Category: News & Media

One of Australian horticulture’s most significant biosecurity responses began in March when Panama disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) was first suspected on a Tully Valley farm. Quick action from a grower reporting unhealthy plants, and in sampling and testing, bring the shock news that TR4 had…

The race is on to find new, disease resistant banana varieties that will flourish in subtropical conditions, providing more options and niche markets for the region’s growers. Story by Luke Roberts. Subtropical growers keen to develop niche markets using disease-resistant banana varieties have seen and…

New research has drawn attention to the need to better manage naturally-occurring nitrogen found in the top 60 centimetres of soil during the crop establishment phase. Jeff Daniells, John Armour and Stewart Lindsay report. A Reef Rescue project investigating different slow release nitrogen fertilisers was…

A visit to a Singapore chocolate factory has helped Australia’s largest banana farming operation to quickly implement a “traffic light” biosecurity system on their farms and share the information with other growers. Barrie MacKay and Mark Smith from Tully’s Mackay Estates were at a cocoa…

New banana varieties developed for TR4 resistance are already being trialled in Australia, with others in the pipeline. Jeff Daniells, Stewart Lindsay, Mike Smith, Sharon Hamill and Tony Pattison report on what’s here, what’s on the way and what’s the potential. The Panama disease Tropical…

North Queensland soil health scientist Tegan Kukulies has been appointed as the new leader of the banana industry’s Banana Development and Extension Program. The new role began in March and Tegan is leading initiatives bringing the findings of banana research to growers via activities such…

The recent discovery of Panama disease Tropical Race 4 in North Queensland has led to doomsayers predicting the end of the banana industry in Australia. Story by Tony Pattison. While not discounting the seriousness of the outbreak, there are several factors weighing in favour of…