Australian Berry Journal - SUMMER 2024 - Edition 21
Having industry sponsors step forward is essential to the future of the Australian berry industry. With sponsors championing our industry, we can invest in sustainable farming, innovation, grower education and quality improvements. It’s not just about selling more berries—it’s about ensuring a thriving, resilient industry that supports growers, their families, and the communities we’re all a part of.
On behalf of Berries Australia, we extend our heartfelt thanks to FreshTrack for becoming a Gold Partner and for your support of the Business Lounge at BQI25. The partnership underscores your commitment to the Australian berry industry and its continued growth. By championing innovation and collaboration, you’re helping to drive the success of growers, producers, and businesses across the supply chain. We’re thrilled to have FreshTrack on board and together, we’re cultivating a stronger, more vibrant future for Australian berries.
Find out more about FreshTrack at www.freshtrack.com
SUPPORT US & BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
Support the largest horticultural group in Australia by becoming an Australian Berry Industry Partner with Berries Australia!
To discuss your options in more detail, please contact Jen Rowling at Berries Australia on 0448 322 389 or email jenrowling@berries.net.au
Welcome to the final edition of the Australian Berry Journal for 2024. Once again, I would like to say a big thank you to the Berries Australia team including all of our sub-contractors who deliver above and beyond for the industry.
For me one of the big achievements in 2024 was getting our new consultation mechanism off the ground and welcoming Angela Atkinson into the new role of R&D and Biosecurity co-ordinator. Whilst it takes time for investments to trickle through the system, the expectation is that projects will be more targeted and aligned to industry priorities than in the past.
We are also thrilled to announce the establishment of dynamic, issues-based sub-committees focused on driving progress and innovation in key areas of the berry industry. We warmly invite all growers and industry professionals who are passionate about the industry to step forward and join the relevant sub-committees. Your voice matters—together, we can achieve incredible outcomes for the Australian berry industry. Find out more about this opportunity to make a difference at bit.ly/BA-Sub-Com. Nominations close 31/12/24.
There is a lot of exciting research going on, and one of the best ways to get across everything that is happening is to get along to BerryQuest which is being held in Tasmania from 24-27 February 2025. The four-day program will start with two days of farm tours in the Launceston & Hobart regions, including a visit to the Driscoll’s nursery and conclude with a Gala Dinner on Thursday 27 February after two jam-packed days of industry insights during the main conference and trade show.
I am personally thrilled that for the first time ever we will be celebrating our industry leaders with the launch of the new Berry Industry Awards to be awarded at BerryQuest. This new initiative recognises and celebrates excellence across the sector.
With six unique award categories, the Berry Industry Awards aim to honour individuals and organisations driving innovation, sustainability, and growth in the berry industry.
The categories include:
• Grower of the Year: Recognising excellence in production, environmental management, and staff leadership
• Supply Chain Champion: Highlighting contributions to marketing, logistics, and sustainability
• Agronomist of the Year: Celebrating those enhancing on-farm success and sharing knowledge
• Next Generation: Honouring under-40 leaders bringing fresh ideas and innovation
• Industry Impact: Acknowledging leadership in advocacy, policy, and technical contributions
• Researcher of the Year: Rewarding researchers driving advancements and global recognition
These awards are more than token accolades—they represent the collective effort and passion driving our industry forward, and the introduction of a formal award mechanism gives us as an industry the opportunity to recognise and reward that passion. We all know someone who has given their all for the sector and this is one way to acknowledge their contribution, so don’t hold back with the nominations.
Nominations are now open and must be submitted using the Berry Industry Award nomination form by 5pm AEST, Friday 24 January 2025. Winners will be chosen by an independent panel of judges and announced at the Gala Dinner. To download the nomination form and for further details, visit bit.ly/BQI25-Awards or contact Rachel Mackenzie at rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au
On the subject of celebration, I wish you all a prosperous and happy holiday season. May the weather be kind and prices strong across the sector. I am looking forward to 2025 and bedding down the new committee structure and of course seeing many of you face-to-face at BerryQuest.
Chairman's Report
Anthony Poiner | 0412 010 843 | anthony@smartberries.com.au
Berries Australia held our Annual General Meeting on 29 October in Brisbane. With the support of each of our peak industry bodies (PIB) we have consolidated the weight of effort from individual PIB Committees to an expanded Berries Australia Board. ABGA, RABA and SAI will still meet annually to nominate Directors to the Berries Australia board.
Our new Board has eleven directors (an increase from seven), and I welcome Andrew Terry, Rob King, Nathan Baronio and James Kellaway. The Board is appointed annually, and every single grower in Australia has the opportunity to put themselves forward for a Directorship position through their PIB, and we welcome fresh faces and new ideas.
Whilst the overarching governance mechanism is important, even more important are the topic based sub-committees which will drive the agenda and deliver on our core priorities of demand creation, grower engagement and communications, and support and advocacy. On PAGE 5 you can read more about the sub-committees, but nominations for the coming year are open for the Sustainable Industry, Marketing, Propagation & Varietals (strawberries only) and R&D/ Pest & Disease Management committees until 31/12/24. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard and contribute to the future of the industry so please nominate now at bit.ly/BA-Sub-Com
As part of this change in structure you will notice that we no longer have the individual PIB columns. These will be replaced by sub-committee updates as the new structure progresses. We are keen to ensure that growers continue to find value in this journal so please give us any feedback on the new approach as the whole idea is to give you the relevant up-to-date information that you need.
This is the final column for 2024, which gives us a chance to reflect on the year that was. Overall fruit sales in Australia grew 5.5% in value and 1.7% in volume, with berries – already the largest fruit categoryleading the way at 9% value and 6.9% volume growth. Consumers spent an average $141.20 on berries last year, up $12.30, with average purchase volume rising 600g to 8.4kg. This growth wasn’t driven by higher prices but increased demand, with consumers buying berries more frequently both at a total category level and across strawberries, blueberries and blackberries individually. 88% of Australian households buy berries at some point during the year, and they are all healthier for it.
However, grower profitability continues to be under pressure from significant increases in input costs.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) estimates that total Australian farm cash costs have increased by 60% in the 5 years to FY2023. Fuel costs are estimated to have increased by 104%, fertiliser up by 111%, chemical costs up 79%, water costs increased by 34% and the biggest overall cost category – labour - increased by 15%. These macro dynamics are always front of mind with the Board as we explore ways to help the industry alleviate pressures whether it be through research towards increased on-farm productivity, improved efficiency, or effective advocacy to avert poor government policy.
BerryQuest is coming very soon and a lot of good comes when growers across our industry get together to discuss the challenges and opportunities in front of us. I look forward to seeing many of you there, as I am certain it will once again be an outstanding event.
I wish you and your families a restful or productive festive season depending on where you are in your production schedule.
Berries Australia Board Grows to Drive the Future of the Industry
Rachel Mackenzie, Executive Director, Berries Australia
As foreshadowed in the last edition of this journal, we have expanded the board for Berries Australia to broaden the representation of crops and growing regions as we move to a single collaborative model for the Australian berry industry.
The individual associations still exist but have been moved into a ‘dormancy’ state to reduce the duplication of administration, freeing up time and resources to invest into moving the industry ahead in the areas that you have told us are the most important to you.
New Board Members
James Kellaway
James is currently CEO at Oz Group Co-Op based in northern New South Wales. He has extensive experience, as an executive and a non-executive director, across regulatory and commercial entities within the agricultural sector of the Australian economy over 30 plus years in many rural and regional communities.
At the Berries Australia Annual General Meeting held on 29 October in Brisbane, the existing board was joined by four new members: James Kellaway, Nathan Baronio, Andrew Terry and Rob King.
The existing board members are:
Anthony Poiner — Fresh Produce Group (Chair)
Andrew Bell — Mountain Blue (Secretary)
Christian Parsons — Costa
Gavin Scurr — Pinata Farms
Richard McGruddy — Queensland Berries
Simon Dornauf — Hillwood Berries
Jamie Michael — Ti Produce (Treasurer)
Nathan Baronio
Nathan is a third-generation farmer located in the Granite Belt region of Queensland and runs the highly successful Eastern Colour business with his brother Stephen where they grow apples and are the largest strawberry producer in the area.
Andrew Terry
Andrew operates Tasmanian Berries which is one of the largest independent, commercial blackberry producers in Australia. The business also grows raspberries and strawberries across two sites in Tasmania and the Bundaberg region of Queensland.
Rob King
Rob joined Costa and developed the FNQ blueberry operation as Regional Manager. Rob then moved to Corindi, NSW to lead the Costa berry category’s largest site. He then held the National Operations Manager role before moving into the position of Costa Berries General Manager in March 2024.
As also discussed in the most recent edition of the Australian Berry Journal, we are setting up a series of issues-based sub-committees on a range of topics outlined below.
These sub-committees will be chaired by a Berries Australia board director with committee membership open to anyone within the industry who would like to contribute to shaping the future of the Australian berry industries.
Some of these sub-committees are already up and running, and in the case of the Export sub-committee already delivering substantial value to the broader berry industry through the work being carried out.
We actively encourage any berry grower or industry participant who is interested in any of these topics to nominate to become involved in the relevant sub-committee.
Sub-Committees
Marketing
Chair – Nathan Baronio supported by Rachel Mackenzie & Jane Richter
This committee is the Project Reference Group for the Berry Basket Marketing campaign currently overseeing the jointly funded Hort Innovation project MT23500. The purpose is to drive domestic consumption across the category through the implementation of a marketing program. A key deliverable for this sub-committee is to determine the ongoing value of a berry-basket campaign approach and develop funding options.
There is already a functioning committee in place which meets every two months however we welcome additional members.
R&D/Pest & Disease Management
Chair – Andrew Bell supported by Rachel Mackenzie & Angela Atkinson
Most investment is driven by Hort Innovation levy funds, but this committee enables a more strategic approach and can tap into other research delivery mechanisms. Rachel is Chairing the Chemical Access for the NFF Hort Council and this committee will provide important technical input into that process.
Involvement in this sub-committee will entail 6 monthly online meetings in sync with the Hort Innovation ideation panel meetings and ad-hoc in response to emerging issues.
Terms of Reference are to be agreed, and participants will need to sign a confidentiality statement
To develop and implement a strawberry propagation strategy including improved access to better varietals, which will involve undertaking an analysis of the risks and opportunities associated with the status quo, and to identify a pathway for improvement.
Meeting frequency and Terms of Reference are to be agreed, and participants will need to sign a confidentiality statement
Sustainable Industry
Chair – Rob King supported by Rachel Mackenzie & Claire McCrory
To develop and implement an industry sustainability strategy including social license and workforce. We wish to provide a platform for advocacy both proactive and reactive, identify and address emerging issues and be recognised as a proactive and credible employing industry.
Meeting frequency and Terms of Reference are to be agreed, and participants will need to sign a confidentiality statement
Sub-committee membership is open to anyone who is a grower in the Australian berry industries, or who is a participant in our industry supply chains, research or advocacy organisations.
To nominate to join a sub-committee, you will need to address these questions:
• Why do you want to be a part of this sub-committee?
• What skills & experience can you bring to the group?
• What geographic region do you cover?
• What berry type do you have expertise in?
Download the Nomination Form at bit.ly/BA-Sub-Com or scan this QR code.
Send completed forms to Rachel Mackenzie rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au by 31/12/24
This year we have reported the best investment and operational performance by Hort Innovation since its creation in 2014.
We managed a diverse range of investments that address our new strategic imperatives. With $720 million in total investments, 398 active projects, 132 delivery partners and 24 marketing programs across 37 industries, our team worked tirelessly throughout the year to deliver value for the horticulture sector.
Our team’s sustained focus on industry partnerships, clarity of purpose and commitment to continuous improvement underpin all these achievements.
The berry sector has enjoyed a fruitful year with our consumer insights research showing that in 2023/24, berry dollar sales increased by 13.5 per cent compared to the previous year, performing ahead of the total fruit category that increased by 5.7 per cent. In terms of volume sales, berries also performed ahead of total fruit, increasing by 20.1 per cent compared to 2.3 per cent. For more consumer insights, register to access Hort IQ at www.hortiq.com.au
It was another big year of investment into the berry sector in 2023/24 with more than $913 thousand invested through the Blueberry Fund, $1.65 million through the Raspberry and Blackberry Fund, and $1.93 million through the Strawberry Fund.
Some highlights over the past year include the:
• Launch of ‘Stella’, a new high-yielding, diseaseresistant and sweet-flavoured strawberry after years of development by Aussie growers and plant breeding experts
• Establishment of a new advisory mechanism in close collaboration with Berries Australia to ensure that all berry growers and supply chain participants have the opportunity to inform levy investment decisions
• Release of annual investment plans for each berry sector that outline each industry’s current financial position as well as all proposed and current projects. You can find these on the Hort Innovation website
• Support for agrichemical permits as Hort Innovation continues to work with the berry industry as we navigate an evolving agrichemical landscape
• Continued efforts to boost trade through the multiindustry export development program
The Hort Innovation 2024–25 Annual Investment Plans (AIPs) for each of the berry industry funds are now available. These AIPs detail the proposed levy investments for the current financial year, include a comprehensive list of ongoing Research, Development, and Extension (RD&E) projects, and provide financial summaries for each individual fund.
To view each AIP, visit:
Blueberry Fund Annual Investment Plan 2024/25 at https://bit.ly/BB-AIP-24-25
Raspberry and Blackberry Fund Annual Investment Plan 2024/25 at https://bit.ly/RUB-AIP-24-25
Strawberry Fund Annual Investment Plan 2024/25 at https://bit.ly/STR-AIP-24-25
As we look towards 2025, I encourage you to get involved with Hort Innovation - your Rural Research and Development Corporation. Become a member of Hort Innovation to vote and help shape the future of the organisation at our AGM, receive invitations to Hort Innovation events and stay up to date with news and insights within Australian horticulture. Head to www. horticulture.com.au/sign-up for more information.
We have a dedicated Industry Service and Delivery Manager for berries, Adrian Englefield, who is always willing to have a chat. You can get in touch on 0427 143 709 or adrian.englefield@horticulture.com.au
R&D and Biosecurity Manager
Dr Angela Atkinson | 0499 645 836 | angelaatkinson@berries.net.au
The Hort Innovation 2024–25 Annual Investment Plans (AIPs) for each of the Berry industry funds have now been published. The AIPs outline proposed levy investments for the current financial year, provide a complete list of current Research Development & Extension (RD&E) projects and individual fund financial summaries.
The new Berry advisory mechanism (project MT23003) is the pathway going forward for identification, prioritisation and endorsement of new RD&E projects.
An overview of the process
• The RD&E needs of each Berry industry will be identified through an ideation process with a panel of growers, researchers, technical experts and industry development officers
• The resulting concepts will be developed into investment recommendations and presented to the berry prioritisation panels, consisting of industry levy payers – for prioritisation and endorsement
• The three prioritisation panels (Blueberry (B), Rubus (R), and Strawberry (S)) replaced the previous SIAPs (Strategic Investment Advisory Panels)
• Investments endorsed by the panels are then developed by Hort Innovation, in collaboration with Berries Australia, into Requests for Proposal (RFPs) that go out to market for tender
The new projects listed in the Berry industries 2024–25 Annual Investment Plans were scoped, prioritised and endorsed through the new advisory mechanism:
1. BerryQuest International 2025 (B, R, S)
2. Support for agrichemical permits (B, R)
3. Enhancing management strategies for leafrollers and chilli thrips (B, R)
In addition to the three projects endorsed by the Berry prioritisation panels, there are projects supporting cross-horticulture data generation, evaluation and continuous improvement, specifically Agrichemical access and consumer and market insights.
The annual investment plans for each industry list all levy funded projects, including those that are multiindustry projects.
Berries Australia are proud to support the Berry industry as the Hort Innovation delivery partner of five current projects; MT22010 Facilitating the development of theAustralian berry industries; MT23004 Multiindustry berry trade development and market access project; MT23003 Berry advisory mechanism; MT24004 BerryQuest International 2025; and MT23500 Berry Basket Marketing Campaign.
For a complete list of all current Berry industry RD&E investments and financial summaries. SEE the links on PAGE 6.
For more information about the advisory mechanism or if you have an RD&E idea please contact:
Angela Atkinson, R&D Manager
AngelaAtkinson@berries.net.au, 0499 645 836
Adrian Englefield, Industry Service & Delivery Manager, Adrian.Englefield@horticulture.com.au, 0427 143 709
New South Wales
Gaius Leong, Berry Industry Development Officer
0484 055 748 | gaius.leong@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Having a compact production window for southern highbush (SHB) evergreen system blueberry production has its upsides and downsides. On one hand, it limits an extended income stream over the financial year, on the other it reduces over reliance on labour and yields great economic returns if produced over the ‘right window’. A compact production window is also a trait that allows potential mechanical harvesting to occur in SHB.
Over this past spring (September and October), we experienced yet again, what a compact production window at the ‘wrong time’ can do to the blueberry industry with falling prices and tight margins. To optimise economic returns, the balance between timing and productivity must be juggled simultaneously. There are multiple factors that affect flower bud initiation, with various combinations involving genetics, plant health and vigour, pruning, day length, temperature and humidity.
One of the main factors revolves around genetics and plant vigour, and there are varieties that are bred for primocane production. Both primocane and floricane terms are often associated with Rubus production systems, however, they can be used to describe similar floral bud origins in SHB evergreen blueberries. Primocane cane production generally provides earlier (and often larger) fruit as reproductive differentiation is not associated with day length sensitivity. In addition to breeding, primocane production is generally associated with plant vigour and requires the right climatic conditions and nutrition to promote it.
Pruning is another factor that is heavily associated with floral bud initiation. The heavier the prune (bringing it back to hard wood), the more vegetative and vigorous the plant response will be. Vigorous growth promotes primocane production, however, it also delays the hardening of new growth thus delaying day length sensitive floral bud (traditional ‘floricane production’) development. On the other hand, a lighter prune promotes less vigorous vegetative growth, as such, the
thinner the stems emerging from a prune, the quicker it hardens off and the quicker floral bud initiation can occur.
A good example can be seen with the thinner stems at the bottom of the plant that are often left from a prune (if the bush is not skirted). This is often where the earliest fruit is produced with day length sensitive floral buds.
Environment also plays a role in deciding pruning techniques, and there are circumstances that reduce the available options. For example, in areas with high humidity and limited airflow, especially during autumn and winter, the risk of disease increases. In these conditions, lighter pruning, which leaves more plant material, can raise the chances of diseases like rust and botrytis developing. Subsequently, growers in these areas are ‘forced’ to hard prune every season thus pushing their production window into the ‘peak’ period. Conversely, for production areas that allow various pruning techniques to be used, it is highly recommended for mature orchards to rotate blocks between heavy and light prunes. Depending on the growth and the ideal height of the plant, two or more consecutive seasons of light pruning can be achieved before a heavy prune is done. This splits production more evenly across the year and reduces the likelihood of having a bulk of compact production fall in a low-price window.
Other than genetics and pruning, growers can use protected cropping structures to manipulate conditions to quicken floral bud initiation both in primocane and floricane production. For example, certain varieties are known to slow down flower bud and fruit development with lower temperatures, and having protected cropping structures allows warmer temperatures to be achieved thus speeding up fruit development and attaining an earlier production window. However, a crop that has excessive nitrogen applied combined with protected cropping structures might promote stronger vegetative growth that then delays ‘floricane’ floral bud initiation and might push the crop to a later production window.
Understanding varietal limitations and factors affecting floral bud initiation, development and break will allow the manipulation of southern highbush under evergreening systems to produce fruit during highpriced market windows.
Tasmania
Ella Roper, Berry Industry Development Officer
0400 100 593 | berryido@fruitgrowerstas.org.au
It has been a challenging spring for the berry industry in Tasmania. Strong winds in early September caused extensive damage to infrastructure across the state. The north of the state was impacted the most severely, with many growers experiencing damage to critical tunnel infrastructure, which is costly and time consuming to repair.
Windy weather has persisted through September and October, posing a substantial challenge to get plastic covering back over tunnels to drive spring growth. While direct damage to plant crops has not been as severe, this delay in getting plastic back up may have ongoing impacts to harvest timing and potentially yield in the coming season. The Tasmanian Government has released grants for primary producers directly impacted by the storms to support clean-up and recovery costs. Affected growers can find out more about what funding is available at https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/cpp/ community-grants/other-emergency-recovery-grants
On a more positive note, the harvest season has now commenced for strawberry growers, with the first fruit harvested in mid-October under tunnel systems. Raspberries and blackberries will commence harvest in mid-November, with the early varieties of blueberries beginning in mid-late December. Crop timing is variable across the state due to varying conditions. Northern growers are generally observing a slightly earlier start to the season again this year with higher than average growing degree days, while southern growers have observed a slow in crop development with cooler conditions.
Wendy Morris (Qld IDO) and Jen Rowling (Berries Australia Project Manager) visited Tasmania in October to view berry grower operations and plan for the upcoming BerryQuest International 2025 Conference. In typical Tasmanian style we encountered all four seasons during their few days in the state, however it was great to spend time with them both and learn from their industry knowledge.
Fruit Growers Tasmania have held several events over the past few months. An export workshop for berry growers was held in early August, focusing on market opportunities, export compliance requirements, pricing and logistics, and included an export masterclass by Export Connect. Workplace
wellbeing workshops with Stuart Beams from Safe Farming Tasmania have also been held for berry growers, aimed at assisting growers to understand their legal requirements around worker wellbeing.
Fruit Growers Tasmania held their AGM in late September and provided updates on industry activities and promotion, trade development, policy and programs occurring through 2023-24 period.
The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry addressed attendees and answered questions from growers.
A workshop was held in early October with Tas Farm Innovation Hub focused on managing for future climate variability in the berry industry. Key topics included farm management challenges, climatic projections and how to prepare for a changing climate. Dr Tom Remenyi from Acclimatised brought extensive knowledge and experience in his presentation on weather forecasting, seasonal outlooks and climate projections specific to the Tasmanian berry industry.
Commercial trials for the Coir Reuse and Recycling Project led by Fruit Growers Tasmania are up and running, examining reused and alternate substrates for hydroponic strawberry production. A more detailed update on the coir project can be found on PAGE 70.
Thank you to all who have welcomed me onto their farms over the past few months. I have been fortunate to visit a large number of growers around the state and it’s exciting to be involved with such an engaging, passionate and innovative industry.
Queensland
Wendy Morris, Berry Industry Development Officer 0484 272 963 | qldberryido@berries.net.au
At the time of writing, the Sunshine Coast and Caboolture areas are ending their strawberry and raspberry seasons, and activity at Stanthorpe is starting to ramp up.
It has been a challenging year for our winter strawberry growers, with haphazard weather creating unusual growth patterns. After a wet start, the wet continued on and on and on - until August, when temperatures soared into the mid and high thirties – before a return to more wet.
The industry experienced delayed growth and ripening, significant losses from birds and weather, and high rates of pests and diseases, including red leaf disorder, Colletotrichum, Neopestalotiopsis, and foliar nematodes. However, some growers saw a late but excellent and high-quality flush in October. The only small mercy for growers overall was the better than average prices on offer this season.
With a number of growers having trial plots of new varieties, it was a good opportunity to see how these plants fared under stressful conditions. It’s hard to pass judgement on a plant that has been in the ground for one very challenging season, so it will be good to see how they fare in 2025.
Foliar nematodes were an issue for growers, with a quarter of Queensland farms affected. We have benefited greatly from the efforts of Wayne O’Neill and the team at DAF Queensland, who undertook no-cost testing for our growers this year. Wayne and his team have also been instrumental in identifying potential products that may suppress nematode populations. Several infested plants in their greenhouse at Dutton Park are being used to breed nematode populations for trials.
Most recently, end of year clean-ups have seen strawberry growers hit with high charges for plastics disposal, with costs for 15m³ skips in the thousands of dollars.
Blackberries came into their own this year, with good volumes of quality fruit available in September and October. Large quantities of blueberries in this period, from various locations, had an understandable effect on pricing, with major retailers selling 170g punnets for as little as $2 each.
For growers in the Caboolture/Elimbah/Wamuran region, fire ants have appeared on the radar as another potential pest. At the time of writing this report, the Queensland Department of Agriculture & Fisheries is still confident that fire ants will be eliminated from the region and to that end, are requesting that growers do not treat nests, and instead contact them as soon as they find nests. A response team will inspect the property for further nests and treat any they find. The National Fire Ant Eradication Program website, www.fireants.org.au, is an excellent resource.
The Petaluma variety at Erbacher’s on the Sunshine Coast showing signs of unusually large growth. Quality of fruit and taste remained excellent in spite of the unusual size. Photo credit: Wendy Morris
Access to labour remains a constant challenge for our growers, regardless of region or crop. Securing quality labour during peak times is particularly difficult, especially while managing varying legislative and recordkeeping requirements. Many growers have noted that the number of British backpackers seeking farm work has fallen through the floor following the removal of the requirement of working holiday visa holders to undertake 88 days’ rural or regional work to secure a second-year visa.
There have been a number of information sessions aimed at growers, industry stakeholders and wider members of industry as part of the Review of Regional Migration settings. Berries Australia has listened carefully to the government rhetoric and will continue to represent and promote the needs of growers.
Another important issue for industry is food safety. The new national Primary Production and Processing (PPP) regulatory standards for leafy vegetables, melons
and berries, developed by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), will commence on February 12, 2025. Early suggestions are that the existing GFSIrecognised food safety certification offered under Freshcare Food Safety & Quality 4.2 will suffice for berry growers to meet the new standard. We are aware that we have a small number of growers who do not currently participate in any certification programs, and we will work closely with these growers to ensure they are not ‘left behind’.
Finally, the last event of the year is ‘Burgers at the Beerwah Hotel’ on 21 November. This event will have come and gone by the time this issue hits your desk, so BQI25 will be the next major event on the radar. Having been involved in the program development, I’m proud to say there truly is something in there for everyone. If you haven’t already registered, hop online and book in at bit.ly/BQI25 and I look forward to seeing you there.
Plants infested with foliar nematodes being kept at DAF Dutton Park. Note that one of the plants has managed to overcome infestation and has started flowering and fruiting. Fruit shape is distorted due to lack of pollinators. Photo credit: Wendy Morris
The ASBP focuses not only on features like taste, quality and yield, but also on plant architecture. Photo credit: Wendy Morris
Climate and crop
Western Australia
Helen Newman, Berry Industry Development Officer, Agricultural Produce Commission, WA
Heavy rainfall in August brought winter-season totals up to average to above average in WA berry growing regions. The Perth region registered 25 rain days in August, 5 more days than average and the highest number of rain days in August for over 30 years! Temperatures were also above average. Nighttime temperatures were particularly warm, with several locations including Manjimup recording their warmest August night on record. The rain seemed to disappear in the second week of September, with most areas receiving no rain for almost three weeks. The resulting September rainfall totals were generally less than 50% of the long-term average. Maximum temperatures were above average, and minimum temperatures were close to average in September. The rain returned to most areas in October. The Perth region received average to above-average falls. Parts of the southwest however only received 50% of their normal rainfall. October was much warmer than average, particularly the last 4 days in Perth Metro, which recorded 4 consecutive days with maximum temperatures at or above 32 °C.
Chilli thrips persisted throughout winter again this year and are growing in numbers as it warms up. Strawberry growers who used soft chemistries and early releases of beneficial insects (Cucumeris at first flowering and Orius at 30% flower) maintained good control of the thrips. Those that delayed the release of beneficials or had residual chemistries that disrupted their establishment struggled with chilli thrip this season. Control of the thrips in blueberry crops has been challenging, but kaolinite clay sprays appear to deter the thrips from attacking the new flush. A new beneficial thrip ‘Frankie’ is also building up in numbers as it warms up and is offering good levels of control in blueberries.
The rose industry has reported good control of chilli thrip with overhead watering which knocks the thrip to the ground where it drowns in the water droplets. This could be interesting to test, particularly on renovated second-year strawberries where the sprinkler system is already in place.
Strawberry growers intending to use Simodis® on second-year plants are reminded that the chemical must be applied before the plants are cut back/ renovated. It cannot be used after renovation or on new transplants. This early application knocks down the thrip population before mowing. This should be followed up with soft chemistries in the lead-up to flowering before the release of beneficials. Speak to your IPM service provider before applying any chemicals.
Industry news
Strawberry Variety Field walk
A selection of 7 promising international varieties and 12 Australian-bred varieties were on show for growers and industry stakeholders to taste and see at the September field walk in Wanneroo. There was a lot of positive feedback on the international varieties with their large, firm-skinned, well-coloured berries.
The new Australian blush and white varieties were also popular, stealing the show with their sweet, punchy flavours. Contact your propagator to test some new varieties on your farm.
Thank you to Gerry Verheyen for hosting the field walk, Truc Hoang for providing fruit samples of the international varieties, and Thai Tran for providing samples of the Australian blush and white varieties. Thank you also to Jodi Neal, Principal Plant Breeder for the Australian Strawberry Breeding Program, for showing us the Australian-bred varieties.
We would also like to say a BIG thank you to Jamie Michael and Lam Ti for hosting the Mediterranean (WA) node trials for the Australian breeding program for the last 4 years. We’re currently looking for a new home for these trials, so if you are interested in hosting the evaluation of new Australian-bred varieties on your farm please contact Jodi Neal: jodi.neal@daf.qld.gov.au.
WA Protected Cropping Events
Tony Bundock, from the Protected Cropping Association (PCA), visited WA in September and met with vegetable and berry growers. The PCA plans to return to WA in 2025 to deliver events addressing topics of interest to growers including crop cooling options and irrigation monitoring systems. If there is a topic you would like them to cover, please let me know.
Feedback from the intensive 1.5 day protected cropping workshop delivered by Levi Nupponen (Agrology) in late August was very positive and had an audience of 8 vegetable growers and 18 berry growers.
By the time this goes to print, Graeme Smith’s 4.5 day November Protected Cropping Masterclass will have been held. This training was offered to berry growers at a discounted rate as part of a collaboration with Vegetables WA on their VegNET Innovation Fund.
Powdery mildew and botrytis sampling
I still have plenty of kits for taking samples of botrytis on berry fruits. Samples will be tested for fungicide resistance by Associate Professor Fran Lopez-Ruiz from The Fungicide Resistance Group at Curtin University. I am also on the hunt for strawberry plants with powdery mildew in the Perth and southwest regions. Samples will be genotyped at the Curtin University Centre for Crop and Disease Management to investigate the diversity in the powdery mildew genome.
Chilli thrip
Hort Innovation released a request for a proposal in October for research to enhance understanding of global chilli thrip management strategies and develop improved management options in blueberry and Rubus crops. An update on the outcome of this process and when we can expect to see some results will be provided in future editions of the journal.
Jodi Neal explaining the screening process for Australian-bred varieties. Photo credit: Helen Newman
Participants inspecting UC Davis and California Berry Cultivars varieties in the field. Photo credit: Helen Newman
Tony Bundock, Protected Cropping Australia, with Vince Ngo, Russell Farm Strawberries. Photo credit: Helen Newman
Victorian
Victoria & South Australia
Sandy Shaw, Berry Industry Development Officer 0408 416 538 | vicberryido@berries.net.au
Berry season in Victoria is underway, with most strawberry growers commencing production in mid-October and Rubus and blueberry coming in as spring turns to summer. The start of the strawberry harvest yielded large fruit and high pack-out rates across the Victorian industry. However, variable spring weather has presented some challenges.
Many protected cropping structures across the state sustained damage from September gusts, while poorly timed rainstorms in October affected early harvests for outdoor strawberry growers. Fluctuating temperatures have also made production windows difficult to predict, keeping all growers guessing. With forecasts indicating a hot summer ahead, there will be substantial attention paid to preparing plants to deal with significant heat stress.
I began my role in mid-September as the new Industry Development Officer, succeeding Angela Atkinson, who has transitioned to the new Berries Australia R&D and Biosecurity Manager position. My background includes ten years in various roles within the strawberry industry, most recently at the Wandin Research Centre as part of the Australian Strawberry Breeding Program.
I have been getting to know Victorian and South Australian growers and look forward to deepening my understanding of your needs and priorities. I sincerely appreciate the growers who have taken the time to share insights about their operations during this busy time of year.
In my first week, I had the opportunity to visit Agriculture Victoria’s Tatura SmartFarm, funded by an AgriFutures Grant awarded to the Victorian Strawberry Growers’ Association. This trip allowed us to explore Agtech developments being trialled in Victoria and created an opportunity for cross-industry collaboration and idea generation. A summary of the visit is available on PAGE 31.
At the time of publication, I will have just returned from a workshop at Tatura focused on the application of agrivoltaics in the berry industry. Agrivoltaics combines agriculture and solar energy by installing solar panels over crop fields. This setup allows crops to grow beneath the panels, benefiting from shade, while solar energy is generated above. Agrivoltaics optimises land use, reduces water needs, enhances crop yields in some cases, and contributes to renewable energy production. Agrivoltaics is an exciting worldwide technological development that I’m hoping will see dividends for growers in the Australian berry industry.
Strawberry Industry Development Committee
Growers enjoying dinner at the recent Victorian Strawberry Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting. Photo credit: Sandy Shaw
In early October, the Victorian Strawberry Growers’ Association held their Annual General Meeting. We were fortunate to host Rachel Mackenzie, Executive Director of Berries Australia, who provided an overview of structural changes within Berries Australia and addressed current pressing issues. We were also able to provide some extension outreach, featuring a UV spray demonstration and a discussion on off-grid solar setups. It was a pleasure to connect with so many growers at the AGM.
In the coming months, I’ll be continuing to focus on getting out on-farm to get a deeper understanding of grower priorities and challenges. I am looking forward to visiting the South Australian growers and am working on several workshops and extension opportunities. Thank you to everyone who has shared their time and expertise with me as I’ve come onboard. I look forward to continuing to work with growers to enhance my knowledge and provide support to the industry.
năng
Chuyên gia dâu tây Klaas Plas giải thích những điều cơ bản về sản xuất cây giống dâu tây trong khay và các kỹ thuật có thể được sử dụng để đạt được các mục tiêu năng suất và thời gian thu hoạch khác nhau.
Klaas Plas là chuyên gia về dâu tây đến từ Hà Lan với hơn 30 năm kinh nghiệm trong tất cả các lĩnh vực sản xuất dâu tây. Thông qua công ty Berrykonsult của mình, ông làm việc với người trồng trọt ở khắp Châu Âu, Canada và Úc. Ông chuyên về các biện pháp quản lý dịch hại tổng hợp hiện tại và tương lai trong trồng dâu tây, đồng thời có nhiều kinh nghiệm về chất lượng cây giống dâu tây.
Tải bài viết tại
https://bit.ly/KP-Viet
hoặc quét mã QR này
Bản dịch được cung cấp nhờ Chi Nguyễn, Vegetables WA
Rachel Mackenzie presenting to growers at the Annual General Meeting. Photo credit: Sandy Shaw
Sponsor support is crucial for the success of this conference, helping bring together the brightest minds in the Australian berry industry.
Sponsors enable the showcase of cutting-edge innovations, expert speakers, and invaluable networking opportunities, all of which drive growth, foster collaboration, and ensure a sustainable future for the Australian berry industry. Thank you to all of our sponsors for their support
PLATINUM SPONSORS
PROGRAM & SPEAKERS
This year’s conference proudly features renowned keynote speakers Rachael Robertson and Mike Knowles. Drawing on their extensive leadership experience and industry insights, they will inspire and equip attendees with practical strategies and fresh perspectives, making this event an unmissable opportunity for all in the Australian berry industry.
MIKE KNOWLES FRUITNET EUROPE
RACHAEL ROBERTSON ANTARCTIC LEADER
Rachael Robertson brings a unique and inspiring perspective to leadership, drawn from her extraordinary experience as the second female to lead an Antarctic expedition to Davis Station. She is widely recognised for her down-to-earth and engaging approach, sharing real-world leadership lessons gained during her gruelling, year-long assignment in one of the planet’s most hostile environments.
Keynote address: A Leadership Story from the World’s Most Extreme Environment
Her keynote address promises to deliver practical, inspiring content for attendees seeking to enhance their leadership skills in the everevolving berry industry.
Mike Knowles is managing director of Fruitnet Europe and one of the fresh produce industry's most experienced business analysts. During more than two decades covering the industry, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the international fruit and vegetable business. And in various roles as editor, journalist and presenter, he has helped Fruitnet Media International develop its global reputation as a leading information provider and event organiser.
Keynote address: What next for the global berry business?
An in-depth look at the latest trends and challenges that are going to shape the international soft fruit market in the next few years.
RICHARD SHANNON MC
We are excited to announce that BQI25 will be in the safe hands of veteran agriculture advocate, Richard Shannon who has kindly agreed to take on the mantle of event MC. Richard is currently the Executive Officer of the NFF Horticulture Council. Before transitioning into advocacy roles with Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers and the National Farmers Federation, he grew up on his family farm in the northern Darling Downs, Queensland. Richard then spent over a decade working as a public policy professional, contributing to agriculture, trade, renewable energy, healthcare innovation, and Indigenous education across Queensland, Australian, and UK governments.
PROGRAM & SPEAKERS
Day One Highlights
As well as the two keynote addresses already highlighted here, you can expect to get inspired by John Gray, a Nuffield Scholar from the United Kingdom with a deep understanding of both the practical and strategic aspects of soft fruit production, having spent years in the sector.
Joining John in the late morning session will be an Australian-born tech innovator based in the USA. Steve Mantle is the founder and CEO of innov8.ag, an agricultural data insights company based in Walla Walla, Washington. His company focuses on empowering growers by bringing farm geospatial data to life through emerging data collection technologies and recent projects include the BerrySmart Fields collaboration with the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.
An afternoon of breakout sessions covering topics including retail & marketing challenges, pest & disease management, and pollination innovation await with a welcome chance to digest the days highlights over a cold drink kindly supported by PiÑata Farms and BerryWorld at The Green Room Bar in the evening.
Day Two Highlights
Settle in for day two where we get stuck in to some of the serious opportunities and challenges facing the Australian berry industry.
The Berries Australia export team have made some significant wins in the process of opening up new international markets and you will hear all about what is next in this area.
Having access to the right pool of the right workers at the right time for a seasonally fluctuating industry is an eternal challenge. Make sure you don’t miss the Workforce panel tackling some of these issues head on.
With two more breakout sessions covering everything from food safety to sustainability, this conference truly has got something for everyone.
Break out your party shoes and head down to the harbour for the final event of BQI25: the Gala Dinner & Awards evening.
TRADE SHOW
One of the highlights of any conference is the trade show, and
BerryQuest International 2025 is set to be no exception!
The trade show fosters connections, enabling attendees to discuss needs directly with suppliers and build valuable industry relationships. You can also gain a firsthand look at emerging trends and innovations, helping you to stay competitive and informed.
Many exhibitors will be offering special pricing, early access, or exclusive products during the trade show, adding value for all berry grower attendees.
With nearly 60 trade stalls on offer across 3 zones, there is plenty to see, hear and learn about.
Each zone will have its own coffee cart and buffet area, and in the Boardwalk Room you’ll find the FreshTrack Systems Business Lounge where you can re-charge your devices, meet colleagues or customers, and take a breather from what will be a highly energetic conference.
EXHIBITORS
A&D Weighing and Inspection
ABC Software
AgNova
AgPick
AgSpec
AME Group
Apex Greenhouses
Australian Growing Solutions
Australian Pacific Labour Alliance
Australasian Plant Genetics
Bee Friendly Farming
Beekenkamp Verpakkingen BV
Biological Services
Bitwise / Nanobubble
Boomaroo Nurseries
Cravo Equipment
De Sangosse Australia
Driscoll’s
Ecomix
Eco Trellis Horticulture Solutions
Elite Tunnels & GreenlifeGro
Ellips Australia
FreshTrack Systems
Garden City Plastics
Ginegar Plastic Products
GP Graders
Haygrove
Hort Innovation
Irribiz
Legro
MAF Oceania
Mountain Blue
Muirs
Multisteps
Netafim
Paradise Berry Propagators
Perfection Fresh
Produce Plus
Protected Cropping Australia
Redox
Rivulis
Royal Brinkman
SQM
Stackpack
Tomra
Transplant Systems
Undercover Digital
Unitec S.P.A
Van Der Hoeven
Horticultural Products
Viscon
Weighter
Wheen Bee Foundation
WinHarvest
SOCIAL EVENTS
Networking and social opportunities at this conference offer berry growers a unique chance to connect with industry leaders, suppliers, and peers, sparking collaborations and partnerships that can drive growth and innovation.
From mentorship to brand visibility, the relationships formed here pave the way for ongoing success in the dynamic world of berry growing.
WELCOME RECEPTION
TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 5–7pm TRADE SHOW MAIN HALL
We are delighted to invite you to the Welcome Reception proudly brought to you by our Platinum Sponsors Mountain Blue and Perfection Fresh
This opening event offers a perfect opportunity for attendees to mingle, relax, and start building connections with peers, suppliers, and industry leaders from across Australia and beyond.
We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an unforgettable conference experience!
HUMPDAY HAPPY HOUR
WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 5–6pm THE GREEN ROOM BAR
Join us to unwind and celebrate a successful first day of Conference Sessions at the Humpday Happy Hour kindly supported by PiÑata Farms & BerryWorld!
After a day packed with insights and discoveries, come relax with fellow attendees, industry experts, and speakers over refreshing drinks.
We look forward to seeing you there!
SOCIAL EVENTS
GALA DINNER & AWARDS
THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 6.30pm–11pm
PRINCES WHARF NO.1, SALAMANCA
We are thrilled to invite you to the grand finale of our conference: the Gala Dinner & Awards Evening proudly sponsored by Driscoll’s!
This elegant and celebratory event, held on the final evening, is the perfect culmination of a week filled with learning, networking, and innovation.
One of the evening’s highlights will be the prestigious inaugural awards ceremony, where we’ll recognise outstanding achievements and contributions from within our community.
With a delicious menu featuring local Tasmanian flavours and a lively ambiance, the Gala Dinner and Awards Evening is designed to be a memorable night of celebration and connection.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you at this spectacular closing event!
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR BERRY INDUSTRY AWARDS
This year marks an exciting milestone for the Australian berry industry as we introduce the inaugural Berry Industry Awards!
These prestigious awards celebrate the exceptional talent, innovation, and dedication of individuals and businesses across the berry sector.
With six distinctive categories, the awards shine a spotlight on those who have made remarkable contributions to the growth, sustainability, and advancement of the industry.
AWARDS:
Grower of the Year
Supply Chain Champion
Agronomist of the Year
Next Generation Industry Impact
Researcher of the Year
To find out more about each award and to nominate someone to receive an award, please visit bit.ly/BQI25-Awards or scan this QR code
Nominations close 5pm AEST Friday 24 January 2025
Included in all Full Conference Registration tickets. Not included in Single Day Pass tickets. Gala Dinner & Awards Evening Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/BQI25-Website for $250 inc GST.
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New Mandatory Food Safety Standards for Berries come into effect in February
Rachel Mackenzie, Executive Director, Berries Australia
• The new standards apply to ALL berry growers in every state and territory
• The standards apply even if you ONLY sell your berries from the farm gate, at local markets or in a PYO format
• After an initial period of transition, there will be compliance checks made by State authorities with penalties for non-compliance
Whilst most horticulture producers in Australia operate under a food safety system many are surprised that these systems are not actually a government requirement. This is about to change for berry, melon and leafy greens growers who will be brought into a mandatory standard on 12 February 2025.
All berry growers will need to register with their state government authority although the specifics of how that will occur are still being developed.
The food safety regulatory arrangements in Australia are a little complex due to our federated system of government but in a nutshell Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) makes the rules and the states implement them. Unfortunately for growers this means the requirements and costs are slightly different in each state and despite the imminent implementation date, most states have not finalised exactly how growers will register or what the costs will be. The Industry Development Officers (IDOs) will be the best source of information, and we will ensure that all growers are informed as soon as we have the details.
Who needs to meet the requirements?
The requirements will apply to all primary producers and primary processors of berries (blueberries, Rubus and strawberries):
• A primary producer is a business that grows and/or harvests berries
• A primary processor is a business that does any of the following: washing, trimming, sanitising, sorting, storing, combining and packing berries, and transporting berries between pack houses
What are the requirements?
The requirements of Standard 4.2.7 include:
• notifying authorities of the business’s name, contact details and activities with berries
• traceability: being able to track where berries have come from (and back to growing site) and who they have gone to
• managing inputs: including soil, fertiliser and water, so they do not make berries unsafe to eat
• hygiene: good personal hygiene and health practices of people that handle berries, as well as good hygiene of the premises and equipment they use
If you are currently operating under a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) accredited scheme such as Freshcare it will be considered that you already meet the general requirements, but you still need to register!
If you do not operate under an existing scheme, then each state is proposing a slightly different approach to ensuring that you can demonstrate you meet these requirements. All of the jurisdictions want to work with growers to help them demonstrate their compliance. Whilst there are penalties set for being non-compliant, there is no intent to take a punitive approach in the first instance. All states have committed to working with Berries Australia to help growers understand their obligations.
Where can I get help?
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre has been funded by Hort Innovation using Hort Frontier Funds to support melons, leafy greens and berry growers. FPSC-ANZ is an industry-led, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing fresh produce safety in Australia and New Zealand through research, outreach and education.
FPSC-ANZ offers FREE resources to help growers implement effective food safety practices, stay compliant and manage risks across operations.
• Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety: Comprehensive best practice guidance for minimising food safety risks in fresh produce supply chains
• Food Safety Grower Guides: Visual and simple guides to help growers implement the basic requirements for pre- and post-harvest management. Available in six languages
• Factsheets: Easy to understand downloadable fact sheets. Quick reference information on key food safety topics
• Online Helpdesk: Access to personalised support and expert advice on food safety issues
• Multi-lingual Website: The Centre’s website features Google Translate for easy access in multiple languages
To access the free resources, visit www.fpsc-anz.com or scan the QR code, try the new Helpdesk function, sign up to the newsletter, provide feedback for the guidelines and more!
What is Berries Australia doing?
Berries Australia has been working closely with regulators to try and minimise the cost and bureaucracy burden on growers. As a result of our advocacy, berry growers (unlike leafy greens and melon growers) are not required to do a management statement and will be subject to lower costs to participate.
Along with our colleagues at Melons Australia, the Fresh Markets Association and Ausveg, we have worked very hard to ensure that existing schemes are recognised as being compliant.
We would particularly like to thank the team at Freshcare for their support and willingness to work with industry and government.
We understand that this feels like another bureaucratic and cost imposition as most growers are already compliant. That said, it will be a legal requirement that all growers do register, and it will level the playing field. In addition, if we were to have a food safety incident, the additional traceability will enable it to be contained more quickly and not spin out of control like previous incidents in the past.
Grower Tour of Agriculture Victoria’s Tatura SmartFarm
Sandy Shaw, Berry Industry Development Officer, Victoria & South Australia
In late September, as part of their AgriFutures Techology grant distribution, the Victorian Strawberry Growers Association arranged a tour for berry growers to Agriculture Victoria’s SmartFarm in Tatura, Victoria. The research that is conducted at the Tatura SmartFarm is funded by a combination of external grants from Hort Innovation and other government initiatives and Agriculture Victoria.
The SmartFarm in Tatura was founded in the 1930s with the purpose of being a test site and agricultural research location for orchard crops in the Tatura region. It consists of 100 hectares dedicated to the study of optimum conditions and new technologies in orchard horticulture, focusing on developments for apples, pears, and almonds. It is one of Australia’s leading horticultural research facilities. Berry growers met there to see the latest in technological innovations and discuss how those innovations could be applied to our particular industry.
Dr. Ian Goodwin and Maddy Peavey led growers on a tour of the facilities. During the trip, growers encountered new innovations in protected cropping, received an overview of the various horticultural practices being tested on-farm, and watched a demonstration and presentation of the new technologies that Tatura is experimenting with.
Tatura is first and foremost an orchard research facility, and most of their experiments relate to the growing and care of those tree crops. Growers were given an overview of Tatura’s world-first Sundial Orchard, where researchers are studying the best row orientation to grow nectarines and apples. The different orientations provide different light environments, and researchers are intently studying the effects of those orientations on yield, fruit quality, and sunburn. Layered into this
experiment is another on pruning techniques and trellis training, so that researchers are getting valuable information on multiple fronts to provide the best growing technology possible.
Conversations with berry growers prompted reflection on their own field orientations and led to a discussion about whether conducting a similar experiment would be valuable for berries, particularly blueberries. A similar experiment with Rubus trellis configurations was also mentioned as being of interest.
Many berry growers expressed an interest in having a dedicated program developed for berries that was devoted to examining growing techniques.
Growers were given an overview of the irrigation technology they use at Tatura. Researchers currently use a Goldtech TALGIL irrigation controller to monitor and water their crops. Sensors from all over the farm transmit information about soil moisture levels, tree water stress and weather conditions via radio waves to the central irrigation control hub, where the controller receives and records the data, which is presented in a simple graph on a mobile phone or desktop computer. The controller can react to certain thresholds by automatically engaging irrigation; however, staff at the site prefer to use the data as feedback to the irrigation schedule.
Figure 2. The agrivoltaics experiment at Tatura. Photo credit: Sandy Shaw
Figure 1. Dr. Ian Goodwin shows growers an installed sensor. Photo credit: Sandy Shaw
Figure 3. Growers tour the Sundial Orchard and view the irrigation setup. Photo credit: Sandy Shaw
Dr. Goodwin also explained the installation of an AQUAFLEX soil moisture sensor – a simple but effective moisture monitoring setup. Instead of a probe, the AQUAFLEX consists of a three-metre-long strip which is buried within the ground at a predetermined depth (e.g., 30 cm depth in the middle of the rootzone) and assesses moisture over a length of three metres, resulting in a more reliable “average” soil moisture measurement.
Tatura’s Agrivoltaic setup is potentially applicable to berry growers. Agrivoltaics is the term used for combining solar setups with agricultural production. The goal is to produce a synergistic system – the solar power helps alleviate the electricity costs on the farm and provides cover from heat and hail for the crops. Meanwhile, the crop cover creates a cooling effect underneath the solar panels which helps the panels absorb energy more effectively. Agrivoltaic systems are being trialled around the world, including in all types of berry production.
The Tatura experiment examined the effect of an agrivoltaic setup on blush pears, paying attention to all aspects of production. They use standard rigid solar panels that feed power to two storage batteries to drive the irrigation pump for the orchard block. Excess power is fed into the electricity grid. The agrivoltaic setup at Tatura produces more than enough energy to run their irrigation pump, creating a neat farming feedback loop.
Researchers say initial findings are that the panels create a more even tree temperature distribution underneath, providing a moderate cooling effect of a few degrees in summer and inversely creating a warming effect of a few degrees in spring and autumn (as the plants don’t lose radiant heat as quickly).
They found that the panels reduce tree transpiration (water loss through evaporation) and lower fruit temperature, while also increasing chill accumulation in flower buds. Their initial results in pear found that the panels provided some protection from hail and there was no sunburned fruit under the panels; however, moderate reductions in pear fruit size and blush colour were observed. Researchers suggest there is too much shade for the pear trees — the panels intercept approximately 50 % of the sunlight. More recent solar panel technology may be better for pears.
For example, photo-selective panels that allow the wavelengths of light most useful to the pear trees to pass through the solar setup and go on to allow the plant to photosynthesize, while the rest is harvested by the solar panels and used to fuel farm activities.
Alternatively, integrating solar cells into rain or netting covers would be ideal. As berry crops also have sensitivity to shade requirements under certain conditions, they may also benefit from research involving photo-selective panels. Agrivoltaic setup requirements vary widely depending on the crop, and more research is needed to determine exactly how to make it work for berries.
Agriculture Victoria Research recently joined forces with Melbourne and La Trobe Universities and will run a workshop on 28 – 29 November 2024 to examine what a research project might look like for the berry industries.
After lunch, growers were treated to a demonstration of the various Agtech innovations that were being tested and utilised on the SmartFarm. They saw a demonstration of the Burro collaborative robot – an all-terrain autonomous self-driving cart equipped with GPS and AI learning technology that allows it to move independently around the farm. It can carry up to 225 kg (the larger Burro Grande version has a load capacity of 450 kg). The SmartFarm uses it to transport fruit from its orchard to the grading station, which it can do without needing any oversight. The Burro can also be equipped with a tow bar allowing it to tow additional weight, or even an autonomous sprayer.
Also viewed was a Green Atlas Cartographer, which uses LiDAR and cameras to enable AI to forecast and assess potential yield, fruit size and colour, and tree size. Growers also got an in-depth look at the equipment researchers use to help them take their measurements and viewed their dynamic controlled atmosphere storage experimental setup.
Overall, it was a stimulating day which brought together researchers and growers to engage in discussions about what the future holds.
Thank you to everyone at Tatura and all the growers who participated.
Berry Basket Marketing: Positive Impacts across the Board
The project 'MT23500 FY24 Berry Basket Marketing Campaign' is funded by industry levies through Hort Innovation and contributions from the Australian Blueberry Growers Association voluntary levy.
Jane Richter, Communications Manager, Berries Australia
• Delivered through Hort Innovation and led by Berries Australia, this project collaboration sees blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries all promoted under a ‘berry basket’ banner
• Two bursts of activity have now been completed with the final burst just about to start across December and January
• All consumer indicators are showing strong positive movement in the right direction
At its most basic level, the point of consumer marketing is to connect products with potential buyers by creating awareness, interest, and desire. Marketing activities aim to inform consumers about what is available, why they need it, and how it can improve their lives, ultimately encouraging them to make a purchase. Effective marketing strives to ensure that the right message reaches the right audience at the right time, helping brands and products to build relationships, trust, and loyalty with their customers while driving sales and growth.
In the long run, we’re on a mission to boost berry sales by inspiring occasional berry buyers to reach for them more often during their grocery trips. How? By igniting a deeper love for the irresistible taste of berries and creating a powerful emotional connection to these little bursts of joy. At the same time, we’re sharing the unique health benefits that only berries can offer, turning them into a must-have choice. It’s about making berries more than just a treat—transforming them into an everyday essential that shoppers can’t resist.
We have laid out the tactics being deployed in the Berry Basket campaign in previous editions of this journal (Winter 2024 PAGE 33, Autumn 2024 PAGE 15, Summer 2023 PAGE 72). The campaign has sought to make consumers aware of fresh Australian berries at the peak of each crops availability across the year using a variety of media channels and to turn that awareness into interest and then the desire to purchase whilst in stores.
The purpose of a long-term marketing campaign in any fresh produce category is to make that category a ‘must-buy’ purchase on every shopper’s list, ensuring
that the in-store category display is visited on each shopping trip. Once the shopper is standing in front of the berry fridge, other factors like price, quality perception, brand choice and pack size come into play.
How can we decide if the investment is worth it?
When you have a branded item, produced by a single organisation and sold with a single unique product identifier like a barcode, you are able to isolate the sales results for that item and make some assessments about the direct impact that a marketing investment has had. In this case, we have a category wide approach with hundreds of individual product lines under a multitude of brands sold through a variety of channels, many of which do not report sales data to a third party. So, our only methodology for assessing the impact of this campaign is to look at a small number of indicator metrics which give us an insight into changes in consumers purchasing behaviour in the berry category.
Thanks to Hort Innovation, there is a Consumer Insights Strategy underpinned by a number of multi-industry investments that work together to provide the data and insights needed to help plan and evaluate marketing activities. Through the NielsenIQ Homescan panel –delivered through the Harvest to Home portal – we are able to examine consumer purchasing behaviour and how this is changing over time.
The results in the latest data release (52 weeks ending 08/09/2024) are summarised on PAGE 36.
What has changed for the berry category in the last 12
months?
Slightly fewer households purchased the total berry category in the last 12 months than the year before.
This overall fall was driven by a slight drop in the number of households buying blackberries (33% down to 31%), but both blueberries (61.8% up to 64.6%) and raspberries (43% up to 46%) showed significant increases. Strawberries increased slightly from an already high figure of 83% up to 84%.
September 2023
$128.90 spent on 7.8kg of berries on average per household
September 2023 21
$141.20 spent on 8.4kg of berries on average per household
Major swings in the supply of berries can have a dramatic affect on the price charged at the point of retail sale, and this substantial increase in the average amount spent by a household on berries is partly a reflection of differing supply conditions from last year to this year.
The important fact is that the total volume purchased has also increased which clearly demonstrates higher levels of purchasing within the category.
In fact, at a total level the berry category saw a value sales increase of 9.0% (vs total fruit of just 5.5%) and a volume sales increase of 6.9% (vs just 1.7% for total fruit).
All berry crops saw an increase in both the amount spent and the volume purchased from last year to the current year.
Two other key indicators that can show the impact of any marketing activity are the number of times that a household buys a category and how much on average they purchase each time they buy.
Over the 12 months to September this year, the total berry category has been purchased on a more frequent basis than in the previous year.
The same weight has been purchased on each occasion on average, showing that shoppers are buying the equivalent of 400g of berries each time they buy from the category.
There has also been no increase in the amount of any one berry crop purchased on average from last year to this year.
The result is a significant increase in the total amount of berries purchased from last year to this year.
What does this mean?
The core objective of the Berry Basket Marketing campaign has been to ‘persuade existing buyers who buy berries relatively infrequently to buy berries more often when they are shopping for groceries’ and the data indicates that this is exactly what has been achieved so far.
After the final burst of activity has been completed, the Marketing Sub-Committee will be meeting to conduct an evaluation of the overall campaign and make recommendations back to the Berries Australia board and wider industry for the way forward.
If you would like any further information please contact: rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au or jane@teres.com.au
The project 'MT23500 FY24 Berry Basket Marketing Campaign' is funded by industry levies through Hort Innovation and contributions from the Australian Blueberry Growers Association voluntary levy.
Navigating New Challenges in Australian Farming
Jane Richter, Communications Manager, Berries Australia
Tenacious Ventures, an ag-tech investment firm, has conducted "horizon scanning" to identify nearly 50 factors that could impact the risks and opportunities facing farmers and agricultural scientists by the 2030s. Working with AgriFutures Australia, the firm distilled this research into a list of 10 key emerging forces that are likely to present both challenges and opportunities for the agriculture industry. The research was published earlier this year by AgriFutures Australia in the report entitled ‘Navigating a future of cross-sectoral forces. An updated horizon scan for the Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector’.
Horizon scanning is the proactive process of identifying future risks and opportunities. For berry farmers, this means paying attention to emerging trends in climate, technology, and market conditions, and adjusting practices accordingly. By adopting horizon scanning, farmers can anticipate changes, adapt quickly, and remain competitive.
Sarah Nolet, from research firm Tenacious Ventures has rightly pointed out that amongst other things COVID showed us we are often unaware of the things we actually depend on. From major disruptions to supply chains to insecure access to labour solutions, the pandemic has exposed how fragile our global structures actually are.
Australian berry farmers, like many in agriculture, face an evolving landscape of challenges and opportunities. Here are the ten forces and risks identified in the report which will shape the future for agriculture in Australia.
1. Rise of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a key part of agriculture. Soon, AI will support many aspects of farming, from pricing and trade to production and security. Already, it provides more accurate, local climate forecasts, which help farmers decide where to grow crops. AI’s role in farming will continue to expand, affecting labour, technology, and even regulations.
2. Mandatory Climate Disclosures
Businesses are under growing pressure to share information on their environmental impact, like emissions and natural resource use. Companies that disclose this information attract more customers and investors who value sustainable practices. Soon, disclosing this data will be required to access high-paying markets and secure better financial terms. Failing to disclose or disclosing poorly could lead to penalties and damage the company’s reputation.
3. Radically Accessible Remote Production Data
Tools like satellites, drones, and sensors make it easier and cheaper to monitor farms remotely. Farmers can track water use, livestock location, and even flood conditions without leaving their office. However, this information is now also available to the public, which means anyone can monitor farming practices. While this access benefits farmers with better tools, it also requires them to manage how their farm information is perceived by others.
4. Geoengineering Advances
As the climate changes, there is a rising interest in geoengineering—techniques like cloud seeding to increase rain or solar shading to cool temperatures. These methods could help farms adapt to extreme weather, but they may have unknown long-term effects.
Australian farmers are not currently involved in discussions about geoengineering, meaning their needs and concerns might not be considered in future decisions.
5. From Incremental to Systemic Changes in Production Systems
Australia’s agricultural research system has helped farmers continuously improve. However, complex global issues, such as climate change and social pressures, will require bigger changes. Farmers may need to consider new crops, products, and farming methods to keep their businesses resilient in the face of shifting demands and environmental challenges.
6. Global Conflict and Deglobalisation Shift Trade Trends
Australian agriculture depends heavily on global trade, especially with Asia-Pacific countries. However, conflicts and shifting trade routes are making markets less predictable, with price fluctuations and access issues. By 2035, Arctic routes could open due to melting ice, changing trade paths and impacting partnerships. Farmers may need to adapt to these shifting trade dynamics to protect their income.
7. Growing Risks from Climate, Human, and Animal Interactions
With global connectivity and changing climates, there is a rising risk of diseases spreading between humans, animals, and plants. Biosecurity—protecting farms from pests and diseases—is essential to prevent costly outbreaks. As these risks grow, Australia needs strong preventive measures to keep its reputation as a biosecurity leader and protect its agriculture from large-scale disruptions.
The recent entry of Varroa mite into Australia and even the spread of high impact local pests or diseases from one area to another highlights the need for on-farm biosecurity to jump to the very top of the priority list for every farm business if it is not there already.
8. Cybersecurity Threats Escalate
As farms become more digital, they are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which could disrupt operations and harm food security. In 2020, a cyber-attack shut down 70% of the wool industry’s trading system in Australia and New Zealand, costing millions. Future attacks could affect entire regions or industries, meaning that the agriculture sector must develop stronger defences and plan for both digital and physical impacts.
9. Rare Earth Mineral Demand Grows
Rare earth minerals are essential for products like batteries and green tech (solar panels, wind turbines). As demand rises, these minerals will become more expensive and harder to access, impacting costs for agriculture, which increasingly relies on technology. Price spikes or shortages in these minerals could create significant challenges for farmers who depend on technology for efficient production.
10. Climate Refugees Emerge
Climate change is making certain regions harder to live in, particularly in vulnerable areas. As a result, people are migrating to safer areas, which may change labour availability, demand for food, and customer demographics. Australian farmers may need to rethink how to attract labour and respond to new, climatedriven market needs.
In conclusion, these forces and risks highlight the need for awareness and adaptability in Australia’s berry farming sector. Embracing new technologies, preparing for environmental challenges, and understanding market shifts will be essential for sustainable and profitable farming in the coming decades.
Preparation is Key for Safer Food: Food Incident Forum 2024 Insights
Jen Rowling, Projects Manager, Berries Australia
The Food Incident Forum (FIF), held on 12 September 2024 in Sydney, brought together peak industry bodies, jurisdictional food regulators, retailers and Commonwealth departments to discuss strengthening responses to food safety incidents across Australia.
I attended the meeting on behalf of Berries Australia, with the forum hosted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and the NSW Food Authority. The workshop aimed to enhance coordination, improve risk management, and ensure consumer safety across the food supply chain.
Key discussions covered recent food safety incidents, rapid response strategies, and effective communication channels, focusing on building a unified, robust response system. Presentations addressed challenges like the cost-of-living crisis, increased business expenses, supply chain disruptions, climate change, and regulatory shifts. Updates on foodborne pathogens, recent outbreaks, and new technologies, such as the FIF GovTEAMS platform and AI-based horizon scanning, were highlighted.
Horizon scanning is a relatively new concept which uses advanced data analysis to predict future trends, helping policymakers make proactive decisions.
A structured approach for industry involvement in government-led incident responses was introduced, including the idea of an industry liaison officer and joint incident debriefing processes. Updates were shared on food tampering guidance, ongoing Listeria outbreak investigations, and issues related to unapproved “mushroom gummies” containing novel psychoactive ingredients.
The cost-of-living crisis has also pressured vulnerable groups to adopt risky food practices, increasing foodborne illness risks. A recent survey found that many Australians consume expired or spoiled food due to financial hardship. The economic crisis has affected customer behaviour towards retail staff and has increased issues such as product loss, tampering claims, food fraud, and manufacturing challenges.
A coordinated approach to food safety, as fostered by the FIF, is essential for efficiently managing risks across the supply chain. Working together, government agencies, regulators, industry leaders, and researchers can respond rapidly to food safety incidents. This approach promotes effective information-sharing, helping to prevent the spread of unsafe food, safeguard public health, and maintain consumer confidence. Coordinated strategies also support the development of best practices and standardised responses, making it easier to prevent and manage future incidents.
In 2022, an exercise tested Australia’s food safety response protocols, involving federal, state, and territory authorities and industry representatives. The simulation examined coordination, communication, and rapid response abilities for a hypothetical food crisis, reinforcing the importance of effective data-sharing and joint decision-making.
The berry industry, particularly vulnerable to food safety challenges, benefits from proactive involvement in forums like the FIF. Representing berry producers, Berries Australia works with regulators to set best practices, stay updated on emerging risks, and strengthen incident response capabilities. Such collaboration supports consistent safety standards and maintains consumer trust in Australian berries, both locally and internationally.
As food safety-related recalls increase, individual berry businesses must have transparent crisis management plans. An effective response plan can significantly impact a business’s reputation and success. Clear preparation enables businesses to respond swiftly, safeguard financial stability, and ensure continuous customer service. These plans help manage disruptions, whether from natural disasters, transportation issues, system failures, or food safety challenges, allowing businesses to recover efficiently from unforeseen events.
Resources to help you develop a recall plan
One of the main ways individual businesses can be prepared to deal with a food incident is to have a recall plan that ensures they can respond to quickly if an incident occurs.
A recall plan should include the following key components:
Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Identify the recall team, assigning specific roles for decisionmaking, communication, and recall coordination.
Product Traceability and Record-Keeping: Implement a system for tracking products throughout the supply chain to quickly identify affected batches and minimise recall scope.
Risk Assessment and Recall Classification: Outline procedures to assess the severity of the issue and classify the recall level, ensuring an appropriate response.
Communication Protocols: Develop communication strategies for notifying regulatory bodies, suppliers, customers, and the public, ensuring transparent and timely information.
Recall Effectiveness Checks and Post-Recall Review: Set up a process to verify the recall's effectiveness, document findings, and conduct a post-recall analysis to improve future response efforts.
FSANZ has developed a simple recall plan template to help food businesses develop their own which can be found at https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/sites/default/files/business/food-recalls/ recalltemplates/Documents/Food%20Recall%20Plan%20Template%20final.docx
For more information, visit the food recalls webpages at https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-recalls or see the Food Industry Recall Protocol at https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-recalls/firp
Freshcare Food Safety & Quality 4.2 requires participants to have an incident management plan that is fully documented, and a test of the incident management plan must be conducted at least annually with a record kept. The incident management plan should be tested using different incidents/scenarios each time to aid in identifying any updates that may be required of the plan.
Business.gov.au provides a good emergency management plan template to help you and your business get prepared for unexpected disruptions: https://business.gov.au/planning/business-plans/develop-anemergency-management-plan
Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety (2022) has a Chapter 17 Product identification, traceability and recall, page 84 which provides useful additional information for fresh produce businesses. Download this guide at https://fpsc-anz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FPSC-Food-Safety-Guidelines-2022.pdf
Step Up Your Biosecurity: Clean Boots, Healthy Crops
Jane Richter & Helen Newman, Berries Australia
• Visitors, staff, and even family members can bring unwanted pests, diseases, and weeds to your farm on their clothing, hats, shoes, and tools.
• People moving within different areas of your farm can also move pests, diseases, and weeds.
• Managing the cleanliness of people entering and moving within your property is crucial to protecting your crop and bottom line.
• When it comes to nasties spread by footwear, soil-borne diseases, and weed seeds are the major concern.
• Unwashed footwear can transport harmful organisms in dirt, mud, or even small pieces of infected plant material.
Examples of diseases that are easily spread on shoes include:
• Charcoal rot
• Colletotrichum
• Fusarium
• Phytophthora
• Neo Pestalotiopsis (Neo P)
Even a small amount of contaminated soil or plant matter can spread pests and disease.
Proper footwear hygiene can protect your property and your crop.
If there are areas of the farm with known pest and disease issues always visit them last in the day and thoroughly clean all clothing, tools, and footwear before entering another area.
The 3-Step footwear cleaning process
1. Remove Debris: Always check the shoes of visitors and workers and ask where they have previously been worn. This helps you determine if they may have been exposed to other farms or high-risk environments. Use a stiff brush to remove visible debris from the footwear.
2. Wash: Shoes should be free of mud, manure, and plant material before being thoroughly washed using detergent. This prevents contamination of the water and ensures the disinfectant works effectively.
3. Disinfect: After cleaning, use a footbath containing a strong sanitising product to disinfect the shoes. Alternatively, use a spray bottle with a disinfecting solution. Make sure to follow the product’s instructions for proper use.
1. Remove debris
Remove excess dirt and foreign material from the sole and sides of boots.
Make sure this is done away from the production zone and washing area.
2. Wash
Wash boots in a container using a brush to ensure all dirt and organic matter is removed.
Adding soap or detergent to the water helps break down and remove stubborn dirt.
3. Disinfect
Rinse or thoroughly spray cleaned boots with a registered disinfectant. Ensure the solution is refreshed regularly because dirt and rainwater can dilute its effectiveness.
All disinfectants are less effective in the presence of organic material. Pre-cleaning boots to remove dirt and debris is essential for any disinfectant to work properly.
Setting up a footbath station: what you need
Footbaths are an inexpensive and efficient method for cleaning footwear. To set up a station, you will need:
• Heavy-duty scrubbing brushes and scraping tools (like a horse pick or screwdriver) to remove debris in the cleaning step
• A heavy-duty plastic container for the washing step
• A heavy-duty plastic container or a disinfesting mat or bottle of disinfectant spray for the disinfecting step
• Water for washing and an effective registered disinfectant
• Drying materials like hessian bags, rubber mats, or towels that are clean, porous, and non-slip
• If footbaths are placed on a dirt surface you’ll need a tarpaulin to maintain a clean environment around the footbath
Maintaining the footbath station
Establish a maintenance program where the footbath station is cleared of any debris (soil, seeds, plant material) and the washing station and disinfection station are cleaned and refilled with water, cleaning and disinfectant solutions. Dispose of the used water and disinfectant away from production areas and water sources. Always adhere to the product label’s disposal instructions to avoid contaminating the environment.
By following these simple yet effective steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of introducing pests and diseases onto your farm. Keeping shoes clean and disinfected is a small effort that yields big benefits in maintaining the health and productivity of your property.
Dedicated footwear for farm areas
An alternative to cleaning shoes every time is to provide visitors and workers with dedicated farm footwear, such as gumboots or provide disposable shoe covers. These should be used exclusively in production areas. By keeping these shoes confined to specific zones, you minimise the risk of spreading pests and diseases. While these shoes should still be cleaned to remove any buildup, they will not introduce new biosecurity risks, making it a practical and efficient solution .
More resources
Visit https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/how-to-makeyour-own-footbath/ for more information
Suitable disinfectants include:
Bleach: diluted to one per cent active sodium hypochlorite (the active ingredient in bleach). For example, dilute a bleach solution which is four per cent active sodium hypochlorite using three parts water to one part bleach.
For more information about disinfectants registered for use in Australia you can search PubCRIS, the APVMA’s Public Chemical Registration Information System at https://portal.apvma.gov.au/pubcris using ‘disinfectant’ as the search term.
Energy Use: Making Savings on Farms
Melinda Simpson, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, New South Wales
Why should you understand energy use on farms?
Understanding energy use is crucial for businesses as it can have a significant impact on their operations, sustainability, and income.
Here are some key reasons why it is important to monitor energy use:
• Cost savings: identifying and reducing energy waste can lead to substantial cost savings. Monitoring energy use allows businesses to pinpoint areas where energy efficiency improvements can be made, ultimately lowering bills.
• Operational efficiency: understanding when and how energy is consumed enables businesses to optimise their operations. This knowledge can help with scheduling energy-intensive tasks during off-peak hours or implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices.
• Environmental impact: monitoring energy use is a vital aspect of a business's environmental sustainability efforts. By reducing energy consumption, a business can decrease its carbon footprint and contribute to environmental conservation.
• Equipment maintenance and performance: regular monitoring can reveal abnormalities in energy consumption patterns, which might indicate equipment malfunctions or inefficiencies. Identifying these issues early can lead to proactive maintenance, preventing downtime and extending the life of equipment.
Ways to make energy savings on farms
Energy tariffs
Energy tariffs refer to the pricing structures that determine how consumers are billed for the energy they use. These tariffs outline the rates, terms, and conditions under which energy is supplied.
The structure of energy tariffs can vary based on factors such as the type of energy (electricity or gas), the region, and the specific policies of the energy provider. Some common types of energy tariffs include:
• Single rate: the rate remains constant for a period regardless of price fluctuations. This rate is cheaper than the peak rate or a time-of-use tariff. The single rate is typically suited to those who use most of their electricity during weekday evenings.
• Time of use: different rates during different times of the day and night. This usually involves peak, off-peak and shoulder times:
- Peak is usually in the evenings from Monday to Friday. Electricity will cost the most during this time.
- Off-peak is usually overnight and on the weekend. Electricity will be the cheapest during this time.
- Shoulder: usually occurs between peak and off-peak times. Electricity will cost a bit less than during peak times but will be more expensive than during off-peak times.
- Time of use can be valuable if you can run equipment when energy is cheaper (i.e. load shifting).
In Australia, there is high rooftop solar penetration, which means that during the day when the sun is shining, there are large amounts of renewable energy on the grid. Businesses can take advantage of this surplus by shifting their energy load to these times.
Figure 1. Shifting power usage to off peak times i.e., during the middle of the day can have savings when using certain tariffs.
In some cases, this could mean shifting your optional energy use into the middle of the day to access a cheaper rate or a rebate (known as ‘Solar sponge’ incentives) (Figure 1).
• Solar sponge tariffs: works by charging customers different rates for electricity use, depending on the time of day. Typically, customers will be charged less for usage during off-peak times but a considerable amount more during peak times. This is measured with a smart meter, and therefore, it is only possible if you have a smart meter to measure the time of use. Solar sponge tariffs are only worthwhile if most energy consumption occurs from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Currently Solar sponge tariffs are only available in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and some parts of NSW.
Get the best deal with your energy service provider
Many energy providers offer different deals and price plans. It is a good idea to regularly compare quotes and check available offers. To check your options, visit www.energymadeeasy.gov.au, a free and independent price comparison website run by the Australian Energy Regulator. Each offer must be displayed in the same format so you can easily compare them.
Measure energy usage
Without a clear picture of how much energy a business consumes, it is very difficult to assess where improvements are possible and where savings can be made. Monitoring energy use will identify opportunities for reducing energy use, managing energy costs and repairing equipment as soon as it stops working effectively.
Ways to measure energy usage on farms
There are 3 ways to measure your energy use. Measure at the:
1. business level to understand how much energy your whole facility is using
2. system level to understand how much energy each system uses
3. subsystem level to understand how much energy specific pieces of equipment use
Different types of meters
• Smart meters measure and monitor your facility's gas and electricity use and display it online
• Smart clamp-on energy meters measure motor electricity use
• Smart submeters measure gas and electricity use of specific equipment
• Circuit-breaker meters measure electricity use for a specific piece of equipment or area
Measuring the energy consumption of a pumping system can be very straightforward. Simply installing an electric meter ahead of the main line that supplies electricity to an entire pumping system can indicate the power used by all electric components in the system, such as electric motors, controls, and valves.
A licenced electrician or plumber will be able to find the right metering for your needs.
Monitoring for performance
There is no point in monitoring energy usage if you are not looking at the data regularly.
To successfully monitor and assess performance, you need to:
1. Allocate someone responsible for reviewing and analysing the monitoring data
2. Look for abnormalities in the energy usage data
3. Compare the data to your baseline and business activity
4. Regularly look for unexpected spikes, which could indicate equipment needs repairing or maintaining
Summary
Understanding energy use on farms is crucial for cost savings, operational efficiency, environmental impact reduction, and equipment maintenance. Strategies for saving energy on farms include optimising energy tariffs, taking advantage of solar sponge tariffs, securing the best deals with energy providers, measuring energy usage at various levels using smart meters and other monitoring tools, and regularly monitoring for performance. By implementing these strategies, farms can achieve significant savings, improve efficiency, reduce their environmental footprint, and ensure the proper functioning of equipment.
References and further reading
Australian Energy Regulator. (2023). Which type of tariff is right for you?. Retrieved from https://www. energymadeeasy.gov.au/article/electricity-tariffs
Business Queensland. (2020). Energy savings ideas for agricultural businesses. Retrieved from https://www. business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/ agriculture/business/finance/energy/ideas
State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage. (2019). Electricity metering and monitoring guide. Retrieved from https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/ sites/default/files/2022-08/2019-02-NSW-EnergyMetering-and-Monitoring-Guide.pdf
State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage. (2018) Electricity metering and monitoring factsheet. Retrieved from https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/ default/files/2022-08/2018-12-NSW-TechGuideEnergy-Metering-Monitoring-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Sustainability Victoria. (2023). Measure and monitor energy use in your business. Retrieved from https:// www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/energy-efficiency-andreducing-emissions/in-a-business/measure-andmonitor-energy-use-in-your-business
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2024). Metering and monitoring. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov.au/business/equipmentguides/metering-and-monitoring
Australian Nuffield Scholar Update: Kirsty Dickenson
Ella Roper, Berry Industry Development Officer, Fruit Growers Tasmania
For
Tasmanian
horticulturalist Kirsty
Dickenson, the Nuffield Scholarship program has opened her eyes to the diversity of agricultural operations around the world
and
the differences in how they view and manage sustainability.
What is Nuffield?
Nuffield Australia is the country’s leading agricultural scholarship organisation and provides a chance for farmers in Australia to study and travel abroad, bringing back leading knowledge and learnings to share in Australia. With a strong background in berry agronomy, Kirsty was motivated to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship after witnessing the significant growth in the berry industry in recent years. She was curious about how the industry would continue to expand sustainably in the future.
The Nuffield Program
Earlier this year, Kirsty took part in the Australian Focus Group program, where Nuffield scholars from around Australia congregated in Canberra for a week to meet, develop connections within the group and develop a better understanding of how agriculture operates in Australia. As part of the Australian Focus Group, scholars attended the ABARES conference, received presentations from various experts from a range of agricultural entities and visited several farms to better understand the agricultural landscape within Australia.
The Australian group then travelled together to Brazil to attend the Contemporary Scholars Conference, where Nuffield scholars from around the world met to network, learn about global agricultural trends and understand the agricultural landscape in Brazil. Worldwide, 70 scholars from 15 countries are represented in the Nuffield program, of which 24 scholars are from Australia. The aim of the Contemporary Scholars Conference was for scholars to share agricultural knowledge from their own country with scholars from around the world, including key challenges, threats and opportunities. The conference gives scholars a chance to learn about the global agricultural landscape and develop connections around the world to reach out to when planning their individual project.
Following the conference, scholars participated in the Global Focus Program, where smaller groups take part in an intensive program visiting five countries in five weeks, learning how growers operate and manage their systems in contrasting agricultural environments. Kirsty’s group visited Indonesia, France, Denmark, USA (California) and Chile, and found stark differences in what sustainability meant in each country, from environmental, economic and social viewpoints.
Kirsty observed the difference in the cost of labour and how it has shaped industries in each region in order for them to remain financially sustainable. Indonesia’s large population and lower cost of labour enables industry to employ large numbers of people to undertake more time-consuming and manual tasks. In contrast, Denmark’s small population and high cost of labour has made it more reliant on automation to reduce costs and remain profitable. Kirsty also discovered many growers in western Europe operate as part of cooperatives or ‘co-ops’, where growers form collaborative groups to improve profitability in aspects such as purchasing costs or produce marketing.
RUBUS
“This allows smaller growers to maintain higher profitability as they operate similar to a larger business, which we don’t see as much in Australia”, comments Kirsty.
Kirsty’s Research Project
Nuffield scholars undertake individual research projects on topics important to their industry. They study these topics by learning from global industry leaders and then bring their findings back to their home country. Kirsty explained that her project has evolved over time as she has gained a deeper understanding of the global growers' priorities concerning sustainability.
Kirsty said that while biodiversity is very important in her mind as a global industry, it is not the highest priority for many growers in terms of sustainability. “That’s where my project ended up: ‘What does sustainability mean to you?’, and this meant I could talk to any grower and still have that meaningful conversation”.
As part of her individual travel component, Kirsty first travelled to California, where many growers operate in organic or low spray systems and utilise alternate methods to control insect pests.
“America has a big organic berry space and when you have limited options to control a pest such as mirids, growers have learned and
In the Netherlands Kirsty visited a hydroponic media supplier and discussed the future sustainability of peat and coir use in berry production and the potential for the re-use space.
“It was interesting to have those conversations especially if the global future trend of moving into substrate continues and what it looks like from a sustainability perspective.”
Kirsty also investigated commercialised production utilising agrivoltaics in the Netherlands but found that the high capital cost might be a limiting factor for it to be a viable opportunity in Australia.
In the UK, Kirsty looked at what sustainability meant to businesses in the region.
“I found that because they are growing in a mature market, margins are tight and growers need to differentiate themselves against the other competitors. There is a big push on improving plant genetics, particularly as the supermarkets put pressure on growers to grow in a particular way, such as moving away from peat in substrate production. The pressure has been mounting from supermarkets wanting to differentiate and tell the story to their customers about how they’re being sustainable, and that is something that we in the Australian context can learn from.”
“One thing that stood out to me from this project is that while we as an industry still have a lot to learn, Australian growers are generally quite collaborative and motivated to improve and innovate. Through my overseas experience generally the most successful countries were those that were able to collaborate well with government, research bodies and other members of the industry, as they saw the advantage not just to themselves but to the industry more widely.”
“I think the Australian berry industry has always been able to adapt well to the challenges it has been faced with up to this point, and I believe it will continue to be able to overcome future challenges. As we are moving into a maturity phase, it will be interesting to observe how the industry adapts and diversifies in a more competitive market. It will be a challenging but interesting time for the industry, but I believe it’s an exciting time to be involved because when things get tight it tends to drive change and innovation.”
Wildflowers to support beneficial insect populations and reduce overall beneficial costs, at Driscoll's in Maidstone, England
Kirsty with Ross Mitchell from Castleton Farm in Scotland, where there has been a shift from strawberry to Rubus production, August 2024
Kirsty says that Nuffield has given her an incredible opportunity to step outside her personal experience to learn from different industries and berry growing systems around the world.
It really reignited my curiosity in the wider industry, and I was able to have these big picture conversations with people from completely different contexts and learn what challenges they are facing.”
Kirsty said it gave her the opportunity to further develop communication and networking skills, particularly in her ability to be inquisitive and actively reach out to people around the world.
I also developed more confidence in my ability to deal with high pressure situations and be resilient when things didn’t go as expected, as they often did! It's been a rewarding experience and one which I am grateful for. It has fed my curiosity and my confidence and I know I still have more growth opportunities before my Nuffield finishes.”
As part of her Nuffield scholarship, Kirsty will write a significant report on her learnings and experience and present her findings at a conference in September 2025.
Kirsty’s Nuffield scholarship is funded by Hort Innovation, using the Raspberry and Blackberry research and development levies and contributions from the
I would like to say a big thank you to Hort Innovation, Nuffield and Costa for making this opportunity available to me.”
Learn more about Australian Nuffield scholars and available scholarships for 2026 at www.nuffield.com.au
Business restructure and market diversification with no-spray operation at Mammen in Northern Germany in August 2024
Biological Control Surveys in Full Swing
Greg Lefoe, Hasan Rahmani and Jo Chong Wah, Agriculture Victoria
Agriculture Victoria researchers are tracking down natural enemies and potential new biocontrol agents for pests of raspberry and blackberry crops as part of the Hort Innovation funded project ‘Integrated Pest Management in Raspberry and Blackberry’ (RB21000).
Agriculture Victoria’s research aims to develop innovative, environmentally sound pest management systems for raspberry and blackberry growers. An important component of this work is to expand biological control options to help growers make the best pest management decisions for their crop. The team will do this by (1) surveying natural enemy diversity in Rubus crops and current grower practice, and (2) optimising the impact of specialised biological control agents.
The importance of natural enemies in managing Rubus pests
Natural enemies such as parasitic and predatory insects and mites play an important role in regulating pest populations. A priority in integrated pest management (IPM) is to only use pest control interventions that are necessary, and that complement the work of natural enemies; without harming the natural enemies themselves. A critical step is to understand which natural enemies are already present in and around Rubus crops and how their populations can be supported. The Agriculture Victoria team has adopted a multi-pronged approach to answering these questions, which includes grower interviews, and a range of arthropod (e.g., insects and mites) monitoring methods applied across the major Rubus production areas in southeastern Australia.
Grower surveys
The Agriculture Victoria research team interviewed twenty-two growers and consultants during the 202324 growing season, and visited properties in Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales. The grower surveys are already producing interesting results that will guide future research and extension activities.
For example, preliminary feedback from growers indicates their main pest concerns are pest mites, thrips, green vegetable bug and other true bugs, redshouldered leaf beetle (Figure 1), Carpophilus beetles, harlequin bug, leafhoppers, aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars. Growers also reported various biocontrol agent species they have used, such as the predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, and Neoseiulus cucumeris, the predatory bug Orius sp. for controlling thrips (Figure 2), and parasitoid wasps to control whiteflies and aphids.
Crop surveys
Targeted crop surveys are important for building on existing grower knowledge, addressing knowledge gaps, and developing robust pest management recommendations. The team is working closely with growers to deploy a range of monitoring methods that provide essential data on the diversity and abundance of natural enemies. These methods include sweep nets and sticky traps (Figure 3) to sample flying insects, beating trays to capture plant dwelling mites and insects, and leaf, fruit and branch sampling. Soil samples are also collected and processed using a Tullgren funnel (also known as a Berlese funnel), which uses light to extract soil inhabiting insects and mites.
The sampling effort will continue over multiple seasons and will help to clarify insect and mite occurrence across sites, cultivars, and regions. Insects and mites collected in the crop surveys are being identified by entomologists and an acarologist in the project (Figure 4) as well as specialist taxonomists in Australia and abroad.
Percentage of Rubus crops treated with four beneficial predators for biocontrol
Figure 1. Red-shouldered leaf beetle Monolepta australis and its damage on raspberry, Corindi Beach, NSW, December 2023. Photo credit: State of Victoria
Figure 2.
Figure 3. Nandita Sharma, Rubus Horticulturalist at Costa Group, East Devonport, Tasmania, setting up a yellow sticky trap to sample flying insects. Photo credit: Nandita Sharma
Figure 4. Agriculture Victoria scientist Dr Hasan Rahmani identifying insects and mites collected from Rubus crops. Photo credit: State of Victoria
Optimising the impact of a specialised parasitoid of green vegetable bug
The Agriculture Victoria research team is also investigating the Australian distribution of a highly specialised parasitoid of green vegetable bug. Green vegetable bug is a cosmopolitan pest of fruit, vegetables, and field crops. In recent years, it has become increasingly problematic in Australia’s major Rubus production regions. The emergence of green vegetable bug as a major pest in Australia is thought to be partly due to the absence of effective biocontrol agents. Fortunately, a specialised parasitoid fly called Trichopoda giacomellii was introduced to Australia in the 1990s to control the pest. The parasitoid was initially released in northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland; areas thought to be climatically suited to establishment of the parasitoid. However, there is evidence that Trichopoda has spread southwards in recent years, and this may present opportunities for Rubus growers in cooler parts of the country. The project will map the current distribution of Trichopoda and assess the potential for Trichopoda to control green vegetable bug in Rubus crops across Australia.
You can help to map Trichopoda in Australia
By collecting samples of green vegetable bug, you can help us locate Trichopoda and map its current distribution in Australia. This is invaluable information for planning its future use as a biocontrol agent in Rubus. Collecting samples from any crop or vegetation is useful as green vegetable bug has quite a large host range.
Scan the QR code to find out more about this special fly and to participate in the survey.
Trichopoda is a genus of tachinid flies, commonly known as the feather-legged flies or hairy-legged flies
Photo credit: Roger Williams, canberra.naturemapr.org
Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
The black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is a widespread agricultural pest which can cause significant impacts to berry crops, with growers of substrate Rubus and blueberry susceptible to the most damage.
Identification
Adult black vine weevils are approximately 7-10mm long, dull black in colour with orange-yellow tufts of hair along the abdomen and a distinctive snout
Adult weevils cannot fly but are capable of moving quickly between plants by walking
Larvae are milky white in colour with an orange-brown head and grow to around 10-12mm in length
Adult females lay eggs in spring, which hatch after 2-3 weeks and larvae burrow into the soil media in search of roots to feed on
Symptoms & damage
Adult black vine weevils emerge at night to feed in the canopy and damage can be observed through characteristic notching or feeding on leaf margins. While adults can cause substantial damage to vegetative plant growth, the most significant damage to berry crops is caused by larvae directly feeding on plant roots and girdling crowns. This impacts the plant’s ability to uptake water and nutrients for growth and development.
Symptoms can vary between crops, damage in Rubus and blueberry is often exhibited as plant stunting or leaf yellowing due to the reduced root area lost to larvae feeding. Larvae can directly feed on blueberry plant crowns, girdling around the base to the cambium and damaging the important pathways the plant requires for water uptake. Serious damage will result in water stress or drought symptoms due to limited water uptake. This can result in plants presenting limited vegetative growth, chlorotic leaves and impacts to fruit quality and yield, with severe cases leading to plant death.
Monitoring
Small numbers of black vine weevil larvae can cause significant damage, and therefore monitoring for adult and larval presence is important. Adult weevils are rarely observed in the canopy as they emerge from around the plant base to feed at night, however presence of adults can be identified through characteristic notching on leaf margins.
Pest scouting should commence from early in the season to observe for leaf notching symptoms and adults may be found around the base of the plant, often under matting cover or around the media edges in substrate pots. Grooved boards can be used to monitor populations by providing a habitat for adults to congregate under and can be checked regularly.
Scouting for weevil larvae can be done by physically digging into the soil medium, particularly around the plant roots and crown where larvae reside. Larvae damage to crowns in blueberry plants can also result in the presence of fine frass around the base of the plant which indicates feeding damage. Early management is important as larvae can be difficult to find and by the time they are identified significant damage can occur.
Did you know?
All black vine weevils are female and reproduce parthenogenetically (egg development without fertilisation)
Black vine weevil larvae. Photo credit: Ella Roper
Black vine weevil adult.
Photo credit: Kent Loeffler, Cornell University
Stunted plant growth due to black vine weevil feeding in raspberry. Photo credit: Kirsty Dickenson
1. Characteristic feeding or ‘notching’ from adult black vine weevil in raspberry. Photo credit: Kirsty Dickenson
2. Root break down due to larval feeding in substrate raspberry. Photo credit: Kirsty Dickenson
3. Stunted plant growth due to larval root and crown feeding in substrate blueberry. Photo credit: Ella Roper
4. Girdling from black vine weevil larvae in a blueberry crown. Photo credit: Ella Roper
Management
Biological control in the form of entomopathogenic nematodes is the most common and effective method of managing black vine weevil as chemical options are limited or non-existent, particularly in substrate production.
Biological
Entomopathogenic nematodes such as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora can parasitise black vine weevil and are an effective control if managed well. The nematodes can actively seek out weevil larvae in the substrate and invade the pests, before reproducing and releasing another generation for continued control. Infected larvae turn dark brown in colour and become slimy as they are broken down by bacteria released by the nematode activity.
Field scouting is important to determine when larvae are present in the soil or pot media. Applications should be done before pupation occurs as weevil pupae are more resistant to beneficial nematodes and they will not have the desired control. Nematodes are not active below 12°C and therefore applications should be done when temperatures are sufficient for nematode activity. Generally, nematode treatments are recommended in September and again in April before temperatures decline and nematode efficacy is limited, however the warmer conditions under protective tunnels likely increase the rate of reproduction and further treatments may be necessary. Nematodes can be applied either through the irrigation system or directly to plants as a liquid application. It is important to allow enough water to wash the nematodes into the rootzone. Nematodes are available through a number of stores in Australia via online order.
Cultural
While cultural controls for black vine weevil are limited, they are worth considering as part of the wider strategy. Aim to control weeds near the crop that can act as an alternate host for weevils, such as dandelion, dock, mallow, plantain and capeweed, as these will act as a habitat and food source for adult weevils. If planting into a location with previously high weevil populations, avoid planting immediately into soil as pest pressure will remain high. In field growing systems, tillage can disrupt the habitat of black vine weevil populations in the soil, and cover cropping with non-host plants can break the pest cycle, however this is not always practical between crops.
Chemical
Chemical control options for weevils more broadly are limited in berry crops and there are no products specifically registered or on permit for black vine weevil in berries. Therefore, it is important to monitor and control black vine weevil populations early with biological controls before populations and damage increases.
Summary
• Monitor crop for black vine weevil early in the season before damage occurs
• Observe canopy for characteristic weevil notching on leaves
• Entomopathogenic nematodes are the best option for controlling the pests currently
• Manage nearby weeds species that provide an alternate host for the insects
References
Bennison, J, Allen, J & Atwood, J (2018) Vine weevil control in soft fruit crops. Available at: https:// horticulture.ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/vineweevil-control-in-soft-fruit-crops
Clark, EC, Hatley, SE, Brennan, RM, MacKenzie, K & Johnson, SN (2011) ‘Oviposition and feeding behaviour by the vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus on red raspberry: effects of cultivars and plant nutritional status’, Agricultural and Forest Entomology, doi: 10.1111/j.1461-9563.2011.00554.x
EcoGrow (2021) Black Vine Weevil – WEEVILNEM. Available at: https://ecogrow.com.au/product/blackvine-weevil/
Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Colombia (2012) A Field Guide to Identification of Insect Pests, Diseases and other Disorders in Blueberries. Available at: https://fieldguide.bcblueberry.com/weevils/
This Pest Spotlight has been prepared by Ella Roper, Fruit Growers Tasmania
HORTICULTURE
► Grow Bags
► Substrates
► Stakes
► Coir Pot Tops
► Shadecloth
► Coir Discs
► Plant Bags
► Weedmat
► Hold Down Pins
► Fixing Channel
► Wiggle Wire
► Plastics
• Effective control of grey mould in berries
• Flexible use pattern
• Strong protectant action
• Highly effective on powdery mildew in strawberries
• Nil withholding period
• Translaminar and vapour action
• Excellent and reliable grey mould control in strawberries
• One day withholding period
• Group 52 – New mode of action
A new dawn. A new standard.
New MIRAVIS ® Prime combines the strengths of proven fl udioxonil (Group 12) and new pydifl umetofen (Group 7) to manage hard-to-control diseases.
These complementary active ingredients attack fungal pathogens in different areas of the plant. They target four different stages of disease development to effectively break the disease life cycle, while aiding resistance management.
There’s a new dawn in protectant fungicide technology, powered by MIRAVIS®. MIRAVIS® Prime. For further information talk to your local Syngenta representative or visit syngenta.com.au/miravis-prime.
Application of Foliar Nutrients after Trimming Strawberry Plants Accelerates Yield Recovery
Dr Scott Mattner & Dr Dylan McFarlane, VSICA Research & La Trobe University, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment
Chali Dissanayake & Chris Story, KD Plant Care Pty Ltd
In southern Australia, strawberry growers commonly trim their plants in summer to remove old leaves and flower trusses (Figure 1). This practice revitalises the plants and prepares them for increased production later in the season. However, trimming can also stress the plants. For instance, research in Victoria found that heavy summer trimming made strawberry plants more susceptible to diseases like charcoal rot. Prior to the current study, there was limited information on how to reduce post-trimming stress in strawberry plants and accelerate their recovery for improved production.
Some researchers suggest that the level of soluble solids in crops is a reliable indicator of plant health, and the balance of macro- and micro-nutrients. For instance, fungicide applications for powdery mildew in grapevines can stop once soluble solids in the berries reach high levels and the plants mature. Soluble solids refer to a wide range of compounds in solutions in the plant, though they most commonly represent sugars, like fructose and glucose. Brix is a unit used to measure soluble solids, particularly sugars, in plant solutions such as sap or juice. Some growers measure Brix in the juice of strawberry as an indicator of fruit quality.
The application of foliar nutrients, especially those containing chelated trace elements, offers a potential method for increasing soluble solids in crops and reducing plant stress. Trace elements like manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) are essential for various plant functions, though they are required only in small amounts. However, factors such as soil pH imbalances can render these nutrients unavailable by causing them to form insoluble compounds. Chelation is a chemical process that prevents this by binding trace elements to organic molecules (e.g., EDTA), forming a stable complex. This chelated form keeps the nutrients soluble and protects them from reacting with other soil or water compounds, ensuring they remain available for plant uptake.
We conducted a field experiment on a commercial farm at Silvan, Victoria, to evaluate the impact of foliar application of chelated nutrients on strawberry plants after trimming.
How we ran the experiment and what we measured
Immediately after trimming strawberry plants in March 2024 (‘vase’ cut, Figure 1), we applied chelated foliar nutrients regularly over the course of one month, following the manufacturer’s guidelines. We used the product ‘High K’ (KD Plant Care Pty Ltd, Alphington, Victoria, https://www.kendon.com.au/products/high-k/) as the foliar nutrient treatment in our experiment and compared it with an untreated control. The High K formulation we used was chelated with EDTA and contained 15% nitrogen (N), 6.22% phosphorus (P), 15.7% potassium (K), 0.012% manganese (Mn), 0.006% magnesium (Mg), 0.008% zinc (Zn), and other trace elements. We applied the nutrient treatment at a rate equivalent to 2L in 1000L of water per hectare (Figure 2).
We extracted leaf sap and measured soluble solids daily and nutrient concentration at the end of the experiment. Fruit was harvested and weighed every three days, and soluble solids were measured in the juice. Revenue from the harvested fruit was calculated using weekly wholesale prices from the Melbourne market (FreshLogic, Hawthorn, Victoria). At the end of the experiment, we also evaluated the incidence of blight, caused by the fungus Phomopsis obscurans, by measuring the percentage of affected leaves on each plant (Figure 3). The experiment included four strawberry varieties: Albion, San Andreas, Monterey and Cabrillo. We conducted the experiment using a scientific design called a randomised split-plot design, which had four replications of each nutrient and variety treatment.
Figure 2. Application of foliar nutrients to strawberry plants in a field experiment at Silvan, Victoria.
Photo credit: Dylan McFarlane
Foliar chelated nutrients increased yield and revenue
In the month following plant trimming, the foliar application of chelated nutrients boosted commercial fruit yield by 29% and increased the number of marketable fruit by 27%, although it did not affect fruit size (Table 1). This resulted in additional revenue from fruit of $0.26 per plant over the four-week period following trimming. The increase in marketable fruit was partly due to the effect of the foliar nutrients in reducing the proportion of rejected, misshapen fruit. There was no statistical difference in yields between the different varieties over the four weeks of the experiment.
Table 1. Strawberry productivity (from March to April 2024) in a field experiment evaluating foliar application of chelated nutrients following plant trimming. P-values of less than 0.05 (in RED) represent parameters of strawberry productivity (in columns) where treatments were statistically different from each other.
The foliar application of chelated nutrients also enhanced soluble solids in strawberry fruit, increasing the average Brix from 7.8° in the untreated control to 8.2° Brix (Figure 4). This indicates that the treatment not only boosted fruit yield but also improved fruit quality. Among the varieties, Albion peaked at a fruit Brix of 9° following plant trimming, which was higher than Cabrillo, San Andreas, and Monterey, each of which peaked at 8° Brix.
Figure 3. Leaf blight of strawberry (var. Albion) caused by the fungus Phomopsis obscurans in a field experiment at Silvan, Victoria. Photo credit: Dylan McFarlane
Figure 4. The effect of foliar application of chelated nutrients (High K) on soluble solids (Brix) in the leaves and fruit of two contrasting strawberry varieties following plant trimming on 20 March 2024. Some researchers suggest that soluble solids are an indicator of crop health. Application of the nutrient treatment consistently increased soluble solids in the crops.
Impact of chelated nutrients on foliar disease
The foliar application of chelated nutrients reduced the incidence of leaf blight in trimmed strawberry plants from 5.66% to 2.61%. There was no statistical difference in blight incidence among the different strawberry varieties. A strong linear relationship occurred where fruit yield decreased as leaf blight increased (Figure 5). This suggests that the nutrient treatment's ability to suppress leaf blight likely contributed to its ability to improve fruit yields.
Figure 5. Relationship between leaf blight cause by the fungus Phomopsis obscurans and fruit yield in the month following plant trimming in a field experiment at Silvan, Victoria.
Association between soluble solids, crop nutrition and yield
The foliar application of chelated nutrients rapidly increased soluble solids in the leaves of trimmed plants, raising Brix levels from a peak of 9.9° in the untreated control to 10.8° Brix (e.g., Figure 4). This effect was consistent across all strawberry varieties tested. Among the varieties, Albion and Monterey showed higher soluble solids in their leaves compared with Cabrillo and San Andreas. The data revealed a positive relationship between fruit yield and soluble solid levels in the leaves (r = 0.754). This suggests that soluble solids in the leaves may serve as an indicator of a plant's productive capacity following trimming.
The application of foliar fertiliser increased several nutrients in the vegetative sap of strawberry plants, notably raising nitrate levels by 177% and manganese levels by 124% (Table 2). Additionally, strong associations were observed between the increased uptake of manganese and nitrate and corresponding increases in soluble solids and fruit yield (r = 0.840 to 0.796), reflecting the essential roles these nutrients play in plant health. For example, manganese is crucial for energy production in the photosynthetic machinery of the plant, specifically in the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II. Overall, the fertiliser treatment's ability to increase plant uptake of key macro- and micro-nutrients likely contributed to its ability to improve fruit yields.
Table 2. The effect of foliar application of chelated nutrients (High K) on macro- and micro-nutrients in the foliage sap of strawberry following plant trimming. There are statistical differences between the treatments for RED nutrient parameters.
Conclusions
This experiment highlighted the potential advantages of treating strawberry plants with chelated foliar nutrients, such as High K, following trimming. This approach not only accelerated recovery from plant stress but also significantly boosted yields and reduced low incidences of foliar disease. These beneficial effects were associated with increased levels of soluble solids, manganese, and nitrate in the leaves.
For more information on the experiment or the use of foliar nutrients in strawberry please contact Chali at chali@kendon.com.au
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Project Update: Coir Recycling and Re-use
Ella Roper, Berry Industry Development Officer, Fruit Growers Tasmania
Coir availability and cost has been an ongoing challenge for substrate berry producers in Tasmania, particularly with high freight costs in recent years. While costs have dampened slightly since the challenging COVID period, berry growers still rely on an annual supply of coir for substrate strawberry production due to its ideal growing characteristics for plant growth and yield.
Fruit Growers Tasmania has been managing an ongoing collaborative project with research partner RMCG and three commercial grower partners to help address these challenges by investigating options for coir re-use, recycling and alternative substrate to help extend the coir life and reduce ongoing costs for growers.
Stage 1: Early learnings on coir re-use
The first stage of the project investigated physical properties and structural suitability of reused coir, analysing the rate at which coir degraded over time and impacts on water holding capacity and drainage. Results showed that reused coir still showed suitable soil characteristics including drainage and moisture holding capacity. This demonstrates the potential for the use of coir substrates for more than one growing season in strawberry production.
The project then investigated which other materials were available and suitable to partially replace coir in strawberry production. Wood fibre was considered as the most suitable alternative at this time, particularly when mixed with new or reused coir.
Stage 2: Small-medium scale trials
Trial purpose and setup
The purpose of Stage 2 trials in 2023-24 was to groundtruth findings from the first stage of the project. This aimed to provide further data on the previously trialled mixes and inform treatment selection for the larger, commercial scale trials in Stage 3 of the project (2024-25).
The Stage 2 trials were small-medium sized and involved a range of treatments at each of the three farms. This included use of fresh coir, second year or composted coir, 100% wood fibre and various percentage mixes of wood fibre with either new or composted coir.
Plant growth measurements were undertaken throughout the summer of 2024 by measuring the number and diameter of plant crowns. Due to the large variation in crop layout, planting date and management, trial comparisons were focused within individual farms rather than between farms.
Root development in 100% new coir.
Photo credit: Doris Blaesing
Substrate profile in 100% wood fibre. Photo credit: Jake Gaudion
Root development in 50/50 coir and wood fibre.
Photo credit: Doris Blaesing
Substrate profile in 100% reused coir. Photo credit: Jake Gaudion
Stage 2 Outcomes
Results showed that 100% reused coir treatments significantly inhibited drainage particularly later in the growing season, where the lower part of the substrate profile remained saturated and created anaerobic conditions, inhibiting root growth. This lack of drainage is considered the primary reason for poor plant growth and reduced yield later in the season. Fertiliser salts (EC) accumulated in the reused coir treatments over the season, especially in corners that were difficult to flush with irrigation. This created challenges in managing irrigation and nutrition effectively.
The 100% wood fibre treatments did not perform as well as fresh coir or mixed substrates due to the low moisture holding capacity and high drainage, resulting in the need for increased irrigations. Through the season, the wood fibre profile became waterlogged and anaerobic, thought to be due to smaller particles moving down and clogging pore spaces.
The combination of coir and wood fibre performed relatively well at both farms where it was trialled, as the combination of high and low water holding capacity
from the coir and wood fibre respectively appeared to be beneficial to plant growth. Waterlogging in the latter part of the season did not appear to be an issue in these trials.
A key finding from the Stage 2 trials was the importance of considering the overall profitability of the treatment rather than only the yield. Trials showed a 15% decrease in yield in reused coir, however it was anecdotally noted that the reused coir was one of the more profitable treatments due to the reduced costs of new coir inputs, associated labour and coir disposal costs. This highlights the importance of looking at the overall financial outcome when assessing the potential viability.
Troughs have also proven successful on some farms as they eliminate the issue of plastic coir bags from the growing cycle. Plastic bags can be challenging to completely remove from spent coir and pose a challenge as currently they cannot be recycled in Tasmania. Substrate in troughs requires slight adjustments in irrigation, nutrition and plant management, however they can last multiple years and enable easier refilling of free new or reused coir.
Root development in 100% wood fibre.
Photo credit: Doris Blaesing
Substrate profile in 50/50 reused coir and wood fibre.
Photo credit: Jake Gaudion
Disease testing
To address concerns about potential disease carryover in reused coir, pathogen testing was undertaken for all treatments in April 2024. Pythium calde F. was detected in several substrate samples, however levels were low and did not appear to affect the plants. The results indicate that while disease was present, there does not appear to be a relationship between the age of substrate or type of material and the presence of pathogens.
What’s next?
Following the findings from the Stage 2 trials, Stage 3 trials will further explore mixed substrates on largescale commercial trials in the 2024-25 season.
While wood fibre mixes proved successful on some farms in the Stage 2 trials, the lack of local production of this media and freight costs to supply it from Victoria across Bass Strait deem the product not economically competitive for substrate use in Tasmania. Stage 3 trials have therefore moved towards the use of composted pine bark to provide improved drainage characteristics.
The mixed substrate trials include second year coir and composted pine bark, with assessments to investigate several variables including plant growth, yield, plant health, pathogen profile and substrate structure.
The outcomes of the Stage 3 trials will inform the economic analysis in Stage 4 of the project. This will determine the feasibility of the mixed and reused substrates on a commercial scale and therefore the potential for industry adoption.
Acknowledgements
Funding for this project is provided by the Tasmanian Government through the Agricultural Development Fund program
Ready to take your blueberry cultivation to the next level? You can develop strong root growth and structural stability with our blueberry substrates!
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Payback Period for Strawberries Grown Under Plastic High Tunnels in Queensland
Christopher Menzel, Queensland Department of Primary Industries
• Information was collected on the economics of growing strawberries under high tunnels on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland
• The time taken to recover the cost of the tunnels generally varied from 3 to 10 years, depending on the annual rainfall, relative production losses, and base productivity
• The estimated pay-back period for higher-yielding crops (750g/plant) under average rainfall conditions was 4 years but under wetter conditions, it was 3 years
In the last edition of the Australian Berry Journal (Spring 2024 Pages 79-83), we compared the performance of strawberries grown under high tunnels to those grown in the open field in Palmwoods on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. Trials over two seasons demonstrated the benefits of growing under high tunnels with 24% and 38% higher marketable yields achieved compared with open-field grown strawberries. Rain damage was the primary cause of lower yields outside the tunnels, particularly in May and June when the crop is more valuable.
This article reports on the economics of growing strawberries under high tunnels on the Sunshine Coast using the results of these trials combined with historical weather data.
Experimental strawberries planted under the tunnels at Palmwoods. The open-field strawberries used for comparison can be seen off to the right in the image. Photo credit: Christopher Menzel
Overseas, strawberries are grown under protected cropping to reduce the impacts of rain, cold weather and frosts. Most of the research has been conducted in Europe, the United States and Canada, where the emphasis is on developing strategies to extend the production season or protect the crop from extreme weather. There have been some studies in California and Florida that are relevant to production in Queensland, however, it’s much drier in California than in Queensland and rain is less of an issue in Florida; they have more concerns about cold weather.
Trials in California and Florida indicate that tunnels generally increase yields and profitability compared with plants outdoors. Higher production was associated with earlier cropping and protection from frosts and rain. There was also generally less grey mould under plastic. Differences in fruit quality under tunnels or outdoors were small, with mixed effects on fruit size, fruit appearance, levels of sugars or soluble solids and taste.
During the field trials at Palmwoods, total rainfall during harvest was 20 to 30% below the long-term average and mainly fell in the first two months of the harvests. Yield data from four cultivars (Festival, Rubygem, and two breeding lines) grown under the tunnels and outdoors over two years were collected. Marketable yields were 38% higher under the tunnels than outdoors in year one, and 24% higher in year two. The plants under the tunnels had more marketable fruit in May and June when the crop was more valuable. Average returns were 38% higher for the plants under the tunnels.
Estimating return on investment
Information from the trials at Palmwoods was used to estimate the yield losses that could be expected under different harvest-season rainfall conditions (Table 1). Losses have been classified as moderate or severe. In years where rainfall is spread more evenly over the season, losses are classed as severe as more fruit is exposed to rain damage. Where the same total rainfall occurs over a smaller number of days the losses would be less severe (moderate).
Table 1. Estimated yield losses (percentage) for strawberries grown outdoors under different harvest-season rainfall scenarios
Table 2 shows the number of years it would take to pay back the initial cost of plastic high tunnels for strawberries grown on the Sunshine Coast. The initial cost of the simple plastic tunnels in 2018 was $115,000/ha and calculations were based on replacing the plastic every six years. The price for fruit in 2018 was $1.50/punnet. The additional costs of picking and packing the extra crop under the tunnels of $0.75/kg were considered in the analysis. The analysis also assumed a loss of 15% of the planting area due to the structure of the tunnels. The plants under the tunnels received two to three additional sprays to control powdery mildew however, these extra sprays were not considered in the economic analyses. Sprays for botrytis were calendar-based and not varied between the two growing environments.
Table 2. Estimated pay-back period (years) of plastic high tunnels for Sunshine Coast strawberries under different rainfall scenarios
* Weighted means were estimated using the historical harvest-season rainfall totals over the last 61 years at Palmwoods.
Implications for commercial producers
Historical harvestseason rainfall records at the Palmwoods site over the past 61 years:
• 8 years (13% of years) were very dry (< 200 mm)
• 9 years (15%) were dry (200-300 mm)
• 21 years (34%) were average (300-400 mm)
• 9 years (15%) were wet (400-500 mm)
• 14 years (23%) were very wet (> 500 mm).
The time taken to recover the cost of the tunnels varied mostly from 3 to 10 years, depending on the annual rainfall, relative production losses, and base productivity. The estimated pay-back period for higher-yielding crops (750g/plant) under average rainfall conditions was 4 years; under wetter conditions, it was 3 years.
This analysis relates to the productivity of plants growing at Palmwoods. It is not known if the response of berries growing in other commercial fields would be the same as the response of plants in this study. Yields can be lower under tunnels if temperatures build up during warm, sunny days. New tunnels have more sophisticated ventilation, which allows the temperatures to stay in the optimum range for the berry plants. The life of the tunnels varies with the type of plastic used, the growing environment and whether the plastic is stored over summer. Light transmission is about 90% when the plastic is new and decreases by a few percent each year. The tunnels are susceptible to damage by strong winds that occur during storms in the area. The actual risks from extreme weather will depend on the type of tunnel, bracing, general engineering and the individual growing area.
Acknowledgements
The Queensland Government funded this research through the Department of Primary Industries. Many thanks to the Florida Strawberry Growers' Association (FSGA) for financial support and to Helen Newman (APC) for reviewing the article.
Pulsed Water Mists for Suppression of Strawberry Powdery Mildew
Helen Newman, Berry Industry Development Officer, Agricultural Produce Commission, WA
• Misting can suppress powdery mildew without elevating the risk of other pathogens
• Misting for 1 minute four times a day resulted in powdery mildew suppression comparable to commercial fungicide applications
• Daily, weekly, or twice-weekly mist applications reduced the incidence of powdery mildew by up to 65%
Figure 1. (L) Microscopic view of powdery mildew on a leaf, and (R) diagram showing the structure of strawberry powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis). Photo credit: (L) Paul Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, Bugwood.org, (R) Helen Newman
Conidia (spores)
Hypha
Conidiophore
Could something as simple as water help control powdery mildew?
Many powdery mildews thrive in humid environments but free water films on plant surfaces can inhibit some species, including strawberry powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis).
The Research Council of Norway, the Norwegian Agriculture Agency, and the USDA funded research investigating how water droplets or films suppress strawberry powdery mildew and how this might be practically applied in commercial production systems. This article summarises the findings of the research.
How water interacts with powdery mildew
Laboratory and simulated rainfall trials investigated how water droplets and films impact powdery mildew colonies.
In the laboratory, water droplets applied to strawberry leaves were seen to collect powdery mildew spores (conidia) as they travelled across the leaf surface. Spores are highly hydrophobic and can be seen accumulating in groups on the surface of water droplets (Figure 2).
Strawberry leaves are self-cleaning. Their waxy cuticle allows dust and other loosely attached particles to be washed off with water. Droplets of water that fall on a strawberry leaf bead together into larger droplets that roll over the surface and collect various particles and fungal spores before falling to the ground. This self-cleaning effect of leaves is known as the “Lotus effect”.
Figure 2. Water droplet rolling over a strawberry leaf with powdery mildew spores seen attaching to its surface
Photo credit: Belachew Asalf
Water applied in simulated rainfall trials also readily removed powdery mildew spores. Rainfall was simulated over four days in wind tunnels with a single 20-second pulse that applied 0.3mm each day. Of the total spores removed by the simulated rain, 65% were removed on the first day, 19% were removed on the second day, 11% on the third day, and 5% on the fourth.
Under the microscope, it was evident that not only were spores removed by the simulated rainfall, but after the first 20-second pulse (0.3mm) of simulated rainfall, conidiophores and hyphae were damaged (Figure 3).
Field experiments
Field experiments were conducted to see if low-volume pulses of water mist could be used in commercial settings to inhibit powdery mildew without causing negative impacts.
Pulsed mist under high tunnels (Norway)
Cultivar: Korona
Environment:
Ventilated high plastic tunnels. Plants were grown in the ground with a straw mulch layer over the soil. (Figure 4)
Treatments:
• Pulsed water mist applied daily at 11am, 12.30pm, 2 pm, and 3.30pm for 1 minute
• Twice weekly water application using the same method and water rates as the fungicides
4. AK Palaplast, Stable Special Sprayers Green (modified to reduce spray diameter and flow rates 540ml/minute) in plastic high tunnel experiments in Norway.
Figure
Photo credit: Belachew Asalf
Figure 3. Scanning electron micrograph of powdery mildew (A) before, and (B) after exposure to a 20-second pulse of simulated rain (53 mm/h).
Photo credit: David Gadoury
Field experiments
Pulsed mist under high tunnels and in open fields (Florida)
Cultivar: Sensation Florida127
Environment:
Plants were grown in raised beds covered with plastic mulch under two different growing environments: high tunnels and open fields. (Figure 5)
Treatments:
• Pulsed water mist applied daily at 6am, 8am, 10am, and 12pm for 1 minute
• Pulsed water mist applied daily at 6am for 1 minute
• Pulsed water mist applied weekly at 6am for 1 minute
• Standard (calendar-based) fungicide treatment
Figure 5. MaxiJet Inc. Max-Cone Down Fan MAU36D1 spray jets (660ml/minute) in Florida experiments (A) plastic high tunnels, and (B) open field. Photo credit: Rodrigo Onofre
Field experiments
Greenhouse experiments with pulsed mist and UVB (Norway)
Cultivar: Korona
Environment: Greenhouse with a constant temperature of 20°C and Relative Humidity (RH) of 80%. Plants received 18 hours of natural sunlight and 6 hours of darkness each day. Daylight was supplemented if radiation was below 200 W/m2. Plants were grown in peat-based substrate.
Treatments:
• Pulsed water mist treatments applied daily at 2pm for 1 minute
• UVB light (3.6 ± 0.2 W/m2) daily for 4 minutes, 1 hour after sunset
Results
• All experiments showed that pulsed water mists can control powdery mildew
• Misting for 1 minute four times a day resulted in disease suppression comparable to commercial fungicide applications, suppressing powdery mildew by up to 92% compared to the untreated control
• Less frequent, daily, weekly, or twice-weekly, mist applications reduced the incidence of powdery mildew by up to 65% compared with the untreated control
Greenhouse experiments were a little more complicated. Powdery mildew was more severe on the upper leaf surface than on the underside of the leaf in greenhouse plants.
A single 1-minute application of water every day in a greenhouse with high disease pressure reduced powdery mildew severity on the upper leaf surface but did not control powdery mildew sufficiently on the underside of the leaf. The UVB treatment significantly reduced powdery mildew on both sides of the leaves (Figure 6).
Upper leaf surface
Underside of leaf
What about Botrytis?
In the first year of the experiment in the high tunnel in Norway, there was a slight increase in Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) on the fruit in the treatments with 1-minute water misting four times per day.
The increase was not statistically significant compared with the untreated control and did not occur in the second year of the experiment. There was no increase in Botrytis, or any other disease favoured by moist conditions, in any of the other experiments.
Rapid drying of the pulsed mist is essential to the success of this treatment, particularly on fruiting crops. Night-time applications of mist and applications under moist conditions should be avoided.
In the experiments, water droplets normally rolled off the leaves and residual moisture was generally dry within 30 minutes of the midday water applications.
Evaporation of residual water will depend on the weather conditions and density of the canopy. Sensors or weather forecasting tools may be needed to support decision-making.
Conclusion
Misting has been shown to provide a commercially relevant degree of suppression of powdery mildew without elevating the risk of other pathogens.
If used cautiously and systematically, pulsed misting of water on strawberry plants could help manage powdery mildew in glasshouse, high-tunnel, and possibly also field production systems and strawberry nurseries. Where water supplies or equipment are limiting, mist applications could be used strategically (less frequently), using application methods other than sprinklers, as part of an integrated approach to powdery mildew management.
Please refer to the original article by Asalf et al. 2021 for full details of the experiments or contact the corresponding author Belachew Asalf: belachew.asalf.tadesse@nibio.no
Acknowledgement: This article is summarised with permission from The American Phytopathological Society (APS). It originally appeared in the journal Plant Disease. Photographs used by permission—copyright APS. To read or cite the original article go to: https://doi.org/10.1094/ PDIS-04-20-0735-RE
Figure 6. Effect of treatments in greenhouse experiments on the upper leaf surface compared to the underside of the leaf. AUDPC is a measure of disease progression.
The ABGA LEVY HAS BEEN DISCOUNTED FOR 2024/25
Why should I pay the voluntary levy?
Voluntary levies fund all of the essential activities that contribute to the growth of our blueberry industry. Activities include, but are not limited to:
• Maintaining consumption and price through an industry-wide Berry Basket marketing campaign
• Supporting growers through the Varroa mite incursion
• Research & development into registered chemicals + IPM + Integrated Disease Management programs
• Achieving export protocols into Vietnam and other Asian markets
• Progressing applications for market access to China and other countries
• Funding our IDO, Exec Director and support staff
• Communication and engagement with members –industry journal, e-news, website, conference
• Promoting positive industry stories and addressing negative media
• Providing our contribution to Hort Innovation under the Collective Industry Fund which is matched with equal funding used for various industry projects such as managing Chili thrips
How much levy do I have to pay?
Standard levies are $0.07c/kg fruit sold. For the second year, in 2024/25 the levy is discounted to $0.03/kg fruit sold in recognition of another challenging season.
When do I pay the voluntary levy?
Levies are payable once every financial quarter:
Quarter Period Covered Payable by
Q1 1 July – 30 September 31 October
Q2 1 October – 31 December 31 January
Q3 1 January – 31 March 30 April
Q4 1 April – 30 June 31 July
How
do I pay the levy?
Follow the steps below:
1. Prepare a statement with the following information
• Grower Name
• Quarter + Dates (e.g. Q2 1st Oct - 31st Dec)
• Number of kg fruit sold in that quarter
• Amount of levy being paid
• Indicate if your agent deducts your levies (if so, include agent name)
2. Email the statement to the Membership Officer
Email statement to admin@berries.net.au – the Membership Officer will send you an Invoice for payment
3. Pay your levy to the ABGA account
Account name:
Bank:
BSB:
Account: Reference: Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association Westpac 033 107 181 471
GROWER NAME + Financial Quarter (e.g. “Joe Bloggs Q2 levy”)
My agent deducts levies — what do I do?
Send your statement to Membership Officer (Step 1 above). They will then check that the agent has paid the levy. Email the statement to admin@berries.net.au
What
about
confidentiality of the information
provided?
Any information provided will be kept confidential. I need help, who do I contact?
Email: admin@berries.net.au | 0491 751 123
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Mundubbera Blueberry Festival
Wendy Morris, Berry Industry Development Officer Queensland, Berries Australia
What do Matt Golinski, a bloke in yellow tights, The Angels, and a contractor who undertook hedging last year at Smart Berries have in common? Answer: they all entertained the masses at three events held across two days at this year’s Mundubbera Blueberry Festival.
Located 363km north-west of Brisbane, the town of Mundubbera is home to around 1,100 permanent residents, although the population can double during the fruit picking seasons. Mundubbera claims to be the ‘Citrus Capital of Queensland’, a claim that is contested by the neighbouring town of Gayndah, but it is also home to one of the largest covered blueberry farms in the Southern hemisphere.
With both citrus and blueberries contributing heavily to the local economy, it seems obvious to celebrate these industries, with each taking its turn to host a biennial festival. 2024 was blueberries’ year, and the coordinators did an outstanding job putting together a fabulous program.
Kicking off the event was Locavore 4626. This exclusive dining experience saw participants whisked to a secret location where Celebrity Chef Matt Golinski cooked up a storm, while Soul Tree Union provided entertainment. A tip for the inexperienced – this event books out super early, so put a reminder in your calendars in early 2026 if you don’t want to miss out.
On Saturday morning it was time for the Berry Big Day Out to open. The event was entirely free, and despite my early arrival and the town’s small population, the number of parked cars made it clear this was the place to be.
There were a variety of stalls, with everything from local produce to plants to food trucks to handmade items. How did it compare to a standard city-based market? It was a distinct improvement, with fewer sellers in total but a larger proportion who made or produced their own products.
There was plenty of family-friendly entertainment, including the Blueberry Mascot a.k.a the bloke in yellow tights, with his trusted guide, and a range of singers, dancers and performers. Sally Jolly from Smart Berries casually pointed out one of the singers as someone who had worked on the Smart Berries farm recently. There was also a mental health awareness area, and support dogs that anyone could go in and spend time with.
Wrapping up the festival was the Blueberry Jam Sesh. The presenters were top notch, and there were food and coffee trucks on hand to keep everyone fed, as well as a bar, and the opportunity to purchase festival merchandise. With The Angels headlining the night, and plenty of local talent, it was a great night out.
If you are looking for an excuse to get out on the road in 2026, the Mundubbera Blueberry Festival is a great way to fulfil your wanderlust. If you’re looking at attending in 2026, be aware that accommodation options in Mundubbera are limited, and tend to book out early, however there are options about 30 minutes away in the neighbouring towns of Gayndah and Eidsvold.
1. Festival goers rocked the night away at the Blueberry Jam Sesh
2. Smart Berries blueberries on show at the festival
3. An example of the exquisite blueberry-inspired food on offer at the Locavore 4626 sold-out festival opening event
4. Festival-goer Lylie Darby enjoying a blueberry ice cream
5. Family-friendly activities at the Berry Big Day Out included eating competitions
Sally Jolly
Cultivating Opportunities for Australian Blueberries in China
Jesse White, General Manager Asia, Berries Australia
In a strategic move to expand market opportunities for Australian blueberry growers, Berries Australia has been actively engaging with key stakeholders in China. Over the past few months, our team has embarked on a series of highlevel meetings and attended significant events, laying the groundwork for what could be a game-changing opportunity for the Australian berry industry.
The journey began with a pivotal meeting with Australia's Ambassador to China, His Excellency Mr. Scott Dewar, in Beijing. Ambassador Dewar reaffirmed the Australian Government's support for our endeavours, discussing the positive outlook for Australia-China relations and the potential for Australian blueberries in the Chinese market. This meeting set a positive tone for our market engagement initiative.
We also engaged with Chinese officials, notably meeting with Madam Yu Lu and Mr Lu Kun of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native
Produce and Animal By-products (CFNA) in Beijing. These discussions focused on the high quality and taste expectations of Chinese consumers, providing crucial insights into market requirements.
Our efforts extended to participation in high-profile events, including the prestigious Ball on the Wall hosted by AustCham China, the China International Fruit Expo (CIFE) hosted by the CFNA and the Australia China Business Council (ACBC) Canberra Networking Day. These events provided excellent platforms for networking and raising awareness about Australian blueberries.
Lu Kun (CFNA), Rachel Mackenzie (ABGA), Yu Lu (CFNA), Jesse White (ABGA) at China International Fruit Expo (CIFE)
Photo credit: ABGA
Jesse White (ABGA) conducting a media interview while sampling fruit at CIIE
Photo credit: ABGA
The culmination of our recent efforts was our participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2024 in Shanghai. As part of Australia's largest ever delegation to CIIE, we showcased our premium blueberries at the NSW government stand within the Australian national pavilion.
CIIE is a crucial trade show for foreign products looking to enter the Chinese market, and our participation demonstrates our serious interest in and commitment to this market.
The response from Chinese importers and retailers at CIIE was overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the freshness, taste, and size of our blueberries. This enthusiastic reception has bolstered our confidence in the potential for future exports to China.
Chinese consumers have a long-standing love for blueberries, and many of the varieties popular in China are actually Australian-developed. Our counter-seasonal availability (July to December) complements China's domestic season (January to June), offering Chinese consumers year-round access to their favourite varieties.
Australian blueberries stand out for several reasons. They are big, sweet, and crunchy, grown in Australia's clean, green natural environment. Our proximity to China allows for air freight, ensuring the freshest product possible for consumers.
From picking to export readiness, the process takes just 24 hours, with a mere 9-hour flight from Sydney to Shanghai bringing these blueberries to CIIE.
The opportunity for Australian blueberries in China is significant. With its large population and growing middle class, China represents a vast market with increasing demand for high-quality fresh produce. Chinese consumers are among the most discerning when it comes to quality, and Australian blueberries are well-positioned to meet these high expectations.
As we continue our efforts to engage with China, we remain optimistic about the future. The connections we've made, the insights we've gained, and the positive reception we've received all point towards a promising future for Australian blueberries in China.
Berries Australia is committed to seeing this initiative through, working tirelessly to open up new opportunities for our growers and bring the best of Australian berries to Chinese consumers. Our participation in CIIE and our ongoing engagement with key stakeholders in China are crucial steps in this journey, demonstrating our serious commitment to the Chinese market and our confidence in the quality and appeal of Australian blueberries.
Jesse White (ABGA) with Ambassador to China, Scott Dewar sampling fruit at CIIE. Photo credit: ABGA
Jesse White (ABGA), Trade Minister Senator Don Farrell, representatives from Bright Foods and Little Red Book at Austrade’s CIIE Welcome Reception
Photo credit: Austrade
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Leaf Analysis as a Tool for Managing Crops of Southern Highbush Blueberry
Sophie Parks, Research Horticulturist, NSW DPIRD
• For monitoring of crop nutrition status, take leaves for analysis during summer
• Compare nutrient values to sufficiency ranges and if needed, review growing conditions and practices
• Regular analysis identifies "hidden hunger" from nutrient deficiencies or excesses helping guide fertiliser rates to maximise yields while preventing environmental pollution from excess nutrients
• For diagnosis of symptoms, compare leaves from symptomatic plants with those from healthy plants but only compare these with the sufficiency ranges in summer
How leaf analysis works
The profile of nutrient concentrations in leaves are reflective of plant health and can be used to guide fertiliser rates to ensure that yield is not limited, and that the environment is not polluted by excess nutrients not taken up by the crop. In conducting leaf analysis for blueberry, between 50-75 mature leaves from new growth, representative of the crop, are sent to an analytical laboratory for processing and chemical analysis. The reported chemical concentrations in the leaves of the essential nutrients are then compared to sufficiency ranges established for southern highbush blueberry (Table 1).
Leaf analysis conducted as part of a crop monitoring program can identify unbalanced nutrition that would otherwise not appear as symptoms, including the “hidden hunger” of nutrient deficiencies, and luxury levels of some nutrients that can accumulate in tissues beyond the need of the plant. Once these issues have been identified, fertiliser supplies can be reviewed and revised, if needed, to redress nutritional problems. However, since many other factors can impact on plant nutrient status, such as disease, supply of water or light, or soil or substrate characteristics, the interpretation of leaf analyses is very much an art, and must be made in the context of the crop and its growing conditions.
When symptoms appear
Sometimes, symptoms can appear for no apparent reason and in this case, leaf analysis can be helpful in diagnosing the problem. In this situation, to help with diagnosis, it is necessary to record as much information as possible about where the symptom occurs on the plant, including the tissue type and maturity, and the location of symptoms within the crop, and any recent changes in the weather, growing conditions or practices.
If the problem does not occur in summer, the sufficiency ranges will not be relevant to the interpretation of any leaf analysis.
Instead, it is wise to collect plant tissue from healthy, unaffected plants, and affected plants so that their analyses can be compared. The possible causes of plant symptoms are endless and may not need plant analysis, just some detective work! Apart from ordinary causes like blocked drippers, restricting the supply of water and nutrients to roots, or over-enthusiastic herbicide use sprayed onto foliage, the source of the problem can be more complicated. In one case, symptoms occurred as a result of increased soil pH after the completion of a limestone path next to the crop.
Table 1. Leaf sufficiency ranges for essential plant nutrients in southern highbush blueberry. For comparison with this table, mature leaves from new growth are collected during summer.
*Based on Bryson, G.M., and Mills, H.A. (2015). Plant Analysis Handbook IV - a Guide to Sampling, Preparation, Analysis and Interpretation for Agronomic and Horticultural Crops (Micro-Macro Publishing Inc.)
A research update on the nutrient status of southern highbush blueberry in Australia
As part of our research, the Clean Coastal Catchments Project (NSW DPIRD) is currently investigating the nitrogen needs of evergreen southern highbush blueberry, grown as a fertigated crop, in soil and potted substrate. We have regularly conducted leaf analyses of several commercial crops of cultivar 11-11 around Coffs Harbour (mid-north coast NSW) and of our experimental crop based on the north coast of NSW, over several seasons.
To date, we have observed two key trends in our data. The first, is that we have observed extreme fluctuations in the concentrations of both nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves (Figure 1). The pattern is seasonal, with the concentrations at their lowest in winter and their highest in spring.
Summer concentrations are the least extreme and this time is the most appropriate time for collecting leaves for analysis and comparison with the sufficiency ranges. To sample at any other time would report nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations either well below or well above the sufficiency ranges. And any action taken in response to modify fertiliser management would be inappropriate.
The second trend is in the comparison of our monitoring results with the sufficiency ranges (Table 1). For the crops we monitored, nitrogen (1.6-1.9%) and phosphorus (0.15-0.23%) are generally high, and calcium (0.18-0.42%) and magnesium (0.1-0.17) are generally low. So, why would our monitored crops contrast to the sufficiency ranges?
One hypothesis is that the sufficiency ranges are not reflective of evergreen systems, since these ranges were established on blueberry crops grown in northern America which are deciduous. In other words, the sufficiency needs of nutrients in evergreen blueberry are different to deciduous types.
Another hypothesis is that nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers are being over supplied to our monitored crops, which in some cases can impede the root uptake of other nutrients. It is possible that excess nitrogen supplied as urea or as other ammonium forms can be taken up at the exclusion of calcium and magnesium.
Acknowledgements
We are currently reviewing our database of chemical analyses from leaf and soil samples to help us to better understand the underlying causes of these trends and this report will be available in early 2025.
This coming summer, we are also investigating how the rate of applied nitrogen relates to the nitrogen concentrations in the leaves that you would typically collect for analysis, and how nitrogen supply relates to the yield that we have just finished harvesting this season.
Watch this space for more of our research updates!
The Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) Research project is delivered by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and is funded by the NSW Government under the Marine Estate Management Strategy. The ten-year Strategy was developed by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority to coordinate the management of the marine estate.
Figure 1. Some observations of the dynamics of leaf nitrogen in southern highbush blueberry on a seasonal basis
Elephant Weevil Borer
The blueberry industry has seen substantial growth over the past decade, evolving into a $422 million emerging market with expanding opportunities both domestically and internationally. Alongside this growth, however, the industry faces ongoing challenges from a range of pests that affect plant health, yield, and quality.
Amongst the pest challenges impacting ongoing blueberry production, the elephant weevil borer (Orthorhinus cylindrirostris) continues to cause significant damage to plant health, especially over vegetative growth. In addition to direct yield losses, larval feeding renders plants susceptible to breakage during harvest and shortens a plant’s productive lifespan. There is also the added cost of replacing the collapsed plants. This pest appears sporadically and is often found in localised areas.
Habitat
Being native to Australia, it is established over much of Australia particularly through New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and south-west Western Australia. It has a wider range of host crops including eucalypts, acacias, casuarinas, tea tree, native chestnuts, citrus, grapevines, apples, apricots, peaches, custard apple and blueberries.
Identification
The adult elephant weevil’s body is densely covered with grey to black scales and are 8-20mm in length (Figure 1). The front legs are considerably longer than the other pairs. Adults are strong flyers and can travel reasonable distances. One of the distinguishing features of these beetles is their long snouts and the shape of the body that resembles a resting elephant. The larvae are soft, creamy-yellow, and legless, measuring around 20 mm in length. They curl into a C-shape when at rest. Pupae begin as transparent but gradually darken to brown as they mature.
Lifecycle
Adults often appear in spring, with females laying eggs on the ground and underneath the tree bark from early spring to the end of summer. Once hatched, the legless, fleshy, creamy–yellow larvae bore tunnels through the trunk, crown and roots of the plant. As a result of severe wood boring, tunnels are filled up with fine fibrous saw dust type frass. The larval feeding can continue up to 10 months and fully grown larvae undergo pupation within the trunk at the end of the tunnels. After 2 months of pupation adult weevil emerge by making a round exit hole to the trunk. (Figure 2)
Damage
While adult elephant weevil can attack trees at any stages, damage in older blueberry trees is more prevalent. The adult weevil can damage plants by ring barking, eating leaves and stems, and scalloping the foliage. However, the larval stage causes the most significant economic damage. The larvae are wood borers, tunnelling in the trunk and roots. Adult exit holes are 5–6 mm in diameter, located mostly in the lower trunk and rootstock.
Poor tree health along with extreme weather events such as prolonged wet weather or dry condition can increase the plant susceptibility to elephant weevil attack. Since the floods in northern NSW, increased elephant weevil borer activity has been reported in some locations.
They last from September to February with possible peak at October
Mostly from early spring coincide with adult population
EGG LAYING
ADULT LARVAL FEEDING PUPATION
Pupal stage lasts for two months mostly during winter
Larval feeding can occur around 10 months a year (spring to early winter)
Figure 1. Adult elephant weevil borers have a distinctive long snout
Photo credit: (L) Lesley Ingram Bugwood.org (R) Pest and Diseases Image Library , Bugwood.org
Figure 2. Annual life stages of elephant weevil on blueberry
Management
Currently, there are no efficient semiochemical based commercial tools for monitoring adult beetles. Growers rely on intermittent scouting from spring onwards for early detection of adult exit holes in the lower trunk and branches as well as freshly chewed bark on twigs. Future research targeted to develop mass trapping systems will certainly assist growers in managing adult weevils.
Cultural approaches such as fertilisation and irrigation can reduce the susceptibility to weevil attack by maintaining optimum tree health. Additionally, early removal of infested plant materials may reduce the build-up of adult populations. There is limited knowledge on the potential of natural enemies in managing this pest. The potential of entomopathogenic microbes to manage adult weevil needs to be explored further.
Spot application of synthetic insecticides on the upper branches of recently pruned plants where adults are feeding remains the primary control approach for this pest.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has issued permits for Bifenthrin: Permit PER84972, bifenthrin is approved for use against elephant weevil borer in blueberries and Indoxacarb: Permit PER13289 allows the use of indoxacarb for controlling this pest in blueberries.
Always check that a permit is current at https://portal.apvma.gov.au/ before use.
Overall, further research to develop effective monitoring tools and sustainable management practises (i.e., mass trapping, biological control) are advocated to improve the management strategies for elephant weevil in berries.
This Pest Spotlight has been prepared by Dr Saleh Adnan, Research Horticulturist Entomologist, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Figure 3. (A, B) Adult elephant weevil feeding on young twigs and in stem. (C) Larvae tunnelling into blueberry trunk. Photo credits: Costa, Gaius Leong NSW DPIRD
Blueberry Rust: Can this Pathogen be Stopped Over Winter?
Associate Professor Kara Barry, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), Dr Karina Griffin & Dr Jay Anderson, Southern Cross University
Blueberry rust has posed biosecurity challenges in many Australian states in the past decade. Management options include reducing its survival over winter to break the disease cycle. Is that needed in colder growing regions like Tasmania?
What is blueberry rust and where is it?
Blueberry rust is caused by the fungal pathogen Pucciniastrum minimum. It leads to disease mainly on leaves, but also on fruit. Infections are characterised by small dark red-brown spots on the upper side of the leaves, and clumps (pustules) of yellow-orange spores on the underside of the leaf. These spores can easily spread the disease to new plants and orchards, as they are airborne and also spread by human activity.
Blueberry rust is currently present and declared endemic in all Australian states except South Australia. Blueberry growers wishing to export to South Australia must comply with an Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) arrangement, including a fungicide protocol.
Key management options
Blueberry rust can be managed and reduced by a range of options, starting with monitoring for its presence regularly. As the pathogen infects more readily in moist, warm conditions, cultural practices such as row orientation to prevailing winds and canopy pruning will promote ventilation and reduce moisture on leaves.
A range of conventional and organically approved fungicides can be used at key times in the season when infection risk is high, to control or suppress the rust. If hotspots of rust infection occur in an orchard, management can be more targeted to those areas, and the area planted with more resistant cultivars.
To increase the non-chemical tools for rust management, current research is seeking to understand more about how the rust survives over winter. In cooler regions, including Tasmania, many growers use deciduous varieties that do not retain foliage over winter. This is thought to provide a break in the disease cycle, as the fungus can only survive on living material (and is rarely/never found on branches or dormant buds). However, for evergreen and semi-deciduous varieties, pathogen survival over winter could be limited by environmental conditions or planned defoliation.
Breaking the disease cycle over winter – what is the effect of cold temperatures?
In warm regions with evergreen or semi-deciduous varieties, leaves can remain infected all year round. In colder regions growing evergreen or semi-deciduous varieties, it is not known whether cold temperatures could render the spores unviable. This is a question that has been the focus of one part of a current research project, funded by the Tasmanian government. Some growing regions can experience sub-zero minimum temperatures during winter months, and understanding survival limits of the pathogen is important.
Laboratory trials have exposed infected leaves to temperatures of -5°C, 0°C or +5°C for either 4, 8 or 16 hours. To determine if those temperatures reduce spore viability, the spores from treated leaves were then placed in optimal conditions to promote germination. Results
1.
of leaves infected with rust which were subjected to different temperatures for different time periods.
showed that spore germination was slightly reduced by exposure to sub-zero temperatures (-5°C) compared to the higher temperatures, but levels of germination were still high enough to assume they would be able to germinate and reinfect new foliage in the field, as least in the short term, after temperature exposure.
Leaves that were exposed to the same range of cold temperatures for either 4, 8 or 16 hours were then monitored for 2 weeks (in conditions simulating that they were still attached to a plant). This found that one week following low temperature exposure all leaves were still producing active rust pustules that could germinate. By two weeks, leaves exposed to -5°C leaves had minimal to no active rust pustules, but leaves exposed to 0 and 5°C maintained a moderate to high level of active rust pustules.
What does this mean? It is likely, if leaves do not defoliate after they are exposed to low temperatures of 0°C and above they will continue to produce active spores, and the rust infection cycle will continue. However, exposure below 0°C could prevent future spore production. Further investigation under field conditions would be needed to validate this.
Breaking the disease cycle over winter – is defoliation an option?
Previous research in NSW has suggested that infected leaves that fall to the orchard floor will cease being a source of viable spores after 6 weeks, and therefore not pose a risk for re-infection of new leaves. Therefore, defoliation is an option in warmer regions to reduce inoculum and likely to be effective in cooler regions also, but cost-effective ways to attain defoliation, and the impact on yield, needs to be considered.
Semi-deciduous cultivars such as Legacy retain leaves over winter. Research in Tasmania has been conducted over the past three years with Legacy, with both hand defoliation and trial of chemical defoliants. In two years of trials, hand defoliation of all foliage during winter has been shown to have no significant reduction in fruit yield in the same season.
Chemical defoliants that have been trialled in Legacy in 2022 and 2023 include zinc sulphate, copper sulphate, and a combination of urea and copper sulphate. While all treatments led to successful defoliation, flower buds were impacted and unacceptably low yields (around 20% compared to control plants) were the result.
Current trials are being conducted with the growth regulator ProTone®, which showed promise as a defoliant with less impact on yield in a screening trial in 2023. This product was applied to Legacy plants as part of a larger trial in autumn this year, with two applications providing complete defoliation. Assessments of yield will be conducted in December-January.
Figure
Example of batches
Photo credit: Karina Griffin
Figure 2. Hand defoliated Legacy blueberry plants
Photo credit: David Page
What other research questions are being addressed?
We are recording weather data in representative blueberry orchards in Tasmania to work out when and for how long temperatures are below zero. In addition, we are trialling thermal mapping via UAV to visualise how temperature differs across orchard blocks.
We are also monitoring leaf development in two common blueberry cultivars (Legacy and Brigitta) and relating it to temperature. This will enable growing degree day models to be developed, to better estimate when new leaves will expand and require protection from rust infection.
Figure 3. Thermal imagery (L) and visible satellite image (R) of a block of blueberries in southern Tasmania on uniform terrain. Thermal imagery was taken pre-dawn and shows that temperatures differed by 2-3 °C across most of the block. Photo credit: Jacob Virtue (thermal imagery) and Google Maps
Search the industry Resource Library at berries.net.au/resource-library by entering ‘blueberry rust’ into the Search box. There you will find all previously published resources related to Blueberry rust, including articles published in this industry journal.
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Proud associated members of:
High-Quality Commercial Greenhouses
Protective Netting and Shade Structures
Essential products such as Coir, Bio Twine, Greenhouse Film along with a comprehensive range of components to ensure our partners maximise yields
