Panama TR4 confirmed on Tully Valley banana farm

A soil-borne disease with the potential to decimate Far North Queensland’s banana industry has been detected on a Tully Valley property.

FAR North banana growers are nervous with panama disease detected on a sixth commercial banana farm in the Tully Valley.

The suspect plants were discovered during routine surveillance by Biosecurity Queensland.  

Panama TR4 was first detected in the Tully Valley in 2015, and there have now been five farms infected.

Australian Banana Growers Council chief executive Jim Pekin confirmed that the new detection was on a farm close to the other infected properties.

He said any news of a new detection was a nervous time for both the grower and industry.

“First and foremost, our focus is on the affected grower, their family and workforce as they wait for further testing results,” Mr Pekin said.

Cameron Mackay outside his banana plantation at South Davidson Rd in the Tully Valley. A small block of his property was infected with Panama TR4 disease at Bolinda in 2018. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

 “We always knew that as a soil-borne disease, it was going to be challenging to limit the spread of Panama TR4.

“This doesn’t detract from how devastating it is, and it comes at a time when many banana growers are facing unprecedented challenges.” 

He said robust biosecurity measures were key.

“This is a timely reminder to growers to ensure their on farm biosecurity is robust, for the protection of their farm and the wider banana industry,” he said.

Mr Pekin said North Queensland growers had been successful slowing the spread of Panama TR4, managing it more successfully than any other country in the world.

The last detected case was in February 2020.

Originally published as Panama TR4 confirmed on Tully Valley banana farm