$19.00 + GST
WA Grower Potato Growers Association Inc.
Agricultural Produce Commission
APC-VPC APC-PPC
SINCE 1948 Vol. 45 No 9. December 2010
YOUNG GROWER EDITION
vegetablesWA meets Federal Agriculture Minister Carnarvon visit by Agriculture Produce Commission and Vegetable Producers Committee
Produced by
vegetablesWA
Management Committees
Cover photo: Daniel Taylor, Young potato grower
Vegetable Growers Association
Contact Details for Horticulture House vegetablesWA, Potato Growers Association, Western Potatoes Horticulture House 103 Outram Street West Perth 6005 t: (08) 9481 0834 f: (08) 9481 0024 e: office@vegetableswa.com.au
President
Executive Officer Jim Turley m: 0410 697 842 e: pga-vga@vegetableswa.com.au Policy and Program Manager John Shannon t: 0488 111 526 e: john.shannon@vegetableswa.com.au Marketing Manager Georgia Thomas m: 0431 444 918 e: georgia.thomas@vegetableswa.com.au Finance/Administrator/Magazine Advertising Neta Revivo t: 9481 0834 e: finance@vegetableswa.com.au PA/Communications Officer Hayley Wilson t: 9481 0834 e: hayley.wilson@vegetableswa.com.au Field/Extentsion Officer Charlotte Butler m: 0427 373 037 e: charlotte.butler@vegetableswa.com.au Life Members A.J. Anderson, D.J. Arbuckle, J. Arbuckle Snr*, J.H. Arbuckle* (M.B.E.J.P), S. Calameri, G. Kiriros*, R.G.Leach*, F. Natoli, S. Sawle, R.M. Schultz, C.P. Stevens, W.R. Stevens* (M.B.E.J.P), HR. Ashby*, Amy Harris*, A. Ingrilli. * deceased
Maureen Dobra t: 9575 2086 m: 0417 174 110
Gingin
Vice President Paul Bogdanich m: 0421 575 124
Metro
Treasurer Anthony Marinovich m: 0417 907 910
Myalup/Bunbury
Committee H. Shapland K. Sue R. Shain M. Jones K. Edwards M. Lee D. Rigali A. Bogdanich M.Grubisa S. Calameri P. Wauchope
t: m: m: m: m: m: m: m: m: m: m:
9845 1064 0417 986 467 0429 988 809 0438 418 384 0427 724 243 0417 962 427 0407 447 524 0419 248 422 0413 050 182 0418 957 236 0400 717 600
Albany Busselton Carnarvon Carnarvon Manjimup Metro Metro Metro North Metro North Metro South Gingin
Potato Growers Association President Darryl Smith m: 0428 933 154
Busselton
Vice President Simon Moltoni t: 9776 1693
Pemberton
Treasurer Andrew Tempra m: 0417 097 729
Manjimup
Committee C. Ayres B. Russell P. Patane S. Calameri G. Bendotti
m: m: m: m: m:
0428 451 014 0429 318 216 0407 993 580 0418 957 236 0427 569 903
Albany Donnybrook Myalup Metro South Pemberton
Western Potatoes Pty Ltd Chairman Ross Taylor
m: 0412 446 512
Executive Officer Georgia Thomas m: 0431 444 918
This issue of the WA Grower is brought to you by:
Non-Executive Director Simon Moltoni
m: 0427 761 693
A. Kirou R. Amos
m: 0400 996 153 m: 0400 996 180
• APC- Vegetable Producers Committee • Potato Growers Association • Western Potatoes • vegetablesWA
Articles reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher.
WA Grower 10 2 Grower profile — Greg Humfrey 4 Potato Europe 2010 6 Growers to get Good Practice Boost 8 Carnarvon visit 10 Biannual Dinner a great success 12 vegetablesWA Marketing Strategy and Activity Plan Update
14 WA potato science impresses the world 16 Vegetable Industry Development Program (VIDP)
18 Grower profile — Mark Bumbak 20 Sourcing a consistent supply of reliable labour
22 2010 Perth Royal Agricultural Show 24 vegetablesWA meets new Agriculture Minister
25 Young Growers Study Tour 2010 26 Threat to Federal Government R&D funding levels
27 Water issues update — the second report 28 Grower profile — Daniel Taylor 29 President’s report 30 Food industry headlines 31 Committee of Management changes 32 28th International Horticultural Congress Portugal
34 Health matters in Summer’s FeelGoodFood
Vol. 45 No 9. December 2010
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36 Crop hygiene key to beating vegetable viruses
38 Recipes 40 Grants for growers 43 Integrated TV campaign scheduled to launch GI results
44 Fabfert® Organic Soil Fertiliser 46 ‘Zebra Chip’ disease — media release 48 P ositive feedback for Vegetable Irrigation Scheduling Software (VISS)
49 Agricultural Produce Commission
Vegetable Producers’ Committee inquiry
49 Energy costs
(Electricity audit may save money)
49 New vegetablesWA Finance and
Administration Officer — Neta Revivo
50 Permits 56 Potato varieties for sale
Best wishes
Grower profile
— Greg Humfrey
By hayley Wilson VEGETABlESWa
Young grower, Greg Humfrey has always been passionate about growing and being out on the land. Starting from an early age helping out wherever he could on his father’s farm, he knew early on that the growing life was for him. His father Roy purchased a bush property in Gingin in 1981. By 1983 after clearing 10 acres and setting the block up he was growing Chinese cabbage and melons. Whilst slowly expanding the irrigated area, by 1988 Roy had moved into growing carrots and potatoes. Roy has moved away from carrots since 2001 and now only grows potatoes. Today they have two properties that Greg works between. The home property is 150 acres with 60 acres of irrigation. The other property is around 20 acres of irrigation. Greg grows 15 hectares of pumpkins himself which he then sells to Canningvale market, between these farms and
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WA Grower DecemBer 2010
one he leases he also helps out his dad with the potatoes, trying to learn as much as he can along the way .
on weed control as you would with all crops but there are very few herbicides that can be used on pumpkins once they have emerged.
After leaving school at the age of sixteen, Greg worked full-time on the farm for three years and in that time he completed Certificates 2 and 3 in Horticulture doing all the practical work for the course on the farm. However, when he was 19 a sporting injury then forced him to look for alternative work. He worked full time in a motorcycle shop in Joondalup which he said was good experience. After two years he realised that a career in retail was not the path he wanted to take and it had made him appreciate working outside and the challenge of running his own business rather than working for someone else.
An electronic fertiliser spreader and a good irrigation system are two factors that Greg believes have improved his growing.
Greg starts planting his pumpkins in September and finishes harvest in May. He staggers the planting in between so he always has a constant supply. He does not have any major problems with pests as he believes if you get on top of them early they are manageable. Greg comments that powdery mildew can be a problem as it is able to affect yields quite severely. To combat this he uses a regular fungicide program. Also using the agriculture departments weather station to monitor evaporation levels to help decide on watering schedules and amounts . Greg also as focuses
He comments that he hasn’t had any major setbacks in the past and “always has advice from Dad”. He adds that he always makes his own decision from between what he thinks and what his dad, Roy, thinks. Being organised is a key element in growing Greg believes. He says, “rarely does everything go to plan”, so being organised and knowing when things need to be done is essential. Greg says that what he enjoys most about growing is being able to make a decision and seeing if it pays off. He loves seeing the benefits of putting all the hard work in and being outdoors all day in the fresh air. Greg believes that to be a successful grower you must have the passion for it. He says, “It’s too hard to just do it for the money, you have got to have the need and the want for it”. With Greg’s determination and strong work ethic no doubt he will continue to be a successful grower in the future.
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Potato Europe 2010 By GeorGia Thomas WESTERN POTATOES
This year’s Potato Europe event was held just outside of Hannover in Germany on September 8th and 9th. The event was packed with potato breeders, fertiliser, chemical and machinery companies demonstrating their latest offerings. However, while there were plenty of potatoes on display, there were no opportunities for tasting or any real link to consumers at the event.
Western Potatoes Pty ltd joined the Potato Marketing Corporation to have various meetings and investigate new opportunities for the WA industry while in Europe.
their Breeding Program, it takes 10 years to produce 8–10 registered varieties for potential commercialisation. The company produces 200,000 new varieties each year from 450 crosses and ten years later only 8 of those varieties may make it to market.
There are some interesting points to note in comparing the WA industry to that in Europe:
Why do we need Variety Development in WA?
• Growers in the UK are receiving about 200 GBP per tonne ($325 AUD)
1. To select potato breeds for improved productivity in given environmental conditions
• Potatoes sell for about 60 pence per kg in stores ($1 AUD) • Input costs are about 100 GBP/kg ($165 AUD) • Low yields are being experienced in Europe this year increasing input costs There was also a lot to learn about the process of developing new varieties of potatoes while in Europe. During a meeting with one of the breeding companies, it was revealed that in
2. To select varieties that offer higher quality in various environmental and supply chain conditions 3. To meet changing consumer needs, such as for health, culinary or storage preferences 4. To drive innovation & improve profitability 5. To demonstrate industry’s commitment to continual improvement and to respond to market conditions. The information on potential new varieties that was gathered during the trip has been presented to the Variety Development Steering Group in WA. The group has representatives from the PMC, PGA and Western Potatoes and will discuss and make decisions on the direction of variety development in the State. During the trip there was also time for retail visits to compare the types of products
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WA Grower DecemBer 2010
available in Europe to those in WA. Some general comments are listed below: • Nearly all retail stores have 2–3 varieties (usually 1 red and 1 white) • Generally all potatoes on display are smaller in size than in WA (80–140gms) • Loose fill and bagged included all sizes from 40–130gms (no uniform size grade) • Appearance was entirely of a lower grade than WA potatoes, particularly skin finish, greening, lenticels and overall age of stock • Packing is mainly net bags and punnets • All packs included culinary usage information and many included the grower name and region • Potatoes are sold either light dry brush or fresh out the paddock, few washed. In summary the trip was extremely educational and provided some excellent insights into world trends, new varieties and also assisted in firming up relationships with international breeders.
Fairbanks Seeds ‐ We’ve got the West covered. Brittany – 12/13 week cauliflower, well covered curd, with excellent adaptability. Dual purpose, cuts well late autumn and again mid spring
Miyako – Green stem Pak Choi which has dominated the market, especially where Club Root is a problem. IR to Club Root. Disclaimer:
Prophet – Uniform broccoli with thick stems, medium beads and heavy head weight. Cuts well from late autumn through winter into spring. Not recommended for cutting later in spring, as it performs best under cooler conditions.
Origin – New release, a top performer in trials. Relatively slow bolting with IR to some Club Root strains.
Celtic ‐ A revelation in the baby leaf market. Mid green oakleaf with very upright habit. Excellent tolerance to mildew pressure.
All cultural and descriptive information is given as a general guide only. Substantial variations may occur due to many environmental factors, including climate, soil type, location, management and cultural practices. No liability will be accepted by Fairbank’s Selected Seed Co. Pty. Ltd. (ABN 86 007 138 276), or its representatives as to the accuracy of the information. All information is given in good faith . Fairbanks Seeds Ph 03 9689 4500 Fax 03 9689 8106
West Australian Agent: Mr. Don Arbuckle ‐ Mobile: 0411 437 299
WA Grower December 2010
5
Growers to get Good Practice Boost By John shannon VEGETABlESWa
Growers in the South West and Carnarvon will soon benefit from new projects to help them build their businesses and make them more sustainable. vegetablesWA has been successful in obtaining funding for both projects under the federal government Caring for Country program.
Both projects will roll out the successful Good Practice Guide and Demonstration Site project, which focussed on the Swan Coastal Plain, to the other main growing regions across the state. The original project helped growers implement practices to achieve high yields of good quality produce, with minimal impact on the environment across a range of topic areas. The new project will adapt the existing Good Practice Guide to local growing conditions and work with growers to set up a number of demonstration sites across these regions. The original guide provided cutting edge information across the whole range of good practices, including: • Nutrient management • Irrigation management • Soil management • Pests and diseases • Manures and crop residue • Biodiversity
The new projects will be working with growers in each of their regions to better define what good practice means to them as well.
Rachel lancaster from DAFWA who will be leading the South West Project.
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Sam Calameri at Baldivis hosted a demonstration site under the original project. As a result Sam made adjustments to his irrigation system, resulting in a big improvement in his irrigation system
performance. He said “with a few, relatively small and inexpensive changes, we were able to improve our distribution uniformity so that it exceeded international standards. This not only saved us water, it meant that our system was uniform enough for us to start fertigating with confidence that we were keeping more of our water and fertiliser in the rootzone. This has been a positive change for us, we are growing a more even crop and continue to see improvements in our yield and quality.”
The Dobra family at Gingin also hosted a site under the original project and Maureen commented that “as a result it has given us a much better understanding of our soil and our carbon levels. It’s also helped us understand about fertiliser release within our soils and with compost applications we’ve been able to tailor our fertiliser applications. The project has also helped us with our irrigation scheduling and efficiency.”
The regional Good Practice Guides will be supplemented by a range of field days and workshops at the demonstration sites where all growers can see the results first-hand.
The projects will also link in with the results of the national HAL R&D levy through the VIDP, so that growers are able to quickly see and capitalise on the results of this work. The projects will be rolled out at the local level. The Carnarvon project will tap into the expertise of the Carnarvon Growers Association and Dr Chris Schelfhout from the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA). The South West project will be delivered by respected industry researchers, Rachel Lancaster and Alison Beattie, from DAFWA. for more information The original Good Practice Guide is available for download from the website www.vegetableswa.com.au or in hard copy by contacting the Field extension officer charlotte Butler on 0488 111 526.
Alison Beattie from DAFWA who will be working with growers on the South West Project.
WA Grower December 2009 WA Grower DecemBer 2010
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Carnarvon visit by the Agricultural Produce Commission (APC) and the APC Vegetable producers Committee (APC-VPC) Once again individual growers were advised on the code and help was offered in two cases that needed more investigations. by Jim Turley VegetablesWa
Before I start, I must say how sad it was to hear how some of the issues below affected the growers, their families and businesses. Growers are a resilient lot nevertheless; they certainly don’t need any more pressures.
Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVD) We must get rid of this exotic disease. The effected growers have adopted the correct procedures all we need now is to inspect their
first small crop and I believe they will be out of it. Carnarvon Growers Association will collect the samples and the Department of Agriculture will test then for PSTVD. No other inspections will be carried out if that grower is cleared.
Several members of the APC-VPC joined together to conduct a growers meeting (November 16, 2010) and visit Carnarvon properties over two days. Members explained to growers the benefits to Carnarvon of where their APC-VPC fee for service money was expended. Members also explained the process of applying for funding for projects that would benefit growers.
Main issue Some of the main issues raised were preventing and curing Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) and Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV).
David Bumbak, Grower; Malcolm Jones, General Manger Carnarvon growers Association; Ingrid Smith, CEO Agriculture Produce Commission; Mark Bumbak, Grower; Maureen Dobra, Chairman APC Vegetable Produce Committee. Inspecting the results of the watermelon trials — irrigation and nutrient best practices on Bumbak property in Carnarvon.
vegetablesWA is currently researching all over the world for a treatment. Plus conducting a meeting with all the seed companies to discuss ways in which they may obtain or produce seed (seedlings) from disease free areas.
Water allocations in Carnarvon Discussions were held with local water officials and the Department of Water in Perth — individual growers that raised their concerns with me were advised.
Horticulture Code of Conduct Some growers where unsatisfied with the process and procedures when selling their produce through agents or merchants.
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WA Grower December 2010
Steve and Rosanda Yelash, Growers, inspecting their capsicums crop under a shade house with Yvonne Fahl, APC Commissioner and Maureen Dobra, Chairman of the APC Vegetable Producers Committee. The health, hygiene and crops on the Yelash’s property was absolutely first class, something they should be proud of.
Romeo Deboni, President of Carnarvon Growers Association, receiving a donation of $5,000 towards the building of the ‘Carnarvon Growers Community Conference Room’ from Maureen Dobra, Chairman of the APC vegetable producers committee. A donation of $2,500 was funded by the APC Vegetable Producers Committee.
Thirty four growers attended the APC meeting in Carnarvon to listen to where their APC fee for service money was being expended. The meeting was a success in that it gave the growers the opportunity to question the reasoning behind the approval of projects and understand the process of applying for project money that will benefit growers.
Thanh and Kim Nguyen and their youngest son packing tomatoes for the markets in Perth. Thanh and his family have achieved success while building their business in Carnarvon.
Joyce Babun, Manager Love Apple PTY LTD, APC Vegetable committee member, presenting Maureen Dobra, Chairman APC-VPC, with a first class sample of red chillies.
Bruce Munro, Vice President Sweeter Banana Group and Carnarvon grower association, with Yvonne Fahl, inspecting the washing, grading and packing of banana’s along with the other APC Members. Both Bruce and his wife Darryl, together manage a very successful business in Carnarvon. Their innovative technology designed by their son was most impressive in the production side.
Yvonne Fahl APC Commissioner, Maureen Dobra Chairman APCVegetable producers committee holding the tomatoes, Ingrid Smith CEO APC, Joyce Babun, APC Vegetable Producers Committee member. All inspecting the tomato packing operation in Carnarvon.
WA Grower December 2010
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Biannual Dinner a great success By John shannon VEGETABlESWa
Sponsored by landmark, vegetablesWA held their Biannual Dinner on Friday September the 10th at the Joondalup Resort. It was an intimate occasion to allow the vegetable growers and other stakeholders an opportunity to socialise together. Distinguished guests included: agriculture spokesperson for the Greens party in Canberra, Senator Rachel Siewert; Landmark’s Sales and Operations Director, Mr Hamish O’Brien; Chairman of AUSVEG, Mr John Brent; Chief Executive Officer of AUSVEG, Mr Richard Mulcahy; Chairman of the Agricultural Producers Commission, Mr Bill Ryan; and President of vegetablesWA, Ms Maureen Dobra. In addition there were key representatives from the Potato Growers Association and the vegetablesWA Committee of Management.
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Jim Turley, Executive Officer of vegetablesWA, Senator Rachel Siewert of the Greens party, Bill Ryan, Chairman of the Agriculture Produce Commission, and Chris Twomey.
An item for discussion on many tables was the fresh produce supplied by WA growers from as far south as Albany and as far north as the Ord. The chef at the resort gave a short talk during the evening which praised the outstanding quality of the vegetables. Growers were also able to hear from Senator Siewert and John Brent about the directions
that the Greens and AUSVEG hope for the industry to take. Landmark made a presentation and have been a key sponsor of successful vegetablesWA events over many years. The 2010 biannual dinner was no exception. Thanks to those other industry members who bought tickets and made the Biannual Dinner a very enjoyable occasion.
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Marketing Strategy and Activity Plan Update vegetablesWA Marketing Strategy and Activity Plan BY Georgia Thomas VegetablesWa
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Terry Redmond, recently visited Manjimup to assist in the relaunch of Buy West Eat Best to growers and local food companies on December 2nd. This event was also a platform for vegetablesWA to meet with growers and talk about the grower funded Marketing Strategy and Activity Plan.
The vegetablesWA Marketing Strategy and Activity Plan aims to develop a range of successful activities to increase the impact of a limited marketing budget by strategically targeting other organisations and campaigns to leverage funding. This will be measured by the dollar leveraging achieved. The 2010–11 vegetablesWA’s Marketing Strategy and Activity Plan objectives are: 1. To increase value of sales of Western Australian vegetables 2. To increase the profile of Western Australian vegetable growers 3. To improve the pathways to market for Western Australian vegetable growers.
Activity update Establish a WA Produce Marketing Group There are a range of organisations in Western Australia investing in marketing and promotion of vegetables (and other
In order to leverage funds and create the greatest impact possible for WA vegetable growers, Buy West Eat Best has been identified as a major partner in marketing activities.
fresh produce). Each of the organisations
As such, vegetablesWA is supporting the Department of Agriculture and Food in providing more information to growers about the program, particularly on why it is beneficial for growers to join.
budget, there could be great benefits gained
Jim Trandos is a great example of a grower who has benefited from the program. He comments, “Buy West Eat Best gives consumers an easily identifiable logo that they can trust to help them select local produce. When I ran out of Buy West Eat Best stickers for a week my sales dropped dramatically because people weren’t sure it was WA produce”. Further to Jim’s testimony, retailers have commented that it would be far easier for them to label products correctly with the Buy West Eat Best signage if the growers packaging carried the logo as well. It has to be a supply chain approach to create the biggest success for the local market.
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has slightly different agendas, but all want to increase consumption of WA produce per capita. As such, given that each has a limited from working together to achieve the best outcomes for industry and consumers alike.
The group has been identified and the first meeting will be held in January 2011.
Maximise Buy West Eat Best Buy West Eat Best is a cost effective marketing mechanism that can be used to develop a local origin sourcing message for the WA vegetable industry that can ‘punch above its (financial) weight’. vegetablesWA is participating in the development of the new Buy West Eat Best entity and make every effort to ensure this is done to the best effect stakeholders in the WA Vegetable Industry. This would include cost of participation, funding of marketing activity,
decision on marketing activities (participation in store activities), management etc.
and other resources to offer training and assistance to WA growers. This includes:
retail Pilot scheme
• Information Seminars/Workshops — BWEB to assist with delivering seminars to growers to begin to learn more about marketing
vegetablesWA will develop a Retail Pilot Scheme in collaboration with Buy West Eat Best to re-merchandise the fresh produce area in major retail stores. The project will aim to demonstrate to retailers that by using better labelling of produce origin and uses they can sell more and increase profits through the supply chain.
• Marketing training courses provided for free under the FarmReady program • New age cooperatives — work with DAFWA to develop and facilitate opportunities for vegetable growers to become cooperatives and increase profitability and scale.
A retail partner for the project will be confirmed in the next couple of months and funding will be finalised. The retail trial will be underway by February 2011. industry capability and capacity building vegetablesWA will work with partners in the Department of Agriculture, the National Vegetable Industry Development Program
vegetablesWA has engaged experts at the Department of Agriculture and Food to assist in providing information and recommendations to growers groups looking to become more cost effective. for more information Please contact Georgia Thomas on georgia.thomas@vegetableswa.com.au with any comments, questions or suggestions about the vegetablesWa marketing strategy and activity Plan. updates and opportunities for participation will be provided regularly through the Wa Grower and e-news.
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Knockout
KNOCKOUT is a large, Summer (Vanguard) type with plenty of outer frame, from the breeders of TITANIC and SILVERADO. Knockout produces large round green heads, typically with a low core during warm weather production. Resistant to Downy Mildew races 1-16, 21 and 23. Trial in WA for Summer and early Autumn production
Nitro
NITRO offers the additional benefit of multi virus resistance whilst retaining a high yielding ability and is a must for planting in all production areas. The plant has a very strong upright habit with heavy aluminum flecked leaves. A little slower to begin, NITRO will be still harvesting when many others have dropped off. DPI trials have shown NITRO to have good tolerance to ZYMV, WMV, PRSV and Px.
Aurora
AURORA is the most exciting new Broccoli variety we’ve seen in years. Heads are heavy, dome – shaped with a fine bead and dark green colour. AURORA has excellent uniformity with more consistent size and maturity and a tolerance to hollow stem. Suited to Autumn to early Winter (in Perth) harvest. AURORA is early maturing (60 days from transplant).
The information provided is based on an average of data and observations collected from our trials. Significant variations may occur in the performance due to a range of conditions including cultural/management practices, climate, soil type and geographic location. As a consequence South Pacific Seeds cannot accept any liability as to the accuracy of this information. NOV 2010 ACN: 002 887 256
WA Grower DecemBer 2010
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WA potato science
impresses the world
Chemical treatments have been an important part of PCN control in the UK but this is being phased out under new EU regulations. Mustard is an example of the biofumigant rotations used to break PCN infection cycles in Europe.
By Dr sarah collins RESEARCH OFFICER anD Dr vivien vansTone SENIOR NEMATOlOGIST, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUlTURE AND FOOD, WA
Potato cyst nematode (PCN) is acknowledged as one of the world’s worst potato pests and has become widespread in many countries. As early detection and containment of PCN are extremely difficult, international authorities were amazed by the news that Western Australia has succeeded in eradicating this pest. Efforts to eradicate PCN in WA began in the late 1980s after its initial detection near Perth, followed by more than 24 years of stringent testing and quarantine. The WA Minister for Agriculture and Food announced on September 13, 2010 that WA was now able to claim Area Freedom from PCN. Simultaneously, more than 170 countries were officially notified by Australia’s Chief Plant Protection Officer. Dr Collins also
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attended two conferences in Europe to help spread the news to international scientific and regulatory communities. The first event was a specialised PCN conference at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire, England. About 60 delegates from 16 countries discussed the issues involved in dealing with potato cyst nematode, including researchers, people involved in legislation, consultants and others who work with the potato industry. PCN is well established in many European countries, including most production areas in England, but attitudes towards its management vary considerably. In Norway for example, the discovery of PCN can mean potato growing is banned on land for 40 years due to the nematode’s amazing survival abilities! A major point of interest at the conference was alternatives to chemical inputs. New EU regulations will ban many chemicals currently used to reduce production losses. Therefore growers are looking for alternatives such as organic amendments, resistant varieties and biofumigant rotations to manage its impacts. Following the conference in England Dr Collins attended the 30th International European Society of Nematologists Symposium in Austria where delegates were also very interested and supportive of WA’s PCN Area Freedom claim. Some suggested
that if they had implemented such strict eradication and quarantine protocols 30 years ago world potato trade could be very different today! A number of scientists who provide expertise to the European Plant Protection Organisation (which sets international standards for PCN testing, diagnostics and sampling protocols) were present, and accepted the scientific rigour of the WA Area Freedom outcome. Ideas for future surveillance and possible changes to WA’s PCN regulations were discussed at both conferences. Surveillance activities necessary to maintain Area Freedom are now being decided.
All Australian States have accepted the WA Area Freedom claim including Tasmania, which has undertaken testing for PCN for many years without a single positive detection. Funding to attend both overseas conferences was provided by the Agricultural Produce Commission through the Potato Producers Committee and the Commonwealth Government through Horticulture Australia Limited, to whom we are very appreciative.
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Vegetable Industry Development Program (VIDP)
By John shannon VEGETABlESWa
to-face contact with our Field Extension Officer, Charlotte Butler, as well as through dedicated workshops, the WA Grower magazine, E-News, a revamped website and the Carnarvon Growers Association.
Arrangements have now been put in place for vegetablesWA to assist growers with the extension of their national R&D projects.
The HAL R&D program has been split into different areas according to their topic as follows:
We will be working with the VIDP to package R&D results and deliver them to growers in a range of ways that can be easily understood. This will include important on-farm face-
1. Develop better IPM information for growers from previous projects as well as the latest R&D
Integrated Pest Management The Integrated Pest Management sub-program’s role is in three key areas:
2. Coordinate IPM investment for the vegetable industry 3. Help vegetable exports through improving market access with the results of IPM. A key message is that IPM is not necessarily all about using no chemicals as is often perceived. Instead it’s about doing things to optimise their use.
Consumers and Markets The Consumers & Markets sub-program is about informing growers about how the domestic markets work and as part of that, providing information and insights on consumer and household behaviour when buying and consuming vegetables.
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By making growers better informed about their supporting supply chains and consumer preferences they will be able to able to assert more influence on their own commercial returns.
People Development The People Development sub-program is designed to tool-up the business skills and leadership capacity of the industry. It incorporates the: Growing Business program to increase business skills; • A Skills Audit with an on-line database of case studies, programs, courses and training accessed via the AUSVEG website • Leadership programs to build leaders and mentors.
The Economics sub-program aims to provide growers with the background industry economic information they need to inform
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10kg
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Sample
Code NZCC 11
P SPUDS
10kg
10kg
Order
• The production value of vegetables, the number of growers in Australia and the vegetables they produce • Trade, import competition and export opportunities • The financial performance of growers and the key factors impacting on their cost of production.
20kg
20kg
Order
Sample
Sample
Code NZCC 12
20kg
Order
Knowledge Management Previously the results of R&D have been difficult for growers to access. The Knowledge Management sub-program provides a database of project results that is easily accessed and searchable.
Individual growers can use it to help identify industry trends or identify options which may enhance their profitability and this information also helps vegetablesWA when advocating on behalf of the industry with government.
for more information Growers will be hearing a lot more from vegetablesWa about the viDP as it gears up in the new year. For more information please contact Field extension officer, charlotte Butler at charlotte.butler@vegetableswa.com.au or phone 0427 373 037.
InnoVeg aims to gather information from the other national sub-programs, and other sources, to translate it into practical knowledge and insights that growers can
Code NZCC 3
P P
10kg
Order
QUALITY
5kg
Sample
SPUDS
P P
10kg
Order
P P POTATOES
Code NZCC 8
10kg
Code NZCC 15
Sample
Code NZCC 13
5kg
Order
Sample
Code NZCC 9
P P
20kg
Sample
Order
Sample
5kg
Order
Sample
Code NZCC 4
P P
5kg
Order
Sample
Code NZCC 10
P P
20kg
Order
10kg
Order
Sample
Code NZCC 5
PA PE o P r R P
10kg
Paper PP
Order Sample 1-2010
NZ CROP CARE Ltd POTATO BAG FORM 164 Manukau Road Pukekohe, New Zealand Ph: (0064) 9 238 0449 Fax: (0064) 9 238 0428 nzcrop@xtra.co.nz
Sample
PLEASE ORDER 5kg 4,500* 10kg 4,000* 20kg 3,000* * Bags Per pallet
Code NZCC 14
PA PA PA P PE PE PE P R R R SPUDS
Kristen Stirling, who some WA growers may remember from her time working at DAFWA, is now working in the InnoVeg sub-program team.
InnoVeg
Economics
Code NZCC 1
understand. InnoVeg will then pass these ‘information packages’ to vegetablesWA so that they can distributed to West Australian growers.
their business decisions. The data it will provide comes in three key areas:
Company Name Email Address
Types of bag: Paper -3ply craft paper with wet strength inner.
PP -Polypropelene printed laminated bags with 5mm/8mm breathable gusset holes.
WA Grower DecemBer 2010
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Grower profile
— Mark Bumbak the Bumbaks grow along with melons and mangoes on their plantation of 84 acres. By hayley Wilson VEGETABlESWa
Young third generation grower Mark Bumbak has always been dedicated to horticulture. His grandparents established the plantation in 1956 and ever since it has been a full blown family affair. Mark’s astuteness and hard work ethic is an inspiration for young growers. After not enjoying boarding school, Mark knew from early on that the growing life was for him. His brother, David joined Mark on the farm in 1995. With their parents still very involved and his wife Robyn working on the farm too, it is very much a family enterprise. Mark started out growing bananas but explained the money was not ideal. In 1997 he went on to grow capsicums for three years before changing to cucumbers in 2000. Today table grapes are the main crop that
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Always looking for new crops and potential areas to expand, Mark is trialling new melons. He is also currently doing trials on different timing and frequency the crops are irrigated and fertilised. Mark is keen to expand his vineyard in the near future but this all depends on water allocations. Mark explained that he uses the softer type sprays when it comes to pest management. He would like to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) however due to the high turnover in his crops, he believes this system may not be as successful to as the crops are only in the ground for a short amount of time. Sister Joanne also runs a shop on the property, ‘Bumbak’s Preserves and Icecreams’, which sells products such as award winning preserves, tasty chocolate coated fruits, fruit ice-cream, dried fruits and cakes made from the Bumbak’s own produce. David’s wife, Tammy, also makes soaps and scrubs that are sold in the shop.
In the months of April to October, Joanne and Robyn also conduct tours of the Bumbak Plantation for visitors to learn about the Gascoyne River, irrigation methods and the growing of grapes, mangoes and ground crops in Carnarvon. This diversification is very successful for the Bumbaks. Mark said his main frustration is that he feels that growers need to be updated more from major retailers about consumer’s preferences so they know which variety of crops to grow. He feels if consumer preferences were better communicated then the grower could increase and improve the supply. He also explained that it is challenging to keep up with the QA systems as quality requirements are always changing. The support of Malcolm Jones from the Carnarvon Growers Association is appreciated by Mark and he is also planning on attending the 2011 AUSVEG convention. Mark has three children, Haylie (10), Daniel (8) and Emily (6) who one day will maybe also contribute to the family enterprise. Mark is a young grower who believes in the future and hopes his own children will also share his passion.
The Directors, Management & Staff Would like to thank our Valued Customers for there continuing support Throughout the Year.
Contact our friendly staff at one of our 6 convenient locations for all your packaging requirements. Canning Vale (Head Office) Ph: (08) 9455 1540 Carnavon Growers Assoc. Ph: (08) 9941 8384 GJ Freight Donnybrook Ph: (08) 9731 1358 RMT Transport Donnybrook Ph: (08) 9731 1715 Sands Fridge Lines Manjimup Ph: (08) 9777 1777 Sands Fridge Lines Geraldton Ph: (08) 9921 5494
We Wish You & Your Families This Festive Season Peace, Health, Happiness & Prosperity in the coming New Year
Sourcing a consistent supply of reliable labour By charloTTe BuTler VEGETABlESWa
Sourcing a consistent supply of reliable, skilled labour during peak times is an ongoing battle for growers across the state. During peaks in the growing season, such as harvest time, growers face the challenge of recruiting and training staff under intense time pressures. In order to combat this wide spread issue there are a number of government initiatives as well as entrepreneurs entering the labour market to cater for WA vegetable growers’ labour demands. Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme The Australian government launched this program to enable growers to employ seasonal workers through an approved employer or apply to become an approved employer themselves. Approved employers manage the recruitment and placement of Pacific seasonal workers for up to seven months over a 12 month period. Growers are able to stipulate when they require additional labour as well as negotiate wages and skill level of workers required. An additional benefit to this flexibility is the ability of the seasonal workers to return in future seasons, providing an ongoing supply of experienced labour for growers. A successful case study is Alf Fangaloka’s company, Tree Minders, who harvest almonds in Robinvale. Almond harvesting requires diligent, reliable workers who will stay for the whole season, and ideally, come back the following year. Alf was amazed
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South Pacific workers busy pruning trees.
by the Tongan workers who picked up the required skills quickly and were soon earning far more than projected.
Twenty of the workers who participated in 2009 returned to work on the 2010 almond harvest and the productivity benefits of returning workers were immediately obvious. Backpackers Over many years backpackers have provided a source of short term labour for the horticultural industry. As a result there are a number of organisations which provide a service to match up travellers and employers across the country. The National Harvest Labour Information Service, operated by MADEC, offers three avenues to access information on harvest labour in Australia. The website provides comprehensive information about harvest opportunities and locations, accommodation, transport and any additional information about the region. The service also includes a toll free number and The National Harvest Guide which is available free of charge to job seekers across Australia. The Job Shop is a licensed employment agency who specialise in finding work for backpackers and travellers with a range of skill levels, in a whole range of industries including horticulture, placing around 3,000 people in work each year. Growers can access their
services in two ways; place a vacancy with a staff member at one of the three shops, with a one off placement fee which is all value based, that is, the grower only pays for the staff members that actually work out, “if they don’t stay, you won’t pay” is their policy. Alternatively, growers can go to the website and place their own ad online for a fee.
Contractors There are a large number of labour contractors offering a flexible and reliable source of staff for growers, primarily in the greater metro area. Contractors provide a range of services, including transport and accommodation for workers, which ensure a flexible and convenient supply of staff when and where they are needed. There are a number of success stories in various growing areas where growers have found the convenience of the staff being transported to their properties makes it possible to have a source of staff on an ongoing basis. One such story is that of Vince Cavallaro, a spring onion grower in Baldivis, who recently started using the services of a labour contractor. One of the main benefits is that Vince is able to communicate with his contractor on a daily basis, making it easy to request changes, such as the number of staff needed or skill level required depending on what jobs are prioritised for that day. This is made possible by the fact that staff are able to live with the contractor and are transported to and from the garden as needed. Vince has had great success with Nepalese students,
from farming backgrounds, who picked up the required skills very quickly and were very keen to learn more. In fact, the only limitation is the restricted number of hours students are allowed to work, which has led Vince to look at possible sponsorship options for his current staff.
In the next edition of WA Grower, I will be discussing the businesses mentioned as well as other labour sourcing options in greater detail. Until then I hope to be able to assist growers with any enquiries about labour and will endeavour to gather any further information required. for more information If you have any questions or queries about any of the programs or businesses discussed please do not hesitate to contact me on 0427 373 037 or email at charlotte.butler@vegetableswa.com.au
Vince Cavallaro and the Nepalese staff he employs harvesting spring onions.
ROCK & STICK PICKING Self propelled screening plant. Specialising in land preparation. Has the ability to separate rocks and sticks from soil.
Colin: 0417 971 732 Visit: www.totallandrehabilitation.com.au WA Grower December 2010
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2010 Perth Royal Agricultural Show By anne Kirou WESTERN POTATOES PTY lTD
The 2010 Perth Royal Agricultural Show ran from Saturday September 25th to Saturday October 2nd. This is Western Potatoes major event for the year as it gives us the opportunity to interact and educate a vast amount of the general public about the benefits of potatoes at one event. Once again, Western Potatoes had a stand set up in the IGA Fresh from WA Pavilion at the Claremont Showgrounds. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, this year we were not a part of the ‘IGA Follow the Yellow Brick Road’. However, this did not slow down the crowds visiting the stand! We sampled our Royal Blue Mash throughout the entire week which was very well received. Show goers were also given the chance to sample all of our salad dressings with the mash. Feedback for the products was very positive.
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We had a vast variety of potatoes on display on our potato stand for the general public to view. The varieties consisted of dry brushed Delawares, Royal Blues, Ruby Lou, Mondials, White Star, Nadines and also gourmets. The cubicle displayed prominently our POS header cards, variety posters and also other point of sale material. Our value-adding products such as our Potato Salad Dressings, Microwave Capsules, Potato Pantries and Potato Diet Books were once again, available for purchase throughout the week. Visitors to the stand were given a free showbag which consisted of a variety of recipe magazines, potato variety chart, potato information, Bud the Spud colouring sheets and stickers and also two gourmet Ruby Lou potatoes. The general response that we received from the public was again overwhelming. Our Western Potatoes stand seems to be as popular as ever with many favourable comments from the general public.
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GRoW your reputation
vegetablesWA
meets new Agriculture Minister
By John Shannon VegetablesWa
The Potato Growers Association held a successful meeting with the new federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, on his first trip to West Australia in October, following his appointment to the portfolio after the federal election.
The meeting was hosted by Sam Calameri at Baldivis where the minister was able to see the potato harvest first-hand and speak with growers at their level. Although the minister doesn’t have a previous history in agriculture, he appeared very engaged and open to the ideas and concerns of growers. Issues raised with the minister included labour and the Horticulture Award, biosecurity, fair international trade, truth in food labeling and country of origin, the Horticulture Code of Conduct and food security. The minister and his staff were also pleased to hear about the success of the Caring for Country Good Practice Demonstration Site at Sam’s and that the further projects would be useful for the industry.
vegetablesWA hopes that following this positive start, Minister Ludwig may make some positive decisions for the vegetable industry on issues which are so critical to the future. vegetablesWA will certainly continue to advocate for WA growers with the minister. Attendees included Paul Bogdanich, Darryl Smith, Sam Calameri, Jim Turley and John Shannon.
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Minister Lugwig talks with growers Sam Calameri, Darryl Smith and Paul Bogdanich.
Young Growers Study Tour 2010 David Babun Young Carnarvon Grower
The tour involved a group of 10 young growers from around Australia. We visited various places in New Zealand to view their method of production and distribution. Starting at Pukekohe we visited RCH, a family run business to see harvesting and packaging methods of brassicas. We then went to Gisborne and visited Boyd’s Asparagus. Boyd’s have a cool store and factory and pack apples, pears and asparagus. We got to get our hands dirty and go into one of their many hothouses and pick the asparagus shoots. Also in Gisborne we visited Wilcox another major family business, with more than 400 staff. They deal with a variety of potatoes. We got to see the packaging of the produce and it was interesting to see how much they export.
After that we travelled to Napier, we saw the farmers market to view produce and talk to growers and customers. Next visit was Leaderbrand which is the largest grower, packer and shipper of buttercup squash in the world. The company is also the largest grower of broccoli, lettuce, processed tomatoes and sweet corn in New Zealand. They have ice machines to ice the broccoli straight away so it is ready for distribution. Next stop was dinner at Hawkes Bay Winery, a nice place to sample New Zealand cuisine and wine. The following morning we travelled to Palmerston North and we visited MG Marketing, we saw produce sold off the floor and it was fascinating to see the amount of produce from Australia like zucchini, tomatoes and various other produce.
Back in Auckland we attended the Hort New Zealand conference which went for two days. Young grower of the year was announced and it wasn’t me.
Vegetable growing in New Zealand as seen by David Babun and other young growers.
New Zealand is a beautiful and lush country, they are lucky to have no irrigation for most of the year and depend on daily rainfall to water crops, unlike Carnarvon growers who depend on the unreliable Gascoyne River for our water source. I find it hard to see how they operate when the weather is so wet. They also have a lot more problems with pests and diseases due to these conditions, which means more controlling of crops. WA Grower December 2010
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Threat to Federal Government R&D funding levels By John shannon VEGETABlESWa
vegetablesWA has again sought to defend our industry against funding cuts being proposed to government spending on vegetable research. A federal economic agency, the Productivity Commission, recently released its draft report into Research and Development (R&D) provided through R&D corporations across rural industries. Within the vegetable industry, levy R&D is provided through Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL). The report also made a number of other recommendations which vegetablesWA has commented on.
Matched Government Funding Currently, the federal government matches all grower levies collected for R&D through HAL on a dollar-for-dollar basis. vegetablesWA is vehemently opposed to the suggestion that this rate be halved over the course of 10 years as it threatens the long term viability of our industry. The government funding contribution was an important element in getting growers to agree to make their levy contribution in the first instance. By breaking this
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contract and withdrawing the government’s matching contribution growers may withdraw their support for levy also. If this were to occur then the entire model may collapse. Individual growers do not usually have the resources to fund their own R&D into projects which are of large scope and significant industry importance, so R&D across the industry may disappear. The Commission also argued that although government R&D funding may contribute to food security this is not a good enough reason for it to invest. However, surely the event whereby Australia can no longer produce enough nutritious food to feed itself represents a market failure in terms of the broader national interest. This issue becomes sharpened as other nations continue to purchase Australian agricultural land with the likely aim of feeding their own populations and not ours.
The Commission has not produced any data or analysis to prove their belief. vegetablesWA would welcome further analysis by the Commission to evaluate the economic costs of food insecurity on the Australian economy. Some of the statistics are compelling. The Australian Treasury projections suggest that the Australian population will rise from 22.2 million in 2010 to 35.9 million in 2050, a 62% increase. On a global scale, studies suggest that global farm output needs to nearly double in the first half of the 21st century to fill demand without increasing
food prices. Other research notes that to fill this global demand in meat alone, based on current techniques, will require additional grain production across a land area twice the size of North America and 2,000 more cubic kilometres of fresh water. This challenge will also need to take into account the impacts of climate change, urbanisation of agricultural land, increased oil and electricity costs and likely irrigation cuts in the Murray Darling Basin. The requirement for increased food imports will also increase biosecurity risks for crops still grown here. Against all of this, the current supply chain system means that growers are unlikely to increase their margins with rising prices but deal with a continued declining terms of trade and therefore become less able to bear the burden of R&D investment themselves. It is interesting to note that of the 33 countries that comprise the developed economies of the OECD, the Australian government provided the second lowest level of financial support to agriculture industries in 2008. vegetablesWA also strongly supports the retention of matching public funding for non-levy contributions such as the state APC-VPC. It has proven vitally important for the development of our industry which is geographically and agronomically isolated from the rest of Australia. A significant portion of these funds go toward projects which are possible because of the matched public funding from HAL. A loss of this ability will see a large deterioration in the R&D done in this state for our specific conditions.
Cross Industry R&D Body
R&D Evaluation and Monitoring
The Commission report suggests the setting up on a cross-industry R&D body which may deal with common problems such as water use and energy. While this seems like a potentially sensible idea, vegetablesWA believes that it should not be funded through funds taken from existing HAL R&D.
vegetablesWA supported the Commission recommendation that research and development corporations should be participate in a regular, transparent and comprehensive project evaluation process. In addition to the proposed methodology, vegetablesWA argued that the results should be reported in ways which could be easily understood by vegetable growers, the levy paying members, as well as the highlevel economic analysis. Such reporting could include case studies on how project outcome impacted individual growers. vegetablesWA believes if our growers are to fund activities, they deserve the same level of consideration in extension of the review results as the initial R&D outputs so they can best understand what their levy has achieved.
It will also be important that specific projects do not favour larger industries at the expense of our vegetable industry. Consideration of West Australian R&D Needs vegetablesWA argued that much stronger consideration of regional R&D needs is required and this should rightly be contained in the conditions of any government funding to HAL. Our industry obviously faces a range of factors which are different to the East coast and this should be taken into account.
for more information A full copy of the vegetablesWA submission is available on our website, www.vegetableswa.com.au. After considering feedback on the draft report, the Productivity Commission will finalise the report and present it to the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for his consideration. The minister will then make his own decision. vegetablesWA will continue to represent our industry through the remaining stages and keep our growers informed. If growers have any additional comment or wish to discuss the issues, please contact John Shannon at john.shannon@vegetableswa.com.au or on (08) 9481 0834.
Water issues update – the second report
is for an annual charge of $935 for water meter reading by the department of water. by Jim Turley VegetablesWa
Inquiry into Water Resource Management and Planning Charges, has been released by the Economic Regulations Authority (ERA). This report is dominated by the principals of ‘cost recovery’ and user pay with complete disregard to capacity to pay and remain viable. The draft report commissioned by treasury is proposing self-supply water uses pay, an annual water resource management and planning charges of $1670 for each licence and renewal fees of $1056 for what is usually a rubber stamping process. Another proposal
vegetablesWA, Potato Growers Association and Fruit West have long argued for water licence charges not to include, ‘Water resource management and planning charges’. Licence fees should reflect the costs associated with maintaining a database only. This would be similar to a drivers licence annual payment. Water meter reading should be read by the growers as they do for electricity. Imagine, growers can read the power meter driving the pump but can’t read the water pumped through the same meter.
mound each year at no charge. Of course we told the ERA meeting this is totally discriminating against the growers. Where to now? Submissions are due December 20, 2010. The ERA final report is due on February 28, 2011. Cabinet will make a decision and create a green paper for consultation. Legislation is due to be introduced to parliament in the spring session 2011.
Local advisory Committee. This is an area where the government could empower the local regional water users on these committees to take on more responsibilities under the guidance of the department of water. This would certainly reduce costs and improve efficiencies.
I told the ERA meeting on Friday November 26, when we first started meeting about changing the legislation, metro bore owners were estimated at 120,000, now four years later there is 177,000 bore owners, dragging 150 to 160 gigalitres out of the Gnagara WA Grower December 2010
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The Taylors plant their potatoes in June, July and August and harvest mid November to January. Daniel comments that the potato industry is unique in that you can survive using equipment that is 20 years old, “a new harvester was built in 1990”. He went on to explain that this is in comparison to the wheat industry which is always getting technologically advanced.
Daniel said that the heat starting so early this season will be a detriment to the quality this year. The high temperatures have made a lot more work for the Taylors as they have to irrigate more often.
Grower profile — Daniel Taylor
By hayley Wilson VEGETABlESWa
Daniel Taylor is an enthusiastic young grower who operates a potato property in Jingdang along with his parent’s Keith and Paula and brother, James. He is a passionate grower who would love to see more young people get involved in the industry.
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The Taylors have a 70 acre home farm, another 300 acre property and 18 months ago purchased a 74 acre property which needed to be developed as a potato farm. After finishing high school Daniel took a gap year before university and worked full time on the family farm. In this year he got a taste for the farming life and developed a love for growing. He went back up to university to study a Bachelor of Physics, after this year, but quickly learnt that it wasn’t for him and returned to the farm. Now on his fifth year full time, he hasn’t looked back.
They have also had a small amount of black beetles and weevils this season but they didn’t cause any major damage. Daniel said that without regulation it would be very hard to survive, “to be able to know that every spud grown will be sold except a certain percent is important”. He added if the potato industry got deregulated the Taylors would have to grow three to four times larger to survive. When asked what Daniel loves about growing he said that the way of life just suits him. He loves that every day you achieve something, he comments that, “it is a very rare day that you go to bed and you haven’t achieved something in that day”. He also enjoys seeing a physical result of the work that he puts in. Daniel comments that there are day to day frustrations that come along with growing but things always get done. Daniel would encourage more young people to get involved in the potato industry because he says it is a very rewarding and challenging career. He added that, “it may be hard work but it is worth it in the long run”.
experiencing severe drought conditions. Growers — like farmers — are ever hopeful of rain and also good growing conditions. I would like to say a big thank you to the Carnarvon growers and their Association for their hospitality and taking the time to talk about their issues and promoting their plantations. The Commissioners from the APC have recently visited some growers and have been very impressed. The visits have given the Commissioners a better insight of how growers operate and also any issues arising. Recently the Department of Immigration, the WA Police and Fair Work Australia have detained a number of illegal workers. The officers found that workers had either overstayed their visas or were working in breach of their visa conditions.
President’s report maureen DoBra VEGETABlESWa
Over the past couple of months there have been some hot topics of conversation. Not only has it been the weather and how unusually warm it is but noticeably the lack of rain. This year we will be lucky if we have received 300mL of rain, on the farm, instead of the usual 600–700mL. Rainfall data can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website — www.bom.gov.au — under the Weather and Climate data section and then placing in your town for the specific data. The other major hot topic of conversation is water and the availability or allocation of water. At some meetings that I have attended, I have been able to convey to many people the issues that growers face when trying to increase the size of their farms or
developing a new farm. A decade or two ago, it would have been easy to start a new farm, however today growers have to produce business plans, hydro geological studies, environmental plans, nutrient irrigation management plans and the lists goes on. Before purchasing any property, permission has to be sought from local councils, the Department of Water — if an allocation comes with the property, the Department of Environment and Conservation and other departments before a foot can be set on the property or even a dollar spent. Sometimes it can be a very lengthy process.
Employers could face heavy fines or even imprisonment — if found guilty of employing illegal workers. The Department of Immigration has a free online facility — Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) — that allows employers to check the visa entitlements of a visa holder. All that is necessary is to register your business — online. Christmas is soon upon us. To many of us it means an increase in our sales. It also means an extra special time to spend with our families and friends. May you all have a very merry Christmas, and a safe and prosperous new year!
Recently, I had the opportunity to go to Carnarvon. The same hot topic of conversation in Carnarvon, as with the rest of the growers of Western Australia — with the exception of the Kimberleys — is water. Whilst Australia has recorded its wettest September in 2010, the Gascoyne area is WA Grower DecemBer 2010
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Food industry headlines
By Georgia Thomas vegetableswa
UK sees 40 per cent drop in fresh potato consumption October 15, 2010 The British are cutting back on potatoes in favour of pasta and rice, research shows. Over the past 20 years there has been a 40 per cent drop in the number of fresh potatoes eaten in British home, according to the Potato Council. UK families scoff 833 million fewer spud-based meals a year now than they did ten years ago, a fall of almost a fifth. Young adults apparently want the convenience of potatoes that have already been turned into oven chips, frozen roasties or ready-made mash. Four out of ten under30’s said they didn’t know how to cook a jacket spud in a survey by the Potato Council. Over the past decade meals eaten with rice are up by a third and those with pasta have increased by 21 per cent.
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The UK Potato Council is running a campaign to encourage consumers to rediscover the spud. The campaigns funding some from a levy imposed on potato growers under the authority of the Government’s food and farming department DEFRA.
www.potatobusiness.com
Three years of Buy West Eat Best Josette Dunn, November 10, 2010 Western Australian Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has predicted a bright future for the Buy West, Eat Best brand at a breakfast function to celebrate the program’s third anniversary. “The Buy West, Eat Best concept has been embraced by the Western Australian food industry — from small producers right through to the big supermarket chains,” Mr Redman said. “Membership numbers have grown from just two to more than 100 in three years, and continue to climb.
“I firmly believe the program has been responsible for a clear shift in retailer support for local WA produce.” The Buy West, Eat Best program, with its distinctive green and white logo, was first launched to industry in November 2007 and to the public in May 2008. “Since then we’ve seen the establishment of WA’s first Buy West, Eat Best restaurant; the successful ‘Be vocal about eating local’ TV campaign; and the launch of the fantastic Buy West Eat Best cookbook,” the Minister said. “All this has meant that in the latest research, eight out of 10 consumers recalled the Buy West, Eat Best brand.
www.ausfoodnews.com.au
Greens call for stronger country-of-origin labelling November 16, 2010 Australian Greens Deputy Leader Christine Milne has called for more stringent and accurate labelling for locally produced and processed food, based on a strong response in the latest Roy Morgan poll on food labelling. “The poll results released this week show 90 percent of Australians are more likely to buy food that is labelled as ‘Made in Australia’,” she said. “At face value, this groundswell of support for local food is encouraging, but as our struggling producers know, it is also a bitter pill because our food labelling laws allow for imported goods to be branded as Australian made. “Current laws stipulate a food product need only have half of its production costs originate in Australia to qualify for the Australian Made brand. These costs include packaging, so it is not uncommon for supermarket shelves to be stocked with overseas grown food packed in Australia and misleadingly labelled.
www.ausfoodnews.com.au
Potato production falls 6% November 18, 2010 The UK Potato Council’s provisional estimate of total production for the 2010 crop year is 5.817 million tonnes, down 6.1 per cent from 2009. This figure is based on production reported from 316 crops in the Grower Panel, and has confidence limits of ± 3 per cent. Growing conditions this season have been variable with a cold wet spring delaying planting of many second early and maincrop varieties. By early May around 88 per cent of the crop had been planted compared with over 90 per cent at the same time in 2009.
The generally drier growing period resulted in an increase in cases of common scab and reduced tuber size in crops. As a result growers in many cases delayed harvesting, to leave crops to grow on longer than usual, in an attempt to increase bulking rates, which in many cases proved successful.
www.potatobusiness.com
Committee of Management changes
accc to oppose Franklins sale to metcash Nicole Eckersley, November 18, 2010 The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission yesterday announced that it will oppose the sale of supermarket chain Franklins to wholesale giant Metcash, on the grounds that it would create a monopoly in wholesale supermarket supply in NSW, and make it more difficult for another wholesaler to enter the NSW market. Metcash had announced its intention to purchase the 88 Franklins stores for $215 million, and then on-sell them to independent retailers under the IGA brand, retaining supply rights. “Central to the ACCC’s concerns is that the proposed acquisition is likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition through the removal of Metcash’s closest and only genuine competitor for the wholesale supply of packaged groceries in NSW,” ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said.
www.ausfoodnews.com.au
At the recent vegetablesWA Annual General Meeting, Peter Wauchope was elected to the Committee of Management. President, Maureen Dobra, said “we’re so pleased to welcome Peter to the Committee. His long experience in the industry including his current role at Centre West Exports will add a lot to our discussions and the Committee is looking forward to working with him in the future.” Maureen also paid tribute to the years of service provided to the Committee of Management by Denise Ellement and Paul Humble who did not renominate for the Committee. They are both continuing to serve the industry in other roles: Denise as the WA representative on the Industry Advisory Committee for the national R&D levy; and Paul on the Agricultural Produce Commission Vegetable Producers Committee.
Early crop lifting started slightly later but growers cleared ground rapidly due to strong demand. Summer weather was also varied with slightly wetter conditions in the East than the West, although local variations were also reported.
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28th International Horticultural Congress Portugal
rachel lancasTer RESEARCH OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUlTURE AND FOOD, WA
Presentations covered vegetables, fruit, vines, turf, ornamental horticulture, horticultural education, mechanisation, product supply chains, crop genetics, pesticide management, crop economics and management. Major themes relating to vegetables at the Congress included: • Crop production in a changing climate environment • Vegetable crop physiology
The 28th International Horticultural Congress was held in lisbon, Portugal from August 22–27, 2010. The Congress is hosted by the International Society for Horticultural Science and was attended by about 4,500 delegates. It was an opportunity to learn and to share information with researchers from many countries.
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WA Grower DecemBer 2010
• Pest and disease management • Propagation of vegetable crops • Mineral nutrition • Engineering and automation relating to vegetable seeding / transplanting, growth and harvest • Genetics and breeding, particularly in relation to disease resistance screening and yield improvement.
On the final day of the Congress, there were eight different horticultural field tours including one of vegetable farms in the Golegã region in the Tagus Valley, located about 100km north east of lisbon. The farms are on the fertile soils of the plains of the Tagus River, with the river flowing into the Atlantic Ocean in Lisbon. Typical crops for the region are processing corn (maize), potatoes and broccoli for both fresh market and processing, melons, capsicums, onions, carrots, peas, garlic, wheat and barley. The average yield for potatoes was 40t/ha to 50t/ha; for processing corn, 14t/ha to 16t/ha and for processing tomatoes, 100t/ ha. Tomatoes are a major vegetable crop in the region, with about 1.2 million tonnes per year being produced.
The production system was dominated by processing corn, which is used primarily for animal feed and oil production. The other crops are grown between large areas of corn. Irrigation is used throughout the year, with concern growing among the Portuguese farmers of difficulties in matching crop water requirements with increasingly stringent European Union regulations to prevent nutrient leaching (predominantly nitrogen).
All types of crops are sold to a commercial farmer organisation which operates local packing and grading facilities and acts as a marketer of the produce. The facilities at the packing house are being modernised with a cool store recently built to handle bulk onions. The onion grading line was modern, packing onions into one tonne bags sorted by weight. Funding for the travel was provided courtesy of the Warren Cauliflower Group (Inc.) and Horticulture Australia Ltd. An International Horticultural Congress is held every four years with the next Congress being held in Brisbane, Queensland during August 2014. for more information Detailed information from the congress can be obtained from rachel lancaster at Bunbury DaFWa. Phone (08) 9780 6210 or email rachel.lancaster@agric.wa.gov.au
WA Grower DecemBer 2010
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Health matters in summer’s
FeelGoodFood
By GeorGia Thomas WESTERN POTATOES
Famous faces, great competitions and delicious recipes continue to be the theme for Feel Good Food magazine. This season’s edition is tackling the tough issues with Rob Palmer, star of Better Homes and Gardens and So You Think You Can Dance, revealing the challenge of living with diabetes.
WIN A day trip to Rottnest Island. Details inside Summer edition of Feel Good Food!
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WA Grower DecemBer 2010
In this edition, Western Potatoes also releases some exciting new research on the Glycemic Index of potatoes. New research shows that a Nadine Potato, cooked and cooled in the fridge overnight, has a glycemic index (GI) of 45 (perfect for salads). This falls into the official ‘low GI’ category which is ideal for people with diabetes. Summer is here and it’s time to get ready for parties and holidays. Spanish style tapas is a major new food trend in Western Australia, with dishes that are great to share and suit the Mediterranean season perfectly. Feel Good Food is showcasing three top potato recipes from tapas restaurants in Perth for people to try at home. Finally, Feel Good Food heads to Rottnest Island to meet with the chef ’s from the Rottnest Hotel. An ideal summer getaway, the island provides a mix of sun, sea, sand and great fresh food. Readers can also enter a competition to win a day trip for the family to the island with lunch at the Rottnest Hotel.
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Crop hygiene key to beating vegetable viruses
By charloTTe BuTler VEGETABlESWa
Carnarvon growers have been hit hard by devastating levels of mosaic viruses, namely Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) and Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV). The resulting damage has been widespread, driven primarily, by the ease by which the viruses are transmitted and the sizeable group of host plants available. Both CMV and ZYMV are found worldwide, causing significant yield loss and quality defects in a broad range of horticultural crops. Both viruses are transmitted by a variety of aphid species, which spread virus by feeding on infected plants and transmitting the disease to healthy plants.
Carnarvon’s situation In Carnarvon, growers have been battling these relentless pathogens that have wiped out entire seasons’ crops, putting many livelihoods at risk of financial ruin. One of the major difficulties of controlling plant viruses, in particular CMV and ZYMV, is the ease by which they spread to a variety of crops when the conditions are suitable. Carnarvon is particularly susceptible to virus
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WA Grower DecemBer 2010
outbreaks due to the close proximity of farms growing the similar types of crops. In this environment strong prevailing winds carry infected aphids from one crop to the next, rapidly spreading the devastating viruses. In order to combat this vulnerability, a high standard of farm hygiene must be maintained throughout the entire growing area in Carnarvon. This involves immediate removal of crop residues after harvest and ongoing weed control throughout property, leaving paddocks clear of all green plant material. These activities can dramatically reduce the incidence of virus outbreaks by removing the hosts that enable the cycle of infection to continue (see Figure 1). The next key component to controlling the spread of these viruses is a sound monitoring system. A regular check of crops enables growers to identify infected plants and quickly remove them before entire crops become infected.
Monitoring insect numbers within the crop is an effective means of identifying potential outbreaks, enabling growers to spray crops to keep aphid numbers down.
A pumpkin infected by Zucchini yellow mosaic virus.
perennial weeds, flowers and remnants of previous crops. When conditions are suitable the virus grows with the plant and emerges in the top leaves, where it is picked up by aphids and carried to other hosts.
crop hosts and symptoms This virus has a worldwide distribution and a very wide host range. In fact it has the reputation of having one of the widest host range of any known plant virus with an estimated 191 potential hosts. These include various cucurbits, capsicums, beans, tomatoes, carrots, celery, lettuce, spinach and beetroot. As well as many ornamentals and perennial weeds such as Sow thistle, Nightshade, Afghan Melon, Chenopodium and Amaranthus. Symptoms seen with this virus include leaf mosaic or mottling, yellowing, stunting and leaf, flower and fruit distortion. CMV shows symptoms on leaves known as the ‘shoestring’ effect. This effect causes young leaves to appear narrow and the entire plant to be stunted
Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)
Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV)
Disease cycle
Disease cycle
CMV is transmitted by many different species of aphids; it can also be spread mechanically by humans and transmitted by seed. This virus can survive by living in the roots of
ZYMV is transmitted by various aphid species including the green peach and melon aphids. Similar to CMV, ZYMV can use weeds and wild cucurbits as infection reservoirs from
Figure 1 Simple illustration of the cycle by which CMV and ZYMV can spread from weeds to crops carried by aphids
Aphids carrying virus move from weeds to newly planted crops
and insect numbers allows for immediate action when problems are identified. The following suggestions will assist in the control of CMV and ZYMV: • Timely removal of all remnants of previous crop • Ongoing control of weeds throughout property • Plant virus resistant varieties where possible
Weeds host virus and aphids inbetween crop plantings
which the virus can emerge and be picked up by feeding aphids.
Crop hosts and symptoms ZYMV affects all cucurbits including; zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, courgettes, squashes and the various melons. It also affects wild cucurbits like the Afghan melon, and numerous weeds such as mallow. The effects are severe leaf mosaic, yellowing and eventually ‘shoestring’ symptoms in the leaves. The fruits are stunted, twisted and
• Immediate removal of infected plants from cropping area Crop infected with virus carried by aphids
deformed by raised protuberances, which make them unmarketable. In cultivated crops, plants cease producing marketable fruits within 1–2 weeks of infection, resulting in serious financial losses.
Control & Management of CMV and ZYMV Control measures for plant viruses focus, primarily, on prevention and eradication. Ongoing maintenance of a high level of farm hygiene eliminates potential virus and aphid reservoirs. Regular checking of crop health
• Monitoring of insect populations within crop Chemical control of aphids in crop is unlikely to provide any benefit for virus control as infected aphids may constantly be moving in from elsewhere. for more information I would like to acknowledge Chris Schelfhout and Brenda Coutts from DAFWA for providing information and guidance in writing this article. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact me on 0427 373 037 or email at charlotte.butler@vegetableswa.com.au
Healthy plant (left) next to ZYMV infected zucchini plant (right). INSET LEFT: Healthy zucchini (top) next to ZYMV infected zucchini (bottom). INSET RIGHT: CMV infected capsicum plant.
WA Grower December 2010
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Recipes
Walnut & roast capsicum dip Prep time: 10 minutes
Stir fried brown rice & vegetables
Level: easy
makes 8 serves
Ingredients 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed ¼ teaspoon dried chilli flakes ½ cup walnuts 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 2 red capsicum, roasted & skin removed ¾ teaspoon salt
Method
Level: easy
serves 6
Ingredients 1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 brown onions, diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger 1 carrot, diced 1 zucchini diced 1 bunch broccolini, chopped (or broccoli) 1 cup brown rice, cooked 3 cups (100g) english spinach leaves 2 teaspoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons vegetarian oyster sauce 1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce 1 lime, juice only 2 eggs 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Method
1. heat oil in a frypan and sauté onion and garlic until soft. add chilli.
1. heat oil in a wok or large frypan. cook onion and garlic until soft but not brown.
2. Place walnuts in a food processor and process until fine. add onion mixture and remaining ingredients. Process until smooth.
2. add ginger, carrot, zucchini and broccolini. cook for 5 minutes or until slightly soft but crunchy. add rice, spinach, sauces and lime juice.
3. serve dip with rice crackers and fresh vegetables.
3. in a separate dish, lightly whisk the eggs. move the rice and vegetables to the side of the frypan to create space to cook the eggs. Pour egg into the pan and allow to cook for 2 minutes.
To roast capsicum, place whole capsicums on a lined baking tray. Bake in a hot oven for 15–20 minutes or until the skin is black. remove from the oven, place in a bowl and cover. allow to stand for ten minutes or until cool enough to touch. Peel the skin off, remove the seeds and use as desired.
4. stir rice, vegetables and egg together. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds. often white rice is used in many recipes, but brown rice not only adds extra fibre to the meal, but a delightful nutty flavour. Per serve: Kilojoules 1040kJ (245cal); Protein 16g; Total fat 8g; Saturated fat 1g; Carbohydrate 23g; Total sugars 8g; Sodium 700mg; Potassium 1000mg; Calcium 110mg; Iron 4.4mg; Fibre 11g.
© recipe and images kindly provided by sanitarium health Food company.
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Tips
This dip may be served with any low fat snack foods or fresh vegetables you have available.
Nutrition facts
Cooking time: 55 minutes
Nutrition facts
Prep time: 25 minutes
Per serve: Kilojoules 480kJ (120cal); Protein 2g; Total fat 11g; Carbohydrate 2g; Sodium 290mg; Potassium 100mg; Calcium 10mg; Iron 0.3mg; Fibre 1g.
© recipe and images kindly provided by sanitarium health Food company.
Recipes (cont.)
Fresh corn, tomato & ricotta fritters Prep time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Level: easy
serves 7
Ingredients 2 eggs
Method
1 cup milk
1. Whisk eggs, milk and ricotta in a large bowl until well combined.
1 cup self raising flour
2. sift flour and salt into egg mixture.
½ cup self-raising wholemeal flour 1 teaspoon salt
3. add steamed corn kernels, semi dried tomato and chives.
1 cob corn, kernels removed & steamed
4. Gently combine all ingredients.
75g semi dried tomato, drained & chopped 2 tablespoons chopped chives 1 tablespoon olive oil, for cooking To serve — rocket leaves & caramelised balsamic vinegar
Nutrition facts
250g fresh low fat ricotta cheese
5. heat oil in a frypan and add heaped tablespoons of mixture. cook until golden and puffed on both sides. makes 14 fritters. serve with rocket leaves and caramelized balsamic vinegar
Tips Per serve: Kilojoules 1120kJ (260cal); Protein 12g; Total fat 10g; Saturated fat 4g; Carbohydrate 30g; Total sugars 5g; sodium 340mg; Potassium 540mg; calcium 165mg; iron 1.6mg; Fibre 4g.
canned corn kernels can replace fresh steamed corn in this recipe
Š recipe and images kindly provided by sanitarium health Food company.
WA Grower DecemBer 2010
39
Grants for growers By John shannon VEGETABlESWa
The State and Federal Governments provide a range of grants which growers may be eligible to apply for. Grants can assist growers with a range of things from training expenses through to business planning and export development assistance. Here is a list of grants that growers are encouraged to take advantage of if they’re eligible. Commonwealth Government Farmready Eligible growers can receive up to $1,500 each financial year to cover the cost of approved training activities, with additional support available for associated expenses such as excess travel, accommodation and childcare. organisation
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for more information t: 1800 087 670 w: www.farmready.gov.au
climate change adjustment Program adjustment advice and training grants An advice and training grant of up to $5,500 is available to both you and your partner and may be used to receive advice and training from recognised professional advisers and registered training organisations, TAFE and universities. The grant may be used for activities such as financial assessment and planning, and advice and training directly or indirectly related to climate change impacts; in addition, the grant can also be used to
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obtain legal and personal advice, succession planning etc.
ausindustry Grants and Funding Programs
adjustment assistance
The AusIndustry Product Summary provides an overview of all the business assistance programs AusIndustry delivers.
Grants up to $150,000, are available to eligible farmers who have considered their options and have made the decision to leave farming. Advice and training assistance up to $5,500 will be available to assist in leaving the farm. Eligible farmers with net assets of $350,000 or less after the sale of the farm and farm assets can receive the full $150,000 of the re-establishment grant. The sum of the grant reduces once a farmer’s net assets reach $350,000. No grant is payable when net assets reach $575,000. short term income support assistance Income support is available to assist farm families in financial difficulty organisation
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for more information t: 1800 638 746 w: www.daff.gov.au/climatechange/australiasfarming-future
export market Development Grants The Export Market Development Grants scheme is a key Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters. It encourages small and medium-sized Australian businesses to develop export markets by reimbursing up to 50 per cent of eligible export promotion expenses above a threshold of $10,000. The scheme is administered by Austrade.
organisation Australian Trade Commission (AUSTRADE) for more information Postal: GPo Box 5301, sydney nsW 2001 t: 13 28 78 w: http://www.austrade.gov.au/default. aspx?FolderiD=1356
• R&D Tax Concession • R&D Tax Credit • LPG Vehicle Scheme • Certain Inputs to Manufacture Scheme • Enhanced Project By-law Scheme. organisation
AusIndustry for more information GPo Box 9839, canberra acT 2601 t: 13 28 46 w: http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/ aboutausindustry/Documents/Program%20 summary.pdf
commercialisation australia Commercialisation Australia is an Australian Government initiative that assists researchers, entrepreneurs and innovative companies to convert intellectual property into successful commercial ventures. The support provided by Commercialisation Australia is designed to help successful applicants through the commercialisation process. Assistance is tailored to the needs of each successful applicant and is structured around the key development stages in the commercialisation pathway. organisation
Commercialisation Australia for more information
t: 13 22 56 w: www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au/
enterprise connect Enterprise Connect is an Australian Government initiative backed by industry that offers comprehensive advice and support to eligible Australian small and medium sized businesses to help them transform and reach their full potential. Enterprise Connect can make a big difference to eligible Australian small and medium businesses by connecting
them to comprehensive independent business advisory services, tailored business support, and a network of resources that draws together the best available knowledge, technology and business practices.
rural Financial counselling service
organisation
Rural financial counsellors can:
WA Department of Agriculture and Food
Eligible small and medium businesses can request a comprehensive, confidential and independent Business Review at no cost. Enterprise Connect has a national network of industry innovation centres staffed by highly skilled Business Advisers that provide access to specialist expertise and the best available technical and business resources to help you transform your business.
• Help clients negotiate with their lenders
organisation
• Give clients information about government and other assistance schemes
Enterprise Connect for more information t: 131 791 e: enterpriseconnect@innovation.gov.au w: www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au/
Fresh ideas for Work and Family Grants Program The Australian Government has introduced the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family Grants Program (the Program) to support Australian small businesses to implement practices that help employees balance their work and family obligations as well as improve employee retention and productivity. The Program provides grants of up to $15,000 (GST exclusive) to small businesses to help meet the set-up costs of family friendly arrangements that suit the individual needs of the business. organisation
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for more information t: 1300 363 264 w: www.deewr.gov.au/freshideas
• Help clients identify financial and business options
• Help clients adjust to climate change through the Climate Change Adjustment Program, identify any advice and training needed and develop an action plan • Help clients meet their mutual obligations under the Transitional Income Support program
for more information t: 1800 199 125 w: http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/
Wa small Business Development corporation Government assistance for small business can take many forms, most commonly by way of free or low cost advisory services, information and guidance. There are a range of State and Federal financial assistance initiatives available for various small business related activities and access is usually subject to meeting specific eligibility criteria.
• Refer clients to accountants, agricultural advisers and educational services
organisation
• Refer clients to Centrelink and to professionals for succession planning, family mediation and personal, emotional and social counselling.
for more information
organisation
RFCS Western Australia for more information Po Box 478, Geraldton Wa 6531 counsellors based across Wa t: 1800 612 004 w: www.rfcswa.com.au
West Australian Government 2010 Dry season assistance scheme The State Government has allocated $5 million in additional funding to help Western Australian farmers and rural communities deal with this year’s extreme dry season. The funding has been provided to assist up to 100 Shires across the State and includes the following:
WA Small Business Development Corporation
t: 1800 199 125 w: http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/
Farm Water rebate scheme The Farm Water Rebate Scheme encourages commercial farmers in dryland agricultural areas of the state (those areas that receive less than 600mm average annual rainfall) to implement on farm water supply improvement to address identified areas of water deficiency. The scheme also aims to encourage farmers to better manage existing water supplies and reduce water wastage. Rebates totalling $15,000 are claimable in any ten year period. For details of items attracting rebates and the rebate claimable per item, please refer to the current rebate schedule available at www.water.wa.gov.au or contact the Department of Water. organisation
Department of Water
• $2 million for community service grants
for more information
• $1 million social support grants
t: 1800 780 300 w: www.water.wa.gov.au ruralwater@water.wa.gov.au
• $1 million to install high-volume water tanks • $500,000 to assist small businesses • $200,000 rural financial counselling support.
WA Grower DecemBer 2010
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Farm Water Rebate Scheme The Farm Water Supply Planning Scheme encourages commercial farmers in dryland agricultural areas of the state (those areas that receive less than 600mm average annual rainfall) to participate in a comprehensive water supply planning process that: • Provides the framework for an ongoing process of addressing water deficiency • Improves water resource and demand management by raising awareness of issues and suggesting solutions to these • Promotes the conservation and efficient use of water. At the conclusion of the process, applicants are provided with an Audit report which provides a summary of the auditing and planning process and may be eligible to apply for further rebates under the Farm Water Rebate Scheme. Two rebates are available under the scheme and are claimable once every three years: • The FWSPS — Part one rebate offered is for the cost of undertaking the planning process with a Department of Water approved farm water supply auditor. The rebate claimable is 50% of the auditor’s fee up to a maximum rebate of $500. This rebate must be claimed within 90 days of the planning process being completed. • The FWSPS — Part two rebate offered is for a call-back service performed by an approved farm water auditor after works have been completed under the Farm
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WA Grower December 2010
Water Rebate Scheme. The rebate offered is 50% of the auditor’s call-back fee up to a maximum rebate payment of $250. This rebate must be claimed within 18 months of the planning process being completed. Organisation
Department of Water
management focus and having a broader public benefit. Farm Social Support Support for a better coordinated social support network to meet the mental health, counselling and other social needs of farming families and rural communities.
for more information
Farm Family Support
t: 1800 780 300 w: www.water.wa.gov.au ruralwater@water.wa.gov.au
Income support for farmers facing financial hardship, allowing them to meet basic household expenses.
Drought Reform Pilot Growers in the pilot area, including Geraldton and Carnarvon may be eligible for: Farm Planning Up to $7,500 for farmers to undertake training to develop or update a strategic plan for their farm business. The plan will identify priority activities to help improve the management and preparedness of the farm business to respond to future challenges.
Farm Exit Support Grants of up to $170,000 to support farmers who decide to sell their farm, including for retraining and relocation expenses. Beyond Farming
Building Farm Businesses
Beyond Farming puts current farmers in touch with former farmers to talk about opportunities outside of farming and to talk to someone who has been in the same position about the options for themselves and their families if selling the farm business or retiring.
Grants of up to $60,000 in two components:
Organisation
• Business Adaptation Grants — up to $40,000 for eligible activities identified in the strategic plan that help farm businesses prepare for the impacts of drought, reduced water availability and a changing climate. • Landcare Adaptation Grants — up to $20,000 for eligible activities identified in the strategic plan with a natural resource
WA Department of Agriculture and Food and Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. for more information t: 1800 198 231 w: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_94005. html?s=1879707334 wapilot@agric.wa.gov.au
Integrated TV campaign scheduled to launch GI results By GeorGia Thomas WESTERN POTATOES
For some time now Western Potatoes has been undertaking research to produce evidence that several of our potato varieties enjoy a surprisingly low ‘GI’ rating. As many of you know, a low ‘GI’ rating is what dieticians encourage people, who wish to control their weight, to seek-out in the foods they consume. The results have been exciting for our industry. The ‘GI’ or ‘Glycemic Index’ results for Nadine to be released by Western Potatoes will be promoted heavily to consumers through an integrated promotional campaign. The campaign will include TV commercials to be aired in metropolitan Western Australia on Channel Seven during shows specifically targeting grocery buyers. Additionally, informative Point of Sale material will be available for consumers to collect from IGA stores. There will also be an online campaign to track consumer interest and an announcement in the Feel Good Food magazine. The campaign will be focusing on Mashing Myths about potatoes and there will be two adverts produced to challenge misconceptions about potatoes including: 1. That they are high in carbohydrates. (Potatoes are lower in carbohydrates than pasta and rice), 2. That potatoes have high ‘GI’ levels. (Nadine is low ‘GI’ (45) with correct preparation) The availability of ‘Glycemic Index’ data is a very significant advantage in the marketing and promotion of potatoes. Especially as a large numbers of consumers are looking for the healthiest options in the fight against obesity and diabetes.
for more information The campaign will commence on January 30, 2011 on channel seven.
Salmon Steaks with Fennel & Potato Salad Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Level: easy
serves 4
Ingredients
Method
4 x 125 — 150g salmon steaks
1. Place dressing ingredients in a jar and mix well — season with freshly ground pepper to taste. set aside 1 tbsp of dressing.
½ cup each of chopped chives and chopped dill 200g rocket leaves 300g potato, cubed 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced 1 medium apple, thinly sliced 1 lebanese cucumber, thinly sliced For dressing: 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp grain mustard
2. microwave the potatoes for 2 minutes each side in a Western Potatoes microwaver, then chill to achieve low Gi. 3. mix all the ingredients apart from the salmon in a large bowl and pour over dressing and mix well. 4. BBQ or pan fry salmon until cooked to your liking. 5. Place salad evenly on four plates, add salmon on top and drizzle with remaining dressing.
Freshly ground pepper
WA Grower DecemBer 2010
43
Fabfert
®
Organic Soil Fertiliser made from 100% chicken litter is now available all year By linDa manninG
Due to high demand, Dr Harrie Hofstede of Spartel is making Fabfert® Organic Soil Fertilizer available in 25 cubic metre loads while he is developing a full commercial production north of Wanneroo. Fabfert® Organic Soil Fertilizer has all the benefits of raw poultry manure without the fly breeding downside. “Raw chicken manure will be banned from 2011 and growers who want the benefits of poultry manure have the choice of using Fabfert® Organic Soil Fertilizer, which is made from raw chicken manure,” said Dr Harrie Hofstede owner of Spartel Pty Ltd and developer of Fabfert®. Fabfert® Organic Soil Fertilizer was developed under the ‘Sustainable Poultry Litter Management Project’ between 2004 to 2006 and the pilot plant was housed on Monte Farms’ Old Yanchep Road property. Fabfert® Organic Soil Fertilizer has been approved for use year round by the WA Health Department as fly breeding has been reduced over 93 per cent. Total nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorous, magnesium are significantly increased during the composting process. During composting the soluble phosphorous is reduced so more phosphorous is available over a longer time. It has a much higher nitrogen content than compost and has double the ammonia content of raw manure. Fabert® Organic Soil Fertilizer has significantly less odour than raw manure. The soil fertiliser was trialled on crops at Carabooda and on vegetable operations, vineyards, turf farms and fruit farms.
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WA Grower DecemBer 2010
Table 1 comparison of nutrient content and mineral availability of Fabfert® Parameter
Fabfert®
pH
Fertiliser equivalent/tonne
7.2
Total Nitrogen (%)
4
Ammonium (mg/l)
115 kg Nitram
1500
Organic Matter (%)
85
Total Phosphorous (%)
2.5
Soluble Phosphorous (mg/l)
150 kg Super
23.5
Potassium %
2.1
Humic & Fulvic acids
63kg potassium nitrate
25%
The high ammonium content replaces Nitram in the soil as the ammonium is nitrified to form ammonium nitrate, resulting in strong plant growth. In addition, the odour in the poultry manure has been reduced by 93 per cent in the process, making Fabfert® a very low odour product suitable for use close to residential areas without complaints.
Table 4 manure Raw Manure
Table 2 odour reduction in Fabfert® odour concentration odour (%) (ou/m3) Raw litter
30,600
100
Fabfert®
2,200
7
The levels of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria were reduced to undetectable levels due to high and even temperatures during composting. After 3–4 weeks, flies fail to breed in the Fabfert® product process. This ensures that market produce is safe for consumers. Table 3 harmful bacteria are destroyed in the Fabfert® organic fertiliser Pathogen
level
Thermotolerant Coliforms MPN/g
<0 3*
E. coli MPN/g
<0 3*
Salmonella in 25 g
Not detected
listeria species in 25 g
Not detected
*below measurable values
The Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture and Food have agreed that fly breeding on Fabfert® Compost has been reduced by up to 99 per cent and have given approval for all year unrestricted use.
Compost Fabfert
®
Flies as a % of raw manure 100 80 0
The WA Department of Health is drafting a Regulatory Impact Statement to legislate the ban on fowl manure use from 2011.
If growers use Fabfert® Compost, they will have all the benefits of poultry manure and will be able to use it all year. This will benefit vegetable growers in WA and the environment. Fabfert® Organic Soil Fertilizer is already being used on vegetables, strawberries, tomatoes, turf, vineyards in WA. Vegetable grower Ray Ma will continue to use Fabfert® on tomatoes and strawberries on his Fresh Produce farm on Brand Highway.
“I use Fabfert® fertiliser on the ground before planting and plant the seedlings into it. The seedlings get a good start and I use less fertiliser and water and I get a better yield. I am very happy with this product and will continue to use it.”
The soil fertiliser was developed in the ‘Sustainable Poultry Litter Management in Horticulture’ project in 2005. Vegetable growers and invited guests looked over the pilot plant and the organic soil fertiliser, and were encouraged to build their own plant Make Your Own Liquid Fertilizer to make the product for themselves on their Paul Zorzi owner of the Island Brook Estate own farms. ® Make Ownincreased Liquid Fertilizer significantly found that FabfertYour
on pumping equipment. This means growers can make significant reductions in operating costs, and hopefully better profits.”
The two-year Sustainable Poultry Litter Management in Horticulture project cost $450,000. Dr Harrie Hofstede from Spartel Pty Ltd designed and built the patented technology and has invested over five years TM Make fertilizer addingfound 1 litre of FABFERT to 10 litres of water in a bucket, stir and leave in the research and development. Five local the number andyour size ofown fruitliquid bunches on his by Harrie that the main demand for the soil TM growers and the City of Wanneroo made vines resulting in a far greater crop yield. for 10your minutes using on by indoor and1was outdoor plants and fertiliser from who wanted buy of water in a bucket, stir and leave Make ownbefore liquid fertilizer adding litre ofgrowers FABFERT togardens. 10 tolitres voluntary contributions to the project. the product by the truckload bulker bags. 10not minutes before using and outdoor plants or and gardens. does attract flies in the sameon indoor “Fabfert®for TM ® Horticulture Australia Ltd contributed FABFERT Organic (Specifications) way other organic fertilisers do,” saidSoil Mr Fertilizer “The advantage of this compost is that it has $120,000. The State Government TM effective, resulting ® Zorzi. “It’s been very cost FABFERT Organic Soil Fertilizer (Specifications) all the benefits of the raw manure and does contributed another $80,000 from the Total Nitrogen Boron 20 mg/kg in a better return to our(N) business and we will4.5 % not breed flies, so it is available for use in the Soluble Ammonia N-NH4 1390 mg/L Potassium 2 % and Recycling Fund Waste Management continueTotal to use this product.” Nitrogen (N) 4.5 % growing areas all year round,” Boron 20 mg/kg said Harrie. Soluble Nitrate N-NO3 5 mg/L Sodium 0.6 % because the project Soluble Ammonia N-NH4 1390 mg/L Potassium 2 % was deemed to be ® Soil Fertilizer Spartel first developed Fabfert Total Soluble N 1400 mg/L Calciumas 3.65 % “It is good for the Gnangara Mound strategic and aligned Soluble Nitrate N-NO3 5 mg/L Sodium 0.6 % closely with the Waste in 2005. Harrie Hofstede is the owner and Magnesium 0.5 % compost has the potential to retain water 2020 recommendations. Total Soluble N 1400 mg/L Calcium 3.65 % Phosphorous 2% Copper 69 mg/kg principalTotal research scientist at Spartel Pty Ltd. 0.5 % in the soils. __Crops that areMagnesium grown in soils Phosphorous - solublein Holland at14 mg/L Zinc 340 mg/kg He was trained in horticulture Total Phosphorous 2 % with a high organic content need Copper 69 mg/kg for more information thirty to Selenium 2.1 mg/kg the Van Hall University of Applied Sciences Phosphorous - soluble 14 mg/L Zinc crops 340 mg/kg For further information contact spartel on fifty per cent less water than those Humic and did his Ph.D&inFulvic wasteAcids management and 5-10 % Selenium mg/kg (08) 9200 6296 2.1 or Total Organic Carbon 35 % grown with just artificial fertilisers. Total CaCO3 Equivalent 5 %email sales@spartel.com.au AcidsUniversity. His5-10 % compost Humic quality&atFulvic Murdoch pH units 7.5 Organic Matter Content 85 % dry wt Total Organic tomato Carbonand capsicum35 % “Less water means less pumping, Total CaCO3 Equivalent 5% which means family are glasshouse units 7.5 less electricity consumed and less Organic Matter Content 85 % dry wt maintenance growers pH in Holland.
Nutrient management with FABFERT TM Nutrient management with FABFERT TM 4.5% 4.5%
FABFERT
Stop Flies Breeding with FABFERTTM Stop Flies Breeding with FABFERTTM 100%
TM
Manure Fabfert Fertilizer
100%
Manure Fabfert Fertilizer
Fabfert is the only organic fertilizer that complies with Fabfert is the only organic WA Health Department Fly fertilizer that complies with Breeding Regulations WA Health Department Fly
Organic Soil Fertilizer®
2.5% 2.0%
2.5%
2.0% 1.1%
TM1.1% FABFERT Nitrogen Phosphorus
1.6%
2.0%
Breeding Regulations Manure Fabfert Fertilizer
2.0%
Manure Fabfert Fertilizer
1.6% 4%
Potassium
The New Superior Environmentally Friendly ORGANIC SOIL FERTILIZER4%® Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Nutrient content of Fabfert Fertilizer compared to Manure
Approved by WA Health Department Nutrient content of Fabfert Fertilizer compared to Manure High performance organic fertilizer Increases soil moisture capacity Improves soil fertility Vigorous plant growth Stops fly breeding PTY LTD SPARTEL Environmental solutions for a sustainable world PTY LTD SPARTEL Safe product Environmental solutions for a sustainable world
Comparison of Fly Breeding activity in percentage points
N P K 4.5 - 2 - 2 Comparison of Fly Breeding activity in percentage points Weed seed free Trace elements 85% organic matter Beneficial soil microbes Contact Details: Email: spreading sales@spartel.com.au Farm Contact Details: available Phone: 0414 376 699 Email: sales@spartel.com.au Save fertilizer Address: PO Box Phone: 0414 3761097, 699 West Leederville, Address:
Western Australia PO Box 1097, West6007 Leederville,
fertilizer suitable FABFERTTM Organic Soil Fertilizer ® is a new high quality concentrated organic Western Australia 6007 for lawns, flower and green gardens, vegetable growing and indoor plant use. The product is made from pure natural organic matter and contains high levels of natural nutrients and organic soil compounds.
FABFERTTM Makes Happy Growers FABFERT Makes Happy Growers
TMand greening. The Organic Soil Fertilizer® will promote vigorous plant growth
Application rates
Irrigate soil well after application
WA Grower DecemBer 2010
45
‘Zebra Chip’ disease Media release 3 November 2010 By Hugh Tobin AUSVEG
AUSVEG welcomes proposal for Senate briefing on the ‘Zebra Chip’ disease threatening Australian potatoes AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy has welcomed the proposal for a briefing of the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Committee on Zebra Chip disease, following a recent request by New Zealand to import fresh potatoes for processing into Australia. “If New Zealand potatoes come into Australia we have good reason to fear Australian potatoes would be contaminated with the devastating, Zebra Chip’ disease, which is widespread in New Zealand, and could potentially devastate the Australian industry if an outbreak occurs,” Mr Mulcahy said. Tasmanian Greens Senator Christine Milne — who has expressed public support for the industry on the issue — alerted the industry to the briefing proposal, which includes many of AUSVEG’s concerns about the serious risks presented by the market access request.
46
WA Grower December 2010
“We commend the Australian Greens, in particular their Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, for their pro-active stance on this issue and for taking steps to ensure Australian potato growers have a voice at the highest political level,” Mr Mulcahy said. “This disease could do serious damage to the Australian potato industry. It literally threatens the livelihood of thousands of Australian rural families. According to the advice we have received from experts, the risk could not be more serious on this issue, so we are pleased to see the Greens are eager to take advice from industry on this and make sure the risks are well-understood in Canberra as well,” he said. Zebra Chip disease complex has caused widespread destruction in New Zealand and the USA, costing the international potato industry millions of dollars. The psyllid infects potatoes with Liberibacter, the bacterium which causes Zebra Chip in potatoes. Reports have shown that the pest caused losses of $40–$60 million for NZ producers in 2008/09, with the psyllid alone — which kills the potato plant — said to be considerably destructive and the disease rendering produce that does manage to grow unsellable.
“We’ve sent researchers to New Zealand to investigate the situation and to assist with the development of contingency plans here. If Biosecurity Australia allow New Zealand access to export potentially diseased potatoes into Australia, they run the risk of devastating the local industry. This will drive the cost of potatoes up for consumers and result in taxpayers money being spent to secure Australia’s biosecurity,” said Mr Mulcahy.
AUSVEG is the national peak industry body representing the interests of potato growers. “In 2008/09 Australian growers produced 1,178,534 tonnes of potatoes. If this disease was to enter Australia we are looking at potentially the majority of the domestic potato industry being wiped out,” said Mr Mulcahy. for more information Hugh Tobin, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, AUSVEG. Phone: (03) 9822 0388, Mobile: 0431 939 920, Email: hugh.tobin@ausveg.com.au
2011 AUSVEG National Convention, Trade Show and Awards for Excellence 14-16 April 2011
Sebel-Citigate Hotel
Speakers include: The Hon. Julia Gillard, MP (Invitation issued)
Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard was sworn in as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia on 24 June 2010 and re-sworn in as Prime Minister on 14 September 2010 following the 2010 Federal Election. Julia Gillard first contested the Federal seat of Lalor for the Australian Labor Party in 1998 and was elected that year.
The Hon. Tony Abott, MP (subject to final confirmation)
Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia On the election of the Howard Government in 1996 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs. In this role, he was responsible for the establishment of the successful Greencorps program for young people. Tony was appointed Minister for Health and Ageing on the 7 October 2003. He has written two books in defence of the existing constitutional system, “The Minimal Monarchy” and “How to Win the Constitutional War”.
Steve Spencer Director of Freshlogic Steve Spencer is a Director of Freshlogic with significant experience in the analysis of agrifood markets and supply chains, and in the delivery of information to supply chain participants. In the fresh vegetables industry he leads the knowledge management sub-program of the industry development program, which has encompassed a redevelopment of the AUSVEG website and the development of a new platform for growers and researchers to access relevant outcomes and applications from research and development.
Robert “Dipper” DiPierdomenico Former AFL Footballer Legendary Australian footballer Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico will be the roving MC for the week’s events at the AUSVEG National Convention. Dipper played for Hawthorn between 1978 and 1991, playing in ten premierships, in one of the most successful eras of domination the club has ever seen. He won a Brownlow Medal in 1986, tying with Greg Williams.
Ian James Industry economist Ian James has a Master of Economics degree from Monash University in Melbourne and since graduating has had a varied experience as an economist working in academia, the federal public service, the financial markets and agriculture. For the last five years Ian has been involved in the Australian Vegetable Industry. At present he is the principal of Industry Data Economic Analysis and is contracted through Horticulture
Brisbane
ausveg.com.au
Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig (Invitation issued)
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Joe Ludwig was born in Longreach, QLD. An ALP member since 1978, he was elected to the Senate in 1998 and 2004. Following the 2004 election, he was appointed to the Shadow Ministry as Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and Shadow Attorney General. He was Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 2001 to 2007. After the 2007 election, Senator Ludwig was sworn in as Minister for Human Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate. On 8 June 2009, he was appointed Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary. Senator Ludwig retains his role as Manager of Government Business in the Senate. Following the ALP forming government after the 2010 election, Senator Ludwig was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by the Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP.
Callum Hann Master Chef competitor The youngest contestant Callum Hann, put aside his engineering degree to compete in the second series of the Ch10 ratings juggernaut MasterChef Australia. Coming second was by no means a loss for the 20 year old, he was invited by Judge and top chef George Columbaris to complete a three month apprenticeship at his group of restaurants, including world renowned The Press Club, which he started in October of this year. He is travelling around Australia attending personal appearances and is currently perusing Television and Publishing opportunities.
Malcolm Jackman Chief Executive of Elders Malcolm Jackman is the Chief Executive of Elders Limited, one of Australia’s largest Agribusinesses, servicing primary producers and regional communities across the country. Born and educated in New Zealand, Malcolm has a BSc in Pure Mathematics and a BCom in Accounting from Auckland University. In September 2008 he was appointed as the CEO of Futuris. In April 2009 Futuris changed its name to Elders Limited.
Greg Spinks Director of Consulting & Implementation Services (CIS) Greg Spinks has spent the past 18 years working as a management consultant. For the past 15 years Greg has been the Director of Consulting & Implementation Services (CIS). Greg is leading the development of the vegetable industry’s strategic plan.
Joerg Ellmanns Manager Director, Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd Mr Ellmanns was appointed Senior Country Representative for Australia and New Zealand in November 2009 and took on the role in addition to his existing position as Managing Director for Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd. His Bayer career has spanned over 20 years and seen him working across the world: in Belgium, the Netherlands and South Africa.
Positive feedback for Vegetable Irrigation Scheduling Software (VISS) BY Charlotte Butler VegetablesWa
Positive response received from growers who have adopted the Vegetable Irrigation Scheduling Software (VISS). As we continue to roll out the updated version of the VISS, through group sessions as well as one on one farm visits, we are gathering valuable feedback from growers who have adopted the software program.
To begin with, search for an existing crop stage that you want to modify, once you have found this, press the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;copyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; link to start editing. An additional benefit from using the Vegetables Irrigation Scheduling System are up to date records such as rainfall and water usage which can be readily accessed and used to make comparisons and predictions about future plantings. The continued delivery of this program will include ongoing introductory group presentations to growers to promote the implementation of the VISS. After success
in Bunbury, Manjimup and Pemberton, additional sessions for north and south metro areas as well as greater northern growing regions are planned for early next year. Details will be made available to growers as they are confirmed. for more information Ongoing farm visits offering one on one setup of the VISS are readily available so please contact myself or horticulture house to register your interest. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to call me on 0427 373 037 or email at charlotte.butler@vegetableswa.com.au
Figure 1 Crop stage manager
The free, web based computer program uses real time weather data and crop factors such as growth stage to calculate daily water requirements for vegetable crops. Adequate quantities of quality water for irrigating crops remains one of the critical issues growers are facing statewide. The solution relies, primarily, on increasing the efficiency of water usage rather than relying on further allocation of scarce water resources. One of the main benefits being communicated by growers is the ability to tailor the VISS to the specific characteristics of each individual property. This includes, not only the key aspects such as soil type, crop and region specific weather data, but goes even further enabling growers to edit the specific crop requirements. This enables the system to cater for varietal or regional differences in the water requirements at critical growth stages and the duration of these stages. The crop stages are setup to allow easy copying of system data which can then be edited.
48
WA Grower December 2010
Figure 2 Graph of irrigation scheduling to allow for easy comparison with future plantings
Agricultural Produce Commission Vegetable Producers’ Committee Inquiry into methodology of Vegetable Fee for Service collection The Agricultural Produce Commission’s Vegetable Producers’ Committee is reviewing the methodology employed by the Committee in its collection of Fee for Service (FFS) from Western Australian vegetable producers. The aim is to ensure the most equitable and efficient collection of payments for the 60 lines of vegetables contributing to the vegetable industry services overseen by the Vegetable Producers’ Committee.
Background After a successful industry poll the APC Vegetable Producers’ Committee commenced operations in 2006. In implementing a FFS the Committee considered its options and decided that, due to the variety of vegetables and their differing weights and sizes, a ‘per package’ FFS rate be instituted.
This FFS is collected at the first point of sale of vegetables and must be remitted to the Committee within 14 days of the end of the month in which trading took place (unless alternative arrangements have been put in place). Fee for Service is generally remitted by a dealer (the person purchasing the vegetables) but can be remitted by the producer, on their own behalf. At its Special Meeting, held on Thursday October 14, 2010, the Committee resolved that, in response to evolving market trading practices, a review of the current vegetable Fee for Service methodology be undertaken.
If you have a viewpoint on this matter please write or email your comments by January 31, 2011 to: Ian Longson at ianlong@iinet.net.au or mail to: Vegetable FFS Inquiry at APC Office Sort Bin 27 Locked Bag 4 Bentley DC WA 6983
The Inquiry has the over riding objective of ensuring an equitable and workable FFS, which improves compliance and enables the Committee to provide a beneficial and optimal service to the Western Australian vegetable industry and will: 1. Investigate the appropriateness of the current FFS methodology 2. Investigate alternative FFS methodologies
Electricity audit may save money
vegetablesWA are driving an idea that has commenced where two properties, vegetable and potato, are being audited relating to their electricity power use.
Mr Ian Longson, the former Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food is assisting the Committee in conducting this inquiry.
Scope of the inquiry
Energy costs by Jim Turley VegetablesWa
Your input is invited
Synergy are mapping the growers use and timing. An engineering company is testing their water pump efficiency. All of the data will be analysed and developed into a plan that will deliver efficiency thereby, reducing costs. If these two audit trials are successful the idea is to try and make the audits available to all our vegetable and potato growers. I know this is ambitious however Horticulture House is currently working on a funding opportunity that may be successful.
New vegetablesWA Finance and Administration Officer — Neta Revivo The team at vegetablesWA are very pleased to introduce our new Finance and Administration Officer, Neta Revivo. Neta has come from a high level Office Manager position where she was responsible for maintaining all administrative duties in the office. Her previous role also included providing detailed finance, accounts, inventory and sales reports. Her experience and natural charm will be a real asset to vegetablesWA and any growers having contact with her. WA Grower December 2010
49
Permits
50
Minor Use Permits can also be searched by specific crop or pest types at www.apvma.gov.au/permits/search.php
Permit ID
Type
Description
Permit ID
Type
Description
Date Issued
Expiry Date
PER3850
AG
Copper hydroxide / Leeks / Downy mildew, Purple blotch
14-Sep-07
13-Sep-12
PER5815
AG
Spinosad / Eggplant / Melon Thrips
11-Aug-08
31-Jul-13
PER5851
AG
Chlorpyrifos / Sweet Potato / Sweet potato weevil, Bean spider mite, Wireworm
12-Feb-07
12-Feb-12
PER6914
AG
Lannate L (methomyl) / Spring onions and Shallots / Western Flower Thrips.
23-May-08
31-Mar-13
PER6918
AG
MCPA 250 Selective Herbicide/ Rhubarb / Broadleaf weeds.
5-Sep-06
4-Sep-11
PER7419
AG
Lambda-cyhalothrin / Snow Peas and Sugar Snap Peas / Pasture Webworm, Cutworm, Rutherglen Bug and Thrips.
11-Aug-08
31-May-13
PER7422
AG
Methomyl / Radish, Swede and Turnip / Cabbage White Butterfly, heliothis, cabbage Centre Grub, Cutworm, Cluster Caterpiller and Looper
23-May-08
31-Mar-11
PER7603
AG
Rovral Aquaflo Fungicide (iprodine) / Beetroot / Alternaria Leaf Spot, Sclerotinia Rot and Grey Mould
21-Apr-06
20-Apr-11
PER7677
AG
Propiconazole / Sweet Corn / Northern Corn Leaf Blight
25-Aug-05
31-Dec-10
PER7905
AG
Phosphorous / Lettuce (leaf and hydroponic), Fennel and Bulb (Allium) Vegetables / Downy Mildew
4-Apr-06
30-Sep-12
PER7916
AG
Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus / Watermelons / Heliothis
7-Aug-06
31-Mar-11
PER7918
AG
Methomyl / Water Melons / Heliothis & Cucumber moth
7-Jul-06
31-Mar-11
PER7935
AG
Dimethomorph / Lettuce / Downy mildew
30-Jan-09
30-Sep-11
PER7953
AG
Phosphorous acid / Durian / Phytophthora root rot
12-Apr-06
30-Sep-12
PER8252
AG
Paclobutazol / Durians, Mangosteens & Rambutans / Flowering
4-Feb-08
31-Mar-13
PER8490
AG
Chlorpyrifos / Various Vegetables / African Black Beetle and Wireworms
7-Feb-06
6-Feb-11
PER8576
AG
Buprofezin /Specified leafy and woody herbs / Jassid, Mealybug, silverleaf and greenhouse whitefly
23-Apr-09
30-Aug-12
PER8577
AG
Etoxazole / Specified leafy and woody Herbs / Two-spotted mite
18-Jun-09
30-Jul-13
PER8591
AG
Myclobutanil / Specified leafy and woody herbs / Powdery Mildew
18-Jun-09
30-Jul-13
PER8595
AG
Cypermethrin / Specified leafy & woody herbs / Specified insect pests
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER8596
AG
Propiconazole / Specified leafy & woody herbs / Various diseases
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER8601
AG
Pyriproxyfen / Herbs / Silverleaf whitefly & Greenhouse whitefly
17-Apr-09
30-Aug-12
PER8608
AG
Chlorothalonil (Bravo) / Snow peas & sugar snap peas/ Downy mildew, Chocolate spot
15-Dec-05
31-Dec-10
PER8612
AG
Indoxacarb / Specified leafy & woody herbs / Lepidoptera
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER8613
AG
Pirimicarb / Specified leafy & woody herbs / Aphids
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER8617
AG
Fenhexamid / Herbs / Botrytis
15-May-09
30-Sep-12
PER8620
AG
Tebuconazole / Specified leafy & woody herbs / Various diseases
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER8621
AG
Quinoxyfen / Leafy and Woody herbs / Powdery Mildew
18-Jun-09
30-Jul-13
PER8623
AG
Triadimenol / Lemon Grass / Powdery Mildew & Rust
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER8628
AG
Pendimethalin / Herbs / Grass & Broadleaf Weeds
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-14
PER8631
AG
Abamectin / Specified leafy & woody herbs / Various insect pests
24-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER8633
AG
Chlorfenapyr / Specified leafy and Woody Herbs / Various Insects
18-Jun-09
30-Jul-13
PER8635
AG
Endosulfan / Seed Sunflower, Sorghum Production / Rutherglen Bugs
11-Oct-06
11-Oct-11
PER8762
AG
Maldison / Leeks, Spring onions and Shallots / Onion Thrips
18-Apr-08
30-Sep-12
PER8765
AG
Permethrin/ Cucurbits: Rockmelons, Watermelons, Pumpkin & Cucumbers/ Cucumber Moth Larvae (Phakelura Indica).
5-Jan-06
31-Dec-10
PER8768
AG
Zineb / Eggplant, Spinach & Silverbeet/ Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.)
10-May-06
10-May-11
PER8790
AG
Methomyl/ Snow peas and Sugar Snap Peas/ Cucurbits/ Cucumber moths and Western Flower Thrips.
3-Mar-06
31-Mar-11
PER8813
AG
Trifluralin / Parsnips / wintergrass
10-Aug-07
9-Aug-12
PER8907
AG
Sencor 480 SC (metribuzin) / Tomatoes / Weed Control
9-Dec-05
31-Dec-10
PER8927
AG
Amistar Fungicide/ Cucumber(greenhouse)/ Alternaria Leaf Spot (Alternaria cucumerina)
26-Jun-06
30-Jun-11
PER8928
AG
Score Foliar Fungicide/ Beetroot/ Leaf Spot
30-Aug-06
30-Aug-11
PER8929
AG
Trifluralin/ Chillies, Paprika and Eggplant/ Various Broad Leaf and Grass Weeds.
30-Mar-06
30-Mar-11
PER9043
AG
Bravo 720 SC / Fennel / Downy Mildew, Purple Blotch
24-Jul-06
31-Jul-11
PER9063
AG
Regent 200 SC / Sweet Potato / White Fringed Weevil & Wireworm
21-Mar-06
1-Dec-11
PER9064
AG
Methomyl / Eggplant / Heliothis species
19-Apr-06
12-Dec-10
PER9072
AG
Bifenazate / Strawberries / Two-spotted mite
30-Jan-06
25-Jan-11
WA Grower December 2010
Date Issued
Expiry Date
Permit ID
Type
Description
PER9103
AG
Tilt 250 EC (propiconazole) / Spinach / Leaf Spot (Cercospora spp.)
4-Jan-08
Date Issued
Expiry Date 30-Jun-11
PER9104
AG
Pyranica / Cucumbers / Two-spotted mite
3-Apr-07
2-Apr-12
PER9125
AG
Clethodim / Radish / Control of grasses
17-Jul-06
16-Jul-11
PER9130
AG
Tilt 250 EC / Beetroot / Leaf Spot
2-Jun-06
30-Jun-11
PER9134
AG
Alpha-cypermethrin / Potatoes / Garden weevil
31-May-06
31-Jan-11
PER9160
AG
Imidacloprid / Various situations / Various pests (consolidated use patterns)
29-Nov-07
31-Dec-10
PER9169
AG
Lontrel / Cauliflower / Capeweed and Clover
21-Aug-06
1-Sep-11
PER9186
AG
Chlorothalonil/ Radish/ White blister (Candida albugo)
1-May-06
1-May-11
PER9272
AG
CUPRIC HYDROXIDE / FRESH HERBS / FUNGAL LEAF DISEASES, BOTRYTIS
24-Jul-06
31-Jul-11
PER9283
AG
Sulphur / Culinary herbs / Rusts, mites, mildews
26-Jul-06
31-Jul-11
PER9317
AG
Chess Insecticide/ Snow peas and sugar snap peas/ Aphids
26-Oct-06
31-Mar-11
PER9325
AG
Ambush Emulsifiable Concentrate Insecticide/ Rhubarb/ Green Peach Aphid, Green Looper, Light Brown Apple Moth and Budworms
5-Apr-07
31-Mar-12
PER9343
AG
Various Pesticides / Mustard / Multiple Pests
2-Mar-07
3-Mar-12
PER9355
AG
Alpha-cypermethrin / Silverbeet and Spinach / Thrips, Vegetable weevil and Redlegged Earth Mite
23-Feb-07
31-Mar-12
PER9425
AG
Fipronil / Asparagus / Garden Weevil
4-Oct-06
30-Jun-11
PER9480
AG
Phosphorous acid / Strawberries, Herbs and Passionfruit / Phytophthora
12-Oct-06
31-Oct-11
PER9485
AG
Acrobat / Snow peas / Downy mildew
5-Apr-07
30-Apr-12
PER9631
AG
Nufarm Cabrio Fungicide (pyraclostrobin) / Brassica Leafy Vegetables / White Blister Rust
16-Jan-09
30-Jun-12
PER9669
AG
Iprodione / Brassica Leafy Vegetables / Sclerotinia, Grey Mould, Alternaria Leaf Spot
30-Jun-07
30-Jun-12
PER9694
AG
Lorsban / Taro / African Black Beetle
6-Mar-07
5-Mar-12
PER9722
AG
Talstar (bifenthrin) / Sweet Potato / Wireworm
31-Mar-09
30-Sep-13
PER9778
AG
Ecocarb Fungicide / Various Greenhouse-grown Vegetables / Powdery Mildew
6-Sep-07
5-Sep-12
PER9779
AG
Diazinon / Parsley and coriander / Onion maggot
7-May-07
31-Mar-12
PER9839
AG
Permethrin (Ambush ) / Celery / Heliothis and Looper
20-Feb-08
31-Mar-13
PER9859
AG
BALAN (benfluralin) / lettuce / grass and broadleaf weed control
1-Apr-07
31-Mar-12
PER9893
AG
Methidathion / Peppers and eggplant / Rutherglen Bug
8-May-08
31-May-13
PER9894
AG
Imidacloprid / Rhubarb / Aphids
2-Aug-07
30-Jun-11
PER9895
AG
Thimet 100G / Leeks / Onion maggot and Thrips
21-Jul-07
30-Jun-12
PER9904
AG
Tribinul, Juggler 700, Tribunax 700 WP / Leeks / Broadleaf weeds
1-Aug-07
31-Jul-12
PER9921
AG
Tribunil Herbicide / Spring Onions and Shallots / Various broadleaf and grass weeds
16-Jul-07
15-Jul-12
PER9922
AG
Phos acid / Rhubarb / Downy mildew
3-Aug-07
1-Jul-12
PER10044
AG
Permethrin / Potted culinary herbs or leafy vegetables / Quarantine Usage
10-Jul-07
31-Mar-12
PER10088
AG
Dithane Rainshield / Leeks and shallots / Purple Blotch and downy Mildew
30-Sep-07
1-Jan-12
PER10089
AG
Chlorpyrifos / Parsley & Potato / Vegetable Weevil & Black beetle
12-Feb-08
30-Sep-13
PER10090
AG
Iprodione / Brussels Sprout / Grey Mould
12-Jan-10
1-Aug-15
PER10091
AG
Acramite 480 SC / Snow Peas and Sugar snap peas (field and greenhouse) / Mites
3-Feb-08
31-Mar-11
PER10166
AG
Avatar (indoxacarb) / Asparagus / Garden Weevil
18-May-09
30-Sep-11
PER10173
AG
Tebuconazole / Faba beans and Broad Beans / Cercospora leaf spot
22-Jan-08
31-Mar-11
PER10184
AG
Products containing potassium salts of fatty acids @ 285 g/L /Glasshouse and hydroponically grown capsicums, lettuce and cucumbers / Glasshouse whitefly and Silverleaf whitefly
20-Feb-08
28-Feb-13
PER10219
AG
Mancozeb / Cucumbers / Grey Mould
16-Apr-08
30-Apr-13
PER10265
AG
Methidathion / Peppers, ornamentals, eggplant & tomatoes / Western flower thrips
18-Mar-08
30-Sep-12
PER10273
AG
Bifenthrin / Sweet potato / Sweet potato weevil & Bean spider mite
22-Feb-08
30-Sep-13
PER10276
AG
Filan Fungicide (boscalid) / Brassicas & Brassica leafy vegetables, Lettuce & Beans / Sclertonia rot
1-Feb-10
31-Jan-13
PER10279
AG
Abamectin / Cucumber, Zucchini and Squash / Two spotted mite
22-Feb-08
30-Sep-13
PER10283
AG
Chlorpyrifos / Potato / Black Beetle, Wingless Grasshopper, Red Legged Earth Mite
9-Jun-09
30-Sep-14
PER10305
AG
Bacillus thuringiensis / Herbs / lepidopteran pests
23-Nov-07
31-Dec-12
PER10307
AG
Metolachlor / Culinary herbs / Weeds
1-Jan-08
31-Dec-12
PER10311
AG
Eco-Oil (Botanical Oil) / Greenhouse & hydroponic capsicum, cucumber & lettuce / Greenhouse whitefly & Silverleaf whitefly
7-Feb-08
30-Sep-13
PER10316
AG
Avatar Insecticide (indoxacarb) / Celery / Heliothis, Lightbrown apple moth, Lucerne leaf roller and Vegetable weevil
3-Mar-08
30-Sep-12
WA Grower December 2010
51
Permits (cont.)
52
Permit ID
Type
Description
PER10335
AG
Petroleum oil / Lettuce (greenhouse & hydroponic) / Various Insects
18-Mar-08
31-Mar-11
PER10349
AG
Azoxystrobin fungicides / Alliums / White Rot
18-Apr-08
30-Jun-11
PER10402
AG
Clethodim / Carrots & Parsnips / Grass weed control
16-Jan-09
31-May-11
PER10407
AG
Prochloraz / Mushrooms / Cobweb disease
19-Jan-08
31-Mar-11
PER10416
AG
Methamidophos / Head Lettuce / Western Flower Thrips
25-Mar-08
31-Mar-13
PER10427
AG
Fipronil (Regent 200 SC) / Swede & Turnip / Diamondback moth
24-Jan-08
30-Sep-11
PER10431
AG
Methomyl / Beetroot / Helicoverpa spp., loopers, webworm
30-Apr-08
30-Apr-11
PER10433
AG
Pirmicarb / Sweet corn / Aphids
12-May-09
31-Mar-12
PER10460
AG
Phorate (Thimet 100G) / Sweet Potatoes / Aphids, Thrips, Jassids and Organophosphate Susceptible Two Spotted Mite and Wireworm.
2-Jan-08
1-Jan-13
PER10497
AG
Imidacloprid / Brassica leafy vegetables / Aphids, Whitefly and Thrips
11-Jun-09
31-Mar-14
PER10511
AG
Surflan 500 Flowable Herbicide (Oryzalin) / Garlic / Broadleaf & grass weeds
18-Mar-08
31-Mar-13
PER10538
AG
Fenthion / Tamarillos / Mediterranean fruit fly (post harvest)
1-Apr-08
31-Mar-11
PER10588
AG
Iprodione / Broccoli / Rhizoctonia
7-May-08
30-Apr-13
PER10596
AG
Success (spinosad) / Spring onions and shallots / Western flower thrip
23-Apr-09
31-Oct-11
PER10628
AG
Basta / Sandalwood Plantations / Weeds
19-May-08
30-Dec-10
PER10656
AG
Pyrimethanil / Snow peas, Sugar snap peas, Protected tomatoes and Protected capsicums / Botrytis
1-Jun-09
30-Jun-12
PER10670
AG
Abamectin / Tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, ornamentals, strawberries & Cape Gooseberries / Two spotted mite & Western flower thrips
1-Apr-08
30-Apr-11
PER10672
AG
Chlorthal-dimethyl / Parsley / Various broadleaf weeds and grasses
14-Apr-08
30-Apr-13
PER10674
AG
Mancozeb + Metalaxyl-M / Brassica vegetables, Brassica leafy vegetables & Rocket / Downy Mildew & White blister
14-Apr-08
31-Mar-13
PER10675
AG
Metolachlor / Spinach, Silverbeet, Spring onions, Shallots, Green beans, Navy benas, Celeriac & Celery / Various broadleaf and grass weeds.
14-Jun-09
30-Jun-12
PER10676
AG
Pendimethalin / Spring Onions, Shallots & Radish / Various broadleaf and grass weeds
16-Apr-08
30-Apr-13
PER10677
AG
Propyzamide / Chicory & Endive / Grass and Broadleef weeds
14-Apr-08
30-Apr-18
PER10679
AG
Mancozeb/ Specified fruiting and legume vegetables / Downy Mildew, Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp) & Alternaria.
10-Jun-10
1-Jan-12
PER10688
AG
Alpha-Cypermethrin / Cauliflower crops / Staphylinid beetle
1-May-08
30-Apr-13
PER10691
AG
Diflufenican / Peas / Broadleaf weeds
28-Apr-08
30-Apr-13
PER10695
AG
Methyl Bromide / Fruit and Fruiting Vegetables / Fruit Fly & Thrips
4-Jun-08
30-Jun-13
PER10714
AG
Karate (Lambda-cyhalothrin) / Bulb Onions / Onion Thrip
8-Sep-08
30-Sep-11
PER10727
AG
Ridomil Gold MZ WG / Celery, Silverbeet & Spinach / Late Blight, Septoria Leaf Blight & Downy Mildew
31-Mar-09
30-Sep-12
PER10729
AG
Applaud Insecticide (buprofezin) / Celery / Greenhouse whitefly
15-Jan-09
31-Jan-13
PER10730
AG
Abamectin (Vertimec) / Chillies and paprika / Two-spoted mite
8-Aug-08
30-Sep-12
PER10735
AG
APRON XL 350 ES & Maxim 100FS / Broccoli / Damping off & Rhizoctonia
1-Jun-09
30-Sep-11
PER10745
AG
TERM-Seal / Permit to enable supply and use
9-Apr-08
31-Mar-11
PER10747
AG
Rovral Aquaflo Fungicide / Chillies & Paprika / Sclerotinia Rot
25-Nov-09
30-Sep-12
PER10748
AG
Tilt 250 EC Systemic Fungicide and all other 250g/L formulations of propiconazole / Silverbeet / Various fungi
12-Aug-10
30-Jun-12
PER10758
AG
Pendimethalin / Parsnip / Grasses and Broadleaf Weeds
16-Jan-09
31-Jan-14
PER10764
AG
Pyriproxyfen / Cucurbits, eggplant & tomato / Silverleaf whitefly
1-Jul-08
30-Sep-12
PER10800
AG
Bayfidan 250 EC Fungicide / Chillies and Paprika / Powdery Mildew
2-Feb-10
30-Jun-13
PER10807
AG
Vertimec (abamectin) / Head Lettuce (field) / Two-spotted mite
1-Jun-09
31-Mar-14
PER10816
AG
Amistar (azoxystrobin) / Horseradish / White Blister Rust & Downy Mildew
1-Jun-09
30-Jun-12
PER10818
AG
Bravo Weather Stik Fungicide (chlorothalonil) / Cucumbers / Botrytis rot
1-Jun-09
30-Sep-13
PER10822
AG
Sodium hypochlorite / Potatoes, Various seeds & Soil / Various insect and fungal pests
30-Jan-09
1-Feb-14
PER10824
AG
Copper Oxychloride, Cuprous Oxide or Cupric Hydroxide / Spring onions and Shallots / Downy Mildew
27-Sep-09
30-Sep-14
PER10845
AG
Barmac Zineb Fungicide / Brassica leafy vegetables / Cercospora leaf spot & Downy mildew
11-Jun-09
31-Mar-15
PER10846
AG
Rovral Aquaflo Fungicide (Iprodione) / Celeriac / Sclerotinia rot
9-Jun-09
30-Jun-12
PER10868
AG
Ioxynil / Spring onions, Shallots & Welsh onions / Broad Leaf and Grass Weeds
1-Jun-09
31-Mar-13
PER10878
AG
Trifluralin / Peppers (sweet and chillie) / Broadleaf and annual grass weeds
11-Aug-08
30-Sep-13
WA Grower December 2010
Date Issued
Expiry Date
Permits (cont.) Permit ID
Type
Description
PER10882
AG
Diazinon / Spring onions and shallots/ Thrips (excluding WFT) and onion seedling maggot
1-Jul-08
Date Issued
Expiry Date 30-Jun-13
PER10902
AG
Dimethomorph / Leeks / Downy mildew
11-Oct-08
30-Sep-13
PER10903
AG
Flint 500 WG Fungicide / Cucumbers and capsicums (protected) / Powdery mildew
18-Aug-10
31-May-13
PER10905
AG
Dimethomorph / Silverbeet / Downy mildew
10-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER10906
AG
Acrobat Fungicide / Spinach / Downy Mildew
10-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER10907
AG
Acrobat Fungicide / Brassica Leafy Vegetables / White blister
10-Dec-08
30-Sep-11
PER10908
AG
Tebuconazole / Beetroot, chicory, endive, radish, silverbeet and spinach / Sclerotonia rot
9-Jun-10
30-Jun-13
PER10914
AG
Azoxystrobin / Radish, leek & carrot / Powdery mildew, Downy mildew and White blister rust
9-Jun-09
31-May-14
PER10920
AG
Chlorpyrifos / Brassicas / Vegetable beetle adults
9-Jun-09
30-Sep-12
PER10927
AG
Lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, alpha-cypermethrin and betacyfluthrin / Australian Plague Locust
11-Aug-08
30-Jun-11
PER10928
AG
Cypermethrin / Locust
11-Aug-08
30-Jun-11
PER10934
AG
Buprofezin / Tomatoes (protected) / Greenhouse Whitefly
9-Jun-09
30-Sep-13
PER10946
AG
Linuron / Celery / range of weeds
1-Nov-08
30-Apr-12
PER10948
AG
Abamectin / Eggplant / Two Spotted Mite
17-Oct-08
30-Oct-13
PER10954
AG
Glyphosate / Passionfruit / Grass & Broadleaf Weeds
27-Nov-08
30-Oct-13
PER10976
AG
Bentazone / Snow peas and sugar snap peas / Broadleaf weeds
10-Aug-09
31-Mar-15
PER10979
AG
Bupirimate / Cucurbits & Peppers / Powdery mildew
31-Mar-09
30-Sep-14
PER10980
AG
Propiconazole / Radishes / Cercospora
26-May-09
31-Mar-12
PER10988
AG
Bladex 900 WG (cyanazine) / Snow peas and sugar snap peas / Broadleaf weeds
10-Aug-09
31-Mar-15
PER11002
AG
Dupont Avatar (indoxacarb) / Cherries / European earwig
14-May-09
31-Mar-15
PER11033
AG
Imazamox / Adzuki & Faba Beans / Control of grass and broadeaf weeds
1-Jan-09
31-Dec-11
PER11120
AG
Natrasoap and Neemtech / Greenhouse tomatoes / Greenhouse whitefly
10-Oct-08
30-Sep-13
PER11122
AG
Maldison / Strawberries / Rutherglen bug
14-Apr-09
30-Jun-12
PER11123
AG
Abamectin / Raspberry and Blackberry / Two-spotted mites
30-Jun-09
31-Mar-12
PER11128
AG
Trifluralin / Culinary herbs / Weeds
1-Jan-09
30-Sep-11
PER11129
AG
Procymidone / Culinary herbs / Alternaria & Sclerotinia
1-Jan-09
31-Dec-10
PER11130
AG
Linuron / Various Culinary Herbs & Spices / Weeds
18-Jun-09
30-Jul-13
PER11170
AG
Fluazifop / Rosemary & Garlic chives / Grass weeds
1-Jan-09
30-Sep-14
PER11215
AG
Powermax (glyphosate) / Chia / Various weeds
11-May-09
30-Jun-14
PER11245
AG
Trifluralin / Chia / Specified broadleaf weeds
27-Sep-09
30-Jun-14
PER11251
AG
Maldison / Fruit fly host species / Fruit fly surveillance
10-Aug-09
30-Sep-15
PER11312
AG
Fusilade Forte (fluazifop) / Chia / Various grasses
27-Sep-09
30-Jun-12
PER11313
AG
Methomyl / Chia / Heliothis
27-Sep-09
30-Jun-12
PER11314
AG
Beta-Cyfluthrin / Chia / Heliothis
27-Sep-09
30-Jun-12
PER11332
AG
Gemstar / Chia (Salivia hispanica) / Heliothis
27-Sep-09
30-Jun-14
PER11349
AG
Prometryn / Celeriac / Grass Weeds listed on Label
1-May-10
11-Dec-11
PER11350
AG
Mancozeb / Radish, swede & turnip / Alternaria, cercospora leaf spot, white blister
10-Aug-09
31-Mar-15
PER11352
AG
Walabi Fungicide / Chicory, Endive, Radicchio, Silverbeet and Spinach / Botrytis and Alternaria
25-Nov-09
30-Sep-14
PER11355
AG
Abamectin / Sweet Corn
19-Jan-10
30-Sep-12
PER11356
AG
Flint 500 WG (trifloxystrobin) / Silverbeet, spinach, chicory & endive / Powdery Mildew
27-Nov-09
31-Oct-12
PER11358
AG
Clethodim / Rhubarb / Grass weeds listed on label
24-Jun-09
30-Jun-14
PER11405
AG
Haloxyfop / Adzuki beans / Grass Weeds
1-Jun-09
30-May-14
PER11425
AG
Metalaxyl / Dill & Parsley / Phythium & Phytophthora
2-Apr-09
31-Oct-11
PER11438
AG
Glyphosate (shielded sprayer) / Specified vegetables / Grass and broadleaf weeds
5-May-09
30-Jun-19
PER11439
AG
Pirimicarb / Sweet Potato, Brassica leafy vegetables, Chicory & Coriander / Aphids
19-Oct-09
30-Sep-11
PER11440
AG
Sumiclex 500 (procymidone) / Peppers / Sclerotinia rot
1-Jun-09
31-Dec-11
PER11441
AG
Propachlor / Radish, swede, turnip / Grass and Broadleaf weeds
27-May-09
31-Dec-19
PER11442
AG
Lambda-cyhalothrin / Cucumbers (Greenhouse and Field) / Heliothis, Onion Thrips, Rutherglen Bug and Loopers
3-Jun-09
31-May-11
PER11443
AG
Metribuzin /Specified Root Vegetables, Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas /Annual Weeds
18-Jun-09
30-Jun-11
PER11450
AG
Ethofumesate (Tramat) / Beetroot & Onions / Grass weeds
8-Jun-09
30-Jun-15
PER11453
AG
Fluazifop / Shallots, Spring onions, Leeks, Garlic, Parsnips & Sweet potato / Grass weeds
25-Nov-09
31-Oct-12
WA Grower December 2010
53
Permits (cont.)
54
Permit ID
Type
Description
PER11472
AG
VectoBac WG Biological Larvicide / Various protected crops & mushrooms / Fungus gnats and Sciarids
18-Jun-09
31-May-14
PER11474
AG
Metalaxyl-M / Lettuce / Damping off
1-Jul-09
30-Jun-11
PER11475
AG
Alpha-cypermethrin / Brassica Leafy Vegetables & Radish / Redlegged Earth Mite, Plague Thrips & Lepidoptera
11-Jun-09
30-Jun-12
PER11477
AG
Lannate L Insecticide (methomyl) / Silverbeet / Various Insects
1-Jul-09
31-Dec-10
PER11479
AG
Linuron / Leeks / Grass and Broadleaf weeds
1-Jul-09
30-Jun-11
PER11480
AG
Amistar Fungicide / Brassica Leafy Vegetables & Carrots / Alternaria Leaf Spot & Powdery mildew
10-Aug-09
30-Sep-11
PER11508
AG
Secure 360 SC / Spring Onions and Shallots / Western flower thrips
9-Jul-09
31-Jul-11
PER11510
AG
Mouseoff and Rattoff Zinc Phosphide Baits / Sweet Potato / House Mouse and Introduced Rats
12-Aug-09
31-Jul-11
PER11526
AG
Chlorothalonil / Specified Herbs / Fungal Diseases
12-Feb-10
30-Sep-14
PER11572
AG
Chlorothalonil / Spinach & Silverbeet / Downy Mildew, Alternaria Leaf Blight & Grey Mould
23-Feb-10
31-Mar-13
PER11586
AG
Metaldehyde / Herbs / Snails and slugs
3-Jul-09
30-Sep-11
PER11590
AG
Mortein Barrier Outdoor Surface Spray / Export Permit
9-Jul-09
31-Dec-12
PER11641
AG
Flint 500 WG (trifloxystrobin) / Celery / Cercospora leaf spot and Septoria spot
27-Nov-09
31-Oct-12
PER11644
AG
Permethrin / Culinary herbs and root crops / Lepidopteran pests
30-Nov-09
30-Sep-11
PER11651
AG
Acramite Miticide / Lettuce / Two-Spotted (Red Spider) Mite
22-Jan-10
31-Dec-12
PER11658
AG
Various actives / Crops as described on the registered labels / Australian Plague Locust (Chortoicetes terminifera)
28-Sep-09
30-Jun-11
PER11747
AG
2,2-Dichloropropionic Acid / carrot crops (for seed) / promotion of bolting and grass weed control
1-Oct-09
30-Nov-14
PER11763
AG
Pirimicarb / Spring Onions / Aphids
6-Jan-10
31-Dec-12
PER11765
AG
Etoxazole / Snow or Sugar Snap Peas / Two Spotted Mite
6-Jan-10
31-Dec-12
PER11815
AG
Petroleum oil / herbs / insect pests
1-Jan-10
31-Dec-14
PER11847
AG
Chlorothalonil / Persimmon / Cercospora leaf spot
19-Jan-10
31-Mar-12
PER11852
AG
Fenhexamid / Greenhouse and Protected Cropping (GHPC) Peppers and GHPC lettuce (head & leafy) / Grey Mould
17-Aug-10
31-Jan-13
PER11873
AG
4 Farmers Omethoate 290 Insecticide / Supply and Use of specified batch
15-Apr-10
30-Jun-11
PER11935
AG
Triadimenol / Parsnips, Radish, Swede & Turnip / Powdery Mildew
5-Feb-10
30-Jun-12
PER11937
AG
Dimethomorph & Mancozeb / Spring Onions and Shallots / Downy Mildew, Purple Blotch & Botrytis rots
10-Jun-10
1-Jan-12
PER11941
AG
Pirimicarb / Almond, Eggplant / Aphids (consolidated application)
1-Apr-10
31-Mar-12
PER11946
AG
Clethodim / Peas, Eggplant, Chilli peppers, Paprika, Silverbeet & Spinach / Grasses
16-Sep-10
30-Sep-12
PER11949
AG
Lambda-Cyhalothrin / Beetroot & Radish / Various Insects
1-Apr-10
31-Mar-15
PER11951
AG
Phosphorous acid / Brassica vegetables, Leafy vegetables and Processing peas / Downy mildew
1-Nov-10
31-Mar-12
PER11952
AG
Amistar 250SC (azoxystrobin) / Broccoli, Brussells sprouts, Cauliflower, Lettuce & Beans / Various fungal diseases
1-Apr-10
30-Sep-11
PER11954
AG
Cropstar Fuschia 100 (S-abscisic acid)/ Supply for export
10-Jun-10
31-Mar-12
PER11966
AG
Various Fipronil products / Custard Apple / Ants
11-Aug-10
30-Jun-13
PER11969
AG
Sunny Plant Growth Regulator / Custard Apple / Plant Growth Regulation
8-Apr-10
31-Mar-13
PER11987
AG
Linuron / Celeraic / Weeds
1-May-10
30-Apr-12
PER11988
AG
Chess Insecticide (pymetrozine) / Various vegetables & Pistachio / Silverleaf whitefly, Lettuce aphid & Green peach aphid
28-May-10
30-Apr-11
PER11989
AG
Tramat 500 SC Selective Herbicide / Spinach, Silverbeet, Onions / Various Weeds
18-Aug-10
31-Jul-13
PER12002
AG
Ecocarb Fungicide / Parsnip, radish, snow peas, sugar snap peas, swede and turnip / Powdery mildew
15-Jul-10
5-Sep-12
PER12054
AG
Propiconazole / Brassica leafy vegetables, chicory, endive, radiccio / Cercospora leaf spot, rust, Septoria leaf spot
22-Oct-10
31-Aug-14
PER12177
AG
Switch Fungicide / Strawberries / Stem end rot and Leaf blotch
26-May-10
31-Mar-12
PER12364
AG
BASF Pyramin WG Selective Herbicide / Fodder Beet, Red Beet, Silver Beet / Various Weeds & Grasses
30-Sep-10
30-Sep-11
PER12378
AG
Acephate / Ornamentals, Tomatoes & Peppers / Western flower thrips
25-Oct-10
31-Oct-15
PER12384
AG
Dual Gold Herbicide (S-metolachlor) / Rhubarb / Various weeds
18-Nov-10
31-Aug-15
PER12572
AG
Acramite Miticide / Cucumbers, Capsicums and Tomatoes / Two-Spotted Mite
17-Nov-10
30-Sep-11
WA Grower December 2010
Date Issued
Expiry Date
Thinking pumpkins? Think Terranova.
Jackaroo
Sampson
Sampson was the first in a series of new hybrid pumpkins from the ENZA breeding program. In less than two years since its introduction by Terranova, Sampson has become the market leader in grey pumpkins in Australia. Now Terranova is introducing Jackaroo, the second hybrid pumpkin in the ENZA series, with seed available from February 2010.
Hybrid Pumpkin - Kent Type Fruit size 4-5 kg Excellent internal colour High yield potential Developed especially for Australian conditions.
Sampson
Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No.1 Grey Pumpkin Outstanding skin colour Outstanding versatility and yield Outstanding resistance Outstanding storage and shipping.
For more information about Sampson and the new Jackaroo hybrid pumpkins, please call your local Terranova representative Danie Oosthuizen. Mobile: 0417 930 233 For production guides and cultural notes visit www.tnseeds.com
5 years of reliable quality seed supply
TERRA 8764_WA
NEW Jackaroo
WA Grower December 2010
5 years of reliable q
55
56
WA Grower December 2010
4 4 4
4
4 4
4
4
4 4 4
4 4 4 4
4 4
4
4 4 4
4
f: 9845 1123 t: 9845 1135
f: 9845 2038 t: 9845 2038
For further details please contact your supplier
WHITE STAR
RUBY LOU
ROYAL BLUE
RED RASCAL
USSETRANGER R
NORLAND
NICOLA
NADINE
MONDIAL
MAXINE
MARIS PIPER
KESTREL
INOVA
HARMONY
FL1867
EVA
EUREKA
DELAWARE
BLISS
ATLANTIC
ARGOS
ALMERA
C AYRES & SONS
TA & PA BARKER
4 4
4 4 4 4
4 4
4
f: 9841 1987 t: 9841 4286
TR & CK ACKLEY
4
f: 9844 4622 t: 9844 4622
NR & DJ LEE
4
4
4
4
4
4
f: 9846 4401 t: 9846 4306
f: 9844 6169 t: 9844 6269
4
W BOCIAN & SONS
LS & JL ELDRIDGE
4 4
4
4
4 4
4
f: 9845 1306 t: 9845 1248
SJ WOLFE & SON
4 4
4
4 4
f: 9842 3538 t: 9841 5474
CR & RK WESCOTT
Potato varieties for sale
harvest Jan–May 2011
WA Grower ADVERTISING SPECIFICATIONS
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CLASSIFIED/LINEAGE ADVERTISEMENTS Are available in ½ or ¼ page Lineage adverts - with a font of 10pt Arial per 6 SC/CM – e.g.; Congratulations on the birth of baby boy For Sale 100HP, 2WD North American, a/c ROPS cab, 6400 hours, 1000/540 PTO, 2 hydro remotes, power shift transmission, good tyres, excellent appearance and working order, surplus to requirements. $17,000 +GST Tel: 0409 000 000
Wanted A one man petrol driven post hole digger — new or second hand. Please phone Gary on mobile 0400 123 456.
vegetablesWA Horticultural House 103 Outram Street, West Perth 6005
t: (08) 9481 0834 f: (08) 9481 0024 e: finance@vegetableswa.com.au
Anniversary The 10th Anniversary of the Berry Hill opening. Come and join in the celebrations. Face painting, fruit give-aways, competitions and food stalls. September 14, Berry Hill, Woking.
Births Congratulations on the birth of Sophie on the 28 August. Proud parents Emily and Rick West delighted with their new bundle of joy.
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Bejo, a name that stands for quality Bejo, a name that stands for quality
Quality Counts Quality Counts Cabbage Cabbage
• Ducati F1 • Capture F1 NEW • Ducati F1 • Capture F1 NEW
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Carrot Carrot
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WA Representative Tim Aldridge Tel: 0458 685 858 WA Representative E-mail: tim.aldridge@bejo.com.au Tim Aldridge Tel: 0458 685 858 E-mail: tim.aldridge@bejo.com.au
Carrot (Bunching) Carrot (Bunching)
• Mokum • Sweetheart
• Mokum • Sweetheart
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