With 30 stands, our exhibition area was a real networking hub during the Australian Banana Industry Congress. Some of our exhibitors share their thoughts on the event and our industry.
Arcella Banana Company
“Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, Working together is success” – Henry Ford.
The success of this year’s Congress can be attributed to the wonderful participation from all Australian Banana Industry personal.
Whatever obstacles get in our way, we are an industry that is not scared to “roll up our sleeves and have a go”.
That’s what makes us at Arcella/Tropicana Banana PROUD to be 100% Australian.
We are a family passionate about OUR BANANA INDUSTRY!
Thanks for your support,
Pat, Frank, Harry & Rosa.
Bayer
The Bayer banana team was very pleased to play an additional key role in another successful Banana Congress through our sponsorship of the Congress Cafe.
This involvement was a fitting way to help launch our two new products for banana growers under the theme ‘Break through to better health and extra energy’.
Luna® Privilege, containing the innovative active ingredient fluopyram, is a new Group 7 fungicide that will be exceptionally effective in controlling yellow Sigatoka, providing banana plants with extended vitality.
Movento® Energy is new dual active ingredient insecticide that controls key banana pests while minimising the risk of mite flare.
The registration of Luna Privilege in bananas occurred in late August.
Bayer recommends that Luna Privilege is always used according to the most recent registered label.
Thanks to everyone who had a coffee with us or visited the Bayer stand.
Catalytic Generators
Thank you to everyone who stopped at our stand in Melbourne.
It was great to see so much interest in our ripening products and the benefits Catalytic Generators have over existing ripening methods.
Please contact us with any further queries you may have. We look forward to discussing how we can help you with your ripening.
www.catalyticgenerators.com.au
Costa Banana Business
The main benefit for Costa by participating at this year’s Banana Industry Congress was the opportunity to strengthen relationships with growers, customers and stakeholders by organising short and/or more complex catch-ups and taking advantage of all the attendees that converge in the same place at the same time.
The series of keynote speaker sessions, panel discussions and cooking demonstrations definitely helped our team have a better understanding of the current state of the banana landscape locally and internationally.
From Michael Engeman, Sales and Marketing Manager – Costa Banana Category
drumMUSTER
drumMUSTER provides growers with a quick, easy, environmentally friendly way to dispose of used chemical containers.
Banana growing regions across the country have numerous collection sites available to them and Colin Hoey, drumMUSTER Regional Consultant, is available to assist chemical users with any enquiries they may have about the program.
Feedback from the Congress indicates that a growing band of farmers are already being proactive with farm waste recycling.
Whether you have one drum or 100 drums, take them to a collection site. A receipt is issued on delivery and is suitable as proof in all BMP programs.
Call 0428964576 for more information.
E.E. Muir and Sons
We would like to congratulate the Australian Banana Growers’ Council on yet another successful Banana Congress.
As a horticultural business, we are proud to have been an exhibitor at this event.
With the Congress held in Melbourne, distance proved to be no barrier as there was strong representation from around the country and the world.
As a family-owned business since 1927, we know the importance of a strong focus on providing superior services and products to a wide range of rural agricultural businesses.
The company operates from 30 outlets around the country and is committed to the Australian horticulture market.
Horticulture Innovation Australia
We invest around $8 million of grower levies and Commonwealth Government funding in banana Research and Development (R&D) and Marketing programs annually.
The Congress was a fantastic opportunity for Horticulture Innovation Australia to meet with banana growers, discuss R&D and Marketing activities and the company’s transition from Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL).
If you were unable to attend the Congress or missed your opportunity to register for your free membership of Horticulture Innovation Australia you can still do so by visiting our website at www.horticulture.com.au/membership or phone 02 8295 2300.
MADEC
MADEC helps Banana growers source workers from Pacific Island countries.
As a result of a number of contacts made at the recent Australian Banana Industry Congress, MADEC Australia have now commenced work to bring a number of workers from Fiji to work on banana properties in North Queensland under the Seasonal Worker Program.
As well as these workers being hard-working and productive, the beauty of this program is that workers can return in subsequent seasons if the grower wishes for them to come back.
QRAA
The strength and resilience of the banana industry was on display at this year’s Banana Industry Congress in Melbourne.
Thank you to all who visited the QRAA trade display, we had many meaningful conversations with attendees about QRAA’s ongoing support for the industry.
As Queensland moves into a new phase of preventative biosecurity measures, we provided Queensland banana growers information on how a QRAA Sustainability Loan can be used to protect farms from biosecurity risks and improve productivity.
For further information on QRAA programs or to speak with your local QRAA Client Liaison Officer, contact us on Freecall 1800 623 646.
Rivulis Irrigation
Our goal is to help growers to become more productive. As such, we were excited to present a new generation of micro-sprinkler at the Banana Industry Congress.
The Rivulis S2000 Flow Regulated sprinkler is perfect for bananas. It provides outstanding uniformity, excellent performance in the wind, and features a revolutionary easy take-apart body.
This simple opening and closing mechanism of the body makes maintenance a breeze, which in turn helps cut down farm labour costs.
For more info, contact Rivulis Irrigation on 1800 558 009 or visit rivuliss2000.com.au.
Best regards to all Congress delegates from Matt Clift, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Rivulis Irrigation.
Soils First
Soils First NQ has been supplying the banana industry for 12 years and was extremely pleased to be able to participate as an exhibitor at the 2015 congress.
We enjoyed catching up with our clients, sharing a few laughs and a few more drinks and hope that all growers went away better informed about industry issues.
Thanks and regards, Chris Bowden, Jecjac Pty Ltd t/as Soils First Ph: 07 40633518
Sweeter Soils
We happy to participate and sponsor the 2015 Australian Banana Congress.
The venue, organisation, and openness of the attendees made for possibly the best Congress to date.
A huge thank you to everyone who made it happen.
The Australian banana industry is once again facing challenging times.
The Sweeter Soils crew is ready and able to assist growers face these challenges by improving soil health and, therefore, improving plant health and productivity – as well as reducing the possibility of soil-borne disease.
For more information on what we can do for you, please call Richelle 0474 270 038 or Paul 0408 184 672 or email admin@sweetersoils.com
Kind Regards from Richelle Miles, Operations Manager.