Category: News & Media

Australia’s largest banana-growing family continues to dispense world-firsts in automated fresh produce retailing with a further expansion of its vending machine concept. In just over two years, Tully’s MacKay family has grown its start-up trial of selling bananas from its especially-designed machines into a push-button…

What used to be normal, everyday farm practices can now put banana production at risk from TR4. Stewart Lindsay reports on how to make the change to safer farming. It’s one of the most significant disease threats to global banana production and it’s now in…

The TR4 Program has revised its standards and guidelines for banana farms with he changes clarifying how the measures apply to banana farms. “The standards are mandatory conditions required for growing, harvesting and marketing bananas which must be adhered to by owners of quarantined properties,”…

North Queensland banana growers will be contributing their ideas for an electronic app being developed to further improve best management practices on their farms. The app will give growers a quicker and easier way to record and manage information about farm practices, such as applications…

The most effective way banana growers can contribute to the TR4 response is on-farm biosecurity initiatives, TR4 Response Program Leader Rebecca Sapuppo said. “Growers need to remember that their point of control is at their property boundary,” Rebecca said. “Their most effective role in the…

A year after banana plant disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) was detected in North Queensland, talks have begun on the ongoing operations plan. The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has held discussions with Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) on the plan which BQ manages. ABGC Chair…

Lightning strikes frequently hit banana plants in North Queensland causing leaf damage that looks similar to TR4 symptoms. Growers are urged to report all suspect plants and not assume electrical storms are the cause of damage. Visiting Montpellier SupAgro University student Kévin de Cozar reports.…