Australian Bananas Magazine
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Australian BananasIssue 40, Summer 2013-2014 Hopeful harvest Trial blocks yield answers in the search for disease-resistant varieties Page 10 Banana Page 20 Page 22 China- Freckle eradication Retail campaign Philippines study tour editorial & advertising AUSTRALIAN Rhyll Cronin 07 3278 4786 [email protected] art direction & design ToadShow Bananas Summer 2013-2014 2 Eton Street,Toowong contents 07 3335 4000 www.toadshow.com.au publisher Regulars Australian Banana 4 Chairman’s comment Growers’ Council Inc. 5 CEO’s comment ABN: 60 381 740 734 20 Marketing – Campaign puts a smile on chief executive officer retailers’ faces Jim Pekin 38 Health – Is rating food a five-star idea? research and 39 Membership – ABGC Juliane development manager 25 PAGE Henderson Jay Anderson 12 Industry news & MeeHua Wong office manager Alix Perry 6 Regional round up administration assistant 7 Banana grower AGM discusses industry Industry development sustainability Kaylar Packer 16 Lessons from the Philippines 8 Have your say on draft industry plan BOARD OF DIRECTORS Warnings for growers from a look at TR4 in the Philippines chairman Plant health Doug Phillips 22 Tour highlights threats, opportunities 9 Committee guides our six million dollar A group studies production in China and vice-chairman plan the Philippines Adrian Crema 28 PAGE The six-member team guiding the Banana 39 Robert Mayers in reef-grants role treasurer Plant Protection Program (BPPP) ABGC’s new Reef Water Quality Grants Paul Johnston Officer directors Features Marc Darveniza 10 Taking control Farm practices Steve Lizzio An inside look at the Banana Freckle 28 Bananas tip timber from lab’s top spot Peter Molenaar eradication’s control centre Stephen Spear Tissue culture plants are in increasing 11 Freckle eradication to enter new phase demand all mail to Next steps are being considered in the 30 Nursing a headache PO Box 309 response plan BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106 Nurse suckering is being utilised to PAGE 32 PAGE 12 Secrets in the sequences manage production cycles Australian Bananas More than eight years’ research is is published three times a 31 Rematch set for Chloro and biopest oil year by the Australian Banana unlocking the secrets of Banana Freckle An update on a trial of yellow Sigatoka Growers’ Council Inc. treatments Articles appearing in Profiles Australian Bananas 15 Life science 32 Bedtime stories for banana growers Four growers talk about pre-formed and do not necessarily For Juliane Henderson, a scientific represent the policies, permanent beds opinions or views of ABGC. breakthrough can happen in a lab - or on ABGC is funded by a voluntary a motel verandah grower fee of 3c per 13kg 25 Next-generation grower Innovation carton. Duane Pierce gets ready to grow solo in 34 Scholar looks at biologicals Disclaimer the Tweed district Mort Johnston Professional Development HAL and ABGC make no 39 PAGE Scholar Liam Riedy prepares for a US representations and expressly disclaim all warranties (to the study trip extent permitted by law) about the Cover story accuracy, completeness, or currency of 26 Seven survivors set for new trials 35 New phases for banana trials information in this magazine. Users of An update on two trials researching this magazine should take independent Commercial trials begin soon for action to confirm any information in genetic modification this magazine before relying on that varieties tested for disease-resistance information in any way. Reliance on any information provided by HAL is entirely at your own risk. HAL is not International responsible for, and will not be liable 36 Banana stew and brew on Uganda’s for, any loss, damage, claim, expense, cost (including legal costs) or other menu liability arising in any way (including from HAL’s or any other person’s A look at the nation where bananas are a negligence or otherwise) from your use staple food or non-use of the magazine, or from reliance on information contained in the magazine or that HAL provides to you by any other means. Cover: The Banana Plant Protection Program’s Dr Mike Smith (left) and David Peasley at the Duranbah trial block. Photographer: David Hancock. Summer 2013-2014 | Australian Bananas MAGAZINE 4 comment COMMENT 5 Challenges and achievements set 2014 agenda Many issues but growers are always our focus ABGC Chairman Doug at the Palmer Coolum Resort on the or unless required in the event of an Events over the past Phillips looks at the Sunshine Coast, it gave growers and incursion few months have year’s major events. supply-chain partners the opportunity If an incursion occurs, the debt to the shown the breadth With Christmas to hear about the latest developments in Federal Government to be repaid by of issues affecting and the New Year marketing and research being undertaken implementing a positive EPPR Levy, via growers and our approaching, it’s an by industry. a thorough advisory and communica- industry, says ABGC opportune time to Of course it was also a great oppor- tions process with banana industry levy CEO Jim Pekin. reflect on some of the tunity to catch up with old friends payers. A disease incursion, a pro- challenges and successes of the past 12 during the extensive social program. The importance of this levy cannot active approach to farm practices months. Congress culminated with our industry be understated as it provides industry in the wet tropics and some important Once again it’s a year when the banana Ball at which I had the great pleasure with the ability to discharge its financial initiatives taking place in the broader industry has been subjected to the whims in presenting the Awards of Honour. obligations associated with an exotic pest horticulture sector have been among of Mother Nature. In January, ex-tropical Recipients were Senator Ron Boswell – a incursion as defined by the EPPR Deed. them. cyclone Oswald affected many of the long-term ally of the banana industry; The eventual approval of the levy was These events are worth noting here and production regions on the east coast, Tony Heidrich, a former CEO of ABGC opportune as it was only a few months are just some examples of how the ABGC most notably in south east Queensland who led our industry through some of its later that Banana Freckle was detected on has been hard at work for the benefit of The ABGC worked with government and and in New South Wales where damage toughest challenges; and Mark Nucifora, Cavendish bananas within the Northern banana growers. greater than the costs. Nonetheless, the industry groups to respond to the NT’s Banana was severe and losses significant. a north Queensland grower who has pro- Territory. Since this detection, ABGC final cost (when it is known) will not Freckle outbreak. At around the same time, in Western vided outstanding service to the industry has been working with State and Federal Banana Freckle be cheap. The banana industry alone HAL review Australia our counterparts also bore the at the grass-roots level. They are recipi- biosecurity agencies and Plant Health The exotic strain of Freckle, Phyllosticta will need to repay more than $500,000, Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) has brunt of nature – not through cyclone but ents who represent both the diversity of Australia to initiate an eradication cavendishii, was found in Howard assuming no more infected properties commissioned consultants ACIL Allen to an extreme heat wave that significantly those involved with our industry and the program. This program has started and is Springs, south of Darwin, in July. This are found. As of November 20, 14 such undertake a major performance review damaged fruit and plantations. Just singular focus we have on improving our progressing well. Under the response pro- set off the pre-determined processes properties have been detected. One of HAL, with the final report due in May recently, in mid-November, some growers future. gram the costs will be shared between the under the Emergency Plant Pest Response of these was a small farm and 13 were 2014. in New South Wales were completing various State and Federal governments as (EPPR) Deed, signed some years ago residential properties. It has not yet been All horticultural farmers’ compul- the year the same way it began – more Pest levy well as industry. Industry’s commitments by the ABGC, other industries and all determined when or what level of EPPR sory levies get collected by the Federal damaging weather, this time hail storms. While at Congress, I reported to mem- will be funded by a positive EPPR Levy. government jurisdictions. Levy is required to repay our share of the Department of Agriculture and provided Of course banana farmers, like all bers that ABGC had, after consultation We will have more information on this in Since then, ABGC has worked with costs. to HAL to manage. From our end, the farmers, are unfortunately accustomed to with our growers, written to the Federal 2014. the Northern Territory’s Department of Banana Industry Strategic Investment dealing with the vagaries of the weather. Agriculture Minister seeking his approval Primary Industry & Fisheries (DPI&F), Reef Rescue Plan is implemented through banana My thoughts during the year have been for an Emergency Plant Pest Response Year ahead Plant Health Australia, the Nursery & This year the ABGC Board decided to be R&D and marketing levies, managed by with all affected growers as they work (EPPR) Levy. I was pleased to later The EPPR Levy is just one item already Garden Industry Association, and all the proactive in regard to the Great Barrier HAL. HAL comprises a Board, manage- through these challenges – hopefully announce the request has been granted. on the agenda for the New Year.