Lupin anthracnose action

4 Jul 2017

Residents of Cootamundra-Gundagai, Coolamon and Junee shires have been reminded they live in a lupin anthracnose biosecurity zone, where ornamental lupins cannot be grown.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) plant pathologist, Kurt Lindbeck, said the zone was established late last year following the confirmation of lupin anthracnose in commercial crops, with specific requirements for home gardens and cropping operations.

“Lupin anthracnose is a potentially devastating disease for local farmers and we are working with industry and local councils to eradicate any traces of the disease,” Dr Lindbeck said.

“Home gardeners can help by replacing Russell lupins with other plants which are not hosts for the disease.

“Commercial lupin crops can be grown on properties beyond a one kilometre boundary of farms where the disease was found.

“Volunteer lupins found growing outside a lupin crop must be destroyed.”

The whole community has an important role to play in managing biosecurity.

It can be as simple as planting sweet peas or snapdragons rather than Russell lupins, removing garden lupins, controlling volunteer lupins and keeping an eye out for lupin anthracnose symptoms in crops.

Suspected cases of lupin anthracnose must be reported to NSW DPI’s Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881.

More information about how to protect our valuable lupin industry is available from NSW DPI, http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/recent-pest-arrivals/lupin-anthracnose

Media contact: Bernadette York (02) 6938 1664