WA Grower Magazine Summer 2021 by vegetablesWA

VOL. 56 NO 4. SUMMER 2021 $25.00 (inc GST)

grower WORKING FOR WA GROWERS SINCE 1948

Vegetable industry showcased at Gingin

150th celebrations WA Horticulture Updates wrap-up

This issue of the WA Grower is brought to you by vegetablesWA together with: • APC — Vegetable Producers Committee • Potato Growers Association • Pomewest • WA Citrus • Stonefruit WA

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inside Your vegetablesWA magazine

26 YOUR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

59 3

Seed for Schools program

vegetablesWA CEO’s Report

Seed Grower Field Day

Do you need to get a director ID?

vegetablesWA President’s Report

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Fire safety

Vegetable FFS rates and activities

Recipe

Rethink packaging design

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POMEWEST 49

Farm biosecurity practices

Season update

Food Safety Culture

Chair’s Chat

Soil moisture monitoring

‘Soil Your Undies’ challenge

YOUR BUSINESS

Superannuation application 84 The unseen competitive advantage 86 Decision making and planning

Changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 88 YOUR HEALTH

Cooloola Farms Produce advertorial 18

WA Apples at the Perth Royal Show 56

Permits 114

Corteva advertorial

WA’s Workplace Vaccine Mandate

New heat mapping tool for apples

The myth that men don’t talk

ABC Software advertorial

Coping with change

YOUR INDUSTRY

The battle against European wasp

Gingin 150th Celebration

Australia’s border security

From the industry

Meet the Buyer

WAHU2021

What did you learn at the WAHU?

Marketing for value

Canopy management

Trade barriers

100

Polyphagous shot-hole borer

The 21st Century Eater

104

Origins Market

108

Sustainable farming practices WA POTATOES

WA CITRUS

STONEFRUIT WA

WA Potatoes CEO’s report

WA Potatoes Chair’s Report

Facilitator Update

Marketing Update

Fumigation Tour

YOUR MARKET

VIETNAMESE TRANSLATIONS

110

SUPPLIER GUIDE

120

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

VOL. 56 NO 4. SUMMER 2021

WORKING FOR WA GROWERS SINCE 1948

YOUR CONTACTS

contacts vegetablesWA

Management Committee

702–704 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 t: (08) 9486 7515 e: office@vegetableswa.com.au

President Dan Kuzmicich m: 0408 910 761

Acting Chief Executive Officer Manus Stockdale m: 0448 897 652 e: manus.stockdale@vegetableswa.com.au Operations Manager Karen Raybould t: (08) 9486 7515 e: karen.raybould@vegetableswa.com.au COVER IMAGE: vegetablesWA CEO Manus Stockdale with local grower Maureen Dobra (Loose Leaf Lettuce) at the Gingin 150th Event. Photo © Shire of Gingin

Published by vegetablesWA This issue of the WA Grower is brought to you by: • vegetablesWA • APC — Vegetable Producers Committee • Potato Growers Association • Pomewest • WA Citrus • Stonefruit WA

Admin, Marketing & Sales Benjamin Hamilton t: (08) 9486 7515 e. ben.hamilton@vegetableswa.com.au Regional Development Officer Truyen Vo m: 0457 457 559 e: truyen.vo@vegetableswa.com.au Regional Development Officer Michael Bartholomew m: 0427 373 037 e: michael.bartholomew@vegetableswa.com.au Building Horticulture Business Capacity Program Lead Bryn Edwards m: 0417 409 821 e: bryn.edwards@vegetableswa.com.au Quality Assurance Coordinator Joel Dinsdale m: 0417 857 675 e: joel.dinsdale@vegetableswa.com.au Industrial Relations Consultant Stephen Farrell m: 0455 833 352 e: stephen.farrell@vegetableswa.com.au Life Members

A.J. Anderson*, D.J. Arbuckle, J. Arbuckle Snr*, J.H. Arbuckle* (M.B.E.J.P), H.R. Ashby*, S. Calameri, M. Dobra, A. Harris*, A. Ingrilli, G. Kiriros*, R.G. Leach*, F. Natoli, S. Sawle*, R.M. Schultz, C.P. Stevens, W.R. Stevens* (M.B.E.J.P) and J. Turley. * Deceased © 2021 All articles and other material published in this magazine is vegetablesWA copyright (unless otherwise stated) and may not be reproduced in part or full without the written permission of the authors and publisher. DISCLAIMER: vegetablesWA make no representations and expressly disclaims all warranties (to the extent permitted by law) about the accuracy, completeness, or currency of information in WA Grower. Reliance on any information provided by vegetablesWA is entirely at your own risk. vegetablesWA is not responsible for, and will not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim, expense, cost (including legal costs) or other liability arising in any way, including from any vegetablesWA or other person’s negligence or otherwise from your use or non-use of WA Grower, or from reliance on information contained in the material or that vegetablesWA provide to you by any other means.

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Carnarvon

Vice President Maurice Grubiša m: 0413 050 182 Metro North Committee Renae Admas

m: 0408 570 181

Paul Glavocich

m: 0413 922 287 Metro South

Peter Ivankovich m: 0428 919 211

Manjimup Myalup

Michael Le

m: 0417 962 427 Metro North

Anthony Lieu

m: 0401 558 886 Metro North

Paul Shain

m: 0419 041 045

Carnarvon

APC VPC Committee Chair Peter Ivankovich Vice Chair Lisa Tana Members Joyce Babun Dan Kuzmicich Bevan Eatts Calogero (Charlie) Blogna Michael Le APC Manager Ingrid Behr t: (08) 9368 3127 e: APCManager@dpird.wa.gov.au

Advertising For information on WA Grower advertising rates and sizing, please email: comms@vegetableswa.com.au

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vegetablesWA

CEO’s Report

BY MANUS STOCKDALE ACTING CEO, VEGETABLESWA

021 has been a challenging year for most sectors of the Australian economy and the WA vegetable industry has certainly had its fair share. While we all look forward to interstate and international borders reopening and emerging from a COVID management environment, some of the related challenges look likely to remain into the new year.

Access to labour continues to be a key issue for growers in WA, as reflected across rest of Australia.

of any significant numbers of workers into Australia is not likely to occur until mid-2022. Growers should also check any claims being made by labour and immigration providers against the official Australian Government information to ensure that what is being offered can actually be delivered. vegetablesWA will continue to work with industry and government so WA growers can take advantage of the Ag visa and other opportunities to source the labour they need. Sea freight access and costs in WA are ongoing issues for the industry. While exporters are experiencing the direct impact of increasing costs of shipping containers, freight and handling charges most growers are reporting increases in prices and supply issues for farm inputs. These price increases are largely attributed to international freight disruptions, so this is an issue for the whole industry. vegetablesWA is working with the WA government to look at ways to address some of the local port and logistical issues that are adding to the global freight disruption.

The announcement of the Agriculture Visa (Ag Visa) has been welcome news.

The announcement of the Agriculture Visa (Ag Visa) has been welcome news however growers need to be aware of the timelines for the development of the visa and understand that the arrival

vegetablesWA held its AGM in October with all the Committee of Management members continuing in their roles f SEA freight access and costs in WA are ongoing issues for the industry. Exporters are experiencing the direct impact of increasing costs of shipping containers.

for the next 12 months apart from Lauren East who has stepped down. Lauren has served on the committee for the past 3 years and we thank her for her contribution during her tenure and wish her well. We are pleased to welcome Renae Adams from Twin Lakes in Manjimup. Renae brings great skills, experience and networks to the committee through her work with Twin Lakes as Chief Financial Officer and other horticultural businesses in the south of WA. 2021 has been a busy year for vegetablesWA with some significant successes and achievements including; • Facilitating the arrival of more than 1300 seasonal workers through the DPIRD funded Labour Scheme Facilitator project. • Securing funding for the Building Horticulture Business Capacity project which builds on the success of the Vegetable Benchmarking project and expands it to other WA horticulture industries including Pome. • Partnering with AUSVEG to deliver the WA component of the Hort Innovation funded VegNet3.0 extension project for the next 5 years. We have employed a new Regional Development Officer Michael Bartholomew for the project and look forward to working with the other delivery partners to extend R&D within the vegetable industry. • Building a mobile app ‘VegetablesDirect’ to allow us to communicate and provide services directly to our members. The app will provide a number of features including tailored information and industry news, a channel for growers to regularly engage with their existing buyers and suppliers and sell their produce to new export markets. From all of the staff here at vegetablesWA, we wish all our members and stakeholders a happy and safe festive season and look forward to working with you in the new year. MORE INFORMATION Manus Stockdale, phone 0448 897 652 or manus.stockdale@vegetableswa.com.au

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f RAIN has caused an influx of aphids and fruit fly.

Property owners need to be diligent in maintaining their properties.

vegetablesWA

President’s Report BY DAN KUZMICICH PRESIDENT, VEGETABLESWA

ell, it’s November and it still feels like winter.

Greetings to industry members and growers. This year has been frustrating and challenging, especially in the art of growing vegetables. The unseasonal weather has caused some real implications in many areas of the state. Speaking to many producers, the cooler, wetter and windier conditions have struck a common chord and have been adversely affecting crops in many regions.

As an example, this year Carnarvon has recorded 520mm of rain, which has impacted growing conditions. As such, the volume is down in general, and quality has been compromised by the following factors.

Rain Rain has caused an influx of aphids and fruit fly, and the colder weather has seen these pests thrive, hosting at some properties that are wild with weeds. This has created real issues with viruses been transmitted across the region. Many growers have been badly affected with disease.

The answer? Property owners need to be more diligent in maintaining their properties, as this impacts others’ livelihoods. Protect and respect your neighbour and your region’s prosperity by always keeping your on-farm hygiene front of mind.

Wind There are growers who have made the decision to finish early due to ongoing damaging wind demolishing tomato plants. Bean growers too have been smashed, resulting in their produce being unsaleable. This is an example of where the value of protective cropping comes into play.

What we all need is some warmer weather and less wind to finish off the Carnarvon growing season well and then we’ll send it down for our cousins to benefit in the south. On a brighter note, in late September, vegetablesWA Committee of management member Peter Ivankovich, Operations Manager Karen Raybould and myself ventured down to Donnybrook to attend the Food and Wine Long Table Lunch sponsored by vegetablesWA. The event was held at Orchard 160 owned and operated by the Licciardello family. Full credit to Sam and Vanessa as their orchard and pack shed was beautifully presented. In the old days we called it a shed party. The venue had that rustic feel, and there was real atmosphere and anticipation in the air. Sam told me his approach was ‘build it and they will come’ and come they did! WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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A full house and fully booked out with 150 guests to enjoy wonderful food, wine, entertainment, and dance! This event gave me an opportunity to catch up and have a chat with some local vegetable growers in this region; vegetablesWA are committed to getting out in the regions, particularly in the southern parts of the state.

I would add, I would have liked to see more interaction from the audience via more question time, and it would have been even better. A WAHU On the Road industry and farm tour has held the next day. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but from all reports that too was a worthwhile activity to support. After that said I must congratulate DPIRD on the concept and execution of the event. I would urge more growers to attend next time, as it raised interesting insights, discussion and networking opportunities with key stakeholders and growers from all the hort sectors from all over the state.

vegetablesWA are We are keen to build engagement with our committed to getting out in members, not only the regions. to hear the growers’ concerns, but also what is needed to keep our industry sustainable for the future. On November 4, DPIRD hosted the WA Horticulture Update (WAHU). This was held at Optus Stadium, with a focus on Sustainability and Resilience in the Hort industry. The program and calibre of the guest speakers was excellent and was well worth a listen. The only thing

UNTREATED

Also, this month I had the pleasure of catching up with Kingsley Songer, General Manager of 4 Ways Fresh, in Carnarvon. Kingsley is also the Chair at AUSVEG SA. 4 Ways Fresh have just purchased one of the land expansions blocks for horticulture in Carnarvon.

Carnarvon Growers Chair, Paul Shain and Operations Manager Nic Cuthbert joined us for lunch to discuss 4 Ways plans for growth in the region. It was pleasing to hear that within their plans they intend to collaborate and work with existing grower community, albeit they were a few years off being fully operational. It is always great to catch up with Kingsley and I appreciate his honesty and transparency in sharing information. On finishing my report, I would like to wish Growers and Industry members all the best. As we finish the season off up here, we with the South a productive start to their upcoming harvest season. Have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and safe New Year to you and your families. MORE INFORMATION Contact Dan Kuzmicich on 0408 910 761 or damir.kuzmicich@bigpond.com

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Agriculture Produce Commission

Vegetable FFS rates and activities

BY K AREN RAYBOULD OPERATIONS MANAGER, VEGETABLESWA

What is the APC Vegetable FFS n the 1st July 2019, and how is it paid? after consultation The Agricultural Produce Commission1 with growers and (APC) Vegetable Fee for Service2 (FFS) is the charge paid by Western Australian retailers, the APC-VPC growers, at the first point of sale, implemented changes, on vegetables grown in WA. approved by the APC Vegetables excludes those grown in Kununurra and Commissioners Fines can be imposed mushrooms but includes and Agriculture for non-payment of the tomatoes and all melons. Minister, to the rates The FFS charge is paid on FFS charge. a ‘per kilo’ basis. Where it is and categories of difficult to identify the actual the Vegetable Fee for weight a ‘deemed’ weight is used. The deemed weight is based Service (see Table 1).

on the Perth Market deemed weights for vegetables. The APC Vegetable producers’ committees work to improve and promote the long-term sustainability and profitability of WA vegetable growers. The FFS is used to fund actions undertaken by the Committee on behalf of vegetable growers. Some examples of what is funded by the FFS include: • Vietnamese field extension officer, part funded • vegetablesWA activities, such as biosecurity representation and response, representation on labour issues and water issues

TABLE 1. FEE FOR SERVICE RATES AND CATEGORIES 2019–20. Category A

Category B

Category C

Category D

Category E

Category F

Category G

Category H

$ rate/kg • Bamboo shoots • Beans: broad • Beans: fava • Beans: other • Beans: runner • Beanshoots • Bok choy • Capsicums • Chillies • Choysum • Daikon: radish top • Eggfruit • Fennel • Horseradish • Luffa • Pak choy • Paprika

• Beetroot • Gourds • Melons: watermelon • Parsnips • Pumpkin: butternut • Pumpkin: Japanese • Pumpkin: Kent • Pumpkin: other • Pumpkin: Queensland blue • Swedes • Sweet potatoes • Turnips

• Brussels sprouts • Cabbage • Cauliflower • Cauliflower: fancy • Cauliflower: Romensco • Onions • Radish • Rhubarb • Radicchio

• Artichokes • Asparagus • Babyleaf: all varieties • Chicory • Endive • Kale • Kohl rabi • Leafy greens • Lettuce • Lettuce: mixed salad • Micro greens • Okra • Rocket • Spinach: English • Taro • Watercress

• • • • • • • •

Choko Courgettes Cucumber Cucumber: Lebanese Marrow Melons: honeydew Melons: rockmelon Melons: other

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Broccoli Broccolini Celeriac Celery Chard Garlic Leeks Shallots Spring onions Squash Squash: spaghetti Sweet corn Whitlof: Chinese cabbage Zucchini

• Carrots

• Other vegetables

1 Agricultural Produce Commission Act 1988 2 Agricultural Produce Commission Act 1988, s14

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• Quality assurance • Building horticulture business capability, part funded • Business extension, human resources and industrial relations.

Where does your

fee for service go?

What does this mean for you as a grower? • You must pay the current FFS charge on any relevant vegetable produce grown in WA. • Even if the produce is not sold in WA, but is sent out of the State, (national or international) the FFS must still be paid.

FEE FOR SERVICE Paid at the first point of sale of fresh produce. Paid to the Agricultural Produce Commission (APC) by your market agent, retailer or you can choose to remit as the grower.

• The FFS is generally paid at the first point of sale, on a monthly basis.

How the FFS is paid If you sell to a WA market agent, supermarket, wholesaler or other dealer: • The WA market agent, supermarket, wholesaler or other dealer must send the payment to the APC. • They then deduct the amount of the FFS charge from any payment, which is made to you. • The FFS must be paid to the APC not later than 14 days after the end of the month when the produce was traded. • The dealer/market agent/wholesaler must advise the producer of any amount deducted and paid in FFS within 28 days of making the deduction. If you sell directly (for example — via roadside stalls or export): • You must pay the FFS to the APC yourself.

VEGETABLESWA Supports and advocates for WA vegetable growers in the field and in Parliament. Provides educational resources and business tools.

THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE COMMISSION Supports agricultural producers to establish Producers’ Committees to enable the provision of services to producers.

• This is done by completing an APC FFS Return Form. This can be downloaded from https://apcwa.org. au/publications/ffs-rates-return or contact the APC and a form can be sent to you.

BIOSECURITY FUND Fund set aside for use in the case of an incursion and utilised if needed.

• The form has instructions on how to complete the form, what the current rates are and where to send the payment to. It also has contact numbers/email if you have any questions. • The FFS must be paid to the APC not later than 14 days after the end of the month when the produce was traded. MORE INFORMATION If you want to discuss services currently provided, please contact the committee Executive Officer, manus.stockdale@vegetableswa.com.au or the committee chair, Peter Ivankovich (ivafarms@bigpond.com). If you have queries on understanding the vegetable FFS rate or the payment of your FFS, or would like a copy of this information in a fact sheet please contact the APC (apcmanager@dpird.wa.gov.au or apcadmin@dpird.wa.gov.au — (08) 9368 3465 or (08) 9368 3734).

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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your

production Your production WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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Vegetable growers’ adoption of farm biosecurity practices BY TRUYEN VO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, VEGETABLESWA

Highlights • Adopters enhanced farm biosecurity practices. • Factors influencing farmers’ practice changes in farm biosecurity are identified. • Strategies to foster grower adoption of farm biosecurity practices are recommended.

Problems and opportunities In recent years the vegetable industry in Western Australia has been hit hard by two exotic pest incursions — CGMMV in August 2016 and TPP in February 2017. The state is also under threat of fall armyworm (FAW) and serpentine leaf miner (SLM).

On the other hand, preliminary results of the Area wide management of vegetable diseases: viruses and bacteria project in WA (VG16086)1 reveals contagious vegetable diseases and pests such as bacterial canker, nematodes and different types of viral diseases being continuous threats. Improving WA growers capacity in planning and implementing farm biosecurity plan and plant protection management is essential to protect the multimillion dollars vegetable industry in WA. Literature from both national and regional projects in this area showed extension resources such as farm biosecurity plans and practice guidance have been valuable2. However, stronger extension activity at a grassroots level is needed to facilitate wider grower adoption.

Enhancing grower decision making in relation to farm biosecurity practices Over a series of workshops, vegetablesWA through the vegNET project has introduced growers to knowledge and information about historical pest and disease incursion incidents, fundamental pest and disease management, IPM, area wide management of plant pests and diseases, farm biosecurity plans and practice guidance. A core group of seven growers has been encouraged to try changes in plant pest management using this recently introduced knowledge. Grower participants have been assisted in developing and finetuning farm biosecurity plans to see the relative advantages (the degree to which new practices are perceived to be better than those it supersedes); compatibility (consistency with existing values, past experiences and needs) and observability (the visibility of results).

100% participants carried out practice changes in farm biosecurity.

1 www.horticulture.com.au/growers/help-your-business-grow/research-reports-publications-fact-sheets-and-more/vg16086 2 https://ausveg.com.au/app/data/technical-insights/docs/TL179.pdf; https://ausveg.com.au/app/data/technical-insights/docs/TL180.pdf; https://ausveg.com.au/ app/data/technical-insights/docs/TL48.pdf

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100% grower participants complied with recommended seed and seedling management.

f GROWERS and stakeholders listening to the Tomato Biosecurity Presentation.

Benchmarking the practice changes Benchmarking of growers’ practice changes against items listed in the farm biosecurity checklist, which included cleaning vehicles and machinery, controlling access to growing zones, sourcing of seeds and planting materials, monitoring of pests and diseases and managing packaging and pallets.

Analysis of the benchmarking results was carried out to better understand the levels of practice change among members of the grower focus group The benchmarking results showed that 100% of grower participants implemented some practice changes in farm biosecurity over the life of the project. However, the level of practice change varied among the focus group members. The grower with the highest level of adoption of biosecurity practices indicated they were using 31 of the 38 recommended strategies listed on the checklist compared to other members of the group who had adopted between 18 and 26 of the strategies. All growers improved their biosecurity practices through the extension activity as the initial average for the group was 11/38. 100% of grower participants adopted the recommended seed and seedlings management and packages and pallets management practices.

f GROWERS holding up Biosecurity signs given by vegetablesWA.

High levels of improvement were also recorded in growers’ management of vehicle movement, farm visitors and staff hygiene and sanitation practices.

as agronomists. These services are essential to grower businesses by nature, thus no extension effort for improvement is needed.

In contrast, the benchmarking results also revealed no improvements in a few aspects of biosecurity practices including inspection of wash down facilities, checking of farm visitors’ clothing, footware and tools for soil and organic matter and the management of vermin, feral animals, weeds and wildlife populations around growers farms.

On the other hand, low improvements on other farms in the focus group can be explained by growers not seeing direct benefits of implementing the suggested practices in relation to the control of specific pest and diseases that are impacting their production. Therefore, integrating general farm biosecurity practices with specific pest and disease management strategies will enhance growers’ adoption.

Suggestions for improvement Discussion with growers during the investigation revealed that the higher compliance with good farm biosecurity practices were observed on farms that utilise professional advisors such

MORE INFORMATION Truyen Vo, Regional Development Officer, phone (08) 9486 7515, 0457 457 559 or email truyen.vo@vegetableswa.com.au

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Investing in Training

A key element of Food Safety Culture

BY JOEL DINSDALE QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR, VEGETABLESWA

n the last 12–18 months, we’ve started to hear the term ‘food safety culture’ come into the forefront in industry news. This has been triggered by a global need to adopt and build on food safety culture — coming from the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) version 2020 release and updates to Codex HACCP. As a result, audits for GFSI benchmarked standards (including Freshcare), must now assess and report on the business’ food safety culture.

A global need to adopt and build on food safety culture

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Globally, it has been recognised that food safety culture is “behaviour based”. This means that a business with good food safety culture is a proactive one that is demonstrating strong leadership, committed management and workforce; end-to-end accountability, while demonstrating that they can continually improve and build on their good behaviour(s). Freshcare FSQ4.2’s food safety culture factsheet provides a brief information piece on the topic and it also references a number of useful documents, so I’d strongly advise reading the factsheets and clicking on the URLs embedded in the information for a number of great resources. I really like the link to the embedded FSANZ document titled What does a strong food safety culture look like?. This is a one-page document that captures the who, what and hows of food safety culture. But for those who want more information, fear not, the Fresh Produce Safety Centre has you covered!

In August (2021), the Fresh Produce Safety Centre released another great resource that builds on the FSANZ document mentioned above. Factsheet — Food Safety Culture is a ten-page document authored by Elizabeth Frankish from a broader scientific paper published in Trends in Food Science & Technology 116 (2021) 63–74 that further unravels the food safety culture yarnball to provide tips and insights we can implement into our businesses. For those that want to grab top gear and really drill into the finer details of food safety culture — Frank Yiannas is considered one of the food safety culture gurus and he has authored a number of books on the topic. But we live in a busy world, so I recognise that this is not necessarily achievable for most to read his publications. I’ve digressed — but there is a method to my madness so keep reading! As Frank Yiannas states “Food Safety = Behaviour” and Elizabeth Frankish states “better culture = better business sustainability”.

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their need to complete training, but when I heard their feedback (following the course) I believe that benefits of training revealed themselves. Apart from enjoying the course and meeting other likeminded trainees, those in attendance admitted that the training informed and empowered them to go back to their work sites and do better (i.e. enact changes learned during the training).

That’s the dividend on the investment in training!

Considering those strong quotes, it seems a no-brainer to invest in workforce behaviour as it might yield a dividend! As Warren Buffet stated, “the best investment you can make is in yourself”, which leads to the title of this article: Investing in Training — A key element of Food Safety Culture.

Over the last two years, vegetablesWA, along with Safe Farms WA and TAFE, have been facilitating AusChem Training and refresher courses to support industry. I recently attended the on-farm component of one of the courses. Within the group of trainees, there were several senior growers with lifetimes of experience. On the surface, you would think that their vast experience trumps

Enact change, do better (where possible), create better behaviour in your business as that’s all a part of food safety culture! Congratulations to all those that are actively investing in training. For those that aren’t — it’s not too late to start investing. MORE INFORMATION If you’d like to discuss your training options, email joel.dinsdale@vegetableswa.com.au

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User friendly soil moisture monitoring technology.

 STATE government propose a 10 per cent reduction to groundwater allocations from 2028.

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Soil moisture monitoring

reducing input costs and improving produce quality BY TRUYEN VO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, VEGETABLESWA

Highlights • Adopters used digital soil moisture monitoring technology. • Factors determining farmers’ adoption responses to low produce quality and water and fertiliser use efficiency are identified. • Strategies to improve water and fertiliser use efficiency in northern suburbs are recommended.

egetable production of Perth’s Northern Suburbs is on sandy soils, which are some of the most infertile soils in the world. Adding to the challenges of the region is a state government proposal of a 10 per cent reduction to groundwater allocations from 2028 and gaps in water and fertiliser use efficiency among growers. In order to bridge the gap, VegNET WA collaborated with two vegetable growers in the area to set up demonstrations using digital soil moisture monitoring technology to assist with decision making in irrigation to improve the water and fertiliser use efficiency.

Innovation extension strategy The innovation extension is designed to help grower participants go through a 5-stage process included: 1 Knowledge (expose growers to water and fertiliser use efficiency concepts and assist them in understanding the benefits). 2 Persuasion (the forming of a favourable attitude to it). 3 Decision (commitment to its adoption). 4 Implementation (putting it to use). 5 Confirmation (reinforcement based on positive outcomes from it).

The introduced innovation to improve water and fertiliser use efficiency imbeds a few scientific concepts, such as the function of water leaking against the water application time, the effective root zone, the relationship between water application time and water leaking past the root zone. These scientific concepts were translated to visual illustration and simple practices such as the dye test and digging holes to expose the root system. Soil moisture monitoring technology has traditionally been complex however their are now user friendly systems that growers can easily operate and monitor from their smart phones.

Growers can now monitor soil moisture from their smart phones.

The extension techniques employed for knowledge transfer included: field day, workshops, grower meetings, phone chat, one-on-one knowledge and information transfer via farm visits, and on farm demonstrations.

Suggested practice changes as a result of soil moisture monitoring have been as simple as reducing water leakage by splitting water applications and/or shortening watering times. WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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 USING digital soil moisture monitoring technology to improve water use efficiency.

These suggested practice changes can be adopted in part or in full depending on the observed results and the difficulty of implementation.

Growers’ attitude changes Integrating the records of grower participation in extension events such as field day, workshops, grower meetings, farm visits and grower responses to the phone discussion with development officer throughout the project course helped to determine growers’ preferable learning styles, attitude changes and the influencing factors. Assessing the growers’ commitment to practice changes during and after the farm demonstrations also helped to figure out their attitude changes and level of commitment to the adoption of introduced technologies.

The one-on-one contacts allowed RDO-grower interactions to transfer tacit knowledge that included skills, insights, and personal experiences embodied in the minds of individuals, thus not easily shared through less personal methods. Both growers in these case studies have learned the effective root zone concept and the water leaking issue by digging the soil to expose the root system and by observing the wet soil below the effective 30cm root zone.

Case studies results 1. The recorded growers’ preferable extension methods

numbers could be exchanged through this extension methods. Group meeting and field day required growers to leave their farms, which is difficult for some growers. While one grower of these study cases has participated in all extension events during the project to take up technological information, the other always welcomed extension officer visits to his farm and phone calls but never attended meetings, nor workshops.

Grower participants preferred practical transfer of knowledge and technology.

The recorded growers’ preferable extension methods are presented in Table 1. Both grower participants preferred practical transfer of knowledge and technology most. This way of technology learning involves one-onone contacts via farm visits, on-farm illustration, demonstrations, and phone discussion.

Virtual contact via phone and text message mainly helped to maintain RDO-grower relationship. Only explicit knowledge expressed in words and

Beside the age difference, other factors such as hesitation to meet with a group of people and current farm labour shortages prevented him from going to meetings or workshops.

TABLE 1. GROWERS’ PREFERABLE EXTENSION METHODS. Face-to-face information transfer

One-on-one evaluation of trial results

Carabooda field day

Phone discussion

Adoption process

Knowledge

Water leaking against time

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

Root zone concept

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

Fertiliser loss due to leaking

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

Suggestion for practice changes

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

Persuasion

✘

✔

Decision

✘

✔

Implementation

✔

Confirmation

✔

Notes: Grower No. 1; and Grower No. 2 ✔ Like ✘ Dislike - Neutral

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Group meeting Demonstrations

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Lack of language assistance is also a limiting factor to grower participation in meetings. While language assistance is not always provided in all activities during field days, both growers enjoy interacting with the Vietnamese RDO in their own language for information and technology transfer.

2. Innovation adoption Innovation adoption refers to actions of putting suggested practices/technologies into use (implementation) and reinforcement based on positive outcomes from it (confirmation). These case studies showed that although both growers acquired some knowledge and information of introduced innovation by participating in extension events, neither of the two participating growers adopted the innovation until demonstrations were set on their farms. The demonstration of water leaking against time and the visual observation of the effective root zone provided opportunities for them to see the water leaking beyond the root system just 20–25 minutes after the watering was started. The evaluation of crop performance in terms of better crop appearance and

increased percentage of marketable produce impressed growers, which led to the reinforcement. Both growers committed to reduce irrigation time from 60–90 minutes each irrigation time to 25 minutes. However, the targeted practice changes were splitting water application twice a day and 20 minutes each time. This was not achieved because it required more labour because the irrigation valves at the demonstration site were manually operated. The additional labour requirements for splitting water applications were further compounded because the grower manages three farm properties.

• D emonstration is vital to innovation adoption. While setting up demonstrations on individual grower properties case studies is impracticably, creating demonstrations for small clusters of 5–10 growers is a practical solution that may lead to increased adoption. • L anguage assistance is essential to those growers whose second language is English. • Promoting the recentlyannounced government grants available to grower the Northern suburbs of Perth is an attractive option to encourage improved water use efficiency. These grants include assistance to enhance irrigation knowledge, infrastructure and controller systems, and soil amendment to increase soil water holding capacity.

Face-to-face discussion is the most effective extension method.

Strategies to improve innovation adoption in Northern Suburbs The results of these case studies have suggested ways to improve innovation adoption in water and fertiliser use efficiency by growers in the Northern suburbs of Perth. These include:

MORE INFORMATION Truyen Vo, Regional Development Officer, phone (08) 9486 7515, 0457 457 559 or email truyen.vo@vegetableswa.com.au

• F ace-to-face discussion is the most effective extension method for information and technology transfer to growers.

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ADVERTORIAL

Cooloola Farms Produce BY ROB ABBAS ROB ABBAS CONSULTING

PETER BUCHANAN’S COOLOOLA Farms Produce is a small/medium sized vegetable growing business located to the east of the Gympie township in the Cooloola region of South East Queensland. The Gympie region has long been known for gold and hand picked green beans dating back to the early 1900s when green beans in hessian sacks were carted on horse drawn cart to the Gympie railway for the journey to Brisbane for sale. Peter's grandfather first delivered beans in this manner in 1915.

Peter’s operation of Cooloola Farms Produce follows on from his father, and he produces a number of quality vegetable lines for sale to supermarkets and central market agents across Australia.

Peter has continuously strived to produce a quality line of products with an ability to compete with larger and more mechanised operations. He was instrumental and maintained a key role in the setup and operation of the Gympie pack-house which packs, markets and runs the Lindsay transport depot for local growers. As the Gympie region's topography lends itself to many smaller operations, this is seen as a great support mechanism for the local area. Cooloola Farms Produce produces approximately 25ha of hand-picked green beans, 20ha of zucchini and gold squash, 2ha of summer specialty crops and 20ha of broccolini. Peter has used the Wildeye soil monitoring systems for the previous 5 seasons. Over that time Peter believes he has achieved best-practice water management for his crops, attributing his operation’s yield and quality improvements to the use of Wildeye and f OWNER of Cooloola Farms Produce, Peter Buchanan, with Bhargava Rayeni holding freshly packed broccolini.

the move to use of composts and soil health improvements. Originally starting with one unit logging a 400mm soil moisture, EC and temperature profiling soil probe, Peter now runs 4 units which are moved from field to field as harvesting is in its latter stages. Peter has observed a reduction in pest and disease pressure, and higher yields over the period that he has been monitoring his operations with Wildeye products. He attributes these observations to the use of composts to provide constant nutrients and to assist with soil moisture retention (the benefits of which have been reflected in the data collected by his Wildeye monitoring systems); and the use of Wildeye’s soil moisture monitoring tools to reduce moisture stress. Peter checks his graphs daily from both iPad and iPhone using WiIdeye’s user-friendly app, and uses that info to make often-daily adjustments to irrigation and timing decisions. Peter particularly likes the moisture level and soil moisture stacked graphs as they allow him to determine where his crops are drawing moisture from and therefore how long to schedule irrigation for, observing that “this is a huge water efficiency benefit!”. Peter is one of a network of vegetable growers in Queensland who have adopted Wildeye’s technology to monitor soil, irrigation, weather and water. Wildeye products are available through a network of Australia-wide resellers, or directly from Wildeye’s Perth based team for Western Australian based growers. MORE INFORMATION www.mywildeye.com, info@mywildeye.com, 1300wildeye (1300 945 339).

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your

industry Your industry WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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14 European wasp nests detected and destroyed in 2020–21.

The battle against

European wasp

looking back and getting set to move forward! f 257 baiting stations have been intalled across more than 2,500ha of continuous bushland, ranging from Lesmurdie to Martin.

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BY DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

s we get set to declare ‘game-on’ with the start of the year’s European wasp surveillance program, it is a good time to look back on last season — which ended with ‘game-won’! f EUROPEAN wasps are distinguished by their completely black antennae and they don’t dangle their rear legs when they fly.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development won its biggest battle in 2020–21, with just 14 European wasp nests detected and destroyed — the lowest number in 12 years.

and stone fruit crops, and make an outdoor lifestyle impossible.

The surveillance and eradication program’s continued success has never been achieved in any other Australian state or territory, possibly throughout the world.

This was a huge win for DPIRD’s European wasp surveillance and eradication program, which has been waging war for 44 years to prevent European wasp from establishing in Western Australia. The establishment of European wasps would have a devastating impact on WA. They have been known to disrupt whole ecosystems, invade beehives, ruin grape

DPIRD technical manager John van Schagen said finding only 14 nests in 2020–21 was an incredible outcome for the program, given the starting point in early 2019 when 166 nests were detected — the highest number ever found in WA (see Figures 1 and 2).

NEST DETECTIONS

200 150 100 50

2021

2019

2016

2013

2010

2007

2004

2001

1998

1995

1992

1986

1983

1980

1977

FIGURE 1. ANNUAL NEST DETECTIONS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA SINCE 1977. WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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Added to this great outcome was the discovery that these 14 nests were new wasp incursions, meaning DPIRD had managed to find and kill every nest in 2019–20. Wasp numbers increase when nests remain undetected, as one European wasp nest can lead to 10 new nests in the next season.

Multi-pronged approach

The mammoth effort has resulted in nest numbers plummeting.

“When we saw the huge spike of nests in early 2019, particularly along the Darling Scarp, the department ramped up its surveillance program and committed three years of additional resourcing to detect, delineate and extinguish wasp hotspots,” Mr van Schagen said. “We also sought and received strong collaboration from local government, other departments and the community, and increased public awareness to encourage reporting of suspected European wasp sightings. This resourcing in 2019 led to a 30% reduction in nests.” Despite the reduction, Mr van Schagen said another option was needed due the continued spread during the next season of European wasps into unsurpassable bushland areas, making traditional lure, search and destroy methods almost impossible. “It is for this reason we piloted a baiting program in 2019–20, which drew on information from the Eastern States, New Zealand and Israel, and posed negligible risk to non-target species. f SURVEILLANCE staff faced some rough terrain as they tracked wasps into bushland areas.

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“We installed 257 baiting stations across more than 2,500ha of continuous bushland, ranging from Lesmurdie to Martin.”

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f EUROPEAN wasps look similar to yellow paper wasps but are distinguished by their completely black antennae and they don’t dangle their rear legs when they fly.

FIGURE 3. NUMBER OF NESTS DESTROYED OVER FIVE YEARS — BLACK ICONS SHOW 2020–21 SEASON NESTS.

residents for their continued support and assistance, including deploying and maintaining traps and helping access bushland areas.

The result was incredible — no nests were detected in 2020–21 in the baited and hotspot areas across the Perth Hills, including Martin, Orange Grove, Kalamunda, and Mundaring.

“In particular, the support of the City of Kalamunda ‘firies’, who joined us in the hunt for nests in areas we would never have been able to access alone, was crucial over the past few years.

“We drove European wasps back from the brink of the bush, and the brink of establishment in WA.”

“The public also played an important role. Over the years thousands of public enquiries and reports have helped to locate European wasp activity, sometimes leading to the detection of nests.”

Well earned recognition Mr van Schagen said the hard work of DPIRD personnel played a huge role in success. Since 2019 they have deployed more than 3000 surveillance traps each season, and have traversed thousands of hectares.

The battle continues

European wasps scavenge on dead insects or animals, and human food and drinks.

“When the wasps moved into the bushland, finding nests involved some real adventuring and detective work, including trekking and four wheeldriving through thick bushland and rough terrain,” he said.

“Finding these nests in the bush was an incredible achievement. Once wasps were detected through traps and lures, personnel needed to trek through dense scrub to follow wasps back to their underground nests and then locate entrances that are usually the size of a 20 cent piece.” Mr van Schagen thanked local governments, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), the Water Corporation, and community groups and

Mr van Schagen said DPIRD will continue to carry out surveillance in the baited areas to ensure localised eradication.

The effectiveness and application of the baiting program will be evaluated to determine future use as part of a European wasp integrated pest management strategy.

Remember to look and report! European wasps look similar to yellow paper wasps but are distinguished by their completely black antennae and they don’t dangle their rear legs when they fly. They also have distinct behaviours such as scavenging on dead insects or animals, and human food and drinks, and they build their nests underground. MORE INFORMATION Reports of suspect European wasp sightings can be made via the department’s MyPestGuideTM Reporter app or mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au, or by contacting the Pest and Disease Information service on (08) 9368 3080 or padis@dpird.wa.gov.au. More information about European wasps, including maps and statistics for the past three surveillance seasons, can be found at agric.wa.gov.au/wasps.

“While the battle of the past few years has been won, the war will never be over,” he said. “European wasp queens will continue to arrive in WA during the warmer months from the Eastern States, mainly on vehicles and freight, and will continue to seed new nests. “However, with a strong and effective surveillance program in place, we can ensure the ongoing detection and eradication of new incursions across WA.”

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Report your observations! MyPestGuide™ Reporter

via online or app mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au

Pest and Disease Information Service (08) 9368 3080 padis@dpird.wa.gov.au

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GINGIN 150th Celebration BENJAMIN HAMILTON ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING & SALES, VEGETABLESWA

n October 9 the Gingin 150th Celebrations went off without a hitch. Tourists from around the state and locals alike joined in town to commemorate the regions’ big milestone. People gathered into the Granville Park to celebrate by taking part in a wide range of activities and learning the history of the agriculturally rich region.

f VEGETABLESWA CEO Manus Stockdale with local grower Maureen Dobra (Loose Leaf Lettuce).

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Loose Leaf Lettuce Owner, Maureen Dobra said the event was a huge success.

“I was very appreciative of the abundance of produce and generosity of the growers in donating their produce for the displays for this event. We picked up veggies from Bogdanich Farms, Brookrise Produce, Acrefresh, Dobra Gardens, Centerwest Exports, Loose Leaf Lettuce, Monte & Sons and T & C Do & Son,” said Mrs Dobra. “It was fantastic to see everyone comment on the size and freshness of the vegetables displayed from the Gingin producers. We have even started talking about holding a yearly food festival to showcase the amazing quality and selection of produce. “People that visited the display of the locally grown vegetables commented on how beautiful and fresh the vegetables were and that they hadn’t seen such quality in their supermarkets.

“I reminded them that these vegetables are in their local supermarkets however, the vegetables on display had just been picked. They were fresh as a daisy!” “The best part of the day was giving out carrots to anyone and everyone that came past. Whether it was children or adults, it was great to see people eating fresh and healthy carrots whilst walking around the event.

“I think people were amazed at what Gingin does produce.” Joining vegetablesWA in the Fresh Market Pavilion was Stonefruit WA and also WA Potatoes. The two organisations showcased the range and availability of produce from their industry sectors to the visitors at the event. “People were surprised that potatoes were grown in the region,” said Georgia Thomas, Senior Project Manager of WA Potatoes. “It was a great opportunity for us to chat to consumers and show them

Gingin is responsible for 37% of vegetable production in WA.

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f PRODUCE from growers around the region.

Gingin is one of Western Australia’s oldest towns.

f WA Potatoes stand.

some of the varieties of spuds grown in the area. “We gave away free potato storage bags, book marks, magazines as well as some freshly dug potatoes from Roy Humfrey,” she added. vegetablesWA CEO Manus Stockdale said vegetablesWA was happy to take part in the Gingin 150th celebration.

Gingin is responsible for almost 40% of vegetable production in the state, and it is fantastic to see great produce showcased at such a spectacular event. “vegetablesWA were pleased to be part of such an important milestone for Gingin, and we look forward to continuing to support growers from this area,” Mr Stockdale said. “It was great to see the produce showcased at the event and to receive such positive feedback from the members of the public that attended. Gingin produces amazing vegetables and it great to be able to show them off!” MORE INFORMATION

Gingin is one of Western Australia’s oldest towns gazette in 1871, but its history began as early as 1830. Starting with the farming of livestock, the area was quickly realised of its rich soils, and so, orchards and market gardens were erected.

f GINGIN farmstead.

Gingin is responsible for 37% of vegetable production in WA, growing a range of different produce including carrots, corn, lettuce, pumpkin, cauliflower, cabbage, beans and broccoli.

For more go to www.gingin150th.com.au

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Reducing the risk of imported plant material to Australia’s agriculture sector.

Inspecting the front line of Australia’s border security PHOTOS: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT

f AT the border, DAWE biosecurity officers screen incoming mail, passengers and cargo for goods that pose a biosecurity risk, such as live plants and planting material.

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f THE Federal Government-operated post entry quarantine facility has been designed to deliver a range of greenhouse conditions to accommodate a wide range of plant species within a contained environment. BY ZALI MAHONY BIOSECURITY OFFICER, AUSVEG

iosecurity plays a critical role in allowing Australia to remain free from many harmful plant pests, diseases and weeds that exist overseas. Australia’s biosecurity controls are fundamental to protecting the horticultural commodities from pests and diseases. AUSVEG Biosecurity Officer Zali Mahony goes behind the scenes at the Federal Governmentoperated post entry quarantine facility in Melbourne’s north.

Biosecurity describes a series of measures designed to protect individual farming properties, businesses and the nation from the entry and spread of exotic pests. Australia employs a ‘biosecurity continuum’ to protect our agricultural industries from the introduction of harmful, unwanted plant pests, diseases and weeds while working to sustain and develop valuable export markets. Strict and regulated restrictions are in place offshore, and at Australia’s border and post-border entry, to reduce the risks of imported plant material to Australia’s agriculture sector.

f PEQ Plant Innovation Centre Assistant Director Adrian Dinsdale pictured showing AUSVEG Biosecurity Officer Zali Mahony around the Mickleham facility.

Any plant material entering Australia must comply with our import conditions that are in place offshore and at Australia’s border. The Commonwealth’s post entry quarantine (PEQ) services for plants and animals are consolidated into a single facility in Mickleham, a suburb in Melbourne’s north.

Adrian Dinsdale is the Assistant Director of the Plant Innovation Centre at PEQ. He says biosecurity is critical to Australia in maintaining its highly favourable trading status. “Australia’s absence of many of the world’s most damaging pests and diseases is a significant enabler in maintaining this status,” Adrian says.

Biosecurity is critical to Australia in maintaining its highly favourable trading status.

New arrivals of plant pests and diseases can significantly impede Australia’s horticultural industries by reducing yields and produce quality, increasing production costs, and restricting access to international markets.

Acting Director of Plant Import Operations, Lisa Jennaway, adds that biosecurity underpins the country’s unique flora and fauna.

“It forms one of many pillars for agricultural productivity by allowing the production sector to access clean germplasm and new varieties that are free from pests and diseases of biosecurity concern,” she says. WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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f AUSTRALIA employs strict import conditions for any plant material, including live plants or seeds that are entering the country.

Plant protection starts offshore Imported planting materials can potentially carry economically and environmentally significant pests, diseases and weeds that could enter and establish in Australia. Australia employs strict import conditions for any plant material, including live plants or seeds that are entering the country, which are outlined in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON). Import conditions are different for each plant species and are determined by the biosecurity risks posed by the goods.

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“Import permits allow the government to assess the level of risk posed by the plant species proposed for import and consider the conditions that would be necessary to reduce this to an acceptable level of protection,” Lisa explains.

Plants are managed based on their risk profile.

“Import conditions for plants and seeds can vary depending on the plant species being imported; the biosecurity risks they pose; where it is being imported from; and the form of the material that is being imported. This includes tissue culture, seeds, budwood and barerooted plants,” Lisa says.

These import conditions may require an import permit being obtained before the goods arrive in Australia; certification and packaging requirements that are required prior to export; and specific on-arrival and post-entry requirements.

Border control The next stage in Australia’s biosecurity continuum occurs at the border and involves measures that successfully lower the risks of plant material arriving in Australia. Any plant material arriving in Australia is inspected by biosecurity officers to ensure material is free from unwanted pests, disease symptoms or contaminants. “In some cases, the material may need to undergo testing, treatment or further disease screening at approved sites before they are released,” Lisa says.

This is where the PEQ facility operates within Australia’s biosecurity continuum, as it manages biosecurity risks by growing high-risk plant material in containment facilities and identifying any exotic pests or diseases present. Like import permits, PEQ operates on the risk profiles of imported plant material. “Some tissue culture is simply inspected and released at the border, whereas highrisk material can spend over 12 months in post entry quarantine,” Adrian says.

Arrival of planting material The Federal Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment implements a wide range of different strategies, and has adopted necessary regulatory controls to minimise and manage potential biosecurity risks of imported planting material. Seeds often undergo inspection and — for some seed species — pathogen testing at an approved laboratory. There are two accredited seed testing providers in Australia: Plant Health Diagnostic Service (operated by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries) and Crop Health Services (Agriculture Victoria).

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Upon arrival at PEQ, the plant material undergoes inspection by a plant pathologist and horticulturalist to ensure the imported material is: 1 in good health; 2 free of pests and diseases; and

3 meets the conditions of the relevant import permit. With imported budwood or cuttings, a small sample of plants are selected as index plants to progress through to further PEQ testing. Here, the index plants are rigorously screened for a variety of exotic plant pests and diseases. Before this happens, all plant material undergoes mandatory pest and disease treatment (e.g., bleach, insecticide, hot water), which varies depending on plant species.

“For instance, the Department currently recognises one high health source in Scotland for potato tissue cultures, which conducts all required testing before these plants are exported to Australia. “These high health plantlets would only need to undergo PEQ in Australia for half the time that is normally required for the same crop from other providers, and they don’t need to be tested again in Australia if the test had already happened offshore.”

All plant material undergoes mandatory pest and disease treatment.

“Plants are managed based on their risk profile. This includes their origin and what pests and diseases they can host, rather than what species they are,” Adrian says.

In addition to this, how and when imported plant material is tested is a result of a variety of additional factors. These include plant species, life stage, country of origin, growing season and the parts of the plant that tend to accumulate higher disease loads. “Leaves are the most common tissues sampled for testing but sometimes we target roots, the central leaf vein or other tissues,” Adrian says.

Shared responsibility Biosecurity is a big job, and vigilance must be maintained. Biosecurity is everybody’s responsibility and we all play a role in upholding Australia’s favourable status — free from many of the world’s most devastating plant pests and diseases.

“Before you import, it’s imperative that you take time to understand and ensure that you can comply with all of Australia’s import conditions,” Lisa says. For growers, the best chance at stopping the spread and establishment of exotic pests is to be biosecurity aware and report anything unusual via the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. MORE INFORMATION For further details, please contact AUSVEG Biosecurity Officer Zali Mahony on (03) 9882 0277 or email zali.mahony@ausveg.com.au. The Farm Biosecurity Program is funded by the Plant Health Levy.

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WAHU2021 puts WA horticulture centrestage at Optus Stadium

Master of Ceremonies, Elizabeth esilience and Brennan, encouraged attendees to think sustainability were beyond the needs of today and consider the key themes at this how the industry will face the changing market, food security, environment, and year’s Department of Primary business conditions on the horizon. Industries and Regional The Hon Alannah MacTiernan Development’s 2021 MLC, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture Western Australian and Food; Hydrogen Industry WAHU2021 Horticulture Update theme was sustainability officially opened the event and provided insight on new (WAHU2021). and resilience. Held at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Thursday 4 November, the biennial event attracted a veritable mix of growers, grower group advocates, industry leaders and stakeholders, universities, and researchers, and boasted more than 30 presenters.

f A sustainable future panel with Minister MacTiernan MLC at WAHU2021.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

initiatives being launched by the State Government.

Minister MacTiernan was joined by a panel of growers, researchers, agribusiness and grower advocates on stage, where they discussed sustainability, water usage and waste management.

International market keynote speaker, David ‘Dr Food’ Hughes, kicked off the day with an analysis of horticulture markets and future trends, drawing upon examples in the United Kingdom, USA, Europe and Australia.

One of David’s key points was for WA growers to “shout more” about their produce, inform consumers about why their product is better than a competitor, the health benefits, and its premium value. He reminded attendees that clever branding and messaging can make the difference in attracting consumer attention and therefore securing the future of the industry.

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Hot topics Two significant hot topics on the WAHU2021 agenda included a panel session on plastics and packaging, and a panel on workforce solutions. 1. The plastics and packaging panel had the audience voicing their concerns regarding the impending Government-led Plan for Plastics to reduce single use plastics. From an industry perspective, packaging forms a critical part of ensuring fresh produce sells on shelf at the retail store. It offers protection from bruising and damage, increases shelf life, prevents dehydration, provides defence for food security concerns, offers a place to communicate what the product is, and it can differentiate products with marketing messages such as organic, place of origin etc.

One audience member queried why agriculture was being targeted more than other industries when agriculture was already actively addressing wastage issues. The question was posed—why aren’t consumers being better educated and why is the burden for change being placed on producers?

f 1. Planfarm networking sundowner; 2. WAHU2021 industry steering committee; 3. WAHU2021 on the road at Perth Markets.

the platform and use hashtags!), and local campaigns that have used social media well.

There was a focus on social media as a marketing tool for growers.

2. The workforce solutions panel looked at the current issues and attraction levels of the industry, and the opportunities for growers to access employment options. Perspectives were given from a service provider, a grower, a co-operative and DPIRD. There was also focus on social media as a marketing tool for growers, and renowned digital marketing strategist Meg Coffey talked about effective social media strategies (tailor the message to

Extremely good food for thought!

The day also exposed attendees to a range of food initiatives, which will support the future sustainability of the WA horticulture industry. These included: • A two-course, seated lunch sponsored by Hort Innovation, which gave a presentation on their extension plan for the region and specific WA initiatives and projects. • A Planfarm sponsored networking sundowner at the Goodwood Restaurant. WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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A sustainable future panel discussion at WAHU2021.

f PETER Dobra, Loose Leaf Lettuce Company and Rohan Prince, DPIRD at WAHU2021.

• A wine tasting at the sundowner organised by DPIRD Research scientist Richard Fennessy and technical officer Yu-Yi Liao, showcasing a selection of trial wine varieties. The variety trials are part of a DPIRD project investigating the sustainability and profitability of the national and state wine industry. • On the Friday following the Thursday conference, a DPIRD hosted ‘WAHU on the Road’ farm and industry tour. The tour included visits to the Perth Markets wholesale produce facility, the RichGro bio-energy plant, the Black Soldier Fly waste management research (being undertaken by Future Green Solutions), Avowest orchards’ crop netting and water use efficiency trial, and Benara wholesale and production nursery.

Overall, the 2021 WAHU events hosted by DPIRD offered an abundance of ideas, discussion opportunities and networking at all levels. While the theme was sustainability and resilience, the event provided a reminder that the WA horticulture sector is incredibly strong, diverse and vibrant… and works best when it works together.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

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e t o n s ’ r o t c e r i D

BY ROHAN PRINCE DIRECTOR HORTICULTURE & IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE, DPIRD

hank you to industry members who attended the 2021 Western Australian Horticulture Update (WAHU2021) on 4 November at Optus Stadium and ‘on the road’ on 5 November. It was great to catch up with you. DPIRD was delighted to host WAHU21, which was strongly supported by Hort Innovation, the Agricultural Produce Commission, Pomewest, WA Citrus, Stonefruit WA, Southern Forest Food Council, Sweeter Banana, Market West, WA Potatoes, vegetablesWA, and the trade and sundowner sponsor Planfarm. I hope you got as much out of the event as we did.

The theme ‘Sustainable and resilient: the future of WA horticulture’ was designed by the industry steering committee but would have had many different meanings to different people.

For me, WAHU was about providing a forum to discuss changing market expectations, challenges worth tackling together, and gaining insights into blind spots we may need to build awareness or focus on. I hope the outcome for you was a greater connection across industry that helps WA Horticulture prepare, adapt and when needed change to remain sustainable and resilient.

So, what are the challenges facing you that were presented at the WAHU? Environmental, social, governance — ESG! These criteria are standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious consumers and investors use to screen potential purchases and investments.

YOUR INDUSTRY

f HORTICULTURE can be part of a solution to climate change by more efficient production.

Environmental measures performance as a steward of nature; Social reflects relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where you operate: and Governance deals with a company’s leadership, management, transparency and shareholder rights. Dr Food, Professor David Hughes, talked about the eco-sensitive consumers around the globe looking to buy food that’s compatible with their “greener” values. Growing your crops to maximise production while minimising inputs and minimising waste and environmental impact is not only going to be needed to maximise your return on capital, but also to access more and more mainstream markets.

Some examples of Environmental issues include how horticulture businesses respond to climate change. How is WA horticulture able to be a solution to climate — not a contributor? There are many challenges but also opportunity on the horizon. No matter how small the overall contribution of the industry, there is expectation from consumers that agriculture, including horticulture, has no impact on the climate.

Horticulture can be part of a solution to climate change by more efficient production, building carbon in the soils, lowering emissions from production, and reducing waste of food from paddock to plate. Although we know there is a massive education piece required to help consumers understand there is a shared responsibility, and that if a cosmetically imperfect piece of fruit has no market or is wasted in their fridge, our industries are significantly challenged to meet consumer expectations. WA’s Plan for Plastics reflects the modern consumer expectations to reduce single use plastics, and our challenges with labour are going to require some innovative and alternative solutions.

Sourcing the workforce needed to sustain and grow industry will likely need a cross-industry approach. What is an employee in horticulture looking for that is not currently being provided that will make horticulture a real option, and how do we find this out? In the next couple of months DPIRD will facilitate workshops on these issues looking to not only describe the problems, but also develop a roadmap to move forward with industry solutions. I encourage you to join the conversation and bring ideas forward, so keep an eye out for the opportunities your industry bodies, government and your peers are providing.

There are many challenges but also opportunity on the horizon.

We recognise the technical and economic challenge of this and will work with industry on solutions together. By working collaboratively there is potential to reduce the burden on any one single industry or individual business, to deliver solutions efficiently, and help meet consumer expectations to maintain social licence and therefore access to markets.

I challenge those who may not usually get involved to help develop solutions, because you are not only a business or industry group, but also a member of the WA horticulture industry. Keep an eye out for more information on the workshops. MORE INFORMATION Rohan Prince, phone 0429 680 069 or email rohan.prince@dpird.wa.gov.au

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

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Showcasing the latest news from our demonstration sites across Australia.

Sustainable farming practices

put to the test at demonstration sites

BY DIMI KYRIAKOU AND CARL LARSEN RMCG

he Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) project works with growers to put soil management and plant health research into practice. In this column, we showcase the latest news from our network of demonstration sites across Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales and a new site in Queensland. Soil Wealth ICP Phase 2 (VG16078) is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund. The Soil Wealth ICP team works with vegetable growers to integrate profitable and sustainable practices into modern commercial production systems through a diverse range of demonstration sites. These sites provide an opportunity to test new farming practices and technologies out in the field, and share the results and lessons learnt with the wider industry.

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Below are some recent highlights from a selection of the project’s demonstration sites around the country, but you can find out more at soilwealth.com.au/ demo-sites/

Mulgowie hosts new Queensland demo site The Mulgowie Farming Company is a family-owned producer growing conventional and organic sweet corn, green beans and broccoli across Australia. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainable farming practices, Mulgowie has teamed up with Soil Wealth ICP to take their soil management to the next level.

— the soil becomes more friable and less compacted, and yields increase, with plants showing more resilience to weather extremes,” Andrew said. The next step in improving their soils is to understand how to manage beneficial soil biology. Working with Kelvin Montagu from the Soil Wealth ICP team, Mulgowie will be looking at how to get the beneficial fungi, mycorrhizae, back into their soil.

Helping growers to integrate profitable and sustainable practices.

Andrew Johanson, Mulgowie’s Agronomy Process Improvement Manager, has driven advances in soil health through controlled traffic farming, cover crops and minimum tillage. “This has seen the soil’s water infiltration and holding capacity increase

Previous sampling has shown very low levels of mycorrhizae in the soil and corn roots at the home farm at Mulgowie in the Lockyer Valley.

“Mulgowie’s reduced tillage is giving mycorrhizal fungi a fighting chance to re-establish in the soil now that they are not being regularly chopped up by cultivation. We now need to see if we can use soil phosphorus test results to target paddocks to give the mycorrhizal fungi the best chance to re-establish," Kelvin said.

YOUR INDUSTRY

New resources from the Soil Wealth ICP project The Soil Wealth ICP team recently released some useful resources to help vegetable and potato growers improve their management of soils and plant health. Take a look below or explore the full range of resources at soilwealth.com.au/resources/

f THESE demonstration sites provide an opportunity to test new farming practices and technologies out in the field.

Keep an eye out for future updates on re-establishing mycorrhizal fungi in vegetable soils, and what benefits this brings to the corn and bean crops and soil. For more information on boosting mycorrhizal fungi in Australian vegetable soils, see this case study: soilwealth.com.au/resources/casestudies/boosting-mycorrhizal-fungi-invegetable-crops/

7-part video series: Soil Biology in Vegetable Production Masterclass In August 2021, Soil Wealth ICP’s first Soil Biology in Vegetable Production Masterclass was run online over two days. The project has released seven videos from the masterclass, where team members and expert speakers focus on a different topic. • Part 1: Soil biology in vegetable production — basic principles: youtube.com/watch?v=AFzU2G8vcw&t=9s

• Part 5: Soil fumigation and effects on soil biological communities: youtube.com/ watch?v=Bv8cXlEIYjQ

• Part 2: Breakdown of organic matter and agrichemicals in vegetable soils: youtube.com/ watch?v=wP9mwli26Jg&t=89s

• Part 6: Soil-borne disease suppression in vegetable crops: youtube.com/ watch?v=ODBcwdj2zXM

• Part 3: Nitrogen availability: youtube.com/ watch?v=cBfVGRpkLn4&t=1s

• Part 7: Use of biological products in Australian vegetable production: youtube.com/ watch?v=CWRmJw11ixM

• Part 4: Soil biology and soil structure: youtube.com/ watch?v=ZxVHY0GjL8E

You can access all of the videos and presentation slides at: soilwealth.com.au/resources/webinar-recordings/

A breezy video update from Koo Wee Rup, Victoria Soil Wealth ICP team member Carl Larsen braved the windy spring weather at the Koo Wee Rup demonstration site in Victoria to bring growers a short update on how things were progressing at the site. Check out the video as Carl prepared to take some pre-plant pathogen soil tests before a leek crop was planted during October 2021: soilwealth.com.au/resources/videosand-apps/a-breezy-video-update-fromkoo-wee-rup/

Additional updates are available on the Koo Wee Rup demo site Facebook page, including videos on how to take soil samples, the role of cover crops and reduced tillage, and informing irrigation decisions through remote weather stations: facebook.com/ SoilWealthICPKooWeeRup f SOIL Wealth ICP team member Carl Larsen braved the windy spring weather at the Koo Wee Rup demonstration site in Victoria to bring growers a short update on how things were progressing at the site.

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Microwave technology used to control weeds. f SOIL Wealth ICP’s Cowra demonstration site in New South Wales is the latest site to host Growave’s next generation microwave technology to control weeds.

Cowra hosts virtual shed walk on microwave weed technology

What changes can Aussie growers expect in ICP?

The Cowra demonstration site in New South Wales is the latest site to host Growave’s next generation microwave technology to control weeds.

This global scan looks into the changes affecting ICP tools available to vegetable growers.

The unit was adapted following lessons learnt from a test run at the Koo Wee Rup demonstration site in Victoria in early 2021, before heading north to New South Wales. In this virtual shed walk, Liam Hescock and the team from Growave explain how the microwave technology works. Grower Ed Fagan also discusses his experience and expectations of how the unit could control wireweed, caltrop (catheads) and nutgrass in his crops at Cowra. Watch the video: soilwealth.com.au/resources/ webinar-recordings/virtual-shed-walkmicrowave-technology-for-control-ofweeds-diseases-and-pests/

Read more about the restrictions and de-registrations that have occurred internationally and suggestions about how vegetable growers can prepare for possible changes in Australia: soilwealth.com.au/resources/globalscan-and-reviews/what-changes-toexpect-integrated-crop-protection/

Webinar recording: Advancements in ICP for profitable veg production There are a number of important advancements and lessons from Europe implementing a mandatory ICP approach in vegetable production systems. Watch this webinar recording to hear from leading researchers

ORGANIC 36

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and practitioners from Europe and Australia about building ICP into your production system and preparing for potential changes: soilwealth.com.au/resources/ webinar-recordings/at-the-cuttingedge-advancements-in-integratedcrop-protection-for-profitablevegetable-production/ MORE INFORMATION For more information, please contact project leaders Dr Gordon Rogers on (02) 8627 1040 or gordon@ahr.com.au and Dr Anne-Maree Boland on (03) 9882 2670 or anne-mareeb@rmcg.com.au

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government. Project Number: VG16078 For more information on the fund and strategic levy investment visit horticulture.com.au

WA POTATOES

potato

update WA Potatoes

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA POTATOES

contacts Horticulture House 103 Outram Street, WEST PERTH WA 6005 p: (08) 9481 0834 e: admin@wapotatoes.com.au w: todatoes.com.au

COVID-19 is to blame for input costs soaring this year.

Simon Moltoni, Chief Executive Officer m: 0447 141 752 e: simon@wapotatoes.com.au Morena Perdec, Finance & Admin Manager e: morena@wapotatoes.com.au Georgia Thomas, Project Manager e: georgia@wapotatoes.com.au

WA Potatoes

Committee 2021–22 Vaughan Carter Chairperson Colin Ayres Deputy Chairperson Glen Ryan Secretary Gary Bendotti Treasurer Patrick Fox Bronwyn Fox

Busselton

m: 0417 092 505

Albany

m: 0428 451 014

Pemberton

m: 0428 827 126

Pemberton

m: 0427 569 903

Scott River Dandaragan

m: 0499 887 202 m: 0427 447 412

Christian deHaan

Manjimup

m: 0429 436 361

Elected Members Representing the Ware Fresh sector: Vaughan Carter, Christian de Haan, Glen Ryan and Bronwyn Fox Representing the Seed sector: Colin Aryes Representing the Export sector: Patrick Fox Representing the Processing sector: Gary Bendotti

Fee-for-service charge 2021–22 Processing potatoes — local and export Seed potatoes — local and export Ware (fresh) potatoes — local Ware (fresh) potatoes — export Ware (fresh) potatoes — marketing

$6.00/t TBC^ $8.00/t $6.00/t $2.50/t

^ after grower consultation

Projects approved 2021–22

PGA: Association PGA: Biosecurity Plan DPIRD: Seed Certification Scheme & Virus Testing DPIRD: Database improvements and digital solutions support delivery of seed scheme DPIRD: Investigation of molecular testing for potato viruses (2 year project) Murdoch University: Field survey of predators of TPP in WA (2 year project)

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$330,000 $6,050 $46,000 $10,000 $40,000 $15,000

Chief Executive Officer’s report SIMON MOLTONI CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION

OVID-19 continues to significantly affect our lives and business, even though we have had very few cases in Western Australia. The recent announcement by the State Government of its mandatory vaccine policy for the WA workforce needs to be well understood by all members. We have sent this information, including frequently asked Questions, in recent grower updates.

Do not wait for an outbreak to react. Read the information, seek help if necessary, and implement a course of action. Ensure that your staff, contractors, and all supply chain partners are aware and prepared so in the event of an outbreak your business can continue unimpeded. COVID-19 is also to blame for the chain reaction that has seen input costs soaring this year.

Increases in energy costs and manufacturing and supply chain issues, along with a lack of international workers, are all contributing to cost of production increases. This is a very difficult area to address as international policies are well beyond our influence. The main area of influence for WA/ Australia really is labour supply. From a national perspective we have two main concerns. The opening of the international border. And the development of the proposed Australian Agricultural Visa. Addressing both of these issues is well advanced and we believe that by early next year we will see the first workers arriving under the new Ag Visa. It has been pleasing to see AUSVEG, our Peak Industry Body, engaging with all states on this important issue, and representing our interests at the highest level. Planning for the next Federal election is well under way with the finalisation of the 2022 Federal Election Priorities document. Again, good to see States having input with AUSVEG to best represent our members. This document

WA POTATOES

WA Potatoes

Chair’s Report

BY VAUGHAN CARTER CHAIR, PGAWA

ear growers, it has taken till the first week in November for the weather to change to a spring pattern.

I know here in the southwest region that growers have had a tricky winter and subsequently crops are showing signs of this, with very few sunny days and constant rain events the ability to get size into potato tubers becomes a factor. Still, I’m telling you all nothing really, as everyone who works in horticulture knows the risks associated with life on the land and just gets on with it! should be available shortly, keep an eye on your inbox. The State Government recently presented the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill. There is certainly grounds for concern for landowners from this bill. We have engaged with relevant organisations and MP’s to gain a full understanding of potential issues, in order to support any amendments necessary to ensure that landowners rights are not negatively impacted. Renovations at Horticulture House are on the go again. After several months of back and forth with the Council it is great to see some action! We expect to have all works completed by the Christmas break and we look forward to starting the New Year back in the office. Thank you to Morena and Georgia for their efforts in maintaining the teams output during this difficult period. MORE INFORMATION Contact Simon Moltoni on 0447 141 752 or email simon@wapotatoes.com.au

Our display and its informative nature make it a huge hit with show goers! The pilot program overseen by AFC/ PGA to supply chip stock to PepsiCo Thailand is on target to meet delivery times. Harvest, delivery and packaging will be conducted during December/ January. Let’s hope from this trial we can see increase volumes and a great opportunity for an alternative other than the fresh WA market.

Fertiliser has hit all-time highs and fuel is on an upward spiral.

One concern I do have moving towards the end of 2021 is the costs associated with food production. The topic of conversation is input costs and the high increase in price. Fertiliser has hit all-time highs and fuel is on an upward spiral. With these two crucial factors for horticulture and the difficulty to secure labour, farms will want to see some movement for farm gate prices to increase. The Perth Royal Show has come and gone but it would be remiss of me not to thank the people who do amazing work to promote potatoes for good of the industry.

PGA office renovations are nearly at the pointy end and it will be great to have a modern fresh and professional space for industry to engage with all things potatoes.

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and prosperous 2022. To our PGA and frontline workforce thank you for your amazing contribution this year and I look forward to our industry doing great things in the next 12 months. MORE INFORMATION Contact Vaughan on 0417 092 505 or email marybrook438@gmail.com

The WA Potatoes team want to wish all our growers and industry stakeholders a happy and safe festive break. We look forward to working with you all in 2022.

Simon, Morena and Georgia. WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA POTATOES

New recipes have been added to the online database.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA POTATOES

Marketing Update

BY GEORGIA THOMAS SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, WA POTATOES

ver the past six months, the WA Potatoes team have been very busy with a range of marketing activities including events such as Perth Royal Show, Gingin 150th Celebrations, Meet the Buyer and the Buy West Eat Best retail activations. The new WA Potatoes magazine was launched in September, with 3000 printed copies in circulation as well as being shared online. The new magazine features some great new health information, a new competition, an extract from Alice Zaslavsky’s new cookbook and a range of Healthy Hacks — simple tricks to make meals healthier and reduce food waste. Digital and social media have continued to grow across platforms through strategic execution of content, consumer engagement and paid promotions and has achieved: · Over 400,000 unique views (reach) per month on Instagram and Facebook · Facebook has over 21,700 followers (up 200) · Instagram has over 1703 followers (up 300) · Website results show an average of 2200 visits per month (up 200) and 5000 page views per month. New recipes have been added to the online database, which brings the total free recipes available to consumers over 150 delicious potato dishes.

The NOVA 93.7 radio campaign has continued with programming achieving 600,000 impressions per month of active reads and advertising. Moving into 2022, an updated approach to radio will include a refreshed messaging platform, NOVA campaign and incorporation of online streaming advertisements (the ads you hear when you stream radio online).

f HASH Brown Roulade. MORE INFORMATION Georgia Thomas, Senior Project Manager, WA Potatoes, georgia@wapotatoes.com.au

WA Potatoes also participated in Nutrition Australia Try for 5 campaign, as detailed on page 46. WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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Seed for Schools program ready for another bumper season BY GEORGIA THOMAS SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, WA POTATOES

A Potatoes have once again coordinated a successful Seed for Schools program across the whole of Western Australia. Giving young children the chance to learn about how potatoes grow, the varieties and health benefits of potatoes, and of course the joy of eating them!

Photo comp winners

APPLECROSS PRIMARY SCHOOL

To round off this year’s harvest, WA Potatoes held a photo competition and invited schools to showcase their crops and cooking through images. There were some fabulous entries and, in the end, two winners were selected with Hammond Park Catholic Primary School and Applecross Primary School — each earning a Bunnings Sustainability Visit.

The reward includes a refresh of the school’s gardens, including hands-on help from Bunnings plus mulch, plants and other goodies. Other schools that entered were sent a certificate and a new book for their library.

Two winners were selected for the photo competition.

A representative from Applecross Primary School commented as follows: “The students at Applecross Primary School look forward to the Seeds for Schools Program each year. This year Room 10, Year 3 students, along with some parent helpers, prepared the garden beds by weeding and turning over the soil. They then planted the seed potatoes and watched them grow over the winter months. “We harvested the crop during National Science Week, with the theme ‘Food, Different By Design’. There were many delighted students as they realised how many potatoes had grown from the seeds. There were dirty hands and big smiles all round. The potatoes were then scrubbed clean and roasted. Every single potato was eaten with many comments from students about how delicious they were. “A Year 3 student, Eleanor, penned a beautiful poem about potatoes too. The students were thrilled to hear they had won a sustainable school visit from Bunnings. “We look forward to taking part in the program next year.”

MORE INFORMATION Seed for Schools registrations are now open for 2022 so if your local school wants to jump on board, please go to www.todatoes.com.au/seed-for-schools to sign up today!

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA POTATOES

Photo comp winners

HAMMOND PARK HAMMOND PARK CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

WA POTATOES

Seed for Schools Registrations open!

FREE FOR SCHOOLS TO JOIN

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES PROVIDED

POTATO SEED SUPPLIED

WWW.TODATOES.COM.AU/SEED-FOR-SCHOOLS/ WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA POTATOES

Seed Grower Field Day

BY JULIAN ACKLEY PRESIDENT, WEST AUSTRALIAN SEED POTATO PRODUCERS

eed potato growers in Western Australia are in a fortunate position that potato diseases occur very rarely here.

PHOTOS © AMY PARRY, SEED CERTIFICATION OFFICER, DPIRD

A big part of this is due to the Generation 2 industry survey where the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) perform an annual leaf sample collection from all G2 sown seed grown in Western Australia for virus

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

testing. This ensures that the final bulk out of the G3 sown seed will produce a clean G4 sample. Being free from virus is of course critically important for all seed growers, but it can present a challenge when you need to look for virus in your own crops but have never seen it.

On arrival, growers were ‘deputised’ as certification officers and given the prefilled applications for the three trial plots on display. As deputy certification officers, growers were tasked with completing an inspection based on the applications provided.

Earlier this year an opportunity arose for DPIRD to obtain some virus infected seed. DPIRD, in conjunction with West Australian Seed Potato Producers Group, decided to put on a field day for growers to be able to see and understand virus in the flesh. Lead by Senior Certification Officer David Tooke, a small trial patch was planted, and in mid-October this year a field day was held in Busselton.

A myriad of errors was included to test growers’ ability to pick up on common mistakes before the inspection even began.

Being free from virus is critically important for all seed growers.

Some of the pre-inspection errors included incorrect label types and missing rotation paperwork.

WA POTATOES

A field day for growers to be able to see and understand virus in the flesh.

f ABOVE: Three varieties on display. LEFT: Early symptoms displayed by diseased plants.

Onto the physical inspection, which at this point all plots had already failed certification in the application alone. The growers uncovered several additional issues in the plots including poorly visible plot markers, inaccurate map, insufficient isolation gaps between generations, volunteers in the isolation gap, admix varieties in the crops, unthrifty plants, poor emergence and lastly, but most significantly, disease.

The disease was present at stages between where a normal first and second inspection would occur and provided a hands-on in field view for the growers to see in the flesh. This learning experience was invaluable for all those who attended. The level and scope of the field day was a credit to our Senior Certification Officer David Tooke. David’s energetic and unwavering support, and the hard work of all our Certification Officers, made the day a big success. MORE INFORMATION For more information regarding growing seed potatoes in Western Australia visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/plant-biosecurity/ potato-seed-certification

f THE field day was led by Senior Certification Officer David Tooke.

Or to contact West Australian Seed Potato Producers group, email: waseedpotatoproducers@gmail.com

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WA POTATOES

WA Potatoes joined Nutrition Australia to ask Australians to

Try for 5

BY GEORGIA THOMAS SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, WA POTATOES

t’s sobering to think only 7% of adults and 5% of children eat the recommended serves of vegetables each day. Australia’s leading vegetable growers recently joined forces with Nutrition Australia and other health-focused organisations to call on all Australians to ‘get more veg in their life’ by Trying for 5. Try for 5 is an annual campaign by Nutrition Australia during National Nutrition Week (October 10–17) that celebrates vegetables and the important role they can play in our health and wellbeing.

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Nutrition Australia and WA Potatoes, along with other supporting partners, curated a delicious vegetable recipe hub — a collection of over 100 new forwardthinking veg-recipes from well-known culinary identities, recipe developers and vegetable growers. The activity created a big impact across Australia over 7 days with: · 12,000 website visits · 32,978 website views · 187,561 reach on Facebook and Instagram · 609 #Tryfor5 hashtags shared over 7 days

Nutrition Australia CEO, Lucinda Hancock explains: “Vegetables are at the very centre of healthy eating. They can safeguard us from chronic health conditions — such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease and obesity. We know that, but still, we don’t eat enough. Try for 5 is not about scare-mongering people into eating more vegetables. That simply doesn’t work. It’s about providing everyday Australians with the inspiration to think of vegetables in different ways.”

Only 7% of Australian adults eat the recommended amount of vegetables each day.

WA Potatoes also achieved some great outcomes: · 791 new visitors to the www.todatoes.com.au website · Live cooking demo with Emma Rosen · 6037 Instagram reach via Nutrition Australia platform · Highest reach and engagement compared to other campaign sponsors

“The last 18 months has highlighted the importance of a vegetable-rich diet for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and improving our mood. AUSVEG is calling on Australian consumers this National Nutrition Week to find creative ways to incorporate more veggies into their daily diets, which will also support local growers who are working tirelessly to supply high quality vegetables from the farm to the dinner tables of millions of Australians,” AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote said.

WA POTATOES

WA Potatoes Senior Project Manager Georgia Thomas, from Western Australia adds, “We are excited to be part of the Try for 5 campaign and help to bring much-needed encouragement for people to eat more fresh produce.

WA Potatoes joined Velisha Farms, Perfection Fresh, Butler Market Gardens and Sanitarium Health Food Company as sponsors of this important campaign.

Vegetable intake in Australia

“Research shows that potatoes bring so much to the table with potassium, vitamin C, fibre and even antioxidants — especially in coloured skin varieties. As a grower-funded organisation, WA Potatoes showcases the health benefits of potatoes to our WA audience. Being a part of Try for 5, we hope to extend this reach and give people around Australia the chance to check out the latest recipes, tips and information we have on our website and social media.”

Try for 5 is a call for action. Getting more veg in your life can be as simple as:

Cooking in lockdown

1. Adding an extra handful of veg in your meals 2. Trying a new recipe — have a veg only meal once a week 3. Snacking smarter with vegetables. MORE INFORMATION Check out Try for 5 at www.tryfor5.org.au

· Only 7% of Australian adults eat the recommended amount of vegetables each day. And only 5% of children aged 2–17 years meet the Australian Dietary Guideline^. · Majority of families have reported eating dinner together each night and 1 in 3 Australians say they are cooking more during lockdown*.

Alcohol consumption in lockdown · 1 in 5 Australians reported drinking more alcohol during COVID-19, half having an extra 1–2 drinks a week and 28% having an extra 4–5 drinks a week*.

Snacking in lockdown

Vegetables are at the very centre of healthy eating.

· 49% of Australians reported in a recent survey that their snack intake had increased during the lockdown*. www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/ people-and-communities/householdimpacts-covid-19-survey/latestrelease

www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/abs/pii/S0195666321002245

f STUFFED potato cakes.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA POTATOES

f WARM potato, olive and bean salad with tonnato dressing.

When it comes to fresh, filling and healthy food, you can't beat potatoes.

Recipe Warm potato, olive and bean salad with tonnato dressing Serves 6 as a side dish | Prep time 20 minutes | Cook time 20 minutes

Tip

FOR A VEGETARIAN ALTERNATIVE LEAVE THE TUNA OUT OF THE DRESSING.

Ingredients Salad 1kg baby potatoes 200g stringless beans, trimmed and halved 1 red capsicum, cored and sliced into 1cm slices 60mL olive oil ¼ cup olives ½ cup parsley roughly chopped

Dressing 200g sour cream 2 heaped tbsp Dijon mustard 40mL lemon juice, 2 tsp honey, 200g tinned tuna, drained Salt and pepper

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Method 1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to the boil. 2. Add potatoes and boil for around 10–15 mins or until fork tender 3. Add beans for the last two minutes of your cook then drain both. 4. Add oil to the same pot, heat to medium high heat, add red capsicum then cook, stirring, for two minutes.

5. Add drained potatoes and beans and continue cooking, tossing until potatoes are starting to catch and caramelise. 6. Turn off the heat and add olives and half the dressing. 7. Toss to coat the ingredients then season and serve with the rest of the dressing and parsley on the side.

PHOTOS: VICTORIA BAKER PHOTOGRAPHER

POMEWEST

pome

update Pomewest

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

POMEWEST

contacts Committee and Officers

Jason Jarvis, Chair e: twinpack@bigpond.com Mario Casotti e: mario@casottigroup.com Wayne Ghilarducci e: strathspey@modnet.com.au Jason Jarvis e: twinpack@bigpond.com Harvey Giblett e: harvey.giblett@newtonorchards.com.au Sam Licciardello e: sam@orchard1sixty.com.au Mark Scott e: markpscott@bigpond.com Susie Murphy White, Project Manager e: susan.murphy-white@dpird.wa.gov.au Nardia Stacy, Executive Manager e: nardia@pomewest.net.au

Budgeted income 2021–22 Project General Account Budget (including FFS, interest Project Grant Funding APAL, Hort Innovation and DPIRD) Biosecurity Account Budget (FFS and interest)

$ 482,780 61,245

Budgeted expenditure general account for 2021–22

Project $ Project Manager including operating expenses — 96,000 Susie Murphy White Quality Testing Project — Maturity and Retail 36,000 Building Horticulture Business Capacity Program 20,000 Medfly Surveillance Trapping Network Kim James 12,500 Systems Approach Low Pest prevalence for 40,000 Market Access Promotion & Publicity Local Project — Fresh Finesse 37,500 including events with Buy West Eat Best Annual Meetings and Communication including 15,000 publications Industry Sponsorships and Association Memberships 6,000 Study Tour COVID-19 permitting 20,000 Producing Sustainable Crop Load Project — DPIRD 30,000 Platform Project 40,000 Administration including salary and office costs 192,000 APC charge @10% of FFS income 42,000 Total 587,000

Budgeted expenditure biosecurity account 2021–22 Project Codling Moth (DPIRD) APC charge @10% of FFS income Total

$ 35,500 6,000 41,500

APC fee-for-service charge

POME FRUIT EFFECTIVE FROM 1 JANUARY 2015 Type of fruit Fresh fruit — apples, pears, Nashi, other Processing fruit Biosecurity FFS for fresh fruit Biosecurity FFS for processing fruit

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

$/kg 0.015 0.005 0.002 0.001

Season update I

BY NARDIA STACY EXECUTIVE MANAGER, POMEWEST

t is the time of the year for reflection. In this report we look to measure the wins, the challenges and how we as an industry are tracking against our 2021–2025 strategic plan. Objective 1 & 3: Improving productivity and profitability. Two of the key objectives of the plan focus on productivity and profitability for pome growers. Sales based on the information from Harvest to Home from the Hort Innovation website indicate that WA is tracking well when examining the key metrics state by state. It does seem that WA Annual household purchases in value for apples $82.79 (see Table 1) (in line with Objective 1 target $75 spend/ household/year) has risen to and $20.46 for pears (see Table 2) (in line with Objective 3 target $20 spend/ household/year).

Objective 2: Building exports to 15% of our total production within 5 years. This outcome has started slowly but surely. With the increased cost of freight and market issues with ports due to current climate of the impact of COVID, the environment has not been ideal. We are pleased that some progress has been made in developing a coalition of interested businesses. Each indicating they are willing to collaborate and open consider any viable proposals and propositions.

WA is tracking well when examining the key metrics state by state.

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TABLE 1. APPLES: SALES METRICS, 52 WEEKS ENDING 05/09/21 BY STATE. Percentage of buying households (%)

Annual household purchases (value/$)

Annual household purchases (volume/kg)

$ sales growth (%)

Volume growth (%)

This year

Year ago

This year

Year ago

This year

Year ago

National

1.0

-5.6

66.44

65.36

16.3

17.2

Queensland

3.1

-3.4

64.13

62.00

15.9

16.4

New South Wales

-0.8

-4.3

66.78

67.67

16.3

17.1

Victoria

-4.3

-7.4

63.82

65.82

16.0

17.1

3.1

-3.4

59.26

57.58

15.1

15.6

12.1

-10.9

82.79

71.47

18.8

20.5

South Australia Western Australia

TABLE 2. PEARS: SALES METRICS, 52 WEEKS ENDING 05/09/21 BY STATE. Percentage of buying households (%)

Annual household purchases (value/$)

Annual household purchases (volume/kg)

$ sales growth (%)

Volume growth (%)

This year

Year ago

This year

Year ago

This year

Year ago

National

-0.6

2.6

19.95

20.31

6.7

6.6

Queensland

-0.9

2.3

18.95

19.60

6.7

New South Wales

-4.9

2.2

20.78

22.40

7.1

Victoria

1.9

5.8

18.98

19.06

6.4

6.2

South Australia

0.0

0.2

20.11

19.37

6.2

6.0

Western Australia

6.7

-3.3

20.46

18.32

6.0

5.9

Other activities, defined by the committee for the first year, fit within the tactics in the plan and listed as follows: 1 Promoting commercially available, cost-effective new technologies to drive productivity improvements. We have made inroads assisting the development of the program for Future Orchards® to support this initiative and invested in other projects such as the crop load assessment technology in partnership with DPIRD (see report on page 59 for details). 2 The management of our increasingly complex biosecurity issues by investment in the Biosecurity Liaison Officer project (undertaken by Susie Murphy White) in partnership with WA Citrus WA Stone fruit and outcomes. We hope to have in place shortly an update of the industry’s Biosecurity Strategic Plan, fund rules and response plan documents. You would have noticed that in preparation, the pest lists have featured in the Pome section in this year’s WA Grower magazine. We hoping to roll out some form of on-farm biosecurity workshops in

the new year and learn from case studies from the past to apply for future planning. The outcomes will also look at the processes of border security and fumigation management to manage risk of pest incursions — a tour was organised in October by WA Stonefruit (see page 75). 3 Market Development — Working with stakeholders to develop exports. Workshops and meetings during the year have established a key working group, who have expressed the desire to collaborate and make a start. Meanwhile, Pomewest continues to invest in supporting market access opportunities by continuing surveillance of pests and disinfestation trials to assist applications to premium markets such as Japan.

the program. Initial discussion has also commenced with the breeding team to share ideas and build robust pathways for future. 5 Working with stakeholders across the supply chain to ensure consumers consistently receive quality fruit, our quality program has expanded to reporting results to market agents and retailers about the results of data concentrating on retail. We hope to define when fails occur and work with the supply chain to improve practices to overcome issues.

Working with stakeholders to ensure consumers consistently receive quality fruit.

4 Engagement with the Apple Breeding Program, starting with the attendance of Steele Jacob of DPIRD at our recent dinner meetings with tastings of the new varieties with

6 Cultivating more production relationships with key stakeholders. We now have good WA representation on all national boards and panels which we hope will improve WA project investment. We have already had some Hort Innovation investment in projects which has leveraged some of the value back to WA including Future Orchards and the Building Business Capacity Program.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

POMEWEST

f SAM and Vanessa Licciardello Orchard 1 Sixty, Nardia Stacy and Susie Murphy White Pomewest at the Donnybrook Apple Festival, 21 September 2021.

Events and industry representation

WAHU the WA Horticulture Update

Since the last edition of WA Grower, we have supported two events to promote local produce to consumers — the Donnybrook Long Table Lunch organised by the Donnybrook Food and Wine Committee, and the Perth Royal Show. Both events were extremely successful in providing a platform to promote and educate the consumer about the WA industry, our growers, and our WA varieties. We are keen to continue and build our support of the regions and growers of the industry in 2022.

This event was held on November 4 and 5 was extremely well received by the industry delegates. The program celebrated the achievement of the section, highlighted the existing and ongoing concerns and the opportunities can be realised. The participants were a good mix of stakeholders and pleasingly many growers in the sector, which enabled good networking opportunities and encouraged meaningful conversations. See page 30 for more detail of the program if you missed out attending.

Promoting the WA pome industry, our growers, and our WA varieties.

We have been proactive in raising awareness in industry issues and supported growers to access assistance, for example the labour and netting scenarios. Including the COVID-19 requirements with vaccinations, so that primary industry businesses can continue to operate amongst the threat of lockdowns. We have managed to disseminate this information in our communication channels to growers on a very regular basis via newsletters, SMS messaging and publications.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Change in roles in Pomewest Committee and the announcement of Mark Scott as the new WA APAL Director This November Mark Scott finishes his tenure as Chair after 3.5 years of service. Mark leaves his role as Chair but remains as an active committee member. We thank Mark on behalf of the WA apple and pear growers for his contribution to the industry as spokesperson over the years. Both Susie and I thank Mark personally for

his advice, support and strength of leadership whilst at the helm. We now look forward to serving under the direction of Jason Jarvis as the newly appointed Chair and wish Mark all the best with his new role at APAL.

This edition We feature articles which report the results of Susie’s ‘Soil Your Undies’ challenge, which has certainly added some fun to soil biology measurement, DPIRD’s Dario Stefanelli’s introduction to the Crop Load Assessment Project on behalf of Industry and our biggest promotional activity at the Perth Royal Show by Noelene Swain of Fresh Finesse. In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and bright and prosperous 2022. I know I speak from the Committee Susie and myself, it has been a pleasure to work for you and the industry in 2021, and we look forward to continuing to serve you by achieving even more outcomes in 2022. MORE INFORMATION Contact Nardia Stacy, Executive Manager, 0411 138 103 or nardia@pomewest.net.au

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Chair’s Chat BY MARK SCOTT CHAIR, POMEWEST

fter the cold wet winter we have experienced, I assume growers have full dams and are looking forward to some warm weather to finish off flowering. Most growers will be aware that I have been accepted for the role of WA’s director on APAL. I will be stepping down as Chair in late November but maintaining a position on the Pomewest committee. Jason Jarvis will be assuming the role of Chair. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nardia and Susie for their assistance they have afforded me in my role as Chair — we are lucky to have staff who take a real commitment and interest in our industry.

f WELCOMING the new Chair — Mark Scott and Jason Jarvis.

Likewise, I would like to thank the rest of the committee for their counsel on all issues. Please consider putting yourself forward as a committee member. Averaging only four meetings a year, the industry knowledge and networking (plus sitting fees) will more than compensate for time lost. The committee are acutely aware that most growers have found trading conditions over the last five years to be challenging and whilst Pomewest has projects that are endeavouring to help, new ideas are always welcome.

We are lucky to have staff who take a real commitment and interest in our industry.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any issues you would like raised at a national level. I hope you have a safe and successful season.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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f DECOMPOSED undies at Jason Jarvis’s Orchard in Donnybrook.

WA Pome Industry joins the challenge to

’ s e i d n U r u o ‘Soil Y f RIGHT: Very little decomposition of the undies in the planted grass legume under tree treatment at the PIPS3 soil health site at Ladycroft Orchard in Manjimup. FAR RIGHT: James Scott about to bury 100% cotton undies to test the orchards soil health.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Seven WA Pome growers joined the Soil Your Undies Challenge.

POMEWEST

BY SUSIE MURPHY WHITE PROJECT MANAGER, POMEWEST

ack in September, Pomewest’s Susie Murphy-White got out and about with local growers to dig undies into soils so that they could see for themselves how active the soil biology is within their orchards. Seven WA Pome growers joined the Soil Your Undies Challenge, burying 21 new pairs of 100% cotton undies in their orchards spread across the Perth Hills, Donnybrook, Nannup and Manjimup.

Soil biology is key to productive healthy soils. It ranges from microscopic bacteria to earthworms you can see. Soil microbes convert organic matter such as cotton undies into nutrients that are made available to the trees.

As you can see from the undies dug up in November in Nannup and Donnybrook, the soil had an abundance of soil biota as there wasn’t much left of the cotton undies — just the elastic waist band. This indicated that the soil is diverse in beneficial microbial communities that are very active and can suppress plant pathogens. The undies dug up in Manjimup showed less decomposition indicating the soil biota was still waiting for some warmer weather before the microorganisms start actively converting organic matter into nutrients.

f JUST the elastic left in the decomposed undies at James and Mark Scott’s Orchard in Nannup.

Thank you to all the growers who participated in the challenge. Pomewest is a partner of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture’s PIPS3 Program project, Improved Australian apple and pear orchards soil health and plant nutrition project (AP19006), hosting one of the soil health trial sites at Manjimup, WA. The PIPS3 TIA project is investigating ways to improve soil health by managing inter-rows and tree-lines a little differently. Cover crops, compost and mulch treatments, as well as herbaceous and flowering meadow mix trials, are underway on two orchards in the Huon Valley (Tas), Manjimup (WA), Orange (NSW), Adelaide Hills (SA) and at the Tatura Smart Farm (Vic, jointly with AP19002 & AP19005) to monitor the impact upon soil health, tree health, water availability, yield and fruit quality.

Soil biology is key to productive healthy soils.

At the soil health trial site, the compost under tree treatment, indicates there may be more happening under the ground than the grass legume under tree treatment, where the undies had not broken down very much. The undies challenge is a way of visualising what is happening underground. Weighing or photographing your soiled undies can be a record of changes to your soil biological activity over time. It is one diagnostic tool that has been used in the PIPS3 Soil Health Project.

MORE INFORMATION Contact Susie Murphy White, Project Manager — Pomewest, on 0429 413 420 or susan.murphy-white@dpird.wa.gov.au.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

POMEWEST

WA Apples

at the Perth Royal Show

BY NOELENE SWAIN POMEWEST PROMOTIONS CO-ORDINATOR

ossible restrictions were quickly brushed aside as people flocked to enjoy the Perth Royal Show this year. The rollercoaster of changes to the show as result of COVID-19 created a new pavilion layout and some different opportunities for the local apple producers to showcase their industry. 56

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Strategically positioned in the Farm 2 Food pavilion, the apple stand was amongst displays designed to engage children to become more aware of where and how their food is produced.

Being part of the Perth Royal Show is still an excellent opportunity to engage children on a family food discovery — tasting the very best on offer from WA. The Perth Royal Show attracted outstanding crowds this year, with daily gate limits of 60,000 being reached on a number of days despite the historical Perth hosting of the AFL Grand Final on the same weekend. The Royal Show is a popular tradition for West Australians to celebrate the production of agriculture in the state. Many commented that they noticed the change of location and were delighted

to still find the apple stand, as buying an apple slinky at the show is now our family tradition. “Buying an apple slinky at the show is now a family tradition.” Armed with Apple Slinky machines, our apple team managed to swirl and twirl their way through over 5,200 apples — 2700 BRAVO™ apples and over 2,500 Pink Lady® and Granny Smith apples. This year’s figures represented a 3% increase on the previous show and the best year since 2013. Samples were also offered of Bravo™ however, there was a definite increase on previous years of the number of people who are loyal Bravo™ fans and who were even able to ask for it by name. There were also more people who were aware of the new variety, and very keen to buy a Bravo™ apple slinky as a way of trying the variety.

POMEWEST

f ARMED with Apple Slinky machines, our apple team managed to swirl and twirl their way through over 5,200 apples.

and Andrea Hawkes from FruitWest, the stand was a valuable way to share the importance of eating locally produced fruit, the health benefits and supporting local growers and the apple industry.

Buying an apple slinky at the show is now a family tradition.

Offering a range of varieties is an important aspect of the promotion. Everyone has their personal favourite. Whilst some people are unsure of the varietal names, it was very clear that there is an apple to suit everyone and they know how to select on colour to achieve their preferred apple. Many parents seem to know exactly what apple each member of the family would choose. Varietal choice is certainly an asset for the apple industry to extend consumer reach. There can be a different favourite apple for everyone! Background signage of apple varieties, supply maps and general orchard lifestyle images, proved ideal for engagement with individuals, families and children interested in discovering more about local food. With the input of Nardia Stacey and Susie Murphy White from Pomewest and Sean Englebrecht

Being at the Royal Show also provides a further network of opportunities in the community. Nadia Stacy presented an excellent interview with ABC Radio Perth who were broadcasting from the Show and was able to promote key industry messages like their commitment to quality standards. Other coverage was achieved in the Countryman. A number of key discussions were facilitated with health and education agencies that are linked to strategic outcomes collaborating with these groups.

The key message is — no matter what variety is your favourite — make an apple your go-to daily snack. Thanks to all involved who assisted during the show promotion, as it is a key opportunity and important to gain direct feedback from the public. Further thanks Fruit West Coop Ltd for their support to underwrite and support with resources, and WA Farm Direct for their assistance in the supply and delivery of apples. MORE INFORMATION Nardia Stacy, Executive Manager 0411 138 103 or nardia@pomewest.net.au.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

ADVERTORIAL

Fungicide a welcome addition to Tasmanian apple program TALENDO® FUNGICIDE, FROM Corteva, has been welcomed as a key addition to the disease protection program used and recommended by Peter Morrison, of Nutrien Agronomic Services, at Huonville, in Tasmania. Mr Morrison consults to apple growers across Tasmania and said, with annual rainfall of between 650 and 950mm, diseases such as Powdery mildew were a major issue each year. “Predominantly we look at preventative programs, rather than curative, for the control of Powdery mildew and so need a range of products across the season to produce high quality apples.” “Every application across the orchard has a Powdery mildew product included.” He said it was vitally important to rotate the modes of action to reduce the onset of resistance so the different products could be viable into the future. “Resistance management is paramount. There wouldn’t be a day go by where I don’t talk about resistance to a grower. Unfortunately, we have a first-hand experience with a disease in cherries at the moment which has developed resistance to certain chemicals.” Apple varieties grown in Tasmania include Gala, Pinks, Jazz and Envy with many of the more modern options proving to be quite susceptible to powdery mildew. “These newer varieties seem to be Powdery mildew magnets,” Mr Morrison said. He said the high-pressure period for Powdery mildew was from late November through to mid-to-late December and this was the window where Talendo® was used.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

“In that high pressure timing we are finding Talendo® has done an excellent job.” A typical program recommended by Mr Morrison includes sulfur for the first three sprays, followed by Topaz and three Flint applications over flowering. Three applications of Fontelis® and Talendo are used and Delan, Nimrod and Topaz might finish off the season.

“I use Fontelis® and Talendo® at the pressure times of the year,” Mr Morrison said. Talendo® works on three important stages of the disease life cycle by making exposed spores unviable, inhibited spore germination and preventing Powdery mildew from reproducing. This ensures a cleaner orchard into the future. The program recommended by Mr Morrison rotates through the different modes of action to help reduce the incidence of resistance. “There are good options but due to the fact that we need to have a Powdery

mildew spray in every tank you can run out,” Mr Morrison said. If an orchard succumbs to Powdery mildew it can turn white and cause issues that season and also into the future. Mr Morrison said many growers in Tasmania were focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs to help control insect pests and preserve beneficial insects through the orchards. He said Talendo® had fitted well into the program as it was IPM compatible and mixed well with a range of other products used by growers. It is also a product with low toxicity, with minimal impact on the environment and excellent operator safety. Mr Morrison said the programs implemented throughout the season help farmers grow excellent apples that are exported to the mainland and across the world. MORE INFORMATION Go to www.corteva.com.au

POMEWEST

New heat mapping tool for apples BY DARIO STEFANELLI AND LISA STARKIE DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

New digital imaging technology that delivers information in the form of heat maps.

he use of new heat mapping technology to determine the sustainable number of high-quality fruit that a canopy is able to produce is being trialled by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

POMEWEST

Managing canopy variability in its spatial composition is almost impossible with current visual methods. Digital imagery would greatly improve canopy management by helping to identify what localised actions are needed, especially in the thinning phase.

The technology uses a combination of LiDAR data and digital images.

This information will be invaluable for the planning and implementing of orchard management techniques, leading to labour efficiency and potentially reduced production costs and therefore increased profitability.

Reducing labour requirement through managing flowering and thinning is also one of the main reasons why research into variable spray is being done in apple producing regions around the world. The project plans to regularly map and monitor trees at various stages of their development throughout the season. Data collection will start at bloom and continue during the growing season to map and monitor flowering, canopy growth, fruit numbers, fruit growth and fruit colour development.

f CARTOGRAPHER collecting digital images at bloom in an ‘ANABP 01A’ block at Newton Orchards, Manjimup.

Predicting the crop load of apple trees to maximise yield and fruit quality is a fundamental challenge for growers. Disruptions in production resulting from inconsistency of crop load and apple quality can create severe economic losses of up to 30%. In addition, spatial variability within the orchard may compound difficulties in orchard management and farm profitably. DPIRD, in collaboration with Agriculture Produce Commission Apple producers committee and Aero Vine Pty Ltd, has initiated a one-year pilot study to map and monitor orchard growth using new digital imaging technology that delivers information in the form of heat maps. The technology, developed by Australian company Green Atlas and implemented in WA by Aero Vines, uses a combination of LiDAR data and digital images captured by a sophisticated camera mounted to a buggy.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

“Measuring and using orchard data to drive decisionmaking allows more objective, transparent, consistent and ultimately more effective choices. This leads to improvements in efficiencies and longterm profitability.” Jack Wilson, APAL news September 2021.

FIGURE 1. AERIAL HEATMAPS OF FLOWER NUMBERS COLLECTED BY THE CARTOGRAPHER IN ‘ANABP 01A’ (LEFT) AND ‘ROSY GLOW’ (RIGHT) BLOCKS.

POMEWEST

During the season there will be up to 10 data collections at the below physiological stages: • bloom • pre- and post-chemical thinning • pre- and post-manual thinning • mid-season • pre-harvest. There are two objectives for the project. The first is to identify full canopy size as soon as possible in the season, and the second is to verify thinning efficacy. Determining canopy size requires several image collections during the season, starting with small leaves and continuing relatively often during canopy growth, reducing once the canopy is fully expanded. Given the canopy is the carbohydrate producer and the organ that sustains the fruit, the aim is to compare the canopy size data with the number of fruit on the tree and fruit quality.

This will build a database that can be used to determine the crop load for each canopy size that will ensure consistently optimal fruit quality. Verifying thinning efficacy will involve collecting pre- and post-spray application data, as well as pre and post-manual thinning data. A series of trees in the orchard will be selected (at least 40) to be manually counted as confirmation of the numbers collected through digital imaging. Cultivars assessed digitally in the trial will be ‘ANABP 01A’ and ‘Rosy Glow’.

Collecting the data prior and after chemical thinning will tell the growers how efficient the chemical treatment has been, and also the areas of variability in the block. This will enable growers to determine the efficiency of the thinning programs with actual numbers rather than relying on historical data.

The project plans to regularly map and monitor trees at various stages of their development.

The images will generate heat maps that show abundancy of the desired traits looked for (flowers, fruit numbers, fruit colour, canopy size). It will also deliver an aerial map of the orchard showing spatial variability within the block.

Growers can then make more informed decisions when deciding to perform additional sprays in certain locations and identifying where to send the labour for the more urgent manual thinning.

MORE INFORMATION Contact Dario Stefanelli; phone 0417 063 235 or email dario.stefanelli@dpird.wa.go.au.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

ADVERTORIAL

ABC Software

expands spray diary to full agrichemical module ABC SOFTWARE HAS introduced an Agrichemical module to ABCgrower, its cloud-based software tool used to digitally record on-farm work. The Agrichemical module now records dry applications and tracks nutrients on farm. This adds functionality to the existing spray diary that is used to plan, calculate, instruct, and record spray applications, bringing efficiencies to a spray regime. The new module can publish and lock records to meet compliance regulations and take to market to show customers the provenance of the fruit. The New Zealand-based horticulture software specialist ABC Software is planning to add fertigation recording to the module in the coming weeks.

“We recognise that growers are looking for more in-depth information about their soil nutrient levels,” says Sharon Chapman, ABC Software director. “We are incorporating a Nutrient Analysis Report that provides a grower with visibility to the nutrients applied to all blocks across the season, or whatever period they choose. This will allow insight into the contribution fertiliser is making to the fruit. “It will also help growers meet their environment and waterway responsibility.” The module also includes a consumables stock register, for chemicals and any other items the grower wants to track. The inventory control system allows for multiple stock locations. Stocktakes can be done in real time from any mobile device with an internet connection.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Automated entries for chemical usage are made on the completion of a spray or fertiliser application. Batch numbers can be recorded for chemicals in both the stock register and on agrichemical instructions for compliance and traceability. In addition to expanding the Agrichemical module, the ABC Software team is reporting good uptake of its Onsite log. This allows a view of who is on site at any time. Visitors and workers can sign themselves in and out, and be required to answer a set of questions, for example health and safety questions with respect to COVID-19. A photograph and GPS location can be recorded when a worker signs in and out. Alternatively, supervisors can sign in a group of workers and quickly and simply set start and end times for the day. f DRY application instructions readily on hand.

Another ABCgrower module — Quality — provides real-time information to ensure quality standards are being met. In-field assessments are done on customised templates, be it for workers, harvested fruit, trees, plants or anything else. Defects, evaluations, and observations are recorded. The data is presented to make it easy to improve productivity. “This module makes quality work more effective and responsive so a grower can be more confident that their operation is working at optimal levels,” says Sharon. ABCgrower is mobile responsive. All the new features are available on any device with an internet connection. Quality is also available on ABCgrower Mobile, which works offline. MORE INFORMATION Contact Sharon Chapman +64 6 845 0068 or sharon.chapman@abcsoftware.co.nz or go to www.abcsoftware.co.nz.

WA CITRUS

citrus

update WA Citrus

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA CITRUS

contacts

From the

industry

WA Citrus Committee

Producer Committee Members Joseph Ling, Chair m: 0417 828 238 e: chair@wacitrus.com.au Shane Kay Mary Ann O’Connor Andrew Pergoliti Cliff Winfield Daniel Ying

WA Citrus Office Building 16, 3 Baron-Hay Court, SOUTH PERTH WA 6151 Bronwyn Walsh, Industry Development Manager m: 0400 873 875 e: industrymanager@wacitrus.com.au Kate Cox, Administrative Services m: 0439 899 600 e: admin@wacitrus.com.au Helen Newman, Biosecurity Representative e: biosecurity@wacitrus.com.au Elbe Coetsee, Industry Development Officer (APC) e: elbe.coetsee@dpird.wa.gov.au

about

WA Citrus is the industry body representing citrus growers and industry in Western Australia. WA Citrus aims to: • Assist in the development of a profitable and sustainable citrus industry in WA • Provide services, facilities and support to assist WA citrus growers supply premium citrus in the local, national and export markets • Assist with growing the consumption of WA citrus fruit

BY JOSEPH LING CHAIR, WA CITRUS

wo end of year events in November provided the bigger picture trends, challenges and the chance to catchup with a few fellow citrus growers plus other industry members from Western Australia. The WA Horticulture Update was hosted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in early November and the Regional Update from Citrus Australia was held in late November. At the regional update Nathan Hancock, CEO of Citrus Australia, reviewed 2021 and what they thought to expect in 2022, particularly related to markets and labour. This year in particular, Citrus Australia played a key role in representing our industry to government and collaborating with other industries to find a path to accessing labour and getting through COVID. You may also be interested in the tools and resources collated on the Citrus Australia website.

Citrus Technical Forum, Brisbane, March 7–9, 2022.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

In addition, a reminder that Citrus Australia members receive The Juice, the monthly newsletter for updates on government lobbying, videos from industry partners, grants, courses, and other exclusive content; access discounted member tickets to their national forum; take 10% off your purchase of the Safe Ag Systems WHS digital safety management program and app; unlock the Citrus Australia website to see member only documents on topics that matter to you, such as farm labour, mental health and COVID-19 in the orchard and packing shed, as well as domestic and export market information.

For your calendar, the Citrus Technical Forum is planned to be in Brisbane early next year, from March 7–9. Members receive a discount on tickets. Impressions from citrus growers that attended the WA Horticulture Update event are reported on page 65. Helen has also covered the current status of the phytophagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) in her article on page 70. Lastly we hope you enjoy a break over the summer and take care. Wishing you and your families well. MORE INFORMATION Contact Joseph Ling on 0417 828 238.

WA CITRUS

The WA Horticulture Update was held in Perth during November.

f KEYNOTE speaker, Prof David Hughes talks about trends in consumer purchasing.

What did you learn at the WAHU?

BY BRONWYN WALSH INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, WA CITRUS

our WA citrus growers plus the citrus research team attended the WA Horticulture Update in Perth in early November. What follows is some of what they learned. 1. What were some highlights for you? The presentations encapsulated the real problems right now, being labour issues, wastage, packaging materials, costs and returns, consumption patterns and consumer trending. “The talk by ‘Dr Food’, Professor David Hughes, was very insightful. There was a lot of future casting based on what was going on in overseas markets, which as growers, we will need to make changes to the way we do business if it is to survive into the future.”

Trends included the acceleration of consumers buying on-line during COVID, consumer consciousness about air freight and its related impact on the environment, similarly packaging, chemical use and “social license” for food production. The packaging panel session highlighted the different components of the future of packaging with multiple goals of reducing landfill of single use plastics (non recyclable), preventing food tampering and extending shelf life. “Having the video presentations in between speakers/panels was very well done. It gave an overview and insight into how different growers of different crops manage their businesses.” The videos are available on DPIRD’s YouTube channel. “The field trip was really good, particularly RichGro, seeing converting food waste to an energy plant and incorporating it into their garden product. Their business model is very clever.

f TANKS where gas accumulates after food waste has been processes, RichGro.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA CITRUS

f A visit to Avowest highlighted the use of technology in managing irrigation and investigating the use of technology to monitor plant physiology.

f BENARA Nurseries reduce evaporation from dam with floating balls.

f BLACK soldier fly life cycle stages and a few current products such as in dog food and research into use of frass for soil amendments, Future Green Solutions (right).

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

f CATCHING up with growers, DPIRD and industry all in one day was great.

WA CITRUS

“The Future Green Solutions presentation on protein production from black soldier fly larvae feeding on food waste was a highlight.” “The Innovation and technology session and Emerging data session were good too.”

2. Would you recommend other citrus growers attend the next one? There was a unanimous “yes” from all the growers that attended that they would recommend other growers attend the next WAHU. “The networking with people from other commodities was great. The networking event was good to catch people you didn’t meet during the day.”

3. Is there anything you heard or talked about that other citrus growers should know? “The importance of bench marking, sometimes having a third party looking in can open up ideas of how and where

the 1% cost saving can be derived. Those 1%-ers add up and could be the difference between making a margin on sales or making a loss.” Presentation from Bryn Edwards ‘Building Better Businesses’. “I talked to an apple grower about a software program for tracking field labour called Tag Log which I didn’t know about. Other growers may like to know about that.”

the industry. The importance is doing it right.” “Look into how our business benchmarks with others across the same industry and find how and where there can be improvements that can be made. Continuing to look at AgTech may in the long run save time and therefore money.”

Growers that attended recommend other growers attend the next WAHU.

“Interesting to hear the plastics conversation and different perspectives.”

“I think communicating the world trends that the keynote speaker spoke about, ‘like it or not sooner or later those trends land in Australia.”

4. Will you do anything with what you learned?

“As a packer, continue to monitor trends in plastics.”

“I’ve invited Luke Wheat, from Future Green Solutions, to come to Manjimup to talk to the local fruit and vegetable producers to get a transfer station or satellite plant going.”

MORE INFORMATION Contact Bronwyn on 0400 873 875 or email industrymanager@wacitrus.com.au.

“Definitely approach social media with a different view. Ultimately, having a story that will reach the end consumer and increase category sales is a win for

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WA CITRUS

Canopy management in Afourer mandarins

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

project update

until 2024. The studies will explore the numerous management options currently being used including hand thinning, chunk pruning, limb bending, annual limb removal, autumn water shoot removal and mechanical hedging. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is coordinating activities in WA at three demonstration sites — two in Harvey and the other in Dandaragan — which will assess the effect of different pruning strategies on fruit size and yield.

BY RACHELLE JOHNSTONE RESEARCH SCIENTIST, DPIRD

A growers are taking part in a Horticulture Innovation Australia funded project to develop best practice canopy management techniques in Afourer mandarins that can improve long-term yields and minimise alternate bearing. The project, which is being led by Steven Falivene at New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, will conduct case studies on Afourer grower properties across Australia. The project commenced in 2020 and will continue

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Each site has 12 trees that were intensively pruned in September and October 2021 using a ‘layering’ technique to optimise light penetration into the canopy at all levels.

growth will help to suppress some of the watershoot growth. The trees are still relatively young when compared to the 4.5m tall trees in some orchards and do not require excessive pruning. The main strategy is to identify the limbs we want to keep and then prune around them so there is enough space and windows for light to reach most of the way along the limb. Figures 1–3 show an example of an Afourer tree before and after pruning. You can see that pruning has resulted in dappled light throughout the canopy. It is thought that developing a good limb structure and managing regrowth in autumn are important practices. Trees will be monitored in autumn and regrowth pruned if necessary. One of the demonstration sites will also have a row of hedge pruned trees.

Developing best practice canopy management techniques in Afourer mandarins.

The aim of this pruning strategy is to mimic the young tree structure of an Afourer, encouraging fruit across all levels of the canopy. We are aiming to maintain and reinvigorate the middle part of the tree, which tends to be shaded and bare of shoot growth as Afourer trees mature. The first stage will involve pruning the sides of the tree with a little pruning of the centres. First targeting the tree centres will encourage watershoot growth, taking energy away from fruit growth and blocking light to the lower canopy as the branches grow. Next year there should be some leaf growth in the middle parts of the canopy and when the centres are removed this

Pruning treatments will be compared to the grower’s current practice at each site, measuring fruit size, yield and costs of pruning/management. Steven will soon release a series of videos that describe many of the pruning treatments in detail and updates on how the trees responded in the following year. MORE INFORMATION Contact: Rachelle Johnstone, rachelle. johnstone@dpird.wa.gov.au or Steven Falivene, steven.falivene@dpi.nsw.gov.au

WA CITRUS

Assessing the effect of different pruning strategies.

FIGURE 1. AFOURER TREE BEFORE PRUNING, SEPTEMBER 2021. FIGURE 2. AFOURER TREE AFTER HAND PRUNING. FIGURE 3. CENTRE OF AFOURER TREE AFTER PRUNING. FIGURE 4. KEVIN LACEY (DPIRD SENIOR TECHNICAL OFFICER) PRUNING AFOURER TREES AT THE DANDARAGAN SITE.

CITRUS FUND This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the citrus research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government. For more information on the fund and strategic levy investment visit horticulture.com.au

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

WA CITRUS

Eyes peeled for

polyphagous shot-hole borer

f THE polyphagous shot-hole borer attacks a wide range of plants by tunnelling into trunks, stems and branches.

Confirmed detection of the polyphagous shot-hole borer in East Fremantle.

elen Newman, WA Citrus biosecurity representative, attended monthly updates from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) related to a new exotic beetle, the polyphagous shot-hole borer. It is a pest of a wide range of trees. DPIRD is responding to the confirmed detection in a backyard maple tree in East Fremantle. Response activities include: • Conducting surveillance to determine the distribution of PSHB; in particular DPIRD is keen for people report if they have a box elder maple on their property or street • Containing the pest to prevent further spread to non-infested regions within WA

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

f DEVELOPMENT stages of male and female polyphagous shot-hole borer.

• Providing advice and information to residents, industry and other stakeholders

In susceptible trees, the fungus kills vascular tissue causing Fusarium dieback and tree death.

• Ensuring that all response activities are conducted safely, consistently and efficiently.

Citrus Australia are continuing to monitor and provide input to the national committee managing the outbreak.

Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) Euwallacea fornicatus is a beetle native to Southeast Asia. The beetle attacks a wide range of plants by tunnelling into trunks, stems and branches. PSHB has a symbiotic relationship with the fungus Fusarium euwallaceae, cultivating it inside the tree as a food source for the beetle and its larvae.

MORE INFORMATION Much more information about movement restrictions, trapping and the quarantine zone are available on the DPIRD website. www.agric.wa.gov.au/borer Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) (08) 9368 3080 or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au

STONEFRUIT

stonefruit

update Stonefruit WA

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

STONEFRUIT

contacts Stonefruit Sub-Committee Danny Di Marco, Chair e: dimarconson@gmail.com Anthony Fullam

e: afullam@wn.com.au

Bruno Delsimone

e: bdelsimone@mercermooney.com.au

Anthony Caccetta

e: antc83@hotmail.com

Mark Scott

e: markpscott@bigpond.com

Sebastian Fiolo

e: karragullen@bigpond.com

Mick Padula

e: mickpadula@yahoo.com.au

Robert Giumelli

e: juroorchard@live.com.au

Scarlet Roxby, Value Chain Facilitator

e: scarlet.roxby@perthnrm.com e: (08) 9374 3306

APC fee for service charge Stone fruit effective from 1 November 2009 Type of fruit

Facilitator Update

BY SCARLET ROXBY VALUE CHAIN FACILITATOR, STONEFRUIT

he pre-season has been full of great events and professional development, with some unfortunate hailstorms in late October.

The hail and wet weather in both the Perth Hills and south-west regions has caused delays in produce hitting the shelf. Carnarvon, Gingin, and early season Perth Hills stonefruit hit the shelf in early November, tasting sweet and delicious. The season ahead is looking great, and we look forward to exciting customers with ways they can make the most of the summer fruit.

$/kg

All fresh stone fruit (apricots, cherries, loquats, nectarines, peaches and plums)

0.015

Processing fruit

0.006

News

For any future enquiries or to subscribe to the WA Stonefruit newsletter, please email shay.crouch@perthnrm.com

what’s on... 2021

WA Stonefruit Season Launch WHEN December 9th 2021 WHERE The Shoe in Yagan Square

In Store Demonstrations WHERE Various locations DATES December to February

Committee meeting

WHEN Late February/early March

Annual General Meeting WHEN TBC May

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

The stonefruit season ahead is looking great.

STONEFRUIT

Buy West Eat Best In late October, Buy West Eat Best (BWEB) put on a superb supply-chain focused event, ‘Meet the Buyer’, to provide the BWEB members a chance to network with WA retailers, buyers and other supply chain members or value-add organisations. As a producer group, we made some excellent connections with organisations that would provide benefits for orchardists.

f TOP: Facilitator, Scarlet, at the Gingin 150th Birthday event, with a display of immature stonefruit branches for a ‘Guess the baby stonefruit’ competition. ABOVE: Arguably the best attraction at the Gingin 150th, baby joey, courtesy of a volunteer of the Lions Club.

Gingin birthday celebration In early October, we attended the 150th birthday celebration of the Town of Gingin along the Gingin Brook; a family fun day featuring the Flavours of Gingin, fresh food, market stalls, entertainment, an appearance from a joey, and fireworks to conclude. WA Stonefruit, along with WA Potatoes, vegetablesWA and local growers were situated in the Flavours of Gingin Pavilion.

To find out more about these organisations, subscribe to the WA Stonefruit newsletter by emailing Shay, shay.crouch@perthnrm.com. Building these business relationships from an association standpoint provides resources for all growers, however, the Buy West Eat Best membership can provide a range of opportunities to expand your business connections and add value.

Buy West Eat Best membership can help expand your business connections and add value.

Gingin is situated in the northern area of the WA stonefruit growing regions, with five growers in the Chittering area. The locality and familiarity of orcharding to the locals of Gingin brought an overwhelming amount of interest from locals, current and ex-growers, and visitors to the area, all wanting to chat about the upcoming stone fruit season. Thank you to the incredible event organisers for bringing together this great family event.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

STONEFRUIT

The Honourable Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Agriculture and Food, addressed the food security issues and importance of sustainability in agriculture, alongside a panel of notable agriculture industry professionals, delving into government policy, water security, agri-finance business, soil health, natural capital, and innovative waste management.

f DANNY Di Marco (Stonefruit WA Chair) at the WA Horticulture Update, sat on the Protecting the Supply Chain panel.

Western Australian Horticulture Update The Western Australian Horticulture Update was held on November 4 at Optus Stadium. The conference day was full of insightful and in-depth conversation regarding the key issues that the WA horticultural industries are currently and predicted to face. The day started off with a keynote presentation from Dr David Hughes (aka “Dr Food”), Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London, who addressed market resilience and the future of consumer purchasing trends, including the rise in convenience-driven food purchasing (on-demand grocery delivery).

f PLANFARM networking sundowner.

Our very own Chair, Danny Di Marco, participated in the Protecting the Supply Chain panel, alongside David Cousins (DPIRD), Dr Helen Spafford (DPIRD) and Rod McPherson (Market West). They discussed the threat of pests and disease on the sustainability of the WA horticulture industries. Danny provided a fantastic grower point of view, and together they reinforced the importance of biosecurity preparedness in WA.

Social media expert Meg Coffey talked about how social media needs to create micro-moments which leave consumers feeling good. It needs to add value to those who view it, while keeping on brand for your business. The Building Horticulture Capacity Program was covered by Bryn Edwards (vegetablesWA), Paul Omodei (Planfarm) and Mark Scott (Nannup Fresh Fruit), answering questions regarding confidentiality and the value growers are getting out of the program. The final panel provided an update on workforce solutions, with Bernice Russo (Harvest Trail), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Bananas), and Nic Giblett (Newton Orchards). It is thought that pre-COVID levels for travel won’t return for as many as seven years, resulting in continuing labour shortage issues.

Traceability is important and starts at the pack shed.

We heard from DPIRD Scientists Dr Dario Stefanelli, Dr Helen Spafford and Dr Neil Lantzke about their research projects, and how DPIRD is rebuilding their R&D capacity in horticulture. There was a panel discussion around plastics and packaging, which highlighted how important packaging is in reducing food waste, and research into new technologies to reduce the need of plastics where appropriate.

Thanks to DPIRD for organising such a wonderful cross-industry event at the beautiful Optus Stadium. Special thanks to Anne Thompson, who led the steering committee that I sat on, along with eight other industry facilitators. Thank you for keeping the steering committee on track to shape what evolved to be a day rich with great discussion and topics.

Farewell It is with some sadness I announce I will be concluding my role with Perth NRM and the stone fruit industry just before Christmas. I want to say thank you to all the fabulous people that make up our horticulture industry, and for those that have guided and supported me over the past 2.5 years. ● MORE INFORMATION Shay will be managing enquiries and projects until a new Value Chain Facilitator has been appointed.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

FOLLOW WA STONEFRUIT @wastonefruit @WeLoveWAStonefruit

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

STONEFRUIT

Fumigation Tour Southern Fumigation Services

BY SCARLET ROXBY VALUE CHAIN FACILITATOR, STONEFRUIT

n October 20, WA Stonefruit held a tour of the methyl bromide (MB) facilities at Southern Fumigation Services in Cockburn Central. Fourteen guests joined the two Adrians and Kylie to understand the inner workings of the fumigation process for produce coming from the Perth Markets. The tour provided an understanding of MB requirements, variability and longevity of produce being fumigated, and gave growers peace of mind that Adrian and Adrian handled the produce professionally to provide customers with quality produce. The following provides notes from the discussion and tour.

TABLE 1. FUMIGATION RATES FOR 2HR PERIOD. Temperature (°C)

Rate of methyl bromide (g/m3)

21+

17–21

40^

10–17

^ Best results

are in a dormant state with limited respiration and movement. When produce arrives for treatment, the temperature of random pallets is measured with dosage rate being worked out based on the lowest temperature measured. Produce is brought up to 17°C in the fumigation room with a fan circulating air evenly.

process takes two hours, with an additional hour to vent MB gas before the room can be opened. The MB concentration reading is recorded manually 30 minutes after the MB release and 1 hour before the end of fumigation process, after which the gas is vented from the room. MB must be below 5 parts per million (ppm) in the fumigation room before produce can be safely removed. If fumigation is occurring at night, the room can be scheduled to be a cool room on completion of fumigation.

Methyl bromide is a controlled substance.

Pallets are spread out to assist air/ fumigant flow. MB concentration is monitored, recorded, and checked throughout the treatment, using three sensors equally distributed across the fumigation room. The fumigation

Most pallets have a same day turnaround time for fumigation, dependent on the time the produce is received, as fumigated produce will not be released until authority to do so is received from Quarantine WA (QWA). Southern Fumigation Services have the capacity to fumigate 45 pallets a day. f TOUR group listening to Adrian and Adrian (left in yellow and orange) as they talk about the fumigation process.

Here are a few notes from the discussion and tour.

Fumigation process Successful MB fumigation is dependent on an ideal combination of dosage rate, treatment time and treatment temperature. If one of these factors is incorrect then fumigation is not effective. (Successful fumigation = dosage rate x treatment time x treatment temperature). Produce must be greater than 10°C as a minimum and less than 32°C as a maximum, with the ideal range between 17°C – 20.9°C (see Table 1). At lower temperatures, the respiration of insects is reduced, therefore uptake of fumigant by insects is lower. Below 10°C insects WA Grower SUMMER 2021

STONEFRUIT

fumigators. MB is harmful to the ozone layer, with its only approved use in fumigation to limit the release of MB into the atmosphere. Records are kept showing the total amount released per year.

on the product. Heating fresh produce up to 17°C – 20.9°C is a problem as it reduces shelf life. Ideally, produce could be treated at picked temperature rather than heating up produce which has come out of a cool room or refrigerated truck.

Quarantine WA (QWA) & Quarantine Direction Notice (QDN)

Upon removal from fumigation chamber, damage is sometimes noticeable, e.g., fruit burn when there is moisture / condensation on the fruit. Fans and airflow help to dry condensation from fruit but this can be less effective if produce is packed in plastic containers.

Produce trucks coming into WA go to the transport company depots at Market City. Quarantine WA (QWA) then inspects the produce to determine if it is acceptable or if fumigation is required. This depends upon the product, protocols in place and what quarantine treatment has occurred prior to entry in WA. f METHYL bromide signage.

Insect eggs are difficult to fumigate while larvae/pupae are killed easily. Risk of insects escaping from the fumigation facility (i.e., outside treatment room) is low because produce is cold (therefore insects are not moving). Southern Fumigation Services are currently investigating with DPIRD if it is feasible to do a low dose fumigation treatment for longer (e.g., 18g/m3 @ 18°C for 5 hours), however any change to protocol is dependent upon agreement between markets and other States. Getting export markets and each state to agree to make changes to fumigation process/requirements is a difficult process.

If required, a Quarantine Direction Notice (QDN) is issued, for a fumigator to treat appropriately. The details on the notice must match the details of produce on the pallets, called a Quarantine ID (QID), including number of pallets/boxes, product, place of origin and destination. The quarantined produce is taken for fumigation and cannot be released without approval from QWA who provide a quarantine release notice. If the fumigation process is completed, and no release notice has been received, the fumigator must hold the produce until notice is received. If a QDN specifies that fumigation must occur before a set time and date and fumigation does not occur by this date/time, then a new QWA inspection is required.

Traceability is important and starts at the pack shed.

Methyl bromide characteristics MB has no colour, taste or odour and dissipates quickly in air. The gaps between pallets allow the MB to penetrate through polystyrene, plastic etc, even when produce is in packaging. Like many pests, MB enters the produce via the stem area. Samples of produce are tested at markets to check the safety of MB treated produce for consumption. The dosage rate also accounts for the MB maximum residue limit (MRL) allowed in produce. MB is a controlled substance manufactured in India and imported through one company into South Australia. It is then sent to a depot in Perth for purchase by West Australian

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Areas of improvement Traceability is important and starts at the pack shed. Traceability is tracked through the QDN for each pallet. Each pallet may contain a mix of produce from multiple growers; thus, traceability cannot always be narrowed down to a specific grower. What was in the fumigation chamber at same time is known due to QDN information. If traceability were to start at the individual grower level, determining the source of pest outbreaks could be quicker. However, any changes in traceability would need to be approved across all states before implementation. Despite MB being the best fumigation tool in many instances, the process can cause variable damage depending

Fumigation facility feasibility With recent outbreaks of Queensland Fruit Fly there has been thought about setting up fumigation facilities in growing regions to help mitigate the effects of an outbreak. Things to consider would include: • WA Department of Health need to approve a facility. Urban sprawl into the growing regions could make this difficult. • Continual throughput is important for the financial viability of a fumigation business. • If a pest outbreak were to occur and the fumigation facility was located within the Quarantine Zone, it would not be permitted to operate. A mobile facility could alleviate this risk, though approvals would still be necessary, and any movement of the facility would probably require additional approvals. Finally, we would like to thank Kylie, Adrian and Adrian at Southern Fumigation Services for hosting the tour of their facilities and thank you to Rachel Lancaster (Horticulture Biosecurity Liaison Officer) for providing detailed notes. This event was held to help stone fruit growers gain a better understanding of the fumigation process and how it is implemented to help reduce the risk of biosecurity outbreaks in WA. ●

FOLLOW WA STONEFRUIT @wastonefruit @WeLoveWAStonefruit

YOUR BUSINESS

your

business Your business WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR BUSINESS

f DIRECTORS of Australian companies need to apply for a unique identifier, the director ID.

A director ID is a 15=digit identification number that is unique to you.

Do you need to get a director ID? BY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

rom 1 November 2021, if you are the director of an Australian company or plan to become one, you will need a Director Identification Number (director ID). Director IDs are part of the Modernising Business Registers program introduced by the Australian Government, which aims to make it easier for businesses to meet their registration obligations and increase trust in business information.

Small Business Development Corporation

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

What is a director ID? A director ID is a 15=digit identification number that is unique to you. As a director, you will only ever have one director ID that remains the same (even if you change companies, cease your role as a director, change your name or move interstate or overseas).

The new identifier has been introduced to create greater confidence in directors’ identities and combat fraudulent activities, such as phoenixing. Phoenixing is a practice that involves company directors transferring the assets of an existing company to a new company, leaving the old company with debt and putting different directors in place before liquidating it. This illegal practice is used to avoid paying creditors, including the ATO, subcontractors and employees. The new director IDs will mean that there is a record of individual director’s

history, allowing regulators to identify and track illegal activity.

Who needs one? Director IDs are now required if you are a director (or an acting director) of: • a company, a registered Australian body or a registered foreign company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act) • an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). You don’t need one if you are running a business as a sole trader or partnership, or are referred to as a ‘director’ in your job title but have not been appointed as one under the Corporations Act or the CATSI Act. You must be at least 18 years old and have not been disqualified from managing corporations to apply for a director ID.

YOUR BUSINESS

How to get your director ID To apply for a director ID, you will need a myGovID account with a Standard or Strong identity strength to log onto the Australian Business Registry Services website. You will also need to have some information ready including your tax file number, residential address as held by the ATO, and two documents to verify your identity. The application process should take less than 5 minutes.

Alternative application methods are available for people who are unable to apply online. When do you need to apply? If you became a director on or before 31 October 2021, you have until 30 November 2022 to get your director ID. Directors appointed between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022 must apply within 28 days of their appointment; and directors appointed

after 5 April 2022 must apply for their ID before their appointment as a director.

What happens if you don’t apply? If you don’t apply for a director ID within the applicable timeframe, or when instructed to do so, apply for more than one director ID, misrepresent your ID or breach any obligations, you may be issued with an infringement notice or be subject to other penalties.

What to do with your director ID?

Once you have your director ID, you can view, update and manage your details online at any time. Your director ID confirms your identity and will in future show which companies you’re linked to. MORE INFORMATION You can visit the Australian Business Registry Services website (www.abrs.gov.au) to find out more about director IDs. You can also turn to the Small Business Development Corporation and its Business Local providers in regional WA for free business advice, practical skills development, a range of online resources, dispute management and more. Visit smallbusiness.wa.gov.au or call 133 140 for more information.

Director IDs are part of the Modernising Business Registers program.

When you receive your director ID, you need to notify the record-holder in your company such as your company secretary, another director, a contact person or an authorised agent of the company. You will also need to give your director ID to the relevant recordholders at any future companies you are appointed as director of.

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YOUR BUSINESS

Fires are more likely to happen when using machinery and vehicles.

f GROWERS need to be preparing early for the 2021–22 season.

Fire safety be prepared for the season ahead Be prepared

BY K AREN RAYBOULD OPERATIONS MANAGER, VEGETABLESWA

iving in a rural or farming area, you need to know your bushfire risk and how to put a bushfire survival plan into place. Following the devastating 2019–20 bushfires in Australia, growers need to be preparing early for the 2021–22 season. It is the responsibility of growers to be aware of the bushfire risks faced on their property, to know what to do if a bushfire strikes and to ensure everyone on the farm knows the plan, including your neighbours. Practice the plan with family and employees.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Being prepared can save a lot to time reacting to a fire and could save lives and property. Being prepared can include: • Keeping informed of fire ratings and local emergencies • A fire management and survival plan • Knowing when to leave • Being part of a neighbourhood or regional firefighting system • On farm firefighting equipment operational and ready to go • Keeping in touch with warnings and incidents.

How can you help prevent fires? Fires are more likely to happen when using machinery and vehicles, especially through cropped paddocks. Carry out regular machine maintenance.

Dry straw, dust, chaff, oil and leaking distillate are perfect fuels to accelerate a fire. Keep headers clean and free of these elements to help prevent fires.

Comply with harvest and vehicle movement bans issued by your shire. Maintain wide fuel-free firebreaks inside property boundaries against all public roads; property and paddock boundaries; laneways and tracks; sheds chemical storage and yards; water supply infrastructure; fuel storage powerlines.

Your responsibility Make sure any equipment is not likely to start a fire during a ban. If it does, you could be fined, as well as facing the responsibility of putting your family, property and community in danger.

YOUR BUSINESS

Be prepared with firefighting equipment operational and ready to go.

MORE INFORMATION This article was produced from the Department of Emergency Services and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment websites. For more information Visit the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA, rural farm fire site www.dfes.wa.gov.au/site/bushfire/ ruralfarmfire.html Other useful sources of information: • Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology • Bushfire.io app

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR BUSINESS

RETHINK PACKAGING DESIGN:

Use less, use longer and use again

BY NERIDA KELTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING

s natural resources are rapidly diminishing, pollution and GHG emissions worsen, oceans and waterways are filling up with packaging waste and integral ecosystems are becoming irreparably damaged, the world has been put on notice that the time for talk is over. The time has come to rethink the way packaging is designed. This is an exciting time to take bold moves and rethink every aspect of how packaging is designed, used and ultimately provide long-lasting environmental value.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

 2025 National Packaging Target: 100% of all Australia’s packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable.

The change is being driven by consumers who want to see circular packaging that has designed out waste, is reusable, incorporates recycled content, is truly recyclable and all unnecessary packaging and problematic materials are eliminated.

A great place for Packaging Technologists and Designers to start is by implementing the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines (SPGs) into their design processes.

This significant societal behaviour shift is a green light for Packaging Technologists and Designers to become even more innovative and creative by the redesign of packaging to be circular and not follow the linear model of ‘take-make-dispose’. Packaging Technologists and Designers can now design out waste at the beginning, to ensure the materials selected can be used repeatedly, are recyclable and regenerates natural systems.

The Sustainable Packaging Guidelines (SPGs) are a central part of the co-regulatory framework established by the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (the NEPM) and the Australian Packaging Covenant (the Covenant). The NEPM and the Covenant state that the SPGs are to assist the design and manufacture of packaging that meets the sometimes-conflicting demands of the market, consumer protection and the environment.

The change is being driven by consumers.

YOUR BUSINESS

In other areas of the value chain materials suppliers are working on innovative new materials and simplifying complex material structure. Brands are busy redesigning packaging and highlighting environmental improvements. Recyclers are reviewing and expanding capabilities, governments are actively funding new initiatives and consumers are embracing the changes.

 THE 5Rs.

The goal of the SPG’s is to integrate the principles into the right business areas, to achieve the optimal outcomes for packaging functionality, and to collectively work to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets.

2025 National Packaging Targets 1 100% of all Australia’s packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable = SPG Principle 1: Design for recovery (reuse, material recycling or organics recycling. 2 70% of Australia’s plastic packaging will be recycled or composted

The 10 Sustainable Packaging Principles that make up the SPGs are: 1. Design for recovery 2. Optimise material efficiency 3. Design to reduce product waste 4. Eliminate hazardous materials 5. Use recycled materials 6. Use renewable materials 7. Design to minimise litter 8. Design for transport efficiency 9. Design for accessibility 10. Provide consumer information on sustainability.

A systemic approach to Circular Packaging Design can deliver significant environmental impact reductions including a lower carbon footprint, reducing the use of feedstock derived from fossil fuels, using fewer virgin materials and minimising packaging waste that heads to landfill. “It’s called the circular economy. It’s a new way to design, make, and use things within planetary boundaries. Shifting the system involves everyone and everything: businesses, governments, and individuals; our cities, our products, and our jobs. By designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems we can reinvent everything.” *Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Circular Packaging Design can deliver significant environmental impact reductions.

= SPG Principle 1: Design for recovery (reuse, material recycling or organics recycling).

3 50% average recycled content will be included across all packaging = SPG Principle 5: Use recycled materials. 4 Problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging will be phased out through design, innovation or introduction of alternatives. = SPG Principle 2: Optimise material efficiency. = SPG Principle 7: Design to minimise litter. The highest priority SPG principles are those included above that support the achievement of the four targets, i.e., design for recovery, design for efficiency, using recycled materials, design for efficiency and design to minimise litter.

Consumers look at packaging differently now, so too should Packaging Technologists and Designers. This is an exciting time to be designing packaging and those that design circular packaging will know that they have made a difference for generations to come. Have fun rethinking your packaging designs and remember use less, use longer and use again. MORE INFORMATION Contact Nerida Kelton MAIP, Executive Director, Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP); Vice President, Sustainability & Save Food, World Packaging Organisation (WPO) on (07) 3278 4490 or go to http://aipack.com.au/

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR BUSINESS

Superannuation

application

f A new comparison tool is being introduced which allows workers to be able to compare key data on MySuper (default) products across different funds.

“Your Future, Your Super” reforms came into effect on 22 June 2021.

BY STEPHEN FARRELL INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CONSULTANT, VEGETABLESWA

s a part of the 2021–22 budget, the Australian Government introduced its “Your Future, Your Super” reforms. These reforms were passed by parliament and the legislation came into effect on 22 June 2021.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR BUSINESS

The Government’s intent in introducing these reforms is to make superannuation funds more transparent and efficient, which in turn, provides accountability within the superannuation industry as a whole. The reforms being introduced include: • A new comparison tool being introduced which allows workers to be able to compare key data on MySuper (default) products across different funds. • A change to the duties of trustees of superannuation funds to act in the best financial interest of their members. • A new super fund underperformance assessment to be conducted by APRA and published on the ATO website.

If the employee chose a superannuation fund, the grower was obliged to make the contributions into that fund. If the employee didn’t choose a fund, the grower paid the superannuation contributions owed to the employee into the default superannuation fund that was in place. From now on, employees, unless they proactively choose otherwise, will have the same superannuation fund for the whole of their working careers. This is known as super stapling. In order to comply with their superannuation obligations, when onboarding new employees, growers will still need to offer new employees the choice of which superannuation fund the employee wanted the superannuation contributions owed to them paid into.

If the search results in more than one stapled fund (i.e. the employee is a member of multiple superannuation funds), the legislation is silent on what the grower will need to do. Therefore, it is advisable, in these circumstances, for the grower to ask the employee directly which of the superannuation funds the employee wants the contributions to be made to.

Growers should not be making the choice for the employee. It is now a legal requirement for growers to comply with the above process. Whilst there will likely be transition period, growers who fail to comply are more than likely to face penalties. Furthermore, if a grower does not perform a search of the ATO directory and instead makes contributions to the default super fund, they may be liable for a choice shortfall penalty, which is additional to the penalties above. As such, it is highly recommended that growers ensure that this does not occur.

Conclusion

From now on, employees will have the same superannuation fund for life. f GROWERS are now obliged to search the ATO’s online directory to check if the employee already is a member of a superannuation fund.

Finally, and more relevantly to growers, as of 1 November 2021, where a new employee commences employment and does not choose a superannuation fund, employers will have to check with the ATO if the new employee has an existing super account. If they do, the grower will need to pay the employee's superannuation guarantee contributions into that existing account, rather than the grower’s default superannuation fund.

However, if the employee does not exercise that choice and nominate a superannuation fund, growers are now obliged to search the ATO’s online directory to check if the employee already is a member of a superannuation fund (known as a Stapled Super Fund). If the search returns a Stapled Super Fund, the grower must pay the superannuation contributions into that stapled fund and not the grower’s default fund.

Prior to 1 November 2021, growers were obliged to offer new employees the choice of which superannuation fund the employee wanted the superannuation contributions owed to them paid into.

It is only if a search of the ATO directory does not result in a Stapled Super Fund that the grower may then start a superannuation account for the employee with their default fund.

Superannuation is an entitlement that previously has often been overlooked and disregarded. However, with more and more people accessing their superannuation benefits and transitioning into retirement, this will no longer be the case.

Whilst the new reforms do increase the administrative burden on the onboarding of new employees, they do provide the opportunity for growers to engage with their employees on superannuation. MORE INFORMATION Contact Stephen Farrell on (08) 9460 3878, 0455 833 352 or stephen.farrell@vegetableswa.com.au The information provided above is general in nature and has been gathered from government publications and sources. Superannuation is regulated through the taxation system and the author is not qualified to provide specialist advice. If you have any queries in relation this article specific to your own situation, contact your tax advisor or accountant.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR BUSINESS

f DOING it all by yourself is not a badge of honour but really a badge of limitation.

The unseen competitive advantage

for your business BY BRYN EDWARDS BENCHMARK LEAD, VEGETABLESWA

Let me ask you a couple of simple questions — (be honest with yourself): 1 Have you ever put off going to the

doctor or dentist because you know they’re going to tell something you already deep down know and don’t want to hear?

2 Have you ever shunned help or

advice only to get an annoying ‘told you so’ later down the track?

3 Have you (or someone you know)

ever been to the doctor and found out something you didn’t know before that has materially improved or saved your life?

The chances are, if you were honest with yourself, the answer is ‘Yes’ to all three. So why do I ask these questions? The reason sits at that no man/woman is an island, and we can’t do it all ourselves, particularly meeting all the demands of running a successful horticulture business. Doing it all by yourself is not a badge of honour but really a badge of limitation.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Taking on board third party, independent expert point-of-view is an advantage in business — not a sign of weakness. This sits at the heart of the Building Horticulture Business Capacity program, which connects Horticulture business owners like yourself with farm management experts. As part of the process, they will take you through an analysis of your business financials and talk to you about where you can make improvements in relation to overall profitability and your financial management within the business.

eyes that is not emotionally attached to your business to look over your performance is a distinct advantage, not a weakness; an advantage that many other successful businesses across agriculture have already adopted. Just to be clear and dispel any misconceptions, the farm management support the Building Horticulture Business Capacity program is offering (at no cost to growers) is not there to take over your business or make the decisions for you — that firmly remains your responsibility as the business owner. They’re there to provide you with an objective perspective based on exposure across hundreds of other businesses across agriculture and seeing time and time again what works well and what does not.

Taking on board third party, independent expert point-of-view is an advantage in business, not a sign of weakness.

We’re still in the early stages of the project, and there’s plenty of space for other growers to come on board, but already many participants are finding quick wins that relate to keeping more money in their pockets and taking the stress out of managing financial and production information in the business.

MORE INFORMATION

• Many of the base assumptions we work off can become out-of-date without us realising

If this article has sparked some interest or curiosity, and you would like to know more about connecting with farm management experts via the Building Horticulture Business Capacity program, then please get in touch and let’s talk about how you can capitalise on this freely-available advantage for your business.

• There is always room for improvement and development.

Contact Bryn Edwards on 0417 409 821 or bryn.edwards@vegetableswa.com.au

The hard truths we all have to face is that: • We don’t know what we don’t know

This is where, as a horticulture business owner, taking on board a fresh set of

YOUR BUSINESS

Decision making and forward planning in turbulent times BY RURAL WEST

ecades of research on behavioural decision making have suggested humans use two ways of processing information and making decisions — system 1 and system 2 thinking bias. System 1 thinking is emotional, instinctive, and automatic, we rely on shortcuts to generate solutions to problems. We use system 1 for everyday tasks. Whereas system 2 thinking is slow, logical and deliberate. In turbulent times our brain often uses system 1 thinking, taking short cuts to get to the answer it needs. The more variations and things to think through, the more our brain will take short cuts. This is what experience gives us.

 DEVELOPING multiple solution sets is a good idea for dealing with turbulence

Here is an easy way to test your mode of thinking: A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost? If you used system 1 thinking for this problem, using experience and shortcuts to answer the problem, you would have likely guessed 10 cents. However, if you engaged system 2 thinking, were slow and methodical and did the math, you would see the correct answer is 5 cents. Depending on how you went, forward planning might be a useful tool to consider. While we are doing fairly well in this unique environment, price increases, supply delays and increased shipping costs continue to affect people. It can significantly influence end of season outcomes. Forward planning can be a great tool in this space, and if you like to plan,

developing multiple solution sets is a good idea for dealing with turbulence. This allows system 2 thinking. These types of issues also extend to the finance and banking sector. With a lot of back-office workers located overseas, requests for access to cash and approvals for new loans are significantly delayed. If you are considering a new purchase or additional working capital requirements for next season, consider getting early approvals where possible and allowing 6–8 weeks for processing.

Even though there is a lot of turbulence in the operating environment at the moment, we find farmers are good at sourcing the necessary knowledge they need, though the sources vary greatly! Whether through each other, research, consultants, courses and web-based resources, the access to programs that record operations and expenditures to allow growers to measure what they manage is always important for accuracy and insights! This data allows more accurate predictions and the development of useful decision points and solution sets from a systems 2 perspective. MORE INFORMATION Supported by the State and Federal governments, Rural West works with a wide range of primary producers and regional small business owners to improve their position and profitability. Contact Rural West on 1800 612 004, via email enquiries@ruralwest.com.au or visit www.ruralwest.com.au for more information.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR BUSINESS

Changes to the F air Work

f GROWERS need to ensure they have robust policies in place making it clear to its workers that there is no place in their business for sexual harassment.

Act 2009

BY STEPHEN FARRELL INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CONSULTANT, VEGETABLESWA

• Providing a statutory definition of sexual harassment • Including sexual harassment in the definition of ‘serious misconduct’ and as an example of a valid reason for a dismissal in the factors considered when deciding if a dismissal was harsh, unjust or unreasonable

ollowing recent high profile instances • Including miscarriage as a reason to of alleged sexual access compassionate leave. harassment taking place at In addition to making applications to the Equal Opportunity Commission both the High Court and the or the Australian Human Rights Federal Parliament, Commission, workers who the Australian have been subjected to sexual harassment in A generic harassment government workplace can now policy is available on the the introduced the Sex make an application to vegetablesWA website. the Fair Work Commission Discrimination and for orders to stop Fair Work (Respect at sexual harassment. Work) Amendment Act These applications will be 2021, which was passed and dealt with by the Commission in the same way that applications to enacted into law. This Act amends the Fair Work Act 2009 by: • Introducing the ability for stop sexual harassment orders to be issued by the Fair Work Commission, similar to its ability to issue stop workplace bullying orders

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

stop bullying are done now.

The FWC will have wide discretion to make orders as it sees fit, with the focus on stopping the sexual harassment in the workplace. However, same as applications to stop bullying, the FWC will not be able to make an order requiring an employer pay monetary compensation to a worker.

The changes to the Act provide that workers not only have to demonstrate that they have been sexually harassed but also that there is a risk of the sexual harassment continuing in the workplace. As such, similar to what it does not with anti-bullying applications, growers can expect the FWC to want to see their policies around sexual harassment in the workplace, to ascertain any future risk should a grower be required to respond to an application.

Conclusion There has never been a more important time for growers to ensure they have robust policies in place making it clear to its workers that there is no place in their business for sexual harassment and clear procedures for its workers to be able to make complaints and have them addressed. A generic harassment policy is available for growers in the Employee Handbook which can be downloaded from the HR Support section of the vegetablesWA website. MORE INFORMATION If growers have specific questions relating to their business on the issues raised in this article, contact Stephen Farrell on 0455 833 352 or email stephen.farrell@vegetableswa.com.au.

YOUR HEALTH

your

health WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR HEALTH

WA’s Workplace Vaccine Mandate L

BENJAMIN HAMILTON ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING & SALES, VEGETABLESWA

ast month the WA Government released a mandatory vaccination policy for the majority of occupations and workforces in WA. This policy will be introduced as a phased approach and will affect growers in multiple ways.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

In the event of a lockdown, police may ask for proof of vaccination in a critical occupation.

The policy follows the existing mandates in place for workers in high-risk industries, including those interacting with people at an increased risk of being infected with COVID-19, or people who are vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19, or where it is necessary to avoid catastrophic risk to the safety of the community. The policy's phased approach is to apply mandatory vaccinations for more industries in WA and a requirement for other critical workers to be vaccinated to attend work in the event of a lockdown or similar restrictions.

YOUR HEALTH

f GROWERS must be aware that their businesses may fit into multiple vaccine mandate categories.

So, how will this affect horticultural businesses? Growers must be aware that their businesses may fit into multiple vaccine mandate categories. For the most part, these mandates will fall into Group 2 and Group 3 ‘in the event of a lockdown’.

Group 2 industries and occupations: First dose by 31 December 2021 and fully vaccinated by 31 January 2022: • Commercial transport, freight or

logistics

• Supermarket, grocery, butcher, fruit

and vegetable store or fishmonger; indoor or outdoor food market.

First dose by 31 December 2021 and fully vaccinated by 31 January 2022:

Group 3 ‘In the event of a lockdown’: Must be fully vaccinated to attend work during a lockdown or similar restrictions: • Primary industries (necessary to

provide food to and care of animals and maintenance of crops)

• Production and distribution of food

and groceries, liquor, medical and pharmaceutical products

• Commercial operations that

supply goods or services for the implementation of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19; necessary to support any critical business activities or to support the export of goods and services from WA.

It is important to note that group 1 and group 2 mandates are under the Health Act and will be monitored by the Department of Health. Whereas the group 3 ‘in the event of lockdown’ mandate is under the Emergency Management Act and consequently monitored by the WA Police. In the event of a lockdown, police may ask for proof of vaccination and employment in a critical occupation. In the event of a lockdown, any workers proceeding to work during the event are required to be vaccinated. Therefore, employers will need to know the vaccination status of their employees, or they could be faced with penalties from $20,000 – $100,000.

What can you ask your employee? Read below information provided by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: • An employer can only require an

employee to provide evidence of their vaccination in particular circumstances and if an employer intends to collect employees’ vaccination status to a record, they must be satisfied that this collection is permitted under Australian Privacy Principle (APP) 3. However, an employer must seek consent in order to collect employees’ vaccination status information; an employer cannot pressure or intimidate an employee to provide this information.

• An employee’s reason for choosing

to not have the COVID-19 vaccination and any medical evidence related to this decision is sensitive information under the Privacy Act. This information can only be collected with consent unless there is a public health order or direction — that requires your employer to collect your vaccination status information and reasons for non-vaccination.

• If an employer requests employees’

consent to collect vaccination status information, they are required to be transparent about why the information is being collected, and how it will be used, in line with APP 1.

COVID-19: Vaccinations and my privacy rights as an employee: www.oaic. gov.au/privacy/covid-19/covid-19vaccinations-and-my-privacy-rights-asan-employee vegetablesWA will continue to update its grower members on the latest updates on the mandatory vaccination policy. MORE INFORMATION This information was produced from The Department of Health and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner COVID-19 information webpages. For more information visit: • COVID-19: Vaccinations and my privacy rights as an employee: www.oaic.gov.au/ privacy/covid-19/covid-19-vaccinationsand-my-privacy-rights-as-an-employee • Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/ Articles/A_E/Coronavirus/COVID19vaccination-program/MandatoryCOVID19-vaccination

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR HEALTH

The myth that

men don’t talk

BY REGIONAL MEN’S HEALTH

ne of the things that never ceases to amaze me in the job we do, is that given the right circumstances (a safe place) blokes will disclose their issues and tell their story. Every bloke that I have met has a story and/or issues and is willing to talk.

f CHOOSING the right environment to communicate is essential. This is not when we are distressed and out of control, but when we have calmed down.

Blokes only talk one third as much as ladies in a day.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR HEALTH

Blokes do talk but we need to acknowledge the differences between how the genders go about this. There are also some other factors that need to be considered in how we go about talking with blokes. The differences are real and we need to recognise some of the communication disparities between blokes and ladies: • Blokes only talk one third as much as ladies in a day (approx. 7,000 to 21,000 words). The majority of females think and speak in a narrative way, whereas blokes prefer dot points.

• Single word responses to questions like yes, no, good, bad and grunting are considered responses by blokes.

when there is a chance of being interrupted or when there are a lot of things happening.

• Much of the additional talk that ladies do is around describing emotions and feelings. Therefore, in comparison to blokes, they have a sort of ‘match fitness’ around the ability to discuss emotion that we as blokes lack.

• Be prepared to listen. The most important part of talking is listening (I think this is an oxymoron!). Having respect, connection and empathy with whom we are talking to will give us more of an opportunity to become an active listener.

• In much the same way that the Inuit people have around 180 words to describe snow (because of its cultural and safety implications), the ladies in our life tend to operate with a larger word bank to deal with discussions around emotion and feelings.

• Getting help with having ‘that talk’ with your bloke. Don’t be afraid to seek help in having a talk with your dad, husband, son or mate i.e., use an independent person, your GP or a counsellor.

• Blokes find it uncomfortable to talk about their emotions. We have been conditioned not to and are hardwired differently, often focusing on problem solving, providing and protecting, rather than how we feel — let alone talking about it.

Blokes do talk, so sow the seed towards a meaningful conversation.

To have a more productive outcome when having ‘that talk’, some other factors to consider include: • Choosing the right environment to communicate is essential. This is not when we are distressed and out of control, but when we have calmed down. Also, avoid being under the influence of alcohol (this can act as a ‘mood enhancer’ and alter our state of mind).

Considering the above factors and ‘giving permission’ to blokes that it’s okay to talk about things that cause us discomfort or pain may assist with blokes opening up more. Sometimes this does take time.

From little things, big things grow (just like this year’s crop). Blokes do talk, so sow the seed towards a meaningful conversation. It is a myth ‘that men don’t talk’; they will, just not always in the way we expect. MORE INFORMATION The Regional Men’s Health Initiative delivered by Wheatbelt Men’s Health (Inc): Phone: (08) 9690 2277 Email: menshealth@4blokes.com.au https://regionalmenshealth.com.au/

• Timing is an important factor to consider. Agree on a designated time to talk. Avoid times when you are preoccupied with other tasks,

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WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR HEALTH

Coping with

change

 OUR life’s journey will have many unknowns and the only guarantee in that journey is that there will be change.

BY REGIONAL MEN’S HEALTH

• Individuals who are passionate about their role;

decisions on the work we do, or making a change are:

s individuals, we all have a different capacity to handle life events and stress.

• Individuals whose security is threatened.

• Be happy and enjoy what we are doing;

Research tells us that half the population will take change in their stride, having little or no effect on their wellbeing. The other half of the population will be affected, and the percentage affected can be broken down into the following categories:

• Be passionate about what we are doing;

This capacity and our own innate level of resilience is tested when challenged by change either on a personal front or in the workplace. Our life’s journey will have many unknowns and the only guarantee in that journey is that there will be change. Dealing with change will often throw up a number of variables. Some people are more at risk than others of becoming dysfunctional during the change process. From studies undertaken, those who may struggle with change can be identified as follows: • Individuals who get meaning from a single purpose, like work. This is usually us blokes as we are primarily defined by our role and function e.g. our job. The social/spiritual dimension of most blokes often goes unexplored, and as blokes we just don’t talk about issues close to our heart; • Individuals whose role is threatened;

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

• 20% showing stress signs for up to six weeks (is this normal?) • 20% showing stress signs for up to 12 months;

• Keep the work life balance right; • Keep growing our experience; it’s never complete. Coping with change in our life is a daily event. Sometimes not all the changes are good, especially around bureaucracy. To thrive we must work at it and even though it is challenging at times, the process of change often gives us new skills, increases our capacity and flexibility in life and quite often sends us off in a direction that we would never have allowed ourselves to go.

Keep the work life balance right.

• 10% showing profound affects (chronic trauma — distress unresolved). If we fit into one of the 20% or 10% categories, we need to seek support and have a chat to someone about our distress. It may be through our Employment Assistance Program (EAP), doctor or private counsellor and/or involve talking to a mate (close friend or a family member). Vocational wellbeing is extremely important because we spend a majority of our time at work. Some points we may want to consider before making

MORE INFORMATION For more men’s health and wellbeing information, check out our Working with Warriors® Podcast Series, which is based on conversations around men’s wellbeing and health from our Working with Warriors® education sessions.

YOUR MARKET

your

market Your market WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR MARKET

Nearly 500 delegates and 80 exhibitors join the inaugural event.

 CRYSTAL and Paul Glavocich, from Glavocich Produce at the inaugural Meet the Buyer.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR MARKET

showcases WA’s finest food and beverages

BY GEORGIA THOMAS DIRECTOR, FRESH CREATIVE MANAGEMENT

or the first time ever, West Australian food and beverage producers converged for the biggest and most diverse showcase of the state’s quality products in one place. Meet the Buyer showcased around 450 products at Crown Perth on Wednesday 27 October. Presented through the Buy West Eat Best program, Meet the Buyer provided a face-to-face and virtual networking platform for all WA food and beverage businesses, including industry

associations, producers, wineries, brewers, farmers, independent and national retailers, artesian crafters, distributors, chefs, sommeliers, educators and caterers; that service both domestic and international markets.

Buyers were able to discover a range of quality products that have been grown, farmed, fished, processed and prepared here in WA. Industry organisations such as WA Potatoes, Stonefruit WA and WA Citrus joined the exhibitors to network and connect with potential business contacts on behalf of growers. “Meet the Buyer is WA’s first-ever agri-food industry exhibition and networking event, and has been met with overwhelming support from trade, business and industry,” said Deborah Pett, Manager Food Industry Development, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

 JORDAN Bruno, MC.

 WELCOME to Country.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR MARKET

I was delighted to see several grower members taking part in the event, and this sort of event is a great opportunity for them to network and identify new business,” Mr Stockdale said. “vegetablesWA only attended as delegates, but after seeing the benefit of the event, we are keen to have a display at the next Meet the Buyer Exhibition”.

 SIMON Moltoni and Morena Perdec, WA Potatoes.

vegetablesWA Chief Executive Officer Manus Stockdale said the event was a great showcase of what Western Australia produces. It was great to see grower members and other industry bodies partaking in the event, and next year vegetablesWA will strive to have an exhibition. “It was excellent to see so many people participating in the event, showcasing new and exciting products.

While common on the East Coast and ASEAN, an industry expo of this scale has not previously been delivered in WA. Meet the Buyer comes at an opportune time to facilitate the WA food and beverage industry to realise, establish and grow new markets, that will benefit the WA economy.

“It’s no secret WA consumers are loyal and fiercely parochial in support of local, with 8 in 10 retail shoppers actively seeking products and ingredients that carry the distinctive bite mark logo of Buy West Eat Best,” says Ms Pett. “Western Australia is blessed with an enviable diversity of counter-seasonal offers bursting with flavour, freshness and finesse. Our geographical vastness and dramatic climate variance make for products of distinction, toiled with passion and crafted with innovation,” she said.

A great showcase of what Western Australia produces.

The value of Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing industry has grown by 4% to almost $133 billion, for the 12 months up to 2019/20, according to new data from the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC, 2021). Locally, COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns spurred an increase in WA consumption through supermarket channels, food service and hospitality, driven by consumer demand.

Originally scheduled for this time last year, the inaugural Meet the Buyer coincides with Buy West Eat Best month (1–31 October celebrating 13 years of the program), with the one-day format in October the least conflicting with agriculture and horticulture harvests, vintage, and prefestive season retail pressures. The event is expected to grow in the future with international and national delegates once again able to participate. MORE INFORMATION Go to www.meetthebuyer.com.au

FOLLOW @BUYWESTEATBEST FACEBOOK

 BUY West Eat Best team.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

INSTAGRAM TWITTER

YOUR MARKET

g n ti e k r a M

for value

BY MIN TEAH CURTIN UNIVERSITY

 BRINGING awareness to how and when your produce fits into the lifestyle of a customer.

or everyday necessities such as fruits and vegetables, the question is always what is the value of marketing? How does marketing add value to the prices of, say for example a carrot? How and why would customers know the difference? In an agricultural nation such as Australia, the quality of produce is of a higher standard compared to those in many other nations. However, with improved agricultural practices, food quality standards and assurances, the points of differentiation in quality produce becomes a baseline standard. This would mean that customers now have a choice of high-quality produce. This results in quality no longer becoming a strong differentiator alone, but an expectation.

Marketing is predominantly about increasing awareness, recall and recognition. If your brand is at the top-of-mind, the first brand to come into the mind of the customer, it could often lead to a purchase decision. In this case, the characteristics of your product, the experiential elements and the quality of your produce will then have to meet up to your promise and the expectations of the customer. But first and foremost, you need to capture their awareness and interest before the produce will be considered.

Marketing is about understanding the customer.

Marketing now plays a role. Beyond selling and promotion, it is about the customers. It is about understanding customers in terms of their preferences, flavour profiles and relevance to their lifestyle. The value in this instance for a carrot would be how sweet and how crunchy it is for a child’s lunchbox or if it is to be cooked in curries. Bringing awareness to how and when your produce fits into the lifestyle of a customer becomes relevant to providing a healthy lunchbox solution to the customer.

Avocado in recent years have seen an increase in marketing efforts to drive customer demand. One of the marketing efforts was to educate customers of the ripening process of avocados, which leads to the optimal point in time for customers to select, buy and eat an avocado. While it is a relatively simple marketing solution to educate the customer, it can help to inform and set customer expectations. In turn, adding value to the customer experience by reducing a poor choice when shopping.

The bottom-line is that understanding your customers will lead to better ways of delivering value. It can come in the form of better functional packaging or superior taste. When you can deliver greater value to your customers, they are more likely pay a higher price for your produce, especially when it is your point of differentiation. Ultimately, marketing and branding goes beyond a logo, brand name and price incentives, it is about continuously creating, communicating and delivering value to customers. While lower prices might win over a customer in the short term, it still goes beyond low prices to deliver long term customer and market value. MORE INFORMATION If you are interested in this area for your business please contact Ben Hamilton — vegetablesWA for more information at ben.hamilton@vegetableswa.com.au, phone (08) 9486 7515 or go to www.vegetableswa.com.au

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR MARKET

This project delved into the complex world of non-tariff measures.

Trade barriers

impacting Australian vegetables

100

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR MARKET

f AUSTRALIAN growers export approximately $3 billion worth of horticultural commodities annually.

BY DR KRISTEN STIRLING SENIOR CONSULTANT, RMCG

on-tariff measures (NTMs) are additional requirements that a country can introduce to ensure imported products are safe and healthy for consumers. This project delved into the complex world of NTMs in 13 international markets to better understand their impact on specific commodities in the Australian horticulture industry. Market access is critical for the Australian horticulture industry. Australian growers export approximately $3 billion worth of horticultural commodities annually, accounting for about 25% of Australia’s total production.

To facilitate collaboration between industry and government in addressing NTMs that are unfair or overly costly barriers to trade, RMCG were engaged to identify and understand the impact of NTMs applied to specific commodities, and more broadly across the horticulture industry. Across 13 international markets, we looked at 14 different horticultural commodities including 4 vegetable categories:

To inform the review data was collated via desktop research, analysis of trade and NTM data sources and industry consultation.

For the 14 Australian horticulture sectors reviewed, a total of 1,734 NTMs were 1,734 NTMs were identified across identified across 13 importing countries. 13 importing countries.

• carrots • leafy greens (lettuce, cabbage, spinach, Brussels sprouts and rocket) • potatoes • onions.

New Zealand imposes the highest number of NTMs (527) followed by Thailand (266), China (145) and South Korea (130) (see Figure 1). The majority of NTMs imposed by importing countries are due to Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures used to protect against pests of concern.

Although there has been a general decrease over the last 10 years in tariffs that restrict trade, there has also been a steady emergence of ‘non-tariff measures’ (NTMs), that can directly impact export markets. NTMs can lead to benefits from both an import and export perspective, however export markets often experience a decrease in activity as compliance costs rise and exporting becomes less profitable1.

1 Cadot, O., Gourdon, J., van Tongeren, F. (2018) ‘Estimating Ad Valorem Equivalents of Non-Tariff Measures — Combing price-based and quantity- based approaches’ OECD

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United Kingdom

Canada

China

United States India

Thailand

Japan South Korea Taiwan Vietnam Philippines

Indonesia

International markets

New Zealand

Number of NTMs by country for all commodities 100 200 300 400 500

FIGURE 1. NUMBER OF NTMS PER COUNTY FOR AUSTRALIAN HORTICULTURE These measures generally target food safety and quality assurance. For horticulture fruit flies such as Queensland Fruit Fly and Mediterranean Fruit Fly are a major concern. Fortunately, vegetables are not impacted by these pests. Table 1 identifies the total number of NTMs imposed on the vegetables reviewed, the countries who impose the most NTMs for each vegetable and the main reason why.

The majority of NTMs imposed by importing countries are due to Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures used to protect against pests of concern. Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures can include: • A systems approach (such as application of IPM approach in orchards) • Traceability requirements (record keeping and registration of producers and packhouses)

TABLE 1. THE NUMBER OF NTMS, MAIN IMPOSING COUNTRIES AND THE REASON FOR THE NTM.

Vegetable Leafy greens

Main NTM imposing countries (and number of NTMs imposed)

Reason

• New Zealand, the Philippines and South Korea (10) • India (9) • Thailand (7).

The majority of these NTMs relate to: • Pre-shipment inspection and other formalities. • Sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Carrots

• Taiwan (9) • South Korea (3) • Thailand (2).

• The majority of these NTMs relate to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Potatoes

• Thailand (26) • Indonesia (23) • South Korea (15).

• The majority of these NTMs relate sanitary and phytosanitary measures and largely are due to pests of concern, such as the Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVD).

• • • •

The majority of these NTMs relate to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Onions

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Total number of NTMs

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Indonesia (6) Thailand (5) Taiwan (4) New Zealand (3).

• Treatment for elimination (irradiation, fumigation and cold/heat treatment) • Conformity assessment (such as inspection requirements and phytosanitary certificates).

The review identified a range of challenges and barriers associated with NTMs impacting on producers, supply chains and the various horticultural sectors. For the vegetables reviewed (carrot, leafy greens, potato and onions) these included: • The use of quotas by importing countries to protect domestic product • Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) applied to exported vegetables particularly: — where there are inconsistencies in limit levels and testing programs — for export companies that consolidate produce from wholesale markets • Industry capacity and readiness to export particularly in building a better understanding of consumer trends in export markets

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f THE majority of NTMs imposed by importing countries are due to Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures used to protect against pests of concern.

• Lack of market access or rejection of product at importing country when Australian exporters are unable to meet MRLs due to sudden changes in allowed limits or the imposition of limits dictated by supermarkets. RMCG developed recommendations for those involved in the trade of horticultural products based on insights from the consultation process. These are detailed in the project summary available from www.rmcg.com.au/app/ uploads/2021/11/NTM-summary-2021FINAL.pdf

• Lack of or incorrect information: — due to the complexity of stakeholders involved in the supply chain and at a government level, cultural differences, and geographical distances — related to Australia’s own internal quarantine system and the interpretation of export requirements • Airfreight costs particularly since the start of the COVID pandemic • Inefficient processes (and the cost implications) associated with export documentation, certification and inspections.

The impact of NTMs on the Australian horticulture industry include: • Reduced competitiveness against competitors due to increased costs associated with treatment, packaging and certification • Reputational damage in key markets due to poor product quality as a result of fumigation treatments and held product at importing markets • Reduced appetite to export due to perceived risks associated with poor or inaccurate information and political tension

Individual reports were also developed for the 4 vegetables assessed (carrot, leafy greens, potato and onions). These can be accessed at www.rmcg.com.au/ case_study/trade-barriers-impactingaustralian-horticulture MORE INFORMATION Dr Kristen Stirling, kristens@rmcg.com.au or phone 0488 908 416. This project was managed by Hort Innovation and supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

• An inability to forward plan due to sudden changes in quotas WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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The 21st Century BENJAMIN HAMILTON ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING & SALES, VEGETABLESWA

here is an element of difficulty when it comes to predicting a market, and this rings particularly true with the food industry. It is possible to monitor trends and make assumptions, but this can quickly be turned on its head, as witnessed during COVID.

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Eater COVID-19 brought vast and rapid change to the food industry.

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Alpha labs Co-Founder, Mike Lee, presented at the Future of Food conference in late September. The presentation provided some excellent insight into the 21st century ‘eater’ and the change signals for 2021 and beyond. The presentation highlighted the trends that Australia was heading towards juxtaposed against the industry’s trend changes due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Health, sustainability and experience According to Mr Lee, health, sustainability and experience weren’t new trends — they have been around for a long time. We are now experiencing the difference that the 21st Century Eater consistently demands that food hits on all three of these pillars (see Figure 1).

f THE 21st Century Eater consistently demands that food hits all three pillars — health, sustainability and experience.

As people become digitally empowered and educated, they can access more product information than ever before.

SUSTAINABILITY

EXPERIENCE

Mr Lee said that due to COVID, there was a considerable influx to comfort foods. While a substantial amount of science and logic is driving the food industry, it is susceptible to rapid changes due to consumers’ emotions. Fickle things can have a significant impact on people’s decisions. “For the past 15 years, we had seen an uprise of the natural foods industry. People were rejecting products from big food industries and looking at little upstarts with healthier options. Until the pandemic hit, where processed foods made a comeback.

For the past 15 years, we had seen an uprise of the natural foods industry.

For the past 15 years, the trends have directed themselves to these pillars. However, COVID-19 brought vast and rapid change to the industry.

HEALTH

A flight to comfort foods

“Food, unlike any other industry, is a messy, crazy confluence of logic and emotion.

“We are dealing in something that has a lot of logic and science. But at the end of the day, these detailed, logical plans can be completely undone by something frustratingly fuzzy like; this person doesn’t like the smell of tomatoes,” Mr Lee said.

Familiarity and comfort first, novelty and self-actualisation second Mr Lee explained what is important to note is that health, sustainability, and experience was the model before the pandemic hit and if you compare this to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (see Figure 2), they are high up in the selfactualisation section (see Figure 3). This shows us that when people have their basic needs met, they will begin to demand food for novelty and selfactualisation purposes.

THE 21ST CENTURY EATER FIGURE 1. THE THREE PILLARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY EATER. WA Grower SUMMER 2021

HEALTH

SELF

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“People want to believe that there was a solution in their food that could replace having to take a pharmaceutical.”

HEALTH

SUSTAINABILITY

EXPERIENCE

Mr Lee stated, not only has it been able to add value as a medicinal substitute, but it also serves as a beacon of self-care and control in an uncertain world. People do seek control, and the easy solution to that is to monitor, evaluate and cook the things you put in your body. “In an uncertain world, food became the only thing you could control, and it became a beacon of self-care and control in an uncertain world,” he said.

THE 21ST CENTURY EATER FIGURE 2. MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS.

HEALTH

SUSTAINABILITY

SELF ACTUALISATION

EXPERIENCE

FOOD SECURITY

BASIC NEEDS

“Health, sustainability and experience was the model pre-pandemic, which is high up in the self-actualisation part of the pyramid. You can demand healthy, sustainable, and experiential food if you have your basic needs taken care of, if you are safe, if you have shelter, if you have clothing, and if your food needs are already taken care of. It is interesting to see people’s mindsets rapidly shift when faced with danger,” Mr Lee said.

Food as medicine According to Mr Lee, a market for food as medicine has developed and had totalled around $247 billion in 2018. People are beginning to see food as a semi substitute for medication, so there is a value-add experience with health benefits food can provide.

In an uncertain world, food became the only thing you could control.

“We have boomeranged back to comfort, and now it is a little harder to be too novel, at least not in the next 3–5 years.” WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Now that people can access information with a touch of their fingertips, they will. People want to know where their food comes from; they want the story of the food, its origin, the ingredients, the process of getting it to the plate and the people creating it.

Mr Lee said people are beginning to examine where their food is coming from, making special note of the popularity of farmers markets as they are a proxy for trust. People can see the entire story behind their food and, in most circumstances, cut out the middleman, which provides value to the consumer.

FIGURE 3. THE HIERARCHY OF FOOD NEEDS.

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Trust in food

“People are starting to see their food, especially in the value-add experience, not just as sustenance, but as a quasi-substitute for some medicine,” he said.

“Farmers markets are a proxy for trust. Being able to see your food, who the seller is and where it is coming from is forming trust with the consumer,” Mr Lee said.

The process has become the product Mr Lee explained how companies have traditionally advertised a story driven by a gimmick or mascot. As a result, the process of the product was vague or hidden from the consumer. Now with the access to information, consumers care more about how it is grown, treated, delivered and cooked.

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We see leisure and convenience begin to take precedence.

E-commerce accelerated There has been an increase in homedelivery and e-commerce grocery options. This was an emerging trend; however, this was excelled by COVID-19 as forced lockdowns required companies around the world to adapt rapidly. We see leisure and convenience begin to take precedence as things like HelloFresh, Dinner Twist, home-delivery and click and collect options from major grocery outlets have emerged. Mr Lee finished on a note that was particularly resonating with the audience. Mr Lee said that we, as an industry, must strive to change the traditional thoughts of sustainability; we need to drive change on the perspectives of the value of a sustainable industry. “Traditionally, sustainability in a product has been sold like this ‘this is delicious and also sustainable’ as if sustainability was an afterthought. We need to get to a point where we can say this ‘It’s delicious because it’s sustainable’,” Mr Lee said.

f THERE has been an increase in home-delivery and e-commerce grocery options.

MORE INFORMATION Contact Mike Lee at mike@alphafoodlabs. com or go to alphafoodlabs.com.

“People are not buying into fabricated stories and advertising from big companies. The process has become the product. How did you grow, treat, deliver and cook this food? This is becoming the product people are seeking out,” Mr Lee said.

The importance of transparency According to Mr Lee, consumers are asking questions about their food. Noting that 73% of consumers worldwide feel more positively about companies that are transparent about where and how products were made, raised or grown. “People are starting to ask questions about where their food is coming from and it is becoming increasingly difficult to hide your mistakes,” Mr Lee said.

f 73% of consumers worldwide feel more positively about companies that are transparent about where and how products were made, raised or grown.

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A 100% local showcase now open at

Origins Market S

BY GEORGIA THOMAS DIRECTOR, FRESH CREATIVE MANAGEMENT

Building a healthy community with local products and real food.

howcasing 100% local, Origins is unlike anything ever seen in WA before, bringing together like-minded growers, makers and creators for 3000 square meters of sensory heaven.

On the first weekend of November, the new market was opened by owner and proprietor, Allan Erceg, Managing Director of Erceg Group, along with the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Hydrogen Industry; Grant Henley, Mayor of the City of Busselton with the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony performed by Dr Wayne ‘Wontiji’ Webb and the Undalup Association.

The new market showcases more than 60 makers, growers, producers and artisans, bringing both a unique market experience as well as an innovative small business incubation opportunity to life in the heart of the South West. Ahead of the opening, Origins Market General Manager, Deon Maas, described the anticipation as palpable.

“Origins Market is set to unearth the best of the state for the local community and tourists to enjoy, it is about as far removed from a traditional farmers market as you can get,” he said. “We have more than 20 makers serving up meals, the vendor accents alone are a feast for the ears. Our makers are serving up food with roots from Latin America, Italy, Mexico, Korea, South Africa, Bali and Turkey, it’s an international food experience! Not to mention hand-crafted gelato, freshly roasted coffee, freshly shucked oysters, fish straight from the boat and pastries baked fresh on site. “Hand-crafted products ranging from macrame, to jewellery, to photography to candles and soaps are located between the workshop area and the observational beehive. “Visitors can experience a taste of the region with samples from some of WA’s best wineries, cideries, distilleries and breweries, or have a long lunch or dinner drinks at the Homestead at Origins tavern and wine bar,” Mr Maas said.

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Origins Market at a glance: • More than 60 of Western Australia’s best producers, farmers, artisans and creators under one roof. • Expansive open spaces, long communal tables, a children’s playground, as well as a variety of eateries, wineries, tavern and distilleries from the region. • Blurring the lines between production and consumption, consumers will get to connect more meaningfully with the origins of the produce and products they love. • A glass façade at the one end of the building, sky lights and a louvered section of roof will ensure the brightness of an open-air market — come rain or shine. • Observational beehive will create a different kind of buzz. • Immersive engagements will be spread throughout the marketplace, with opportunities for a rotating series of activations — from chef demonstrations to wine crushing. • A business incubator program with a commercial kitchen onsite that small businesses can rent without needing to arrange additional licensing.

Origins Market is set to unearth the best of the state.

Origins Market intends to blur the line between production and consumption, with some unique aspects on-site including an incubator kitchen to help small businesses get their products to market, and an in-house observational beehive, educating consumers on the important role bees play in the ecosystem.

“Our mission is simple, to build a healthy community by connecting people with local products and real food, our market supports local growers and artisans who contribute to a better Western Australia,” Mr Maas said. As well as being a source for farm-fresh foods and artisan products, the market is set to be a popular meeting place for locals and visitors alike. MORE INFORMATION For more information about Origins Market, visit www.originsmarket.com.au

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VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ADOPTION OF FARM BIOSECURITY PRACTICES — VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION

Nông gia rau cải ứng dụng biện pháp an ninh sinh học trang trại TRUYỀN VÕ CHUYÊN VIÊN KHUYẾN NÔNG VIỆT NAM, HIỆP HỘI RAU CẢI TÂY ÚC

Thông tin chính • Nông gia tăng cường biện pháp an ninh sinh học trang trại • Yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến sự thay đổi biện pháp an ninh sinh học trang trại của nông gia • Chiến lược thúc đẩy nông gia ứng dụng biện pháp an ninh sinh học trang trại.

Thách thức và cơ hội Ngành trồng trọt rau cải ở Tây Úc gần đây bị 2 loại sâu bệnh hại ngoại lai tấn công: Bệnh khảm bầu bí dưa (CGMMV) vào tháng 8/2016 và rầy cà chua khoai tây (TPP) vào tháng 2/2017. Hiện tiểu bang cũng đang bị loài sâu keo mùa thu (FAW) và sâu vẽ bùa (SLM) đe doạ.

Ngoài ra kết quả ban đầu của dự án quản lý bệnh hại do vi khuẩn và siêu vi khuẩn theo phạm vi khu vực tại Tây úc (VG16086)1 cũng cho thấy các loại dịch hại dể lây lan như bệnh than thư, tuyến trùng và một số loại siêu vi khuẩn đang tiếp tục là các nguy cơ. Tăng cường khả năng của nông gia trong việc hoạch định và thực hành kế hoạch an ninh sinh học trang trại cùng với các biện pháp quản lý sâu bệnh hại hiệu quả là việc làm thiết yếu để bảo vệ ngành trồng trọt rau cải trị giá nhiều triệu đo-la của tiểu bang. Tài liệu dự án cấp quốc gia và khu vực trong lảnh vực này đã tạo ra nguồn tư liệu khuyến nông cá giá trị, chẳng hạn như huướng dẫn lên kế oạch và thực hiện các biện pháp an ninh sinh học trang trại2. 1 www.horticulture.com.au/growers/help-yourbusiness-grow/research-reports-publicationsfact-sheets-and-more/vg16086 2 https://ausveg.com.au/app/data/technicalinsights/docs/TL179.pdf; https://ausveg.com. au/app/data/technical-insights/docs/TL180. pdf; https://ausveg.com.au/app/data/technicalinsights/docs/TL48.pdf

Tuy nhiên, vẫn cần các chương trình khuyến nông mạnh mẻ và hiệu quả hơn nữa để thúc đẩy nông gia ứng dụng rộng rãi tiến bộ kỹ thuật trong lảnh vực này.

Thúc đẩy nông gia ứng dụng biện pháp an ninh sinh học trang trại Dự án đã trình bày cho nông gia kiến thức và thông tin liên quan đến vấn nạn sâu bệnh hại xảy ra trong thời gian qua, nguyên tắc quản lý sâu bệnh hại, Biện pháp quản lý sâu bệnh tổng hợp (IPM), kết quả ban đầu của dự án quản lý bệnh hại do vi khuẩn và siêu vi khuẩn theo phạm vi khu vực tại Tây úc, hướng dẩn lập kế hoạch và thực hiện biện pháp an ninh sinh học trang trại vv. Một nhóm nông dân nòng cốt đã đươc thành lập và khuyến khích thử nghiệm các thay đổi phương pháp quản lý sâu bệnh bằng cách áp dụngdujnieesn thức và thông tin đã học. Nông gia cũng được giúp đỏ lập kế hoạch và hiệu chỉnh kế hoạch sao cho phù hợp với điều kiện canh tác của từng nông hộ để nhận thức được lợi ích của các biện pháp mới này (so với cách làm thông thường), khả năng ứng dụng của chúng (sự tương thích với kết quả ổn định so với cách làm trước đây và sự cần thiết) cùng với khả năng dể quan sát được kết quả (bằng cách đánh giá theo cách nông dân quen thực hành).

Đánh giá sự thay đổi trong thực hành Đánh giá sự thay đổi trong thực hành của nông gia được thực hiện ngay trước khi kết thúc dự án. Điều tra đánh giá này ghi nhận sự thay đổ trong thực hành dựa theo bảng đề mục thực hành an ninh sinh học trang trại được thiết kế

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f NÔNG gia và những người liên quan trong ngành nông nghiệp lắng nghe trình bày về an ninh sinh học trong ngành trồng cà.

sẳn bao gồm các công tác liên quan tới: Sự lưu thông và vệ sinh phương tiện vận chuyển trong trang trại; Quản lý khu vực trồng trọt và các lối ra vào; nguồn cây giống và hột giống; công tác theo dõi sâu bệnh; các loại bao bì và ba-lệt. Kế quả phân tích thống kê số liệu ghi chép đã giúp hiểu được mức độ thay đổi trong thực hành giửa các nông gia tham gia chương trình. Kết quả đánh giá cho thấy toàn bộ nông gia đều có thay đổi trong thực hành an ninh sinh học trang trại. Tuy nhiên mức độ thay đổi giửa các nông gia khác nhau. Nông gia thay đổi nhiều nhất thực hiện đến 31 trên tổng số 38 đề mục thực hành an ninh sinh hojc trang trại được thiết kế (81%) trong khi 6 nông dân còn lại trong nhóm chỉ thực hiện thay đổi từ 16 đến 26 đề mục trong tổng số 38 mục được đề nghị (47%-68%). Sự thay đổi này cho thấy có gia tăng so với trước khi dự án được thực hiện — khi mà chỉ có 11 mục được tiến hành, chỉ đạt 27% trong tổng số 38 đề mục yêu cầu. Ngoài ra, kết quả đối chiếu cách thức nông gia thực hành trước và sau dự án cũng cho thấy thông thường thì toàn thể nông gia đã chú ý thực hiện tốt khuyến cáo về sử dụng cây giống, hạt giống, bao bì và ba-lệt đạt chuẩn. Dự án cũng ghi nhận có sự cải thiện rỏ rệt trong khâu vệ sinh xe cộ và quản lý xe cộ di chuyển và khách thăm trong trang trại và vệ sinh của nhân công. Kết quả khảo sát cũng cho thấy một số vấn đề liên quan đến quản lý sau bệnh vẫn chưa được cải thiện chẳng hạn như không có khu vực riêng biệt để rửa xe

f NÔNG gia được Hiệp hội Rau cải cung cấp biển báo an ninh sinh học trang trại.

cộ và thu gom nước rửa xe; không chú ý đến quần áo, giày dép, dụng cụ làm việc của nhân công và của khách thăm có đảm bảo sạch đất cát hay không; không lưu tâm đến việc theo dõi quản lý thú vật, cây cối hoang dã xâm nhập vùng trồng trọt.

Khuyến cáo Các cuộc trao đổi với nông gia tham gia trong xuốt dự án cho thấy tằng mức độ tuân thủ cao với các khuyến cáo an ninh sinh học trang trại đều thuộc về các trang trại có hợp đồng với các nhà cung cấp dịch dụ chuyên nghiệp. Đây là các dịch vụ thiết yếu mà nông gia đã sử dụng lâu dài. Các dịch vụ này bao gồm các vườn ươm cung cấp giống có chứng nhận, dịch vụ vận chuyển, cung cấp bao bì, ba-lệt vv. Vì vậy không nhất thiết phải cần khuyến nông trong các khâu này.

Mặt khác, mức độ cải thiện thấp trong các lảnh vực khác như được nêu ở phần trên được giải thích là do nông gia không nhìn nhận lợi ích của các biện pháp được khuyến cáo trong việc khống chế một loại sâu bệnh hại cụ thể trong sản xuất. Chính vì vậy, kết hợp các biện pháp thực hành an ninh sinh học trang trại song song với biện pháp khống chế sâu bệnh cụ thể sẽ giúp nông gia dể hiểu và dể tiếp nhận hơn. THÊM THÔNG TIN Võ Thế Truyền, Chuyên viên phát triển nông thôn, (08) 9486 7515, Di động 0457 457 559, truyen.vo@vegetableswa.com.au

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SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING TECHNOLOGY — VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION

Ứng dụng công nghệ theo dõi ẩm độ đất của nông dân tiết kiệm nước tưới và cải thiện chất lượng sản phẩm TRUYỀN VÕ CHUYÊN VIÊN KHUYẾN NÔNG VIỆT NAM, HIỆP HỘI RAU CẢI TÂY ÚC

Nội dung chính • Nông dân ứng dụng công nghệ theo dõi ẩm độ đất • Xác định được các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến quyết định ứng dụng công nghệ mới của nông dân. • Các khuyến cáo cải thiện hiệu khuyến nông cho vùng trồng trọt phía bắc Perth Ngành trồng trọt hoa màu ở ngoại ô phía Bắc toàn trên đất cát, một trong những loại đất nghèo dinh dưỡng nhất trên thế giới1. Đề nghị cắt giảm 10% lượng nước trong giấp phép từ năm 20282 của chính phủ tiểu bang và sự chênh lệch trong kỹ năng sử dụng nước tưới và phân bón giửa các nông gia càng gây thêm khó khăn cho vùng này. Để thu hẹp sự chênh lệch trên, dự án Mạng lưới khuyến nông ngành rau màu ở Tây Úc (VegNET WA) đã hợp tác với 2 nông gia trong vùng thiết lập 2 điểm trình bày ứng dụng công nghệ theo dõi ẩm độ đất để điều chỉnh cách tưới gia tăng hiệu quả sữ dụng nước và phân bón.

Chiến lược chuyển giao công nghệ Chương trình chuyển giao công nghệ được thiết kế để giúp nông gia tham gia qua tiến trình 5 bước: • Tăng cường kiến thức (Trình bày cho nông gia các khái niệm về sử dụng nước hiệu quả và giúp họ hiểu được các lợi ích)

1 www.agric.wa.gov.au/soil-productivity/vegetablecrop-nutrition-sandy-soils-swan-coastalplain?page=0%2C1 2 www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/ McGowan/2019/01/Delivering-certainty-forWanneroo-growers.aspx

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• Chuyển biến thái độ (hình thành khuynh hướng chịu tiếp cận ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật). • Quyết định (muốn thử công nghệ mới) • Thực hiện (thực hành công nghệ mới) • Xác nhận (Nhận rỏ lợi ích của công nghệ và quyết tâm ứng dụng lâu dài) Các biện pháp khuyến nông được ứng dụng để chuyển giao kiến thức cho nông gia bao gồm hội thảo và tham quan đồng ruộng, tổ chức họp với nông gia, thảo luận qua điện thoại, thăm viếng chia sẽ kiến thức với từng nông gia, và thực hiện các mô hình trình diển trên đồng. Tiến bộ kỹ thuật tăng cường hiệu quả sử dụng nước tưới bao hàm một số khái niệm khoa học chẳng hạn như diển biến nước thấm sâu theo thời gian tưới, khái niệm vùng rể hấp thu hiệu quả, sự thất thoát dung dịch phân bón do thấm sâu. Các khái niệm khoa học được chuyển thành minh họa và thực hành đơn giản dể hiểu chẳng hạn như áp dụng phương pháp nhuộm màu để quan sát nước di chuyển trong đất, đào hố quan sát bộ rể. Công nghệ theo dõi ẩm độ đất mặc dù chứa đựng nhiều kỹ thuật phức tạp nhưng lại được sản xuất thành thiết bị đơn giản dể sử dụng như trường hợp điện thoại thông minh. Các khuyến cáo cải tiến kỹ thuật cũng dưới dạng thao tác thực hành đơn giản

như tưới nhiều lần hơn nhưng giảm thời gian tưới ngắn hơn. Các khuyến cáo này có thể được thử nghiêm từng phần hay toàn bộ và có thể dể dàng quan sát ghi nhận kết quả.

Thái độ của nông gia Tổng hợp các ghi chép nông gia tham gia trong các loại hình khuyến nông trong suốt dự án giúp xác định được thai độ của họ về cách thức khuyến nông họ thích, sự chuyển biến thái độ đới với kỹ thuật mới được khuyến cáo và các yếu tố ảnh hưởng việc ứng dụng tiến bộ khoa học kỹ thuật. Đánh giá nông gia thay đổi biện pháp tưới trong quá trình tham gia dự án và cam kết tiếp tục thực hành biện pháp này sau khi dự án kết thúc giúp ghi nhận sự thay đổi thai độ của họ vaf mức độ kiên định ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật lâu dài.

Kết quả nghiên cứu 1. Cách thức khuyên nông ưa chuộng đối với nông gia Cách thức khuyên nông ưa chuộng đối với nông gia được trình bày trong bảnh 1. Cả 2 nông gia tham gia dự án đều thích nhất phương pháp chuyển giao tiến bộ kỹ thuật thông qua thực hành. Cách chuyển giao này thông qua các cuộc thăm viếng và bàn bạc trực tiếp với

YOUR PRODUCTION

BẢNG 1. Cách thức khuyến nông ưa chuộng.

Hội thảo trên thực địa Quá trình ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật Tăng cường kiến thức

Thảo luận qua điện thoại

Chuyển giao kỹ thuật thông qua tiếp xúc trực tiếp với nông gia

Họp nông gia

Mô hình thực nghiệm

Đánh giá kết quả từng trường hợp

✔

✘

✔

Động thái nước di chuyển trong đất

✔

✘

✔

Khái niệm vùng rể hiệu quả

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

Thất thoát phân bón

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

✘

✔

Chuyển biến thái độ

✘

✔

Quyết định

✘

Khuyến cáo thay đổi

✔

Ứng dụng

✔

Xác định kết quả

✔

Notes: Nông gia. 1; and Nông gia 2; ✔ Thích ✘ Không thích - Trung hòa

nông gia tại nông hộ của họ, các mô hình thử nghiệm tại nông hộ, trao đổi rực tiếp qua điện thoại. Các cuộc thăm viếng và bàn bạc trực tiếp với nông gia tạo điều kiện chuyển giao các kiến thức khó chia sẽ nằm trong kỹ năng thực hành, kinh nghiệm cá nhân. Cả hai nông dân tham gia học chúng bằng cách thị phạm trực tiếp đào bộ rể cây quan sát nước thâm sâu khỏi tầng rể hiệu quả trong vòng 30cm đất mặt. Các cuộc tiếp xúc gián tiếp bằng điện thoại, tin nhắn chủ yếu để duy trì mooó quan hệ giửa nong gia và chuyên viên khuyến nông. Chỉ có các kiến thức đơn giản thể hiện bằng các con số hay cách làm đơn giản mới có thể chia sẽ bằng cách này. Các cuộc họp hành, hội thảo, tham quan thực tiển thường buộc nông gia phải rời bỏ công việc để tham dự nên họ không ưa chuộng. Trong khi một rong hai nông gia tham dự hầu hết các loại hình khuyến nông được tổ chức trong dự án để tiếp thu thông tin và kiến thức thì người kia chỉ muốn khuyến nông đến tại nông trại của mình hoặc bàn bạc bằng điện thoại. Nông gia này rất ít khi tham gia họp hành. Điều này là do có người ngại họp hành, tiếp xúc đông người, do thiếu nhân công làm việc nên họ không thể đi họp và do tuổi tác ảnh hưởng. Thiếu sự hổ trợ về ngôn ngữ cũng là một rở ngại trong việc tiếp thu thông tin khoa học kỹ thuật. Không phải cuộc họp hành hay hội thảo nào có phiên dịch đầy đủ nên nông không nói tiếng Anh cũng ngại tham gia. Chính vì vậy họ ưa chuộng được tương tác trực tiếp với chuyên viên khuyến nông nói tiếng như họ để học hỏi tiếp thu thông tin.

2. Ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật Ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật nghĩa là quá trình hành động đưa kiến thức mới, biện pháp mới được giới thiệu ứng dụng vào thực tế và khẳng định thực hiện lâu dài dựa vào các lợi ích vượt trội chúng mang lại so với cách làm củ. Nghiên cứu các trường hợp này cho thấy mặc dù các nông gia công nhận có tiếp thu được kiến thức và thông tin khi tham gia các sự kiện khuyến nông, tuy nhiên cả hai đều không thể hiện sự cương quyết đưa kiến thức, kỹ thuật đó vào thử nghiệm hay ứng dụng trong thực tế trên trang trại của mình. Trong khi đó các mô hình thử nghiệm tại trang trại về thẩm lậu nước tưới theo thời gian và quan sát bộ rể đã tạo điều kiện cho họ thấy được nước dư thừa thấm sâu khỏi bộ rể chỉ sau 20-25 phút tưới nước. Điều chỉnh giảm bớt thời gian tưới từ 60-90 phút xuống còn 20-25 phút mỗi lần cho ra kết quả ấn tượng khi hoa màu sinh trưởng tốt hơn, tỉ lệ trái đạt chất lượng nhiều hơn. Cả hai nông gia đều xác định sẽ ứng dụng cách làm này. Tuy nhiên mục tiêu ban đầu là thay đổi tập quán tưới bằng cách thay vì tưới một lần 60-90 phút thì chia ra tưới thành 2 lần trong ngày, mỗi lần 20-25 phút không đạt được. Điều này không đạt được là do biện pháp tưới này mất nhiều thời gian công sức hơn vì phải đóng mở nhiều khóa nước bằng cách thủ công trong khi nông gia rất bận rộn, đặc biệt là trường hợp nông gia phải canh tác trên 3 khu đất cách xa nhau.

Sách lược cải thiện việc ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật vùng ngoại ô phía Bắc Kết quả thăm dò các trường hợp thử nghiệm cùng nông gia tại trang trại của họ đã giúp đề xuất sách lược khuyến nông để tăng cường ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật trong canh tác tại vùng ngoại ô phía Bắc. 1. Chuyển giao thông tin kỹ thuật theo cách gặp mặt tiếp xúc, trao đổi trực tiếp là biện pháp khuyến nông hiệu quả nhất. 2. Thiết lập các mô hình thực nghiệm tại nông hộ là cách làm rất cần thiết để thúc đẩy ứng dụng tiến bộ kỹ thuật. Trong khi không thể thực hiện cách làm này cho tất cả nông gia thì thiết lập các mô hình thực nghiệm tại nông hộ cho từng nhóm 5-10 nông gia ở gần nhau là biện pháp khả thi. 3. Cung cấp phiên dịch cũng là yêu cầu thiết yếu cho nông gia không nói tiếng Anh để họ hiêsu và tiếp thu được thông tin khoa học kỹ thuật 4. Khuyến khích nông gia đăng ký chương trình mới đây của chính phủ tiểu bang hổ trợ tài chính để cải thiện hệ thống tưới ở khu vực ngoại ô phía Bắc. Chương trình này bao gồm cải thiện thiết kế, caỉ thiện hệ thống tưới, và cải thiện đặc tính đất đai để cầm nước tốt hơn. THÊM THÔNG TIN Võ Thế Truyền, Chuyên viên phát triển nông thôn, (08) 9486 7515, Di động 0457 457 559, truyen.vo@vegetableswa.com.au

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

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Permits

Current Minor Use Permits can also be searched by specific crop or pest types at https://portal.apvma.gov.au/permits

114

Permit No.

Product

Crop

Reason for use

Expiry date

PER14726

RAPTOR WG HERBICIDE

Adzuki and faba beans

Grass and broadleaf weed control

30-Sep-24

PER14936

HALOXYFOP

Adzuki bean

Grass weeds

30-Jun-24

PER12237

PENDIMETHALIN

Adzuki bean

Broad leaf weeds

30-Nov-25

PER88808

ALPHA-CYPERMETHRIN

Asian brassica leafy vegetables

Heliothis, white cabbage butterfly, cluster caterpillar, cabbage moth

31-Jul-26

PER12716

CONFIDOR 200 SC INSECTICIDE

Asian root vegetables

Greenhouse whitefly and green peach aphid

31-Jul-25

PER84890

PYRIPROXFEN

Beans

Silverleaf whitefly

31-Jul-24

PER90595

UNIFORM FUNGICIDE

Beetroot

Pythium and rhizoctonia

30-Jun-24

PER81260

IMIDACLOPRID

Beetroot

Aphids and thrips

31-Jul-25

PER14891

TRIFLOXYSTROBIN

Beetroot

Alternaria leaf spot

30-Sep-29

PER87630

SERENADE OPTI BIOFUNGICIDE

Brassica leafy vegetables

Bacterial spot

30-Jun-22

PER87670

XENTARI WG BTA BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDE

Brassica leafy vegetables

Diamond back moth, cabbage white butterfly, helicoverpa and vegetable looper

31-Jul-24

PER14907

EMAMECTIN

Brassica leafy vegetables

Various pests

30-Nov-24

PER10845

BARMAC ZINEB FUNGICIDE

Brassica leafy vegetables

Cercospora leaf spot and downy mildew

31-May-25

PER87563

WARLOCK INSECTICIDE

Brassica vegetables

Liriomyza leaf miners

30-Jun-24

PER87773

DEVRINOL-C 500WG HERBICIDE

Brassica vegetables

Broadleaf and grass control

31-Aug-22

PER14596

CHLORPYRIFOS

Brassica vegetables

Vegetable beetle adults

30-Sep-29

PER81876

ABAMECTIN

Brassica vegetables, bulb vegetables, fruiting vegetables

Leaf miner

30-Apr-24

PER81867

DIPTEX 150 WP

Brassica vegetables, fruiting vegetables

Leaf miner

30-Nov-23

PER89280

DURIVO INSECTICIDE

Brassicas, leafy vegetables

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER84261

ADMIRAL INSECT GROWTH REGULATOR (PYRIPROXYFEN)

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower

Silverleaf whitefly

31-Aug-25

PER14432

PENDIMETHALIN

Brussels sprouts

Grasses and broadleaf weeds

30-Jun-24

PER80910

IPRODIONE

Brussels sprouts and eggplant

Grey mould

31-Jul-25

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR PRODUCTION

Permit No.

Product

Crop

Reason for use

Expiry date

PER11951

PHOSPHOROUS ACID

Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, silverbeet, endive, radicchio, chicory and processing peas

Downy mildew

31-Mar-25

PER89185

MAINMAN 500 WG INSECTICIDE

Bulb vegetable

Thrips

31-Aug-23

PER14301

PICLORAM

Bushland, native forest and non- Hawkweeds cropped areas

31-Jul-26

PER81408

PHOSPHOROUS ACID

Capsicum

31-Jul-25

PER12565

SCALA FUNGICIDE

Capsicum and lettuce (protected Botrytis rots crops only)

30-Jun-25

PER13901

GLYPHOSATE (SHIELDED SPRAYER)

Capsicums, snow peas, sugar snap peas

Annual and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds

30-Jun-24

PER90346

FLONICAMID

Capsicums and eggplants

Green peach aphid

31-May-24

PER87852

VERSYS INSECTICIDE

Capsicums, cucumber, eggplant

Aphids

31-May-23

PER11747

2,2-DICHLOROPROPIONIC ACID

Carrot crops (for seed)

Promotion of bolting and grass weed control

2-Dec-22

PER89181

SUMAGIC UNICONAZOLE

Carrot seed crops

Plant height reduction

31-Oct-23

PER88504

PROPAZINE PRODUCTS

Carrot seed crops

Various weeds including nightshade, fat hen, wireweed

30-Apr-26

PER88430

VERSYS INSECTICIDE

Carrots

Aphids including green peach aphid and carrot aphid

31-Jul-23

PER13305

GLYPHOSATE (SHIELDED SPRAYER)

Carrots

Certain broadleaf and grass weeds

30-Jun-22

PER86665

FIPRONIL

Carrots

White fringed weevil and symphylids

31-Jul-24

PER13147

LONTREL

Cauliflower

Capeweed and clover

30-Sep-24

PER90927

CYANTRANILIPROLE

Celery

Leaf miners

31-Dec-23

PER14843

INDOXACARB (AVATAR INSECTICIDE)

Celery

Heliothis, lightbrown apple moth, lucerne leaf roller and vegetable weevil

30-Sep-24

PER82358

ESFENVALERATE

Celery

Helicoverpa armigera

31-Jan-26

PER88066

EMAMECTIN

Celery

Helicoverpa, lightbrown apple moth and cluster caterpillar

31-Aug-24

PER12489

IMIDACLOPRID

Celery, cucumber, peppers and Cape gooseberry

Aphids, whitefly, thrips

31-May-25

PER13673

METALAXYL-M + MANCOZEB

Celery, silverbeet and spinach

Various diseases

31-Jul-26

PER14457

ALPHA-CYPERMETHRIN

Chicory, leeks, spring onions, shallots

Red-legged earth mite, onion thrips

30-Jun-24

PER88558

IMIDACLOPRID

Chilli peppers

Silverleaf whitefly

30-Sep-23

PER91733

CYPRODINIL AND FLUDIOXONIL

Chillies

Botrytis

30-Nov-23

PER86428

SERENADE OPTI

Cucumber

Bacterial spot

30-Sep-24

PER14722

ABAMECTIN

Cucumber, zucchini, squash

Tomato red spider mite

31-Jul-25

PER80138

ALPHA-CYPERMETHRIN

Cucurbits

Cucumber fruit fly

31-Mar-25

PER88032

SERENADE OPTI BIOFUNGICIDE

Eggplant

Early blight, botrytis grey mould, powdery mildew, bacterial spot

31-Oct-22

PER14186

SUCCESS NEO (SPINETORAM)

Eggplant

Melon thrips

30-Sep-24

PER8930

PHORATE

Eggplant, peppers, shallots and spring onions

Aphids, jassids, mites, thrips and onion maggot

30-Nov-24

Phytophthora soil fungus

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

115

YOUR PRODUCTION

permits (cont.)

116

Permit No.

Product

Crop

PER14839

ZINEB

Eggplant, spinach and silverbeet Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.)

30-Sep-24

PER80717

TRICHLORFON

Eggplant, Thai eggplant, pepino and Cape gooseberry

Fruit fly

31-Aug-25

PER82378

DIMETHOATE

Faba beans

Mirid bugs

31-Mar-26

PER85363

FULFILL INSECTICIDE

Faba beans

Green peach aphid and faba bean aphid

31-Aug-26

PER82748

IMAZETHAPYR

Faba beans

Labelled weeds

31-Oct-26

PER82634

BASAGRAN POST-EMERGENT HERBICIDE

Faba beans (Vicia faba)

Labelled weeds

31-Jul-26

PER81478

METHYL BROMIDE

Fabrication and shipping facilities

Asian house gecko

31-Jul-26

PER90232

CLOPYRALID, FLUROXYPYR AND OXYFLUORFEN

Fennel, lavender, mint and parsley

Various broadleaf weeds (per product labels)

31-Mar-24

PER82456

RIDOMIL GOLD MZ WG SYSTEMIC AND PROTECTIVE FUNGICIDE

Field grown capsicum, chillies, paprika

Downy mildew

31-Jul-25

PER87754

FOLICUR

Garlic

Orange rust

31-Jul-22

PER88363

LAMBDA-CYHALOTHRIN

Garlic

Various pests

30-Jun-23

PER88362

VARIOUS PRODUCTS

Garlic

Fungi and mildew

30-Jun-25

PER82015

CLETHODIM

Garlic

Winter grass

31-Dec-23

PER87552

VARIOUS HERBICIDES

Garlic

Various weeds

30-Apr-24

PER87015

LAMBDA- CYHALOTHRIN

Garlic

Various pests

31-Aug-24

PER87005

ABAMECTIN

Garlic

Bulb mite

30-Sep-24

PER14886

PENDIMETHALIN

Garlic

Grass and broadleaf weeds

31-Jan-25

PER89516

VARIOUS COPPER FUNGICIDES

Garlic

Downy mildew

30-Sep-25

PER14604

LAMBDA-CYHALOTHRIN

Garlic

Selected insect pests

30-Sep-25

PER90737

SUCCESS NEO

Ginger

Fall armyworm

30-Sep-23

PER91292

LUNA SENSATION FUNGICIDE

Green beans

Powdery mildew

31-Jul-22

PER85103

NUFARM NUPRID

Green beans

Silver leaf whitefly

30-Sep-22

PER14896

BENTAZONE (BASAGRAN)

Green peas (processing)

Broadleaf weeds

30-Sep-24

PER14326

CAPTAN

Leafy lettuce, cucumber, capsicum and chilli

Grey mould

30-Jun-24

PER12351

IMIDACLOPRID

Leafy lettuce, okra, green beans

Silverleaf whitefly

30-Apr-25

PER14906

TRIADIMENOL

Leek, chives, shallot, spring and Chinese onions

White rot (sclerotium)

31-Oct-24

PER13367

LINURON

Leeks and celeriac

Grass and broadleaf weeds

30-Apr-25

PER81271

VARIOUS ACTIVES

Leeks and garlic

Grass and broadleaf weeds

30-Sep-25

PER14742

METHABENZTHIAZURON (TRIBUNIL HERBICIDE)

Leeks, spring onions and shallots

Various broadleaf and grass weeds

30-Apr-24

PER87417

NUFARM INTERCEPT HERBICIDE

Lentil

Annual broadleaf and grass weeds

31-Jul-24

PER82273

CHLOROTHALONIL

Lentils

Potential exotic pests and diseases

31-Mar-25

PER13301

ALPHA-CYPERMETHRIN

Lettuce

Red-legged earth mite and vegetable weevil

31-May-25

PER14210

ACRAMITE MITICIDE

Lettuce

Two-spotted mite

31-Oct-26

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

Reason for use

Expiry date

YOUR PRODUCTION

Permit No.

Product

Crop

Reason for use

Expiry date

PER14964

CHLOROTHALONIL

Lettuce seedlings

Antracnose (shot hole)

31-Jul-26

PER81241

PHENMEDIPHAM (BETANAL)

Lettuce, chicory, endive, radicchio and spinach

Broadleaf weeds

31-May-25

PER89331

SUCCESS NEO INSECTICIDE

Onions

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER13119

DIAZINON

Onions

Onion thrips

31-May-23

PER89991

DIMETHENAMID-P

Onions

Annual ryegrass

28-Feb-24

PER84734

VERDICT (HALOXYFOP)

Onions

Storksbill

31-Dec-24

PER80282

ALPHA-CYPERMETHRIN

Onions

Onion thrips

30-Nov-25

PER14858

PENDIMETHALIN

Parsnips

Grasses and broadleaf weeds

31-Mar-25

PER12048

PROMETRYN

Parsnips and carrot

Weeds

31-Jul-25

PER14695

RIDOMIL GOLD 25G (METALAXYL-M)

Parsnips

Pythium spp. and Phytophthora spp.

30-Jun-24

PER12357

LINURON

Parsnips

Weeds

31-Jul-25

PER84245

MOVENTO 240 SC

Potato, sweet potato, tomato, capsicum, chilli, peppers, eggplant

Tomato potato psyllid

30-Apr-25

PER11768

CHLORPYRIFOS

Pumpkin

African black beetle

28-Feb-23

PER11949

LAMBDA-CYHALOTHRIN

Radish and beetroot

Various insects

31-Mar-25

PER11441

PROPACHLOR

Radish, swede, turnip

Grass and broadleaf weeds

31-Oct-24

PER13152

MCPA 250 SELECTIVE HERBICIDE

Rhubarb

Broadleaf weeds.

30-Sep-26

PER10988

CYANAZINE

Snow and sugar snap peas

Weeds as per label

31-Mar-25

PER11764

SPIROXAMINE

Snow peas and sugar snap peas

Powdery mildew

31-Aug-26

PER80954

METHOXYFENOZIDE

Snow peas and sugar snap peas

Native budworm, tomato grub and cluster caterpillar

31-Jul-25

PER14505

PYRIMETHANIL

Snow peas and sugar snap peas

Grey mould (botrytis)

30-Jun-24

PER10938

IMIDACLOPRID

Snow peas and sugar snap peas

Greenhouse whitefly and green peach aphid

31-Jan-25

PER10976

BENTAZONE

Snow peas and sugar snap peas

Broadleaf weeds

31-Mar-25

PER87878

DELEGATE INSECTICIDE

Snow peas, sugar snap peas, green beans

Liriomyza leaf miners

28-Feb-23

PER12961

KARATE INSECTICIDE (LAMBDACYHALOTHRIN)

Soil drench (tree fruit, nuts, vines and vegetables)

Mediterranean fruit fly and Queensland fruit fly

31-Mar-25

PER14593

MANCOZEB

Specified fruiting and legume vegetables

Downy mildew, anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp) and Alternaria

30-Apr-25

PER81244

FLUAZIFOP-P-BUTYL

Specified vegetables and herbs

Annual grass weeds

30-Jun-22

PER87631

CORAGEN INSECTICIDE

Spinach and silverbeet

Cabbage leaf miner

30-Jun-24

PER14703

TRAMAT 500 SC SELECTIVE HERBICIDE (ETHOFUMESATE)

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea only) and silverbeet

Various weeds

31-Jul-24

PER14842

COPPER OXYCHLORIDE, CUPROUS OXIDE OR CUPRIC HYDROXIDE

Spring onions and shallots

Downy mildew

30-Sep-24

PER14890

METHOMYL (LANNATE-L)

Spring onions and shallots

Western flower thrips

31-Oct-24

PER14142

IOXYNIL

Spring onions, shallots and Welsh onions

Broadleaf and grass weeds

30-Sep-25

PER88179

PROPARGITE

Sweet corn

Two-spotted mite

31-Dec-22

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

117

YOUR PRODUCTION

permits (cont.)

118

Permit No.

Product

Crop

Reason for use

Expiry date

PER88170

ETOXAZOLE

Sweet corn

Two-spotted mite

29-Feb-24

PER88018

CHLORPYRIFOS

Sweet corn

African black beetle

30-Nov-22

PER89705

INDOXACARB

Sweet corn

Fall armyworm

30-Jun-23

PER90374

AVATAR EVO INSECTICIDE (INDOXACARB)

Sweet corn

Fall armyworm

30-Nov-23

PER90841

ABRADE ABRASIVE BARRIER INSECTICIDE

Sweet corn

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-24

PER84531

METHOXYFENOZIDE

Sweet corn

Lepidopteran pests

31-Aug-25

PER13116

PROPICONAZOLE

Sweet corn

Northern corn leaf blight

31-Jan-26

PER86245

VERITAS FUNGICIDE

Sweet corn

Maize rust

28-Feb-26

PER89935

CALLISTO

Sweet corn

Wild radish, Capeweed, fat hen

31-Aug-24

PER87208

TORQUE

Tomatoes

Two-spotted mite

30-Apr-22

PER88484

NIMROD

Tomatoes

Powdery mildew

30-Jun-22

PER88277

HUWASAN TR50 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Tomatoes

Agrobacterium

31-Oct-22

PER89419

MIRAVIS

Tomatoes

Powdery mildew

30-Sep-23

PER87619

ENTRUST SC NATURALYTE

Tomatoes

Various thrips

31-Aug-24

PER91610

CLOFENTEZINE

Tomatoes

Two-spotted mites

31-Aug-22

PER91609

BIFENAZATE

Tomatoes

Two-spotted mites

31-Aug-22

PER91720

MANCOZEB

Tomatoes

Leaf mould

31-Oct-22

PER90919

METRAFENONE

Tomatoes

Powdery mildew

30-Sep-24

PER91109

TALENDO FUNGICIDE

Tomatoes

Powdery mildew

31-Oct-24

PER90918

ALPHA AMYLASE (FROM BACILLUS AMYLOLIQUIFACIENS)

Tomatoes

Powdery mildew

30-Nov-24

PER85076

PERATEC PLUS FUNGICIDE

Tomatoes

Fusarium wilt

28-Feb-25

PER81713

MAINMAN 500WG INSECTICIDE

Tomatoes

Silverleaf whitefly

31-Mar-25

PER13566

METHOMYL

Tomatoes and capsicums

Fruit fly

31-Mar-26

PER13567

BIFENTHRIN

Tomatoes and capsicums

Fruit fly systems approach

31-Mar-26

PER13717

AMISTAR TOP (AZOXYSTROBIN + DIFENOCONAZOLE)

Tomatoes (protected)

Powdery mildew

31-May-22

PER13724

PREVICUR

Tomatoes (protected)

Root rot

31-May-26

PER13726

TRIFLOXYSTROBIN

Tomatoes (protected)

Powdery mildew

30-Jun-26

PER13720

PRISTINE

Tomatoes (protected)

Powdery mildew

30-Jun-26

PER13721

CYPRODINIL PLUS FLUDIOXONIL

Tomatoes (protected)

Grey mould (botrytis)

30-Sep-26

PER89870

ENTRUST ORGANIC INSECTICIDE

Various

Fall armyworm

31-Jul-23

PER82104

CUSTODIA

Various beans

Powdery mildew

30-Nov-22

PER89371

AFFIRM INSECTICIDE

Various cereals

Fall armyworm

31-Aug-23

PER90820

FAWLIGEN — SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA MULTIPLE NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUS

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-24

PER89353

CHLORANTRANILIPROLE

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-May-23

PER90928

SPINOSAD

Various crops

Leaf miners

30-Apr-24

PER11843

MALATHION (MALDISON) AND CHLORPYRIFOS

Various crops

Locusts

31-Jul-24

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

YOUR PRODUCTION

Permit No.

Product

Crop

Reason for use

Expiry date

PER89398

MAGNET INSECT ATTRACTANT TECHNOLOGY

Various crops

Fall armyworm

30-Jun-22

PER89279

VARIOUS PRODUCTS

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER89278

AVATAR INSECTICIDE

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER89263

PROCLAIM OPTI INSECTICIDE

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER89259

ALTACOR INSECTICIDE

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER89241

SUCCESS NEO AND DELEGATE INSECTICIDE

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER82426

PYRETHRINS

Various crops

Brown marmorated stink bug and yellow-spotted stink bugs

31-Mar-23

PER82552

LAMBDA-CYHALOTHRIN

Various crops

Brown marmorated stink bug and yellow spotted stink bugs

30-Apr-23

PER91477

SPODOVIR PLUS — SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA MULTIPLE NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUS

Various crops

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-24

PER82341

BIFENAZATE

Various crops

Mites

30-Apr-25

PER87973

DIFENOCONAZOLE FUNGICIDE

Various crops

Various diseases

31-Aug-25

PER89293

LANNATE INSECTICIDE

Various crops as per label

Fall armyworm

30-Apr-23

PER91161

CHLORANTRANILIPROLE + THIAMETHOXAM

Various leafy vegetables

Leaf miners

30-Jun-24

PER89285

PROCLAIM OPTI INSECTICIDE

Various leafy vegetables, celery, blueberry

Fall armyworm

31-Mar-23

PER82551

DIAZINON

Various onions and herbs, and cauliflower

Onion maggot, onion fly and thrips

31-Jan-24

PER91155

SPINETORAM

Various vegetable and herb crops

Leaf miners

30-Jun-24

PER14583

CHLORPYRIFOS

Various vegetable crops

Various insect pests

31-Oct-24

PER14479

PROPICONAZOLE

Various vegetable crops

Various pests

30-Nov-24

PER90387

BENEVIA INSECTICIDE

Various vegetables

Liriomyza leaf miners

31-Dec-23

PER81702

ALPHA-CYPERMETHRIN

Various vegetables

Various insect pests

28-Feb-24

PER87809

DURIVO INSECTICIDE

Various vegetables

Various pests

30-Apr-24

PER13695

ECOCARB FUNGICIDE

Various vegetables

Powdery mildew

31-Jul-25

PER82459

CLETHODIM

Various vegetables

Various grass weeds

30-Sep-26

PER82895

CHLOROTHALONIL

Various vegetables and herbs

Fungal diseases

31-Aug-25

PER90718

PROTHIOCONAZOLE

Watermelon

Fusarium wilt

30-Nov-23

PER89348

PROTHIOCONAZOLE FUNGICIDE

Watermelon

Furarium wilt

30-Nov-23

PER87918

PESTECH PY-BO

Zucchini

Ants, aphids, caterpillars, earwigs, leafhoppers, thrips and whitefly

30-Apr-22

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

119

SUPPLIER GUIDE

Supplier

guide

We welcome businesses to get in touch about our advertising opportunities. Please email comms@vegetableswa.com.au or call (08) 9486 7515 to find out more.

Crop protection

Fertiliser

Irrigation

Software

Corteva

Organic 2000

Rivulis Irrigation Pty Ltd

ABC Software

Phone: 1800 700 096 corteva.com.au

52 Safari Place Carabooda, WA 6330 Phone: (08) 9407 5182 www.organic2000.com.au

13–15 Duntroon Street Brendale, QLD 4500 Phone: (07) 3881 4071 www.rivulis.com

6–8 Devonshire Place Taradale, Napier, New Zealand 4112 Phone: +64 6281 2020 www.abcsoftware.co.nz

Labour

Solar

Harvest Trail Information Service

Solar Direct Corporation

Cropnets 37 Boor Street, Carnarvon, 6701 Phone: 0437 203 024 cropnets@bigpond.com

Electrician

Seasol International 1027 Mountain Highway Bayswater, VIC 3153 Phone: 0488 006 993 www.seasol.com.au

Freight Bon Electrics Lot 4, Bullsbrook Road Bullsbrook, WA 6084 Phone: (08) 95711314 www.bon.com.au

Farm machinery

Boya Equipment pty ltd 2 Prestige Parade Wangara, WA 6065 Phone: (08) 9302 2006 www.boyaequip.com.au

120

The WA Grower magazine is considered the most trusted magazine for the horticulture industry in Western Australia.

WA Grower SUMMER 2021

126–130 Deakin Avenue Mildura, VIC 3500 Phone: 1800 724 214 www.madec.edu.au

Packaging & machinery Tiger International Solutions 2 Tarlton Crescent Perth International Airport, WA 6105 Phone: 0412 107 405 www.go2tigers.com

Fumigation

edp australia pty ltd 31–35 O’Brien Street Mooroopna, VIC 3629 Phone: (03) 5820 5337 www.edp.com.au

Trical Australia

WA Crates

5 Chamberlain Street Wingfield, SA 5013 Phone: (08) 8347 3838 www.trical.com.au

Crate Yard, Market City Phone: (08) 9456 4092 service@wacrates.com.au

21 Darlot Road Landsdale, WA 6065 Phone: 1300 477 172 www.perthsolardirect.com.au

Storage Anthony Scaffidi Hamilton Road Donnybrook, WA 6239 Phone: 0417 919 906 tscaffidi@optusnet.com.au

Coldahold Pty Ltd 71 Cristobal Crescent Mindarie, WA 6030 Phone: 0492 462 060 www.coldahold.com.au

WA crates The professional packaging service for WA’s finest fresh fruit and vegetables

0 email: service@wacrates.com.au

NE AP W R PL EG ES IS & TR PE AT AR IO S N

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†Subject to availability. *Terms & Conditions Apply. See website for details. Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Always read and follow label directions. ©2021 Corteva. Sept 2021. FR9493

WA Grower Magazine Summer 2021

Articles inside

Origins Market

The 21st Century Eater

Trade barriers

Marketing for value

Meet the Buyer

Changes to the Fair Work Act 2009

Coping with change

The myth that men don’t talk

WA’s Workplace Vaccine Mandate

The unseen competitive advantage

Decision making and planning

Superannuation application

Rethink packaging design

Fire safety

Polyphagous shot-hole borer

Do you need to get a director ID?

Fumigation Tour

Canopy management

What did you learn at the WAHU?

ABC Software advertorial

New heat mapping tool for apples

Corteva advertorial

WA Apples at the Perth Royal Show

‘Soil Your Undies’ challenge

Chair’s Chat

Recipe

Season update

Try for 5

Seed for Schools program

Seed Grower Field Day

WA Potatoes CEO’s report

WAHU2021

Marketing Update

WA Potatoes Chair’s Report

Sustainable farming practices

vegetablesWA CEO’s Report

Australia’s border security

Farm biosecurity practices

The battle against European wasp

Gingin 150th Celebration

Cooloola Farms Produce advertorial

Soil moisture monitoring

Vegetable FFS rates and activities