Peter (left) and Dan Molenaar
By Sonia CampbellGrowers in northern New South Wales and the mid-North coast continue to recover from extreme flooding which cause...
A $9.8 million research project has been launched to develop TR4 resistant varieties of Cavendish and Goldfinger bananas.The project is being jointly delivered by Brisbane-based Queensland University ...
By Rosie GodwinMany growers and resellers have been expressing concern over the potential outcomes of the Chlorpyrifos (e.g Strike-Out, Lorsban) and Neonicotinoids including Imidacloprid (e.g. Confido...
By Kathryn Dryden, ABGC Keeping track of the nutrients and chemicals applied on your farm is best practice. It’s even better if growers do this regularly, rather than rushing as they prepare for an au...
The ABGC Best Practice Team has welcomed Maria Ribbeck to the team based in South Johnstone. Maria will be joining the Best Practice project until the end of June 2022 to support water quality monitor...
Since December last year, the ABGC Best Practice team has been flying a small drone over 40 farms across the Johnstone and Tully catchments to capture high resolution images of banana paddocks.These i...
The Brisbane Markets was a victim of southern Queensland’s devastating flood emergency in late February and early March.Inundated by flood waters which measured about one metre lower than the 2011 flo...
By Shanara Veivers, DAF South JohnstoneAre you a grower striving to improve your business, looking to innovate and willing to share your experiences with like-minded growers?If so, the NextGen banana ...
National Banana Development and Extension teamThe FNQ mini roadshows due to be held in June will shed light on integrated pest and disease management. It is a hot topic with banana growers as the Nati...
As ABGC Chair and a grower myself, I can certainly relate to the growing concerns of producers nationally as we collectively navigate through some of the most challenging times we’ve ever faced.Over t...
Growers are fully aware of the tough situation in the industry currently, with low banana prices and increasing input costs causing major financial stress.Input CostsAll of Australia, including grower...
There’s not too much more that can be thrown at Australian banana producers at the moment.Market prices below cost of production, high production rates, ongoing COVID consumer buying challenges, labou...
The ABGC has an enviable track record in successfully eradicating and containing a number of serious pest and disease incursions that have threatened the viability of the Australian banana indust...
Sixty years ago, the Australian Banana Growers’ Council was formed.
In the time since, its dealt with challenges like pest and disease incursions, natural disasters, expansion and the COVID-19 hea...
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) have committed to examine ways to better assist smaller banana growers to access seasonal workers under the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and Seasonal W...
From 4 April 2022, the Seasonal Workers Programme (SWP) and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) will be replaced by a new single Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme – aimed at simplifying administ...
In the past 60 years, there’s been an enormous amount of progress made when it comes to banana farmers improving their farming practices.
The ABGC has played a pivotal role, with the support of F...
As the national peak industry body for Australia’s commercial banana growers, the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) acts in the interests of commercial banana growers on a wide range of issues...
Tableland banana grower Rock Ridge Farming was crowned Business of the Year at the 2021 Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards in October.Run by Peter and Chelley Howe and family, Rock...
The Sweeter Banana Co-operative continues to celebrate after winning the People’s Choice Award for Product of the Year at the 2021 Western Australian Good Food Guide Awards.Presented by Buy West Eat B...
By Sharl Mintoff1 , Samantha Cullen1 , Chris Kelly1 , Maxine Piggott1 and Jeff Daniells2 1 Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Darwin, NT 2 Queensland Department of Agricultu...
ABGC directors Leon Collins and Andrew Serra visited the Torres Strait Islands in recent months to provide grower perspective on a disease prevention project.
T...
The Panama TR4 Board’s Transition to Industry Working Group recently met with specialists to discuss the legislative framework for industry’s management of Panama TR4. The Panama TR4 Program’s Transit...
Mandatory biosecurity, ongoing education and incentive programs were some of the suggestions given to the Panama TR4 Program’s Management Board by Innisfail growers at a focus group meeting. The Panam...
