Growers’ e-bulletin – July 23, 2018

 

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ABGC

23 July, 2018

Content

Additional plant detection confirmed
Banana science on tour
Tully Show this week

Additional detection confirmed

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council has been advised that biological testing (VCG results) have confirmed that a Tully banana farm operating with Panama tropical race 4 (TR4) has uncovered another plant infected with the disease.

The suspect plant was found on the property through routine on-farm surveillance and has since undergone an initial molecular (PCR) test and now VCG testing.

As stated by ABGC Chair Stephen Lowe last Wednesday, 18 July, the detection is disappointing for the farm involved, however it does not greatly alter operations on this infested property.

The same farm had an initial positive TR4 detection confirmed on 26 July 2017.

“This property has been operating with TR4 for almost a year and the discovering of an additional infected plant does not change its existing biosecurity situation,” Mr Lowe said.

“As I have previously stated, for this property to have gone almost 12 months without any new detections is really quite remarkable, considering the rapid pace this disease has spread elsewhere across the world,”

“We continue to offer our full support to the family involved. Their efforts to date in controlling this disease have been exceptional and we thank them for their continued support.

Mr Lowe said the latest confirmation was a timely reminder for all growers to review their own on-farm biosecurity measures and to report any suspect plants to Biosecurity Queensland.”

Banana science on tour

It’s the eve of the 2018 National Banana Roadshow, with a jam-packed day of science and research kicking things off in Murwillumbah tomorrow (July 24).

Coffs Harbour will follow on Thursday  (July 26), with North Queensland under way from early next month.

Dates and locations:

– Murwillumbah, Tuesday 24 July, Murwillumbah Services Club (9 am – 3:30 pm)

– Coffs Harbour, Thursday 26 July, Coffs Harbour Showgrounds (9 am – 3:30 pm)

– Tully, Thursday 9 August, Tully & District Senior Citizens Hall (9 am – 3:30 pm)

– Innisfail, Friday 10 August, Innisfail Showgrounds (9 am – 3:30 pm)

– Mareeba, Friday 17 August, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy – John Charles room (9 am – 3:30 pm)

– Carnarvon, Thursday 30 August, Carnarvon Yacht Club (9 am – 3 pm)
Register now through Eventbrite or contact your local industry extension officers:

For Queensland and WA events contact Shanara Veivers (DAF) at shanara.veivers@daf.qld.gov.au or phone/text 0400 870 731.

For NSW events contact Matt Weinert (NSW DPI) at matt.weinert@dpi.nsw.gov.au or phone/text 0438 644 136.

The strategic levy investment project National Banana Development and Extension Program BA16007 is part of the Hort Innovation Banana Fund. The project is funded by Hort Innovation using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

Showtime in Tully 

The North Queensland show festivities continue this week, with the Tully event taking place on Friday 27 July and Saturday 28 July.

Entries for the banana exhibit should be taken to the Pavilion from 5pm-8pm (approx) this Thursday 27 July.

For more information on the competition or exhibit, visit http://www.tullyshow.com/show-competitions/bananas

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.