Australian wheat at risk from virus

A wheat virus found in two Australian cities could wipe more than €112m off the value of the nation’s grain industry if it spread to farms.

Wheat streak mosaic virus, which has damaged crops in the US and eastern Europe, was discovered at government research centres in Canberra and Adelaide last month. Spread by wheat curl mite, the virus can reduce crop yields by as much as 90%.

US farmers estimate they suffer a 3-4% loss on average over their crops, the newspaper said.