Day: 20 April 2018

Since the initial detection of TR4 in the Tully Valley in 2015, Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) and Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) have attempted to keep Queensland banana growers abreast of biosecurity best practices designed to offer the greatest protection against potential spread of the disease. However, with the number…

In this three-page feature, Biosecurity Queensland answers some frequently asked questions about Panama TR4, including long-term industry management and what to expect once issued a notice of affected land. By Deanna Belbin, BQ HOW DO BQ WORK WITH A SUSPECTED INFESTED FARM?  The following article should help…

By Amy Spear With high-rise visible above the banana leaves and longhorn cattle grazing nearby, Colin Singh admits he’s got banana sap in his veins. The unusual, almost suburban patch of bananas is one of two he currently manages in far northern New South Wales. A fourth generation grower, Colin…

The name Lachie Rick will be familiar to many in the banana industry, as a former grower, long-time director and ABGC chairman. He invited Amy Spear to his Mission Beach home to share some of his memories.  More than six decades ago, Lachie Rick’s father told him it…

By Elisa King, Hort Innovation Marketing Manager  After a strong start to the year, the Australian Bananas marketing campaign is set to go from strength to strength for the second half. Research results remain positive, with advertising recall increasing and bananas maintaining their position as the number…

Many Australian banana growers work hard to protect the environment year in, year out—after all, it’s their home as well as their livelihood.  But with 2018 declared the International Year of the Reef, what better chance to recognise the Far North Queensland banana growers striving to preserve the natural icon…

By Monica Haynes, Terrain The Wet Tropics isn’t called the Wet Topics for nothing, but heavy rain didn’t stop more than 100 people ’walking’ local landscapes recently to better understand how water catchment systems work. The Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (MIP) has organised a number of ‘Walking the Landscape’ workshops,…