AU: Fruit fly treatment schemes 'hit the mark'

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) says it is making good progress in tackling northern Victoria's record Queensland fruit fly outbreak. There were 35 declared outbreaks but pest-free status has now been reinstated at 23 of those, including Euston, Gol Gol East, Merbein, Mildura, Robinvale and Nyah. It means growers will no longer face restrictions on the movement of fruit to domestic markets. The DPI's fruit fly response state director, Gary D'Arcy, says an agreement with growers, for them to spray their own properties, has helped.

"If we weren't detecting outbreaks, we were detecting odd flies on a regular basis in orchards and vineyard areas," he said. "We haven't seen that this season so far and to me it seems the treatment programs by the citrus, table grape and particularity the stone fruit industry, are starting to hit the mark. "What we're hoping is getting through that period of time without any new outbreaks, we'll get through that period of time with eradicating more outbreaks that exist in the region."

Source: abc.net.au