Gemma Tillack says they want "; S5[37]=" to see more use of non-lethal methods to minimise the damage browsing wildlife does to crops.
      'The cost-benefit analysis for these non-lethal "; S6[37]=" techniques haven't been shown and the same goes for the lethal techniques they're talking about, so we obviously need to think about how we're going "; S7[37]=" to allocate this $4 million in funds, and also we really need to prioritise the research that we're going to be doing,' she said... "; R[38]="1050"; T[38]="Work continues on mulesing alternatives"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20060708"; Dt[38]="Saturday 8 July 2006"; Acats[38]="a25a86"; B1[38]="      Progress in the investigation of alternatives to surgical mulesing will be presented to WA sheep producers at the Merino Innovation Day at "; B2[38]="The Grange Merino Stud on 12 July... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      Progress in the investigation of alternatives to surgical mulesing will be presented to WA sheep producers at the Merino Innovation Day at "; S2[38]=" The Grange Merino Stud on 12 July.
      One of the highlights will include the Australian Wool Innovation, Department of Agriculture and "; S3[38]=" Food and CSIRO's report on their collaborative genetic research project, which commenced in 2005.
      Department of Agriculture and Food researchers Johan "; S4[38]=" Greeff and John Karlsson are managing a 'winter rainfall area' trial at the Department's Mount Barker Research Station to find acceptable alternatives to surgical mulesing.
"; S5[38]="       A 'summer rainfall area' trial is being conducted by CSIRO Livestock Industries at Armidale in New South Wales.
      "; S6[38]=" Mr Greeff said previous research had identified indicator traits that made sheep more susceptible to blowfly strike.
      These included excessive skin wrinkles, "; S7[38]=" excessive wool coverage, high suint, fleece rot, dermatitis and dags.
      'This project is looking at the role these factors play in "; S8[38]=" blowfly strike, and how they can best be used in breeding programs to remove the need for surgical mulesing.' Mr Karlsson said 600 ewes "; S9[38]=" were screened from research flocks at both the WA site and the NSW site, and have been divided into three lines for assessment for susceptibility "; S10[38]=" to blowfly strike and breeding for a high level of resistance.
      'Rams for the 2006 matings have been sourced from both "; S11[38]=" industry and research provider flocks, based on scoring for the indicator trials,' Mr Karlsson said.
      'The results for the first 12 "; S12[38]=" months of the trial will be presented to producers at the Merino Innovation day and at a series of field days this spring.' The "; S13[38]=" project has also recently acquired the services of research officer Belinda Thompson based at Katanning.
      The Department of Agriculture and Food "; S14[38]=" will also be showcasing a range of innovative research projects at the event including the Design for Comfort project incorporating the Shima Seiki knitting machine, "; S15[38]=" the Department's new DEXA measurement of body composition on live animals, remote sensing of annual pastures and new nutritional guidelines for ewes... "; R[39]="1002"; T[39]="Cane toads close in on WA border"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20060630"; Dt[39]="Friday 30 June 2006"; Acats[39]="a42a86"; B1[39]="      Cane toads are inching closer to Western Australia, with a new population found just 130 kilometres from the border.... "; B2[39]=" "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      Cane toads are inching closer to Western Australia, with a new population found just 130 kilometres from the border.
      "; S2[39]=" Toads found at Auvergne Lagoon in the Northern Territory are about 10 kilometres further west of populations previously identified.
      Staff from "; S3[39]=" the Department of Conservation and Land Management, traditional owners and volunteers from Kununurra will travel to the site this week, to try to rid the "; S4[39]=" waterhole of toads, tadpoles and eggs.
      The project manager Errol Krueger says it is important to keep the pest out of "; S5[39]=" the nearby river systems.
      'We think that this might be the furthest west that they currently are,' Mr Krueger said.
  "; S6[39]="     It is hoped a number of new strategies can be trialed in the border region, including a barrier fence to keep the toads "; S7[39]=" from moving further westward... "; R[40]="949"; T[40]="Mulesing alternatives available from 2007: AWI"; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20060619"; Dt[40]="Monday 19 June 2006"; Acats[40]="a25a86"; B1[40]="      Two alternatives to mulesing will be available for farmers by 2007 and 2008 respectively, beating the 2010 deadline set between wool growers "; B2[40]="and animal rights group PETA... "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      Two alternatives to mulesing will be available for farmers by 2007 and 2008 respectively, beating the 2010 deadline set between wool growers "; S2[40]=" and animal rights group PETA.
      Wool Research body Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) had its trials set back earlier this year when the "; S3[40]=" Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service rejected a key product, collagenase as a biosecurity threat.
      But head of blowfly control at AWI, Jules "; S4[40]=" Dorrian, says a new product, producing similar results, has received the all clear.
      'We have passed that hurdle and we've actually got "; S5[40]=" a product that we're putting together to hand over to a commercial manufacturer in the near future, that has to go through a process of "; S6[40]=" registration trials.
      We're hoping that goes out by 2008,' he said... "; R[41]="899"; T[41]="Dog defence to block cane toads"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20060613"; Dt[41]="Tuesday 13 June 2006"; Acats[41]="a67a86"; B1[41]="      A specially trained dog will be Western Australia's latest defence in the fight to stop the invasion of the cane toad.... "; B2[41]=" "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      A specially trained dog will be Western Australia's latest defence in the fight to stop the invasion of the cane toad.
  "; S2[41]="     Nifty, a two-year old female Belgian malinois is being trained to sniff out the toad's odour and hunt down any of the slimy "; S3[41]=" creatures that may have made it across the Western Australian border.
      Environment Minister Mark McGowan said Nifty would undergo training in "; S4[41]=" Queensland before being flown to the Kimberley town of Kununurra, 2214km north of Perth to take part in a three-month trial in September.
    "; S5[41]="   'Nifty should be able to detect cane toads on the move as well as the presence of cane toad hides, days after the "; S6[41]=" toads have moved on,' Mr McGowan said.
      'The dog will be trained to search buildings, cars and trucks and open areas "; S7[41]=" in scent saturated areas to ensure the search for cane toads overrides distractions such as other scents and animals.
      'If the "; S8[41]=" trial is successful, the use of sniffer dogs will be an invaluable tool in the fight against this invasive pest.' Mr McGowan said the "; S9[41]=" WA Government had so far allocated $2.5 million towards stopping cane toads from entering the state... "; R[42]="869"; T[42]="Electric ant comes under the gun"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20060609"; Dt[42]="Friday 9 June 2006"; Acats[42]="a66a86"; B1[42]="      An information campaign starting this week will outline the Queensland Government's planned assault on electric ants, which were detected in Smithfield, near "; B2[42]="Cairns, recently... "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      An information campaign starting this week will outline the Queensland Government's planned assault on electric ants, which were detected in Smithfield, near "; S2[42]=" Cairns, recently.
      Spokesperson for the Interdepartmental Pest Management Committee, Keith McCubbin, said the local community would have an important role to play "; S3[42]=" in supporting treatment and surveillance activities.
      'Our initial response to the detection has been to establish the necessary boundaries for the treatment "; S4[42]=" zone around the infestation, plus a further surveillance buffer beyond that treatment area,' said Mr McCubbin.
      'A mailout this week to "; S5[42]=" the 660 residents in these areas will outline the activities to be conducted and explain how the public can support the eradication effort.' Member for "; S6[42]=" Barron River Dr Lesley Clark this week wrote to residents within Smithfield and provided fact sheets on the electric ants.
      Dr Clark "; S7[42]=" said the meeting would provide further information to attend on the treatment that would be employed to control the pest.
      Dr Clark "; S8[42]=" has maintaining constant contact between the relevant ministers' offices and departments on the progress of the surveillance and treatment programs.
      'Speed is "; S9[42]=" of the essence in ensuring effective treatment of the electric ant,'' Dr Clark said.
      Residents of Smithfield and neighbouring suburbs are invited "; S10[42]=" to attend a public meeting at James Cook University this Thursday night, June 8, to discuss the electric ant activities.
      Meeting venue "; S11[42]=" will be: Crowther Lecture Theatre; Building A3, Room 2; James Cook University; McGregor Rd; Smithfield; Time: 6.30pm Mr McCubbin said advice would be provided on "; S12[42]=" the treatment and surveillance activities as well as movement controls of high-risk materials such as soil, mulch and plant material.
      'Officers "; S13[42]=" from the Electric Ant Control Centre will be there to answer questions and provide information on the electric ant and the proposed program' said Mr "; S14[42]=" McCubbin The Electric Ant is native to central and South America and is known to have been introduced to Africa, North America and Pacific Islands "; S15[42]=" such as New Caledonia.
      The pest poses no threat to primary industry production, but can cause painful, itchy and persistent pimples on "; S16[42]=" humans if bitten... "; R[43]="859"; T[43]="Possible New Control Method for the Varroa mite - a Bee Pest"; A[43]="By ... RIRDC 06/007"; Dn[43]="20060608"; Dt[43]="Thursday 8 June 2006"; Acats[43]="a31a86"; B1[43]="      The varroa mite, Varroa destructor, is a serious quarantine threat to the Australian beekeeping industry and is categories as an emergency animal "; B2[43]="disease in the AUSVETPLAN.
      If this mite became established in Australia it would radically change the face of beekeeping and cause economic "; B3[43]="hardship for local beekeepers... "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      The varroa mite, Varroa destructor, is a serious quarantine threat to the Australian beekeeping industry and is categories as an emergency animal "; S2[43]=" disease in the AUSVETPLAN.
      If this mite became established in Australia it would radically change the face of beekeeping and cause economic "; S3[43]=" hardship for local beekeepers.
      It is therefore imperative that measures are taken to safeguard Australian beekeepers against a possible varroa mite incursion.
"; S4[43]="       Research conducted by CSIRO has identified a novel way to control the varroa mite that would safeguard Australian honey producers against losses "; S5[43]=" in the event of a varroa incursion.
      It involves locating the bee signal that triggers the female varroa mite reproductive program, then "; S6[43]=" manipulating or modifying the signal to produce varroa-resistant bee stock.
      This project is the first stage in identifying that signal.
    "; S7[43]="   The aim was to find a procedure for differentiating the various internal tissues and organs of female varroa mites.
      This procedure "; S8[43]=" will be a crucial tool for second stage studies aimed at pinpointing the precise time when mite reproduction is first triggered.
      That, "; S9[43]=" in turn, will allow for a detailed search for the signal.
      The project was funded from industry revenue which is matched by "; S10[43]=" funds provided by the Australian Government... "; R[44]="788"; T[44]="Wasps are suckers for cotton aphids"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20060601"; Dt[44]="Thursday 1 June 2006"; Acats[44]="a15a86"; B1[44]="      Research is underway to develop biocontrol techniques to manage the cotton aphid, which is causing concern within the cotton industry.... "; B2[44]=" "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      Research is underway to develop biocontrol techniques to manage the cotton aphid, which is causing concern within the cotton industry.
    "; S2[44]="   Doctoral degree scholarship holder Jamie Hopkinson, of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries in Toowoomba, said his research centred on two wasps to "; S3[44]=" manage the aphid, which was an increasing problem in Australian cotton crops.
      Mr Hopkinson's three-year scholarship has been provided by the Cotton "; S4[44]=" Research and Development Corporation, and his PhD thesis work will be supervised by Prof.
      Myron Zalucki of the University of Queensland and "; S5[44]=" DPI&F Associate Dr Bernie Franzmann.
      Mr Hopkinson said with transgenic cotton varieties having greatly reduced insecticide use, now was a good time "; S6[44]=" to move further into biocontrol and selectively manage sucking insects, including aphids.
      'If not well managed, aphids can establish early and reach "; S7[44]=" damaging populations, possibly spreading serious viruses such as cotton bunchy top, lowering lint quality through honeydew contamination, and reducing crop yields.
      'Compounding "; S8[44]=" the problem is the increasing cotton aphid resistance to four major insecticide groups, causing control problems,' he said.
      Mr Hopkinson said prior "; S9[44]=" research had found that two parasitic wasps could be abundant in cotton fields and under certain conditions significantly reduce cotton aphid populations.
      "; S10[44]=" 'The plan is to build on this information using a series of experiments to understand the biology of the two wasps, including responses to temperature, "; S11[44]=" stage of aphid development and aphid species,' he said.
      'Management strategies such as companion plantings of flowering plants, barley or millet "; S12[44]=" to encourage a build-up of wasp numbers early in the season will be trialled, initially in the glasshouse.' He said the research would include on-farm "; S13[44]=" trials to monitor the population dynamics of the aphid and the wasps throughout the summer cropping season.
      'The result will be an "; S14[44]=" improved understanding of the aphid ecology and the development of management techniques to improve parasitism of the cotton aphid by the wasps,' he said... "; R[45]="781"; T[45]="Owls the natural predator for rodents on farm"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20060601"; Dt[45]="Thursday 1 June 2006"; Acats[45]="a42a72a86"; B1[45]="      Attracting Barn owls to your property can reduce the population of rodents more than 1,000 per year according to Stephen Debus, an "; B2[45]="Australian expert on barn owls... "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      Attracting Barn owls to your property can reduce the population of rodents more than 1,000 per year according to Stephen Debus, an "; S2[45]=" Australian expert on barn owls.
      With the weather conditions just right for a rodent plague, farm owners should be taking measures to "; S3[45]=" have an integrated rodent control plan in place.
      'The Barn owl is predominantly nocturnal, roosting during the daytime, hunting mice and "; S4[45]=" rats by night.
      During the 3 month breeding season, it is estimated that a pair of Barn owls will take over 500 "; S5[45]=" rodents,' says Stephen.
      Unfortunately Barn owls do not build nests themselves and farms are often short on natural nesting sites and perches "; S6[45]=" from which to hunt.
      That's why farmers are now being urged to take advantage of this natural predator and can encourage owls "; S7[45]=" by providing nest boxes.
      'If you consider that 200 rats loose on your property can eat the equivalent in feed of one "; S8[45]=" sheep and a single rat will eat around $25 of grain per year, then attracting owls to your property and using them in conjunction with "; S9[45]=" an animal friendly rat poison, you can reduce the economic damage to your enterprise,' says Warwick Madden of Bayer Animal Health.
      "; S10[45]=" To attract owls you need to place nesting boxes wherever it is convenient and rodents are seen.
      They can go in trees, "; S11[45]=" on posts out in the field, on the wall of a building.
      Each site has positive and negative points.
      "; S12[45]=" In trees, the owls will receive some protection from the elements, but the young will be exposed to predators.
      On a "; S13[45]=" post, the young will be protected from most predators, but the box may get hot during a heat wave.
      On a building, "; S14[45]=" whatever is below the box will probably get splattered with fecal matter.
      Owls will not control all the rodents on farm "; S15[45]=" properties so farmers should use a baiting programme with bait that is low risk to owls and other wild life and pets from secondary poisoning.
"; S16[45]="       Racumin, containing coumatetralyl, is a first generation, multiple dose bait.
      This means that the rodent must feed the bait "; S17[45]=" at least three times to ingest a lethal dose.
      Because of this, Racumin has a much lower risk of primary or secondary "; S18[45]=" poisoning.
      In fact, there has not been an incident of secondary poisoning of wildlife in over thirty years of use.
    "; S19[45]="   To get the best advice property owners and farmers can talk to their local accredited Farm Protect advisor who can help develop a plan "; S20[45]=" to rid your property of rats or mice.
      For tips on how to foster owls on your property visit www.owlsonfarm.com.au or contact "; S21[45]=" 1800 678 368 to find your closest Farm Protect advisor... "; R[46]="779"; T[46]="Strong industry demand for Trained Doggers"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20060601"; Dt[46]="Thursday 1 June 2006"; Acats[46]="a53a86"; B1[46]="      There is strong industry demand for graduates from training courses for professional doggers, being coordinated by the Department of Agriculture and Food "; B2[46]="and Agriculture Protection Board... "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      There is strong industry demand for graduates from training courses for professional doggers, being coordinated by the Department of Agriculture and Food "; S2[46]=" and Agriculture Protection Board.
      A second round of training for professional Doggers has been completed in pastoral country east of Kalgoorlie, "; S3[46]=" and already all of the graduates have found employment in the industry.
      The course follows last year's successful pilot program, understood "; S4[46]=" to be a national first.
      Course Co-ordinator, Geoff Thomas, of the Department of Agriculture and Food, said the training had been "; S5[46]=" developed in response to the industry review of the effectiveness of the State's Wild Dog Control Program, originally commissioned by the Agriculture Protection Board of "; S6[46]=" Western Australia in late 2002.
      'One of the key findings of the review was that the special knowledge and skills of "; S7[46]=" the experienced Doggers was in danger of being lost forever, unless some form of succession planning was put in place', Mr Thomas said.
    "; S8[46]="   Four new Doggers have successfully completed the latest course, which again was conducted almost exclusively in the bush.
      The course "; S9[46]=" drew on the services of several very experienced Doggers including Danny Carlisle from East Esperance, Terry Pinner from Kalgoorlie and Clayton Boladeras from Laverton.
  "; S10[46]="     Mr Thomas said the industry demand for the services of the new doggers was indicative of the quality of the training being "; S11[46]=" provided.
      The graduates include Peter McShane who will join the Nullarbor Declared Species Group, Gordon Anderson who goes to the Upper "; S12[46]=" Yannerie Declared Species Group, John Bennetts who will assist Bunty King out of Ravensthorpe, and Harry Larkin will be assisting Mark Rhodes with the Department "; S13[46]=" of Conservation and Land Management's control requirements out of Kalgoorlie.
      Other short courses to suit the needs of individual landholders have "; S14[46]=" also been developed in response to industry feedback following the initial pilot Dogger training programme.
      'These are of much shorter duration "; S15[46]=" than those intended for the professional Doggers,' Mr Thomas said.
      'They aim to ensure landholders have sufficient knowledge and skills to "; S16[46]=" prepare and lay their own dog baits, to actively participate in the aerial control programs coordinated by the pastoral Zone Control Authorities, to use firearms "; S17[46]=" to humanely destroy wild dogs in accordance with the applicable best practice, and to set and lay traps as necessary.' Mr Thomas said the "; S18[46]=" shorter courses were ideally delivered to groups of between eight to ten pastoralists /farmers, and could be arranged anywhere in the State according to demand.
"; S19[46]="       Anyone interested in either stream of training (ie.
      professional Dogger or individual landholder) should discuss their requirements and "; S20[46]=" register their details with Geoff Thomas on (08) 9690 2245/mobile 0428 753 817... "; R[47]="749"; T[47]="Wasps are suckers for cotton aphids"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20060523"; Dt[47]="Tuesday 23 May 2006"; Acats[47]="a15a86"; B1[47]="      Research is underway to develop biocontrol techniques to manage the cotton aphid, which is causing concern within the cotton industry.... "; B2[47]=" "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      Research is underway to develop biocontrol techniques to manage the cotton aphid, which is causing concern within the cotton industry.
    "; S2[47]="   Doctoral degree scholarship holder Jamie Hopkinson, of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries in Toowoomba, said his research centred on two wasps to "; S3[47]=" manage the aphid, which was an increasing problem in Australian cotton crops.
      Mr Hopkinson's three-year scholarship has been provided by the Cotton "; S4[47]=" Research and Development Corporation, and his PhD thesis work will be supervised by Prof.
      Myron Zalucki of the University of Queensland and "; S5[47]=" DPI&F Associate Dr Bernie Franzmann.
      Mr Hopkinson said with transgenic cotton varieties having greatly reduced insecticide use, now was a good time "; S6[47]=" to move further into biocontrol and selectively manage sucking insects, including aphids.
      'If not well managed, aphids can establish early and reach "; S7[47]=" damaging populations, possibly spreading serious viruses such as cotton bunchy top, lowering lint quality through honeydew contamination, and reducing crop yields.
      'Compounding "; S8[47]=" the problem is the increasing cotton aphid resistance to four major insecticide groups, causing control problems,' he said.
      Mr Hopkinson said prior "; S9[47]=" research had found that two parasitic wasps could be abundant in cotton fields and under certain conditions significantly reduce cotton aphid populations.
      "; S10[47]=" 'The plan is to build on this information using a series of experiments to understand the biology of the two wasps, including responses to temperature, "; S11[47]=" stage of aphid development and aphid species,' he said.
      'Management strategies such as companion plantings of flowering plants, barley or millet "; S12[47]=" to encourage a build-up of wasp numbers early in the season will be trialled, initially in the glasshouse.' He said the research would include on-farm "; S13[47]=" trials to monitor the population dynamics of the aphid and the wasps throughout the summer cropping season.
      'The result will be an "; S14[47]=" improved understanding of the aphid ecology and the development of management techniques to improve parasitism of the cotton aphid by the wasps,' he said... "; R[48]="740"; T[48]="Owls the natural predator for rodents on farm"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20060523"; Dt[48]="Tuesday 23 May 2006"; Acats[48]="a86"; B1[48]="      Attracting Barn owls to your property can reduce the population of rodents more than 1,000 per year according to Stephen Debus, an "; B2[48]="Australian expert on barn owls... "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      Attracting Barn owls to your property can reduce the population of rodents more than 1,000 per year according to Stephen Debus, an "; S2[48]=" Australian expert on barn owls.
      With the weather conditions just right for a rodent plague, farm owners should be taking measures to "; S3[48]=" have an integrated rodent control plan in place.
      'The Barn owl is predominantly nocturnal, roosting during the daytime, hunting mice and "; S4[48]=" rats by night.
      During the 3 month breeding season, it is estimated that a pair of Barn owls will take over 500 "; S5[48]=" rodents,' says Stephen.
      Unfortunately Barn owls do not build nests themselves and farms are often short on natural nesting sites and "; S6[48]=" perches from which to hunt.
      That's why farmers are now being urged to take advantage of this natural predator and can encourage "; S7[48]=" owls by providing nest boxes.
      'If you consider that 200 rats loose on your property can eat the equivalent in feed of "; S8[48]=" one sheep and a single rat will eat around $25 of grain per year, then attracting owls to your property and using them in conjunction "; S9[48]=" with an animal friendly rat poison, you can reduce the economic damage to your enterprise,' says Warwick Madden of Bayer Animal Health.
      "; S10[48]=" To attract owls you need to place nesting boxes wherever it is convenient and rodents are seen.
      They can go in "; S11[48]=" trees, on posts out in the field, on the wall of a building.
      Each site has positive and negative points.
    "; S12[48]="   In trees, the owls will receive some protection from the elements, but the young will be exposed to predators.
      On "; S13[48]=" a post, the young will be protected from most predators, but the box may get hot during a heat wave.
      On a "; S14[48]=" building, whatever is below the box will probably get splattered with fecal matter.
      Owls will not control all the rodents on "; S15[48]=" farm properties so farmers should use a baiting programme with bait that is low risk to owls and other wild life and pets from secondary "; S16[48]=" poisoning.
      Racumin, containing coumatetralyl, is a first generation, multiple dose bait.
      This means that the rodent must feed the "; S17[48]=" bait at least three times to ingest a lethal dose.
      Because of this, Racumin has a much lower risk of primary or "; S18[48]=" secondary poisoning.
      In fact, there has not been an incident of secondary poisoning of wildlife in over thirty years of use.
  "; S19[48]="     To get the best advice property owners and farmers can talk to their local accredited Farm Protect advisor who can help develop a "; S20[48]=" plan to rid your property of rats or mice.
      For tips on how to foster owls on your property visit www.owlsonfarm.com.au or "; S21[48]=" contact 1800 678 368 to find your closest Farm Protect advisor... "; R[49]="721"; T[49]="Pest fish threaten Queensland's Gulf waterways"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20060518"; Dt[49]="Thursday 18 May 2006"; Acats[49]="a34a86"; B1[49]="      An intense surveillance and education campaign to stop tilapia, one of the world's most invasive fish species, from spreading into the Gulf "; B2[49]="catchments of North Queensland is now underway... "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      An intense surveillance and education campaign to stop tilapia, one of the world's most invasive fish species, from spreading into the Gulf "; S2[49]=" catchments of North Queensland is now underway.
      'With tilapia already established in the some northern east coast catchments such as the Burdekin, "; S3[49]=" Gulf river systems have become more vulnerable due to their proximity to infested waterways,' Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries A/Principal Scientist Freshwater Fisheries Peter "; S4[49]=" Kind said.
      'Tilapia are a major threat to north Queensland's native fish populations and have the potential to significantly impact on our "; S5[49]=" commercial and recreational fisheries.
      'Most tilapia infestations are caused by people moving the fish between waterways.
      The bottom line "; S6[49]=" is that only way tilapia will reach the Gulf is if people move them there.
      'People need to remember that if tilapia "; S7[49]=" become established in a flowing river system they are impossible to eradicate.' Mr Kind said that current survey results showed rivers in the Gulf of "; S8[49]=" Carpentaria were free from tilapia.
      'However, pest fish teams will be undertaking an intensive in-field surveillance program during the next few months "; S9[49]=" to confirm that tilapia have not established in high risk waterways close to infested catchments,'' Mr Kind said.
      'While these surveys are "; S10[49]=" underway, a public education campaign will also be launched to educate people about the dos and don'ts with regard to pest fish.' Mr Kind said "; S11[49]=" there were several ways local communities could help to stop the spread of pest fish: 1) Know what tilapia look like and report any "; S12[49]=" sightings or catches to the DPI&F on 13 25 23 or fill out a Pest Fish Report Form online at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb 2) Don't use "; S13[49]=" tilapia as bait, dead or alive - tilapia can release eggs from their mouth even after they are killed.
      Only use bait "; S14[49]=" native to the waters in which you fish.
      3) Don't empty aquariums, dams or ponds into waterways or outlets that flow "; S15[49]=" into waterways.
      4) Don't stock dams or ornamental ponds with pest fish - only use local native fish.
      "; S16[49]=" 5) If you catch a tilapia, kill is as quickly and humanely as possible and dispose of it away from the water.
    "; S17[49]="   6) Don't move tilapia between waterways.
      Report anyone suspected of moving tilapia or dumping pest fish to the Fishwatch Hotline "; S18[49]=" on 1800 017 116.
      'Tilapia threaten native fish populations and the environment as the species is able to dominate waterways due to "; S19[49]=" their highly efficient reproductive strategies, simple food requirements and flexible habitat preferences,' Mr Kind said.
      'They can establish rapidly, competing with local "; S20[49]=" fish for food and habitat, and introducing diseases and parasites.' More information about noxious fish can be found on the Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/.. ";