Varroa mite: What does this mean for Australian agriculture?

Both industry and government gave eradication of Varroa mite “a red hot shot”. Here’s what management of the pest may look like.

Australia’s beekeepers are disappointed yet relieved efforts to eradicate varroa mite have moved to a management phase after weeks of regulations and restrictions.

But it remains unclear whether funding for the management of the pest will be extended beyond 12 months.

Last week, the Australian Honest Bee Industry Council called for at least three years’ funding to cover education, treatment strategies, and more.

When asked if Agriculture Minister Murray Watt was supportive of extending transition funding beyond the one year stipulated in the Emergency Plant Pest Deed, a spokesman from Mr Watt’s office said the response was a cost to be shared under the deed among 24 parties, and that the federal government was “not responsible” for management of pests established in Australia.

Beekeepers have expressed their concurrent joy and sorrow at the decision to move from eradication to management of the Varroa destructor pest.

“This is the responsibility of state and territory governments and industry,” he said.

The spokesman said the federal government was represented on the National Management Group by the Department of Agriculture, and “it would not be appropriate for the Minister to comment on these decisions that are yet to be taken”.

Agriculture Victoria chief plant health officer Rosa Crnov said Victoria remains free of the mite, with a focus on slowing the spread of varroa via surveillance and tracking movement of bees and equipment via a permit system.

Crop Pollination Association of Australia president Steve Fuller said while he wasn’t ecstatic Australia would move to a management phase, he was “glad common sense has prevailed”, but felt frustrated progress wasn’t made on a plan months ago.

“After 15 months, not making any headway … how could you keep heading down the path of no return?” Mr Fuller said.

The cost of pollination could go up in future, as the industry learns how to operate with the mite, Mr Fuller said.

AusVeg national manager engagement and extension Zarmeen Hassan said AusVeg was a part of the response plan and had been included in the eradication journey.

She said while it was disappointing to have to move to management, the industry gave eradication “a red hot shot”.

Varroa destructor (mite) on the back of Apis mellifera (honeybee) Picture: Antoine Franck

“It’s also important to note the response plan is transitioning, it’s not that we’re just letting it go to spread on its own,” Ms Hassan said.

Ms Hassan said the horticulture was a broad industry reliant on pollination to varying degrees, with vegetable seeds such as cauliflower and carrots are 100 per cent reliant on pollination.