Year: 2015

The cost of the biosecurity response to TR4 has topped $2 million, according to a Queensland Government estimate. Queensland Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne said on April 27: “The Palaszczuk Government said from the outset that it would do everything possible to prevent Panama disease from…

Michael & Lisa Lankester grow 60 hectares of Lady Finger bananas and five hectares of trellised custard apples at Walkamin. The Lankesters took a number of steps to keep out Race 1 Panama disease, which was detected on a nearby Lady Finger farm not long…

Australian Bananas’ new three-year marketing campaign will soon be launched. Horticulture Innovation Australia General Manager, Marketing Services David Chenu is overseeing the strategy and talks about what’s been achieved so far and what to expect next. Tell us about the work that’s happening to develop…

The North Queensland cane industry has taken immediate action to minimise any risks posed to banana farms from cane operations following the detection of the soil-borne banana plant disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) on a Tully Valley banana farm. Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC)…

South Johnstone field trials are rating the growing performance of new varieties, including two that were developed for TR4 resistance. Story by Jeff Daniells Two Cavendish varieties sourced from a Taiwanese research program developing TR4-resistant plants are among new varieties that have had their plant…

Fencing banana farms to keep out Panama TR4 is being supported by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) but growers are being asked to check that fences are going up within property boundaries. A Council spokesman has asked growers who are unsure of their exact…