Take a walk on the trial side!

Are you interested in seeing and hearing first-hand about the progress of newly imported varieties being trialled at the DAF South Johnstone Research Station?

This unique opportunity will be available to you on 21 June, when Jeff Daniells gives a tour of the trial site, inspecting plant crop bunches of each variety. Many of these varieties are also being screened against Panama disease tropical race 4 in the Northern Territory.

There will also be an opportunity to see the new nutrient rate trials which are aiming to determine the optimal range of nitrogen fertiliser rates, taking into consideration agronomic and environmental factors.

The field walk will commence at 9am and finish with lunch. Gumboots will be provided to enter the research station therefore RSVP is essential – Tegan.Kukulies@daf.qld.gov.au– 0459 846 053 or click here (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/department-of-agriculture-and-fisheries-15500522411?s=99575449)

This field walk is being organised by the National Banana Development and Extension Program BA16007. 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.

Water Quality Sampling Results

Growers who would like to hear and discuss results from recent water quality sampling, conducted across the Johnstone Basin, are invited to attend one of five shed meetings to be held tomorrow and Friday.

The samples were taken as part of the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (MIP).

Meetings will include a BBQ and informal discussion of results found so far from testings, including ideas of ‘where to from here’?

Meeting dates/locations are;

Thursday, 6 June

7am – Sundown Harvesting, 67 Sundown Road, Sundown

11.30am – Michael Oldano, 52 Gill Road, Sandy Pocket

5pm – Peter Angelini, 63796 Bruce Highway, Mourilyan

Friday, 7 June

7am – John Azzopardi, 312 Spanos Road, Silkwood

11.30am – Mick Camilleri, 227 Riera Road, Currajah

RSVP to Will – 0436 622 084; or Deb –  0428 875 069

What a Congress 2019!

Congress 2019 promised to be bigger and better and what an event it was!

Feedback from last month’s event at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast has been extremely positive, with growers, sponsors and other delegates enjoying the two-day grower-focussed program, additional off-site tours and a fantastic line-up of presenters and entertainment.

Firstly, a massive ‘Thank-you’ to all the growers, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and other delegates who made this event a huge success.

Total registrations were on par with last Congress, however the number of growers in attendance this year was up by a massive 20 per cent.

Congress 2019 would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of both the Congress Management Committee and Program Committee.

These members are – Congress Management Committee

Paul Inderbitzin (Congress Chair)          Sonia Campbell (Congress Co-ordinator)

Ben Franklin                                              Jade Buchanan

Leanne Erakovic                                       Amy Spear

Congress Program Committee

Paul Inderbitzin (Congress Chair)          Sonia Campbell (Congress Co-ordinator)

Ben Franklin                                              Jade Buchanan

Leanne Erakovic                                       Amy Spear

Rosie Godwin                                           Matt Weinert

Jenny Crema                                             Elisa King

Matthew Abbott                                      Shanara Veivers

James Howe

Acknowledgement must also go to event management company MCI Australia.

Congratulations also to our Award of Honour recipients; Peter Molenaar; Gavin and Stephen MacKay; Ian Liddle and Les Blennerhassett.

A full wrap of Congress will be included in the next edition of the Australian Bananas Magazine. More photos from Congress 2019 will also be loaded onto the ABGC website soon.