Tridge summary
The 2024 olive harvest in Australia is under threat from a widespread infestation of the olive lace bug, a native pest causing significant damage across all olive-producing states. This challenge is compounded by the pest's adaptation to colder climates, likely due to changing weather patterns like unusually humid summers and milder winters. Olive grove owners are employing various strategies to manage the infestation, including early detection, spot spraying, pruning for open canopies, and experimenting with predator insects. Additionally, biosecurity measures are being emphasized to prevent further spread, with some groves already facing crop losses and considering purchasing olives to continue operations. The situation highlights the importance of integrated pest management and the potential long-term impact on Australia's olive production.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.
Original content
Producers across Australia anticipate mixed results as the 2024 olive harvest gets underway, with some facing further complications due to a widespread lace bug infestation. The olive lace bug (Froggattia olivinia) is an Australian native sap-sucking insect that feeds off the underside of leaves. In recent years, the insects have moved from native plants in the olive family to Olea europea, the scientific name for the olive. “Severe infestations can defoliate trees and even kill young trees,” said Robert Spooner-Hart, an associate professor of applied entomology and crop protection at Western Sydney University. Spooner-Hart works with the olive industry in Australia and Europe following integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, which use pesticide intervention only when necessary and the least environmentally disruptive methodologies. While olive lace bugs have been reported in olive groves in South Africa, Pakistan and northern India, Spooner-Hart said the one in Australia is ...
Source: Olive Oil Times
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