Growers’ e-bulletin – October 26, 2018

ABGC

26 October, 2018

Content

Zoning workshop
Join the Banana SIAP 
WA update on Coffee Bean Weevil
Organophosphate insecticides
New marketing tool for growers
Banana industry fund annual report
Murwillumbah Show entries 
Collaboration in Canberra

Time to get in the zone

Cassowary Coast growers: have you secured your place for the free zoning workshop  in two weeks?

Zoning is a simple, cost-effective way to bump-up your biosecurity. Additionally, in a worst-case scenario where Panama TR4 is detected, having zones in place can assist you to get back to production quicker and easier.

The workshop, on Thursday November 8, will be hosted by the Panama TR4 Program, Agri-Sciences Queensland and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council.

It will run from 4-6pm at the Silkwood Hotel. RSVP here to ensure your farm map is available from Biosecurity Queensland on the day.

Be part of the industry’s investment advisory panel

Hort Innovation is calling for expressions of interest to join the banana R&D Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP).

If you’re a grower or work in the industry’s supply chain, this is your chance to collaborate with other growers, industry representatives and Hort Innovation on research and development levy investments.

You can apply online at Hort Innovation’s website hereApplications close on Friday 9 November 2018.

If you have any questions on the SIAP or the recruitment process, please contact Corrine Jasper, Hort Innovation’s Relationship Manager for the banana industry, Corrine.Jasper@horticulture.com.au or 0439 433 885.

Coffee Bean Weevil no longer pest in WA

Coffee Bean Weevil Araecerus fasciculatus has been removed from the list of quarantine pests for WA.

The decision, which was announced in the WA Government Gazette (9 OCT 2018 No. 153), was made because it has been found in a number of locations in the Perth area. It is now considered a permitted organism and all previous regulations have been revoked.

This means that although banana loads entering WA will still undergo an import verification inspection, WA authorities will no longer be looking for coffee bean weevil and even if they are found, bananas will not subject to fumigation and can no longer be rejected.

Any questions can be directed to Dr Rosie Godwin, ABGC R&D Manager, via rosie.godwin@abgc.org.au.

Health effects of organophosphate insecticides

Organophosphate insecticides are commonly used to control insect pests in bananas, for example thrips, caterpillars and borers.

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council has recently updated its website to include guidance on the health effects of commonly used products in this category, potential routes of exposure and risk control measures.

See the detailed information here.

New marketing tool: Harvest to Home

There’s a simple new way to get an overview of banana market information: Harvest to Home.

This platform is essentially an ‘online dashboard’ housing Nielsen category reports. Available to everyone, these reports display a range of information for different produce including sales and volume growth, household buying behaviour and relevant commentary.

You can access these reports online here  – just make sure you select ‘bananas’. 
To download a PDF of the latest report, simply click on the printer icon next to the category name.

More information about Harvest to Home can be found here.

An example of some of the banana data you can see via Harvest to Home.

Banana industry fund annual report

Want to know where your levies went over the past year? The 2017/18 Banana Fund Annual Report has just been released by Hort Innovation.

The report includes key investment and project information from 2017/18, and is available to download here.

If you prefer to read a hard copy of your industry’s annual report, no worries! Simply use the form available through this portal to place an order and have the report mailed to you.

And if you’d like to get closer to what your levy is achieving throughout the year, remember to sign up to Hort Innovation’s free membership program at www.horticulture.com.au/membership.


Murwillumbah Show – get your entries ready

Whether you think you’ve got the pick of the bunch (*boom tish*), or just want to support your local event – Tweed growers are invited to get their entries ready for next week’s Murwillumbah Show.

Entries will be accepted from 5-6.30pm on Wednesday (October 31) and from 8-9.30am (November 1). It’s free to enter if you’re a Tweed BGA member, or you can pay $10 to join at the door.

CEO collaborates in capital 

Hort Innovation – through the Hargraves Institute – has formed a Horticulture Alumni Network Group.

ABGC’s CEO Jim Pekin was invited to its’ first meeting in Canberra last week.

It was an opportunity to discuss a range of issues that the 22 participants raised, as well as meet with politicians and sponsors over a networking breakfast and trade display.

Jim met with the heads of major horticultural companies, including the new HIA CEO, Matt Brand and politicians, including the Minister responsible for Horticulture – Senator Colbeck.

Jim Pekin and Senator Richard Colbeck, the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources who is responsible for horticulture, fisheries and forestry. Pictured at Parliament House, Canberra.

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.