Orchard Thinning triggers Phellinus Epidemic Spotting Bug and Airblast Workshops Clonal Propagation of Rootstocks Using Phosphonates to control Phytophthora Root Rot Autumn 2008 Print Post Approved - 44307/0006 Volume 19 No 1 Talking Avocados Avocados Australia Limited Talking Avocados is published using avocado Circulation: 1,100 Copies grower levies which are matched by the Australian Printed by: Snap Printing, 101 Edward Street Brisbane 4000 Government through Horticulture Australia. Phone: 07 3221 5850, Fax: 07 3221 3208 AVOCADOS AUSTRALIA LIMITED Email: [email protected] ABN 87 105 853 807 Subscriptions: Four issues per year: Australia: AUS $50.00 New Zealand: AUS $65.00 Level 1, 8/63 Annerley Road Rest of the World: AUS $80.00 Woolloongabba, Qld 4102 Australia Advertising: Avocados Australia Limited, PO Box 8005 Woolloongabba PO Box 8005 Woolloongabba Qld 4102 - Phone: 07 3846 6577, Qld 4102 Australia Fax: 07 3846 6566 Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 3846 6566 Disclaimer: This publication is produced upon the understanding Fax: 07 3846 6577 that no responsibility is accepted by Avocados Australia Limited (ABN 87 105 853 807), its Directors and Officers or the Editor Email: [email protected] for any opinions, claims, statements made and views expressed in Web: www.avocado.org.au any edition of Talking Avocados. Readers should rely on their own Antony Allen [email protected] inquiries when making decisions concerning their interests. All Chief Executive Officer material in the magazine is copyright. Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without written permission of the editor. We all make mistakes: If we make a mistake please let us know Avocados Australia Directors so a correction may be made in the next issue. Henry Kwaczynski Chairman 07 5442 1767 Sunshine Coast [email protected] Contents Daryl Boardman 07 4697 8000 Chairman’s Perspective 3 South Queensland [email protected] Industry Matters 4 Chris Nelson 02 6569 0881 Central NSW [email protected] Australian Roundup 12 Jim Kochi 07 4054 2188 Orchard Thinning triggers Phellinus Epidemic 15 North Queensland [email protected] Australian and New Zealand Avocado Conference 2009 16 Jennie Franceschi 08 9777 3246 Avocados Australia: have moved 17 Western Australia [email protected] VI World Avocado Conference Study Tour - Chile 18 Lachlan Donovan 07 4159 7670 Spotting Bug and Airblast Workshops 23 Central Queensland [email protected] Regional Study Groups feature expert guest presenters 24 Tom Silver 02 6628 8929 Clonal Propagation of Avocado Rootstocks 27 North NSW [email protected] Changes in dry matter and oil content of avocados 28 John Walsh 07 4126 8200 Using Phosphonates to control Phytophthora Root Rot 33 Central Queensland [email protected] Permit to allow emergency use of a Colin Fechner 08 8541 2819 Registered AGVET Chemical Product No -PER10722 35 Tri State [email protected] Principles of Phytophthora root rot management 36 PMA Fresh Summit: Part Two 39 Talking Avocados Talking Avocados is published by News from around the world 44 Avocados Australia Limited. Grower Member Application Form 45 Published: Quarterly - Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer Editor: Antony Allen, PO Box 8005 Woolloongabba Qld 4102 Cover Pic: Retail display at an IGA store in Sydney, Phone: 07 3846 6577, Fax: 07 3846 6566 during the Retail Quality Surveys Email: [email protected] 2 Autumn 2008 Chairman’s Perspective In this issue I intend to concentrate on two key topics - marketing and In brief, it is most important that: the environment • You use only chemicals that are Marketing registered for the specific job at hand, and The start of the 2008 season brings an opportunity for smarter collaborative marketing for the year, and again I express my long • Your use of chemicals is strictly in standing hope that growers will adopt a more innovative and flexible accordance with the instructions approach to marketing. By now you are all aware that production levels detailed on the label. of avocados are increasing, with the rate of increase far higher than it In order to assist avocado growers has been for the last ten years - I believe that this trend will continue for with this important element of at least a few years to come. So there is really no choice about smarter environmental awareness, Avocados Australia is organising workshops marketing – we either go for it or suffer the consequences of lower with Dr Henry Drew on fruit spotting bug and airblast spraying returns or worse still, nil returns. technology. These commenced in 2007 and will continue this year. I I am not advocating takeovers or mergers, but a coordinated and strongly recommend that everyone attends these workshops – details cooperative marketing approach that will give a clear signal that supply are on page 23. is readily available to the market all year round. Supply programs to QA schemes generally include elements mentioned above. But the retailers and wholesalers in the domestic market need to be honed in point is that you alone take responsibility for the safe application of such a way that when one supplier’s variety concludes supply, another chemicals on your property. I am sure you would know that court supplier’s variety is ready to step in, with no gap. As I said, the goal proceedings are very costly and you will definitely be out of pocket at is for Australian avocados to be available for supply programs for the end of the day if litigation occurs. twelve months of every year. Let me assure you that, by working in a Finally, I included in my Sunshine Coast column in this issue, a coordinated way, there are real opportunities for commercial entities to reminder about a local by-law relating to the protection of vegetation. achieve positive outcomes with retailers and wholesalers. You may like to check out by-laws in your local area, to see if there are Environment any limits that may apply to you and your property. Again, penalties for breaches can be extreme. The second topic for discussion relates to the relationship between farmers and the highly sensitive topic of chemical usage. I need to Australian – New Zealand conference talk about the environment and potential or real pressures upon On 22, 23, 24 July 2009, the combined Australia/ NZ Avocado Growers farmers. Such pressure comes from many directions Federal to Local Conference will be held in Cairns. It is not too early to mark that in Governments, Environment groups, the media, developers bringing your diary and include it in your plans for next year. The enthusiastic suburbs ever closer - the list seems to be endless. conference planning team is working hard to ensure that this Sometimes issues reported in the local media are blown out of conference will be interesting and enjoyable. proportion as a slanted view sells many more papers. However, we farmers do have to be socially responsible and carry out our business in a professional manner. We need to understand that any small departure from specified application of chemicals (i.e. a variance to the Henry Kwaczynski label) will attract the harshest criticism from all quarters. Henry Kwaczynski There are several ways to ensure environmental responsibility. Some Chairman, Avocados Australia of these are: Doing an environmental audit of your property, or commissioning an So much more external party to do such an audit than just a market • Ensuring only registered chemicals are used for specified purposes The Brisbane Produce Market is Queensland’s • Maintaining currency of chemical accreditation through attendance fresh fruit and vegetable hub, trading over 625,000 at Chemical Safety Accreditation Courses tonnes of produce each year and ensuring the most effi cient and effective marketing and distribution of Queensland’s fresh fruit and vegetables. • Ensuring familiarity with the APVMA website – Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority: www.apvma.gov.au To fi nd out more about the Brisbane Produce Markets visit www.brisbanemarkets.com.au free Grower Hotline or phone the • Ensuring awareness of minimum residue levels on 1800 631 002. BPM9586 3 Talking Avocados Written, edited and compiled by Industry Matters Antony Allen CEO of Avocados Australia Avocado promotions working During late 2007 there were a range of consumer focus groups held hard: “Add an Avo” to ensure that the avocado promotion campaign was on target and The 2008 promotion campaign will be the biggest ever seen for the using the correct delivery media methods Australian avocado industry. For the first time ever the industry’s The result is extremely positive with all media delivery methods very promotion resources can now deliver a national promotion program well targeted, virtually all elements work well in stand alone terms: will that begins in mid February 2008 and run right through to November 2008. A range of magazines, word of mouth, online, website • TV and TV form the first stage of the avocado promotion campaign, please • Website see the complete 2008-2009 promotional schedule below. • Recipe Point of Sale Booklet • Press Ads (with recipe) The strategic direction continues to focus heavily on versatility, demonstrated by recipe usage. The primary targeting being female The creative device at the basis of the campaign is viewed by target grocery buyer 20–39 years, secondary target female grocery buyer consumers as positive, is attractive and engaging. 40–54 years, both media and creative relies strongly on introducing The communication of versatility and health is being achieved. new uses for avocados, supported always by specific recipe usage. The Versatility works well because it gives them what they want … objective of the current campaign is to encourage occasional users to ideas.