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Almond producers in South Australia are on high alert after varroa mite was detected in the state for the first time, brought in by a beehive transported from Queensland for the peak pollination season.
The country’s largest almond producer, Select Harvests (ASX: SHV), has revealed to the market that varroa mite has been detected in bees at its Jubilee Orchard in the Riverland region of South Australia.
The Melbourne-based company says the varroa mite was self-detected as contractors were preparing the hives to be moved, leading the company to report the incident to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).
“The hives at the orchard have been isolated on site under PIRSA instruction while we await advice on next steps,” says Select Harvests in a statement to the ASX.
“The company has been in constant communication with PIRSA to ensure all necessary steps are taken to minimise any potential further spread.”
In a separate statement, PIRSA says its Apiary Unit surveillance teams on Tuesday identified and later confirmed the presence of varroa mite in a hive at Pooginook, which is close to Select Harvests’ Jubilee Orchard.
“The affected hive is part of a consignment of hives brought into the state from Queensland to support the critical almond pollination season,” says PIRSA.
“PIRSA is currently undertaking further sampling across the consignment. To support containment, sticky mats and acaricides are being deployed across all hives within the orchard.”
Acaracides is said to be a highly effective treatment in the destruction of varroa mite.
Select Harvests, which also has almond orchards in Victoria and NSW, has more than 9,371ha of company owned and leased orchards nationally.
The company says the bees sourced from Queensland were supplied by a “large reputable supplier in accordance with South Australian government permits and testing requirements”.
“The company is not on notice of any failure by it to comply with any entry and management requirements,” says Select Harvests.
“At this stage, the detection of varroa mite has no impact on the South Australian pollination or the expected quantity or quality of the 2026 almond crop.
“Pollination across the South Australian orchards has been strong.”
Select Harvests adds that it is not aware of any material financial implications from the detection.
The company reported a turnaround in earnings in the first half of FY25 after posting a net profit after tax of $28.7 million, up from a $2.4 million loss a year earlier.
This is despite a lower harvest as prices surged during the period due to strong demand from India and China.
PIRSA has been on alert for a potential infestation by the varroa mite since its first detection in NSW in 2022. The mite has since been found in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT.
PIRSA says a movement control was applied following the detection at Pooginook to ensure the bees, hives and associated equipment could be moved from the site. A biosecurity notice has also been issued to beekeepers.
PIRSA says strict biosecurity conditions for hives entering South Australia from varroa-positive states have been in place since 2023.
These include detailed movement history and compliance checks, surveillance protocols and a requirement that hives must not have been within 25 km of a known varroa outbreak.
“The hives from Queensland met these conditions and they were not sourced from the vicinity of a known outbreak,” says PIRSA.
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