Year: 2020

By Lea Coghlan A group of banana growers in the Coffs Harbour region whose properties will be impacted by a planned bypass are a step closer to reaching a resolution after years of uncertainty. In April 2019, Australian Bananas Magazine reported on the plight of the growers, whose…

Lester Burgess Award (Diagnostic and Extension) Kathy Grice Ms Grice has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a diagnostician, extension practitioner and researcher across a range of crops in tropical Queensland. Her most significant contribution has been to the banana industry. Kathy and her team were instrumental…

Fall armyworm is a new exotic pest recently detected in North Queensland. While bananas are not a preferred host, this pest has serious implications for other agricultural industries including sugar cane and horticulture in North Queensland. What is Fall armyworm? Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is…

Far North Queensland banana grower Gavin Devaney could have easily ended up on the other side of the farming fence. Armed with an Honours Degree in Agricultural Science (Major in Rural Technology), the third- generation farmer was on the cusp of studying to become a veterinarian…

What if we did nothing to manage Panama disease? This is the scenario being faced in Laos, a land-locked country south of China and between Thailand and Vietnam.By Tony Pattison, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries The arrival of Panama disease TR4 in the north of…

The ABGC Board farewelled retiring West Australian director Tom Day in December last year, with the representation of growers in the far west handed over to incoming director, Doriana Mangili. Following his departure, Mr Day spoke with Australian Bananas Magazine, reflecting on his two stints as a…