Lake Boga fruit grower Michael Tempini has begun his assault on the menacing Queensland fruit fly (QFF) as his nectarine trees begin to blossom ahead of harvest season.
And, although QFF hasn’t hit his 30,000 nectarine, peach and plum trees, spread over 30 hectares, he is remaining vigilant in the last week of winter.
“It is absolutely crucial that residents in urban areas help control QFF,” Mr Tempini, the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area (GSPFA) industry development committee stonefruit representative, said.
“Flies tend to go urban to hide and stay out of the frost.”
The GSPFA committee, which oversees pest control efforts on behalf of citrus, stone fruit and table grape growers, has just completed a mass rollout of traps in urban areas across the state’s north-west.
To read more about how you can help growers, grab a copy of today’s Guardian (August 24).
