Day: 3 August 2016

School children love to snack through the day. They might eat three to five snacks a day in addition to three meals. Children are constantly on the go – netball, soccer, swimming and riding their bikes. To keep their energy stores topped up they will need carbohydrates at each meal.…

New South Wales growers were recently asked for their feedback on the proposed new Biosecurity Act 2015, which comes into effect in 2017, replacing 14 separate Acts. Initial consultation with growers sought feedback on present and future risks to the industry and how we can do…

As part of the Banana Plant Protection Program project Jeff Daniels has been evaluating the agronomic performance of new banana varieties at South Johnstone. Results from the plant crop were presented in Australian Bananas vol 44, pp 26-27. More background information on the varieties can be found…

Tim Liebelt, ABGC Biosecurity Extension officer, spent time with northern Queensland banana growers Peter and Vivien Grant, finding out about their farm and their experiences responding to the threat of Panama TR4 disease. Here is their story. Peter and Vivien Grant own and operate a 12 acre plantation at South Johnstone, growing niche banana varieties.…

Mick Russo, 34, is a third generation banana grower and a first generation biological farmer. The Boogan banana grower is dedicated to using the knowledge he gleaned from international biological leaders to bring out the best in his soil. Paula Doran reports. What started as an interest in using…

Australia’s and Africa’s Panama disease experts recently combined forces for the ‘Australia-Africa Plant Biosecurity Partnership Workshop’ in Tanzania, as part of ongoing global efforts to better manage the industry’s ‘fungal pariah’. Panama Disease tropical race 4 (caused by a strain of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.…