EXPRESS The
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Locally owned and proudly independent
Panama Disease is not a death sentence By Carl Portella
Igloo restoration launch Hundreds of people attended the Rocky Creek WWII Igloo Restoration launch last Saturday, April 11. A project of the Rotary Club of Atherton, visitors young and old, were able to take in the current progress of the restoration phase and also enjoy an afternoon of entertainment delights. Built in 1943, the Igloo was the centre of entertainment for troops who were sick and injured, or trained here as part of Australia’s significant role in defending the Pacific in WWII. The Rocky Creek Igloo is being restored as a reminder of the massive war effort and the role this region played in WWII, as it is the last remaining building at this site. Pictured above are Rotarians Nick Watling, Lesa Pershouse dressed as a ‘wartime red cross nurse’ and Jo Barnes at the launch. Donations to the Igloo Restoration project can be made to the ‘Foundation For Rural and Regional Renewal Public Fund’ BSB: 633 000, AC: 144 419 736. All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.
Kingaroy peanut farmer and minerals expert John Koehler claims the recent outbreak of the deadly Panama Disease, which has the potential to wipe out the $600 million banana industry in Queensland, can be beaten. Speaking at a seminar at the Mareeba Bowls Club on Saturday April 11, Mr Koehler said that Biosecurity Queensland (DPI) and the CSIRO have got it all wrong. He believes the problem is in the soil and using fungicides is not going to correct the imbalances in the surface soil, especially here in the tropics. After decades of farming out, farms are rapidly becoming dust bowls with soil now being deficient of micronutrients thus making the soil susceptible to fungal infections like TR4 (Panama Disease). The remedy is to replace the micronutrients removed from the soil after generations of not putting back what crops have taken out. Mr Koehler made reference to his own property at Kingaroy. After purchasing the property that had been abandoned, he identified that it had a soil deficiency and went about repairing the imbalances in the soil. “We put on the elements and minerals that we could afford to put on, not what we should have put on, but by correcting the imbalance even by the little amount we did, we were able to grow sustainable, healthy crops,” he said. “Farmers can simply not afford to put in the minerals and nutrients and by not doing so risk soil infections like fungus and much smaller yields in production. “Technology does not exist in tropical agriculture, we need to change what we do in agriculture. We need to change the way we buy and sell food and we must change the way we do medicine, because agriculture and medicine go together. “I don’t see the Panama disease as a disaster, it’s a warning shot across our bows and we need to keep banana plants healthy by providing them with the right balance of nutrients and elements in the soil. “There is a high cost involved, but don’t see it as a production cost, see it as an investment in future production” he said. Mr. Koehler insists this is the only method of sustainable farming. Turn to Page 5, for more on Panama Disease
What’s New At Amaroo?
F ind us on
$369,500
111
N
Jin
123
930m2
ba l St
ow N g 94
1044m2
2
1130m
93
Kar o bean
124
1252
916m
126 2
907m
127 2
ve Dri
lin l e S 1142m2
912m
128 2 912m
Stephanie 189 on 128 Karobean
Debbie 0409 321 000
129
958m2
1190m 2
92
1322m2
91
2
1095m
90
1044m2 dalo o St Dan
52
1082m2
Karobean
amarooparkestate.com.au
Land Sales Centre Open Hastie Rd. Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 3pm