Australian Banana Growers' Council Inc Volume 21 DECEMBER 2005

AustralianBANANAS

Volume 21 DECEMBER 2005 Australian Banana Growers’ Council Inc ��

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GC5Y10_R2_297x210_ .indd 1 31/5/05 8:57:09 AM industrychairman’s column [email protected]

Shortsighted view prevails

s most industry people would be We are now left to contemplate things like aware, earlier this month the national how we make a career in bananas attractive Patrick Leahy Chairman Aballot held to gauge support for a to our best and brightest plant science compulsory levy was rejected by the majority graduates when there is no money for a of growers, with 57 percent voting against banana research program? the levy and only 43 percent in favour. This may not seem like a high priority I am concerned that this relatively strong to many now, but can you imagine our no vote reflects a short-sighted attitude that dilemma if there are no banana scientists does not auger well for the immediate future left to assist in dealing with a future exotic of our $400 million banana industry. pest or disease outbreak? Banana growers had been asked to vote As a consequence of the levy decision on a proposed 1.2 percent ad valorum we will remain solely reliant on voluntary levy, with 0.8 percent of the levy funds to funding to deliver promotion and plant be invested in marketing and promotion protection related activities. I believe it is and 0.4 percent in industry research and critically important that growers continue to development. support the work of the Australian Banana We were asking growers to invest just Promotions Company and the ABGC Plant 1.6c/kg of bananas (based on a sale price Health Committee in these important areas. of $18/carton) in their future and the majority The ABGC must now also take stock of those who voted have rejected that. and review all options for delivering basic The subject of compulsory national levies services in key areas. is always a contentious one in any industry We will commence this process by so it is no surprise that the proposed undertaking a strategic planning exercise national banana levy also had its share of early in the New Year when we will be detractors. seeking input from all sectors of the industry What I do find surprising is the fact that into the development of a new industry a majority of the growers that voted in strategic plan. the national levy ballot would choose to I would like to take this opportunity to vote against something that would have thank all those people that contributed provided funding to pay for the eradication time, energy and expertise to the national of future exotic pest or disease incursions levy process. Space prevents me from and compensate affected growers for crop mentioning you all by name but without your losses. efforts we could not have come this far. I don’t believe that the Thank you also to my fellow ABGC full implications of the levy directors whose resolve in support of the levy never waivered. decision will be immediately It is impossible to undertake fundamental evident in the short term reform of this nature without unity and single but I strongly believe that minded-commitment at board level. there will come a day when Finally, a special thank you to my wife Ellen and family who took over my personal as an industry, we will be responsibilities whilst I spent much of this forced to confront the year on the road with the levy consultation legacy of what I regard as process or pre-occupied with other ABGC our short-sightedness. matters. Australian BANANAS 3 industrycontents industry imports research markets

anana grower Trevor Black rode 1900km Bto attend the Sixth Australian Banana Industry Congress in Cairns during August. COVER: Trevor was keen to hear about the imports campaign, exotic diseases and other potential Trevor Black threats to industry, but equally keen to meet from Numulgi the challenge of a long-haul motorbike trip. near Lismore The Black family farm at Numulgi, 12km in New South from Lismore in northern New South Wales, CONTENTS Wales. Photo with three generations involved in the business by MARK – Trevor’s father Frank, his brother Darren, DUFFUS. and three sons, aged eight, 11 and 14. Imports campaign 5

ABGC directors 6 Industry awaits code of conduct 7 Australian Congress action 8-9 Banana Family Fun Day 10-11 Banana Ball 12 BANANAS Congress keynote speaker 13 Australian Volume 21 BANANAS is the biannual Seeking causes for speckle 14 DECEMBER 2005 Organic matter impacts 15 magazine Biological insecticide options 16-17 produced by Published by: Re-engineering systems 18-19 the Australian Bioindicators of soil health 20 Banana Australian Banana Growers’ Council Inc Using bacteria for benefit 21 Growers’ PO Box 309 Controlling corm rot 22 Council Inc. BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106 Freckle is on our doorstep 23 Phone: 07 3278 4786 Biosecuring the future 24 Fax: 07 3278 4938 ABGC is Robots join sigatoka battle 25 Email: [email protected] Suppressing Fusarium 26-27 funded by Internet: www.abgc.org.au a voluntary Increasing plant defences 28 grower levy of Board of Directors 2005: 2c/carton. Out and about at Congress 29 Chairman: Patrick Leahy New CRC up and running 30 Articles Vice-Chairman: Nicky Singh Harvesting support for 2&5 31 appearing in Directors: Peter Bale, Cameron MacKay, Tissue culture crusader 32 Australian Marc Jackson, Mark Reppel, Tom Day, Tissue culture research 33 Vicky Kippin-O’Connor BANANAS do South African trip insights 34-35 not necessarily Staff: Hydroponic growing in WA 36 represent ABPCL Chairman’s Report 37-39 Chief Executive Officer: Tony Heidrich the policies, Radio promotion works 40 Office Manager: Jann Uhr New BIPB meets in Tully 41 opinions or Machine export opportunity 42 Magazine production: views of the ABGC Annual Report 43-45 ABGC. New Products 46 Editor: Jane Milburn 0408 787 964 [email protected] The R&D Markets - Adelaide and Perth 47 Research consultant: Ron Peterson Markets - Sydney and Melbourne 48 section of the 07 4092 1701 [email protected] Markets - Brisbane and Newcastle 49 magazine is Advertising: Annabelle deMilliere Markets - throughput summary 50 jointly funded 0414 561 945 or 07 3818 2468 with HAL. Innisfail Banana Race Day 51-52 Tweed Banana Festival 52 4 Australian BANANAS importscampaign continues [email protected]

Third draft tipped for mid-2006 Justice Crennan rejected the pork industry’s he third draft Import Risk Analysis being Len Collins application to have the High Court hear the produced by Biosecurity Australia is likely Imports chair to be released before the middle of next case, saying it was not a suitable matter for the T court to consider. Photos: (below) year, according to our latest information. There are nine permanent Biosecurity Australia I met the new chief executive of Biosecurity ABC Country staffers working constantly on the banana IRA as Australia John Cahill at the Rural Press Club’s Hour’s Robin well as the import risk assessment panel. Ekka breakfast in August, at which Mr Cahill McConchie We believe that there is still a lot of work to be said BA is determined to lift its game. interviews Len done on the new draft, and May or June would Mr Cahill acknowledged rural sector hostility Collins, and be the earliest release date. after a number of controversial import risk (bottom left) The delays are partly due to questions raised assessments during the past 12 months and John Cahill with and information gathered by Biosecurity Australia the revelation that cartons of Brazilian beef had Jane Milburn at stakeholder meetings in Brisbane that were been dumped at the Wagga Wagga tip. and Courier-Mail attended by ABGC representatives, as well as He was keen to make the point that there had business writer our scientific and statistical consultants. been big changes made to Biosecurity Australia Liliana Molina. We also understand that Biosecurity Australia since last December, including is seeking to visit Philippines plantations so that greater independence from its officers can see first-hand how any proposed government. risk mitigation measures, such as a chlorine Mr Cahill said the changes wash, would work in that country. include: becoming a prescribed This is encouraging because in the past agency with financial we have been concerned that the Australian autonomy; the appointment of quarantine regulator was too ready to accept the an eminent scientists’ group to Philippines’ word on some proposed measures ensure stakeholder comments that clearly seem impractical and unworkable to are considered; and the Australian growers. establishment of a new centre We are also in constant contact with Department of excellence for risk analysis. of Primary Industries staff and recently met with I questioned Mr Cahill about staff from the Office of the Minister for Primary whether these changes were Industries and Fisheries Gordon Nuttall to just “window dressing” and he background them on the imports issue. replied: “I don’t believe it is I can also report that ABGC Chairman Patrick window dressing but whether it Leahy and CEO Tony Heidrich did another round goes far enough is a judgment of meetings with federal politicians to update that will be made as we go them on the imports situation. along.” It is more than 12 months since Biosecurity “It is difficult to Australia announced that it would be producing get to a point where a third draft IRA report and during that time we we won’t have have watched the pork industry’s case unfold. d i s a g r e e m e n t s Last month, Australian Pork Limited’s between scientists long-running legal battle with the Director of and others about Quarantine came to an end when the High Court the content and in Sydney rejected APL’s application to appeal a assessment that decision made by the Federal Court in October. we have taken. The Federal Court had upheld Biosecurity Our job is to work Australia’s plan to allow foreign pork into through that based Australia, despite claims by the industry that on an objective it would lead to the introduction of the piglet- assessment of the wasting disease, PMWS. facts,” Mr Cahill Chief Justice Gleeson, Justice Heydon and said. Australian BANANAS 5 industryabgc directors

ABGC 2005 [email protected] Board: from left, Patrick Leahy, Peter Bale, Tom Day, Marc Jackson, Vicky Kippin- O’Connor, ABGC Board of Directors Cameron MacKay, Mark Reppel and Nicky Singh.

Patrick Leahy President 07 4068 0209 leahyban@ qldnet.com.au Nicky Singh Vice-President 02 6652 1680 mangitks@ optusnet.com

Cameron MacKay Peter Bale Tom Day Marc Jackson Vicky Kippin- Mark Reppel Treasurer 02 6677 1290 08 9941 8075 07 4066 5600 O’Connor 07 4093 3033 07 4066 7922 belter@ tmday@ jacko@ 07 4064 5000 repstar@ cameron@ norex.com.au wn.com.au znet.net.au [email protected] qldnet.com.au mackays.au.com

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6 Australian BANANAS horticultureindustry business code HAC www.horticulturebusinesscode.com P: 02 6273 9600

NFF P: 02 6273 3855 Industry awaits code ndustry is awaiting the release of the commissioning of the code in the first place and Horticulture Code of Conduct for the fruit it should be addressed by having clear agent and Iand vegetable industry. Following the public merchant definitions. consultation meetings and a call for submissions HAC and NFF also raised concerns about the in August, the final report from the Centre of ambiguity surrounding the transfer of title and International Economics (CIE) has now been risk in the CIE hybrid option. handed to government. CIE was engaged by government to develop a Who the code should regulatory impact statement (RIS) and propose a Horticulture Code of Conduct for the industry. apply to The final joint submission presented to CIE HAC and NFF supported the position that Marc Jackson by the Horticulture Australia Council (HAC) and is the banana National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), and to the code should cover the first transaction from the grower and that it should apply to industry’s official which ABGC was a major contributor, outlined representative the industry’s requirements for a mandatory all parties including, but not limited to, central market wholesalers, other wholesalers, produce on the code’s Horticulture Code of Conduct. grower review It restated that the code should: merchants, brokers, retailers, exporters and processors. panel. ABGC • ensure contractual clarity and also has its own transparency in the sale of produce by growers Horticulture • be based on the nature of Further consideration Business Code transactions between growers and others required Sub-Committee, rather than the ‘labels’ given to supply chain the members of partners such as wholesalers, brokers, The cost benefit analysis provided by CIE in which are Marc exporters, processors, retailers. For example relation to the growers’ option was questioned in Jackson, Nicky - produce sales made through representatives the belief that it did not adequately account for Singh, Vicky of growers are agency transactions; and the benefits that industry will gain by introducing Kippin-O’Connor - produce sales made at an agreed price that contractual clarity and transparency that only the and Tom Day. subsequently re-sell for potential gain are proposed growers’ option provided. merchant transactions Other issues for further consideration • specify ‘minimum terms of trade’ that where also highlighted. These included the clearly define the nature of produce sales impact of the code on ‘single desk’ marketing transactions (agency or merchant) and arrangements, existing contractual arrangements distinguishes the obligations associated with and arrangements where growers agree to pool each transaction type. produce to meet specific market needs. • include effective, affordable and This position has been communicated strongly workable dispute resolution processes. to government as part of the RIS development process. Industry waits … the Whilst industry still awaits the RIS and code status quo is unacceptable being made available, ABGC looks forward to working with government to achieve a workable Firstly and most importantly, the joint and effective code for our industry. submission strongly opposed the ‘hybrid For copies of the joint industry submission umbrella’ as put forward in the draft code by the please contact ABGC on 07 3278 4786. CIE because it would perpetuate the status quo ABGC President Patrick Leahy and CEO of the current trading ambiguity. Tony Heidrich recently met Federal Agriculture It is important that growers know whether Minister Peter McGauran in Canberra when the their wholesaler is working for them as an Minister sought the banana industry’s views on agent or independently in their own interests the manadatory code of conduct, as well as the as a merchant. This issue was behind the national levy and banana imports issue. Australian BANANAS 7 industrycongress [email protected]

Congress brings together Irene Melita: etworking with friends, colleagues and transport, packaging, supply chains and The speakers contacts is always the most important international production trends. were fantastic ... Naspect of banana industry gatherings and There were more than 300 delegates to the every Congress I the Sixth Australian Banana Industry Congress Sixth Australian Banana Industry Congress, come to just gets was no different in this regard. with a few representatives coming from Western better. Congress had some excellent and challenging Australia, many from New South Wales and most speakers who informed and inspired participants from the north Queensland areas of Innisfail, Robert Mayers: around the theme “determining our future”. Tully and the Atherton Tableland. This is my first This was not just a catchy phrase, it conveyed Mr Leahy said Congress had received great congress but the resilience and independence inherent in our support from its sponsors, including major it won’t be my industry that insists on setting its own agenda, foundation sponsor Visy Board, and other major last ... it is great not responding to that set by others. sponsors ABW, LaManna Bananas and HAL. to meet people ABGC President Patrick Leahy said the quality State Manager Queensland for Visy Board involved in other of the speakers always defines banana congress Peter Allen said the biennial three-day congress parts of the as a benchmark for other industries, and he is a good forum for networking. industry. thanked the speakers for donating their time. “We are a significant supplier to the banana Speakers covered topics such as international industry therefore we like to stay involved and fresh produce marketing trends, farm labour put something back in and help support congress reform, the latest advances in banana research, in any way we can,” Mr Allen said.

8 Australian BANANAS industrycongress Tony Heidrich 07 3278 4786

all sectors of industry

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Australian BANANAS 9 industrycongress [email protected]

Something for everyone at

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�� 10 Australian BANANAS industrycongress [email protected]

Banana Family Field Day

ocal schoolchildren were involved in the street parade and Make those Bodies LSing karaoke on 4KZ, women were inspired and feted at the Ladies Luncheon and all the while there were a multitude of presentations on banana topics. Bands and singers entertained the crowds during the parade and again later that night with the Heartland Concert on the Visy Board stage at Tully Showground, which was attended by many local families. The ladies at the luncheon enjoyed a beautifully presented meal and personal gifts and were inspired by keynote speaker Anne McKevitt who has built an impressive international career after leaving school in country Scotland at age 15. Special thanks to the band of volunteers who helped organise the Tully Street Parade, the Concert and the Ladies Luncheon. Australian BANANAS 11