GEORGETOWN has become the latest location to be impacted by the invasive fall armyworm with the pest detected in a trial maize crop.
The agricultural pest was first detected on two islands in the Torres Strait last month, before making it to the mainland where it was found at Bamaga.
The exotic pest has the potential to wipe out agricultural crops, and at the larval stage feeds on more than 350 plant species including cultivated grasses such as maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and wheat, as well as fruit and vegetable and cotton crops.
Representatives from peak industry groups including Canegrowers, Growcom, AgForce and AusVeg met with members of the Department or Agriculture and Fisheries last week.
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said a coordinated approach was needed to manage the serious threat.
"Key issues identified during the roundtable included identifying suitable control products, determining what industry needs are, monitoring the spread of the pest, and market access," Mr Furner said.
DAF team members will meet with research and development experts to explore short, medium and long term management solutions to minimise the potential impacts of fall armyworm next Monday.
Mr Furner said the government recognised the serious threat posed by the fall armyworm moth to Queensland's agriculture industry.
"Fall armyworm is an invasive pest that is voracious and is not a fussy eater," Mr Furner said.
"The wide host range of the adult moth and its voracious larvae means it has the real potential to cause significant production losses across a number of industries."
Mr Furner said it was not technically feasible to eradicate the pest from Australia.
He said a great deal of work would be required to help industry and other stakeholders prepare for and manage the impacts of fall armyworm.
Traps have been set in Coen, Mossman, Port Douglas, Cairns, the Atherton Tableland and Innisfail to monitor its spread.
"In the short term, it is important that we work with industry to spread the word about the risk of this pest and also provide advice on control strategies that are available to them," Mr Furner said.
"In the medium to long term, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will identify the crops most favoured by the pest, assist affected industries gain access to appropriate chemical controls, help industry manage any pesticide resistance, and research possible biological controls."
It is unknown how North Queensland's sugarcane growers will be impacted, but the industry is working closely with governments to manage the threat.
Sugar Research Australia said they had contacted overseas sugarcane countries regarding the impact of fall armyworm on crops.
"The strain that has been detected in Australia is the r-strain (rice-strain), which is believed to favour small grass crops and maize," SRA said.
"However, it is also understood to impact sugarcane and more information is required on the potential extent of this impact.
"Alternative host plants within the vicinity of sugarcane could also be attractive to this pest, such as other crops, fallow crops and native grasses.
"Overseas, younger cane is thought to be more susceptible to significant impacts of fall armyworm."
Traeger MP Robbie Katter said since growers have little to no time to prepare for the fall army worm's arrival, insecticides would likely be their only defence in controlling the infestation in the short-term.
"I understand control work on the most recent fall army worm infestation located on the Gilbert River cost 10 times more than the usual insecticide costs for controlling the pest load on maize," Mr Katter said.
"This fact alone indicates the increased volume of insecticides that will have to be employed against this pest."
He took a swipe at Biosecurity Queensland, saying the state's biosecurity was under-funded and ill prepared to catch problems before they arise.
"The KAP have warned for many years about an invasive pest disaster such as this one."
