QUESTIONS ON NOTICE › Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Staffing (Question No. 2113)
Senator Ludwig: The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows: (1) The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has funded 10 Research Development & Extension projects in relation to snail control since 2003 with a total investment of $1 957 828. Optimising on-farm snail management ($82 500) The application of novel genetic approaches to pest land snails—a feasibility study ($89 600) Snail communication strategy ($5000) Snail market survey ($36 100) Design and printing of snail grower fact sheet ($2980) Integrated snail management in the Southern Region ($581 813) Assessment of the biological control potential Sarcophaja penicilliata ($147 641) Establishment survey of the biological control agent Sarcophaja ($10 000) Biological control of pest snails in Australia using native nematodes ($872 194)—GRDC is in the commercial development phase to determine whether an endemic nematode can be delivered commercially. Snail and slug control scoping study ($130 000) GRDC has also undertaken extensive communication and extension activities in relation to snail control and management. These include: National Snail and Slug management and research workshop (Adelaide, January 2012) to identify research gaps, particularly focussing on the control of juvenile snails. Workshop outcomes have been developed into potential investments that GRDC is currently negotiating for commencement in 2013-14. Snail management fact sheet – southern and western regions (September 2012) distributed to all growers in the southern and western regions in GRDC's Ground Cover newspaper. PestFacts E-Newsletter part of the GRDC supported National Invertebrate Pesticide Initiative (NIPI) distributed throughout South Australia and western Victoria included snail updates in issues 1, 2, 6, 10 and 11. Snail identification: The Back Pocket Guide. Ground Cover TV snail control segment, also included on YouTube. Over the Fence case studies with printed articles, multimedia footage and photographs. Numerous presentations on snail controls at GRDC Grower and Advisor Updates. Numerous targeted media releases. Numerous articles in GRDC's Ground Cover newspaper and articles in the southern region advisor newsletter. (2) No.