Year: 2019

Banana grower Jason Gentle with Cooper on his property. By Amy Spear The first thing you notice when arriving at Jason Gentle’s banana plantation, near Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, is just how steep the hill is. The next is how much he loves it.  Jason…

Well-known soil biology expert, Dr Tony Pattison, was recently honoured for 25 years with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF). The globally-respected scientist, author and Principal Nemotologist took time to reflect on his milestone achievement of service, which he described as both fulfilling and challenging. By Sonia Campbell Making a difference…

Figure 1: Rapid yellowing, wilting and collapse of leaves. Figure 2Figure 3Figure 4Figure 5Figure 6Figure 7 A regular feature in Australian Bananas magazine, Under the Microscope profiles the industry’s emerging and exotic diseases. Sometimes you just need the facts, fast. What is Moko Disease? Moko is caused by…

Bananas from the Sweeter Banana Co-Operative feature in new West Australian product Gelavo. By Amy Spear At this time of year, it’s hard to think of a better treat than a tub of cold, creamy gelato. But if you needed an extra reason to tuck in,…

Innovation trial update  Entomopathogenic nematode and banana weevil borer laboratory experimentsBell injection trialsApplying entomopathogenic nematode to harvested pseudostems in the fieldPinto peanut and mulching hay ground cover treatments By Shanara Veivers, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries The innovation trial planted at the South Johnstone Research Station…

By Lea Coghlan and Sarah Flenley, Biosecurity Queensland Finding Panama disease tropical race 4 (Panama TR4) early and destroying the infected plants means less disease can build up in the soil which is beneficial to an infested farm’s viability. To find the disease: • growers are…

All growers know that bananas require year-round paddock work, which means there is greater risk of erosion in wet conditions. As part of a major reef water quality project, Innisfail banana farmer Rob Zahra is demonstrating the effects of reduced traffic in banana inter-rows and the potential benefits to…