Growers’ e-bulletin – April 20, 2018

ABGC

20 April, 2018

Content

Marketing update
Interactive Panama workshops
Queensland’s Vegetation Management laws
Australian Bananas Magazine
Development opportunities for you
Innisfail Ag Field Day
Flood Recovery
Reject Analysis
Coffs Show
Hort Agreements

Build a bridge and get … on with marketing!

Update from Hort Innovation

Along with the rest of our media activity, the Australian Bananas Transit Out of Home – designed to catch people on-the-go – launched in March.

Alongside the standard ads on buses, we received a bonus full bus ad that will travel around Sydney. We have used the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to give it a wow factor that will draw the attention of Sydney-siders.

If you happen to be heading to the Brisbane Markets, keep an eye out for the Australian Bananas billboard located on Beatty Rd.

We have now been live for more than a month with Bananas digital activity, and over this period our content has been displayed over 450,000 times. This is mostly thanks to our Catch-Up TV placements (think 7Plus or TenPlay) in shows such as My Kitchen Rules, Married at First Sight, Bachelor in Paradise as well as Commonwealth Games viewing. These shows are driving an excellent result in terms of people watching the full ad (‘completion rate’) and viewability.

Our overall completion rate now sits at 87.62% after a month of activity, well above the 70% benchmark for video. This trend continues for viewability, where we are averaging 90.29%, 20.29% higher than the viewability benchmark.

Interactive TR4 workshops

The Panama TR4 Program, with support from the ABGC, are running a series of interactive workshops across Far North Queensland during June.

This is an opportunity to speak with other growers and staff from Biosecurity Queensland, the ABGC and Agri-Science Queensland about the challenges of farming with Panama disease. Gavin Mackay will be on-hand to share Mackays Bananas experiences and lessons learned.

For more information or to register for a workshop visit here.

Vegetation Management Laws

Last week, the Queensland Government introduced its new vegetation management legislation into Queensland Parliament. The proposed Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 has been referred to the State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee for consultation before the legislation proceeds.

The Queensland Farmers Federation is taking the lead on this matter from an intensive agriculture industry perspective.

QFF President Stuart Armitage said the legislation was poor and unbalanced, and it should not have been introduced without first going through an inclusive, evidence-based consultation process involving all key stakeholders. Read his full statement here.

Australian Bananas mag: Signed, Sealed, Delivered (soon)

The April 2018 edition of Australian Bananas magazine is jam packed with industry news, the latest research and grower profiles.

The magazine is on its way to your mailbox now and available via this link.

Take your banana business to the next level

Two unique opportunities for banana growers to further their own business – and the industry more broadly – are currently taking applications.

The LEAD program gives participants a chance to develop practical tools in areas such as team management, conflict resolution, advocacy and biosecurity. Details here.

The Nuffield Scholarship offers successful applicants a $30,000 bursary to study cutting-edge agriculture around the world. Details here.

Bananas a hit at Innisfail Agricultural Field Day

Crowds braved the heat to talk BetterBunch, Sediment Workshops and BMP at the Innisfail Agricultural Field Day this week.

Among tractors and trucks, the stall gave ABGC staff a great opportunity to showcase the many resources available to growers.

The Sediment Workshops, valued at $320 but free to growers, will take place in April, May and June this year. BMP and BetterBunch information is available at any time.

To learn more, contact Rob Mayers at ABGC on (07) 4015 2797

Far North Queensland flood recovery

Small Businesses in the Hinchinbrook Shire Council and the Cassowary Coast and Cairns Regional Council areas can access Category B disaster relief following the recent heavy rains and flooding. More information HERE.

Tweed growers, get your rejects ready

You might have read in previous e-bulletins that Industry Development Officer Matt Weinert’s latest extension project involves an analysis of reject and downgraded fruit. Well, Tweed growers, this is your chance to get on board!

Matt will be in the area on the 23rd and 24th of April. Give him a call on 0438 644 136 if you’d like to get involved.

Support bananas at Coffs Show

The 2018 Coffs Harbour show will be held on April 27 and 28. Entry forms must be submitted by next Tuesday (April 24), with bunches to the showground for judging on Thursday (April 26). Entry details, classes and prizes can be found here (Page 18-19).

Coffs and District BGA, with support from The Bushfire and Hail Insurance Fund, have provided the prize money and the display – pop along and say hi!

Reminder: Hort Code

As of April 1, growers and traders operating through the Central markets must have a valid Horticulture Produce Agreement in place.

Find out more, and access Growcom’s HPA templates, via this link.

Hort Innovation
ABGC

This e-bulletin is produced by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council as a part of the Communications Project for the Banana Industry funded by HIA Ltd using the banana industry R&D levy and matched funds from the Australian Government.

Contact Details
It is important that ABGC is advised if you know of growers who are not receiving these e-bulletins or the Australian Banana magazine. We may have out of date email or postal addresses for these growers. Please email any updated contact details to: 
info@abgc.org.au

Also, it is important for membership purposes that growers advise ABGC if they change trading name or their agent (wholesaler) or add one, and also to let their agent know.