ATGA CEO & industry updates

Hope for a budding future

News from our CEO

It feels like growers were just pruning, but buds will emerge soon and a new season will be upon us.

Last season was difficult and challenging for everyone, by most accounts. The challenges faced by all can be attributed to several factors, but none more so than the lingering effects of the pandemic. Internationally, China had lockdowns in Shanghai and Beijing – during the most important period of the harvest – and all other countries had restricted movements, which one could argue led to lack of consumer confidence and spending. Importers were, simply, not at the confident level they were pre-Covid. Climatic conditions did not help, with overcast and humid times during critical growth periods, compounded by two bouts of La Niña. This was a major contributing factor to the quality of fruit produced this year and the lateness of harvest, compared to previous years. There is some uncertainty, with rare triple La Niña predictions for the next season. However, with a 50-50 chance, we hope weather patterns are in our favour, and the industry can look forward to next season’s harvest with some amount of confidence.

Markets

The ATGA has increased its communication with the Australian Government about improving access into the United States and Japan.

At a recent bilateral meeting between Australia, the Japan importers association, and the Japanese government, it was pleasing to hear that Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) expects to conclude its work on mangoes by October. It should then commence work on Australia’s next priority for access, which is set to be additional varietal access for table grapes and citrus.

Japanese importers suggest they would like the next priority to solely be table grapes, which is good news for the industry. While it is difficult to put timelines on the conclusion of these activities, assuming no unforeseen circumstances, I hope these negotiations will conclude between Australia and Japan by December 2023, in time for the 2024 export season.

The ATGA has engaged the US embassy in Australia to hasten a response from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for improved access to the US. Let’s hope Australia gets a response from them soon.

Fruit fly

A number of workshops have been held in recent months concerning fruit fly activity. Recent outbreaks in the Riverland have become more frequent and there is fear that it may lose its Pest Free Area status. This will have an impact on the way fruit is exported from the Riverland. There is also the concern of the odd Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) outbreaks in Adelaide.

All eastern states in Australia are deemed Medfly free, and it is important that the state governments continue their surveillance programs on Medfly. Several protocols rely on the East/ West conditions for fruit fly. The West is free of Qfly and the East free of Medfly. This status needs to be maintained. So, it is a timely reminder that all growers should be vigilant for Qfly in their vineyards. The extension team is on hand if you need support or advice on bait spraying and trapping for Qfly on your property. In autumn, record numbers of Qfly were detected in traps in Sunraysia, due to abnormally humid conditions. While Qfly numbers fell over the cold winter, they're expected to increase during spring with the warmer weather. You can read more about fruit fly on pages 31-33. v

Jeff Scott | CEO

Active over winter

Pests may have been overwintering, but our team has certainly not. Over the past few months, we’ve kept busy on several fronts, with travel and events, trials and tests, technology, and biosecurity. Vine health session

In June, Jeff, Alison, and Karen made the trip to Western Australia to connect with table grape producers and host a vine health workshop in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). The ATGA was grateful to draw on the wealth of knowledge of its WA presenters, hosting DPIRD senior technical officer Colin Gordon, and research scientist Andrew Taylor, as well as University of Western Australia research fellow Roberto Busi, and Scott Paton, Nutrien Ag Solutions' product development agronomist - horticulture.

Around 40 producers and industry service providers attended the hybrid session, in person in the Swan Valley and in Carnarvon, and more joined us online. Even some high school ag students participated in Carnarvon. The agenda for the half-day event was jam-packed with topics. The morning began with discussions on chilli thrips, trials with automatic weather stations, the history and reasoning behind the loss of some of the industry’s old chemistry and new chemistry options, and the importance of application timing. After morning tea speakers explored the increase in herbicide resistance, and powdery mildew resistance. Alison had an interactive discussion on the challenges of configuring sprayers to suit table grape canopies. Finally, the session finished with a presentation on mealybug trials. It was great for us to connect with producers in their vineyards, to discuss matters impacting production, such as pest and disease pressure, water, trellising systems, marketing, auditing and social licensing. Restricted spring growth (RSG)

The team held face-to-face information sessions back in May, in Robinvale and Mildura, to discuss analytical results so far. Producers were able to ask questions about RSG and give feedback on next steps. In the continued hunt for an answer to RSG, we collected bud sticks for bud and rust mite assessments from multiple vineyards throughout Sunraysia, Euston and Robinvale. In summary, mite numbers varied greatly between patches; the variation is too great to make any direct link between mites and the observed RSG. The team will bring mite experts together in an online session to discuss the results and plan the next steps in the assessment of mites and RSG.

Biosecurity

It’s important that as an industry we stay current and informed on the latest research and thinking around biosecurity in Australia due to the impact any exotic incursion can have. In May, Jenny and Karen attended the Plant Biosecurity Research Symposium in South Australia. Australian and international speakers addressed topics such as response actions and responsibilities, current research, new surveillance systems and cutting-edge field-based technologies. We came away from the symposium with a much better understanding of these initiatives, and a wider network, with vital connections in government and research organisations. Chemistry

Quite a few chemicals widely used to combat pests and diseases, or to break dormancy, are under review and some will inevitably be discontinued. As this will leave producers potentially without their favourite chemicals, the team is on the quest for alternative chemistry options compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) production practices. We are currently implementing two demonstration trials: a postharvest spray application trial to, hopefully, reduce overwintering mealybug populations; and a trial of alternatives to Dormex®.

The mealybug trial will investigate whether drenching crowns and cordons does greatly reduce early season mealybug populations, and whether adding adjuvants improves the efficacy of crown drenches. We will return to the demonstration trial in spring to count mealybugs and assess the effect of drenching. The second trial was established to compare Dormex® with nine other dormancy breakers coming onto the market. The team hopes to shed some light on those alternative options later in spring, when bud counts and data analysis are finished. Stay tuned! Involved & informed

We would like to thank the producers and presenters who made the effort to attend, present, ask questions, make suggestions, and provide feedback at the various RSG and vine health sessions.

Thanks also to producers for making the time to walk and talk with us in your vineyards keeping us informed and up to date with your individual thoughts. Please keep your phone calls coming and let us know of any issues or ideas you may have! v Alison, Jenny, Karen