PRACTICAL
HYDRO PONICS & GREENHOUSES The Commercial Growers’ Magazine
2017
SEPTEMB ER
ISSUE 183
www.hydroponics.com.au
AGAINST THE WIND: hurricane-proof greenhouses FUTURE GROWING
TOMATO POTATO PSYLLID
2017 Protected Cropping Australia Conference
Guide for growers
NEXT GENERATION HYDROPONICS
BERRY SHAKE-UP
New fibre track method for planting
New joint venture in berry category
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From The Editor
Blowin’ in the wind
Managing Editor Christine Brown-Paul c.brown.paul@gmail.com
Contributing Authors Rick Donnan Dr Mike Nichols
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t the time of writing, in the US, Hurricane Harvey – deemed category 4 – continues to cut a swathe of destruction, leaving in its path countless numbers of damaged lives, homes and businesses as the death toll in its wake continues to climb. Record amounts of rain have fallen in Texas as a state of emergency has been declared with more than 30,000 people left homeless. So far, 15 trillion gallons of water have fallen on Houston – more than twice as much as fell on New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. The devastation of the Gulf Coast environment and agriculture is incalculable, threatening Texas’ economy and will likely have huge impacts on farmers in the area and around the US. Heavy rains and winds of up to 215kph have effectively wiped out many farms, smashing greenhouses and leaving a trail of untold damage. Our lead story, Against the wind is a timely reminder of the power of Mother Nature and her capability for destruction. In the face of such challenges, one US company has developed the first hurricane-resistant commercial-scale greenhouse structures. The system was engineered specifically to address the challenges in agricultural production in high-risk climate areas such as the Caribbean and Pacific Islands, which are threatened each year by hurricanes and typhoons (see our story Caribbean Fresh last issue PH&G Issue 182). Turning to other challenges of nature, we report on how the NSW Department of Primary Industries has released a pocket guide for growers as a response to the Tomato Potato Psyllid outbreak while our book review looks at the American Phytopathological Society’s latest publication, which outlines how growers can identify and manage raspberry and blackberry pests. Elsewhere in this issue, Dr Mike Nichols covers the recent Protected Cropping Australia conference while our story Next generation hydroponics profiles the Taiwan Hydroponics Development Company (THDC), which has a newly developed fibre track method (FTM) for planting that is a next generation flood and drain system. These and other stories await your reading pleasure. Enjoy this issue! Christine Brown-Paul
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 3
A Magazine for Commercial Growers
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TRADE DIRECTORY Ace Greenhouses ..................57 Argosee Greenhouses ............45 Apex Greenhouses .................23 Bluelab ...............................13 Ecogrow ..............................19 Exfoliators.......................... 59 Extrusion Technologies ..........39 GOTAFE ...............................17 GreenLife Structures ...............4 Graeme Smith ........................9 Earth Expo ...........................41 ICI Industries .......................15 Pestech...............................11 Powerplants ...................... IFC Transplant Systems...............49
PRACTICAL
HYDRO PONICS & GREENHOUSES ISSUE 183 :: SEPTEMBER 2017 :: THE COMMERCIAL GROWERS’ MAGAZINE
Features Against the wind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The first hurricane-resistant commercial-scale greenhouse technology to develop Caribbean and Pacific Island agriculture. Berry shake-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Joint venture company, BerryWorld Australia is sending its first Australiangrown specialty strawberries to market. Future growing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Dr Mike Nichols reports on the 2017 Protected Cropping Australia Conference.
Hurricane-proof greenhouses
Next generation hydroponics . . . . . . . 52 The Taiwan Hydroponics Development Company has a newly developed fibre track method (FTM) for planting.
Practical Book review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Review of the Compendium of Raspberry and Blackberry Diseases and Pests, Second Edition.
Protected Cropping Australia conference
Tomato Potato Psyllid: guide for growers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 In response to the Tomato Potato Psyllid, the DPI has released a pocket guide for growers. Lighting the mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Smart LED lighting solution accelerates harvest cycles. The final word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 The importance of biosecurity in preventing pests and diseases from entering Australia and New Zealand.
Specialty strawberry market
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Cover: Hydroponic greenhouses designed to withstand tropical island hurricanes.
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When fruit can kill Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 5
AUSTRALIA FORMS COLD CHAIN GROUP TO COMBAT FOOD WASTE A groundbreaking meeting in Queensland has sparked the formation of Australia’s first group targeted at the cold chain. The Australian Food Cold Chain Council (AFCCC) brings together leaders in manufacturing, food transport, refrigeration and cold chain services with a desire to improve compliance and standards in the handling of food at all levels of the cold chain. Food waste is a very big problem for Australia. Statistics say the
average Australian wastes up to 860kg of food per person annually, with food wastage accounting for five per cent or more of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. This new Council sees itself as an important part of the solution, encouraging innovation, compliance, waste reduction and safety across the Australian food cold chain. Interim chair Mark Mitchell, MD of SuperCool Australia Pacific Pty, a leading cold chain service provider, said: “The new Council is not about promoting an industry – we want to change the industry for the better. One of our priorities will be to apply
6 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
whatever pressure is needed in industry and in government to make sure the existing Australian standards for cold chain food handling are properly followed.” The new advocacy group’s first priorities will be contributing to both the development of the National Food Waste Strategy and becoming part of Australia’s Fight Food Waste and Fraud Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), which aims to tackle the growing international problem of food waste and fraud by developing the circular food economy in Australia. source: coolingpost.com
COSTA MORE THAN DOUBLES ITS BLUEBERRY PRODUCTION Costa Group Holdings Limited, Australia’s leading grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables has announced its financial results for the full-year ended 25th June 2017 (FY2017). Highlights include: • Revenue increased 10.7% on FY 2016 to $909.1 million. • EBITDA before SGARA and material items up 29.4% to
$115.2 million. • Net profit after tax before SGARA and material items increased 37.3% to $60.7 million. • Outlook: Approximately 10% NPAT pre SGARA and material items growth in FY 2018. The main driver of the impressive result was the strong performance of its Produce segment. Segment revenue came in 9.4% higher at $786.2 million thanks to strong demand for its core produce. A highlight was its Berry category which saw a 55% increase in
blueberry production in FY 2017. Although blueberry pricing was down slightly year-on-year, this was more than offset by the significant increase in volume. Complementing this was mushroom and citrus production and demand, which remained strong during the year. The only real disappointment was raspberry production, which was impacted by cooler weather in Tasmania. This delayed the crop and reduced its overall yield and quality. source: fool.com.au
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 7
ONLY 13% OF KIDS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA EAT ENOUGH VEGETABLES Regional and remote children in Australia face unique challenges when it comes to eating the recommended amount of vegetables, new research has found. An Edith Cowan University (ECU)led study has found that children in regional and remote Western Australia need a major boost of vegetables in their diets. The study, involving children aged 9-13 years and their caregivers from across the state, shows that only a paltry 13.4 per cent of kids get sufficient vegetables in their daily diets. “Over half of the respondents indicated they would eat healthier food if their food outlets stocked healthier options,” Nutrition lecturer and lead author Dr Stephanie Godrich from ECU’s School of Medical and Health Sciences said. “And one-third pointed to food quality as being ‘sub-optimal’. This includes vegetables not being fresh in their local shops or spoiling soon
after getting home.” Price was also an issue, with 79.1 per cent believing food was more expensive for them than in other communities. Choice was a factor – people who agreed they had enough food outlets in their town were ten-times more likely to eat enough vegetables than those who felt strapped for options. One recommendation included the implementation of a promotional campaign focusing on vegetable consumption. Future messaging might remind families they have options beyond the fresh produce section. “Frozen and no added salt tinned offerings provide more opportunities for children to consume adequate quantities of vegetables, at a more affordable cost and with fewer quality issues than fresh vegetables” Dr Godrich says. “These are convenient, and they are usually more readily available when their fresh counterparts are out of season. source: au.educationhq.com
SCIENTISTS HOPE TO CREATE ANTI-AGEING PILL FROM BROCCOLI Broccoli could be the key to staying young and healthy for longer say some scientists. This is because of their high content of chemicals called indoles, which have been shown to keep mice and other animals fitter as they grow older. The discovery could lead to an anti-ageing pill that helps people enjoy their twilight years in good health instead of becoming frail and infirm. Professor Daniel Kalman, of Emory University in Atlanta, said: “This is a direct avenue to a drug that could make people live better for a lot longer.” The study found indoles - found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale - enabled worms, flies and mice to maintain mobility and resilience for more of their lifespans. The focus of their research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is on living healthier lives - but not necessarily longer. The good news doesn’t stop there however. Just last year another compound in broccoli called NMN nicotinamide mononucleotide - was found to slow ageing in mice. Since the discovery, clinical trials have begun in humans. source: express.co.uk
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FASTER PROCESSING AND IMPROVED MANAGEMENT REPORTING FOR PRODUCE GROWERS US company, Dynamic Systems Inc, a leader in Real-time Traceability Systems announces an end-to-end traceability system for aquaponic, aeroponic and hydroponic growers using the SIMBA line of Barcode Tracking and Labeling Solutions. SIMBA gives the processor the ability to record, label and track their products faster and more accurately while including numerous data points. “SIMBA uses an automated process to track the produce through each growth stage. The SIMBA system runs on tablets or touch screen computers in the growing area, and collects multiple points of
data including such details as produce type, nutrients added, start and end time at each stage, harvest date and time, and so on. The software is able to collect lot or batch numbers and maintain full traceability from seed through growing and packaging,” said VP Business Strategies Manager Rob Freeman. “SIMBA prints product labels at any pack line with all pertinent information (including a GS-1 code). The system can store unlimited label formats and switches from one to another with the press of a button. This feature makes it easy to provide each end customer their own unique label format. SIMBA is able to interface to scales and automatic label applicators for a fully automated process.
The label information is stored in the SIMBA Office inventory, which provides data for inventory management, traceability and shipping. The cartons may be accumulated onto a pallet and tracked with a single pallet identifier,” he said. “At the time of shipping, the Van Loading feature of SIMBA tracks each carton or pallet onto a specific van. A Bill of Lading is then produced automatically. This feature not only saves time in the shipping process, it eliminates disputes with the customer regarding what was actually shipped. “Key results from implementing the SIMBA Traceability & Labeling Software include real-time production reporting, fulfillment of traceability requirements, more accurate inventory, professional looking carton and pallet labels, and verified shipping,” Mr Freeman said. For more information contact: Rob Freeman VP Business Strategies Dynamic Systems, Inc E: robf@dynamic-systemsinc.com www.dynamic-systemsinc.com
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 9
A HOUSEHOLD GUIDE TO SOLAR BATTERIES IN NSW
HOW TO GUARANTEE OPTIMAL POLLINATION DURING FLOWERING SEASON While many know how to ensure optimal pollination of their crops, how do others growers approach it around the world? Do they use honeybees, bumblebees or a combination of both? Perhaps they wait to see the weather conditions in the flowering season before making choices, or do they rely on natural pollinators? In a poll by Biobest of 478 participants, most growers said they simply let nature do its work while 42 per cent said they rely on natural pollinators active in their gardens and fields. “Bumblebees turn out to be extremely important players in the pollination process in open field crops with some 37 per cent of growers employing them. Half of these use bumblebees exclusively, while the other half combine bumblebees with honeybees. Our poll found that over 10 per cent of growers use only honeybees,” said a Biobest spokesperson. “Almost 10 per cent make this decision based on the weather conditions during the flowering
season. Given the benefits of bumblebees in colder and more humid conditions, we assume many of these growers consider introducing bumblebees depending on the weather. Growers on all continents appear to be almost unanimous in using natural pollinators as the most popular pollination strategy. “In Europe, bumblebees only succeeded in coming in second place, while in America the confidence in a combination of bumblebees and honeybees is greater. According to our poll, in the US it is 57 per cent and in Canada 36 per cent, while in Europe it is 43 per cent in Belgium, 31 per cent in The Netherlands and 41 per cent in France,” he said. “Pollination will always be a vital aspect of crop cultivation, even though the approach differs from grower to grower. At Biobest, we aim to provide growers with as much support as possible in the pollination of their crops. If you would like to know more about crop pollination, or require further advice, contact your Biobest advisor.” More information at: www.biobestgroup.com
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The NSW Home Solar Battery Guide was published in July 2017 to help households make informed decisions when considering buying and owning a battery system. The guide is available in web format and as a PDF for download. The web format can be accessed using the following links for each chapter: • Introduction - foreword from Minister for Energy and Utilities and the Arts, the Honourable Don Harwin MP; who this guide was written for; contributors; copyright notice and disclaimer. • Your home solar battery guide energy system insights; key messages in the guide; common motivations for buying batteries; how to use this guide. • Understanding your energy use how to access energy information; making sense of energy tariffs; easy alternatives to batteries; making more use of existing solar. • Your home power station - how a home power station works; battery basics; battery chemistries;
environmental benefits and impacts of home solar batteries. • Designing a home power station three main options for adding battery storage; battery sizing; backup power; future proofing. • Will a battery save me money? calculating the ‘payback period’ for a battery; typical payback periods in 2017; the bottom line on investing in a battery. • Buying a solar battery - what to expect from a quote; choosing an installer; assess your purchasing options; grid connection. • Owning a battery - manage and operate your battery; monitoring and maintenance; safety; consumer rights and protections. • Additional information - frequently asked questions; glossary of battery-related terms; links to more information; assumptions for our calculations. Download the complete NSW Home solar battery guide at: http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov. au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/728816/N SW-Home-Solar-Battery-Guide_WEB.pdf Five fact sheets are also available, giving a quick overview of key topics from the NSW Home Solar Battery Guide.
GROW PERFECT TOMATOES THIS SPRING Spring is here, bringing warmer weather and thoughts of the great outdoors. With that, you may be thinking of getting back into the garden and growing your own tomatoes this year. HomeLeisure is the home gardener’s friend, with a range of pots and plant supports now in-
store to make tomato growing easy and enjoyable with great results. One product is the WaterSaver 750mm Tomato and Veggie Planter System. Designed for growing tomatoes and other climbing pants, it features a large pot with integrated self-watering reservoir, and two 1.2m vertical growing trellises for study plant support. Together these features help
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 11
encourage plant growth and prevent common diseases. “With a sleek and contemporary design, the Tomato and Veggie Planter will look impressive on any sunny balcony or garden spot, and after tomato season is over can be reused to grow a variety of other plants including sweet peas, vine fruits and various flowering plants such as clematis. Tomatoes are ready to grow once the risk of winter frost has passed,” said a company spokesperson. “Ensure they have plenty of sunlight and keep them watered. For more information about this and the other range of pots and trellis kits HomeLeisure have available this year, visit www.homeleisure.com.au These products are available nationally in Bunnings Warehouse stores. HomeLeisure is owned and distributed by Master Distributors.
stay - setting up a culture system consisting of 3D-printed cultivation boxes filled with vermiculite. Unlike “earth-bound” growing techniques, the astronauts watered the vermiculite first, before inserting the seeds - they then covered the surface with plastic wrap. Artificial lighting was provided for 14 hours a day to allow photosynthesis and air was injected into the roots of the plants. The WET Sensor played a key role in the Space Lab experiment, providing frequent accurate data on substrate moisture, temperature and pore water conductivity (EC). This information allowed the astronauts to precisely assess growing conditions (including nutrient values) on a regular basis. The experiment was a success astronaut Jing Haipeng stating that,
More information at: www.homeleisure.com.au
CHINESE ASTRONAUTS USE THE WET SENSOR TO HELP GROW LETTUCE IN SPACE Delta-T Devices has revealed that their multi-parameter WET Sensor has been used by Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong2 Space Lab. Tiangong-2, whose name means “Heavenly Palace”, was launched on 15th Sept 2016, and is designed to allow Chinese scientists to test the life support technologies needed to create a permanently staffed Space Station by 2022. Two Chinese astronauts (Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong) spent 30 days aboard the Space Lab carrying out numerous experiments, one of which was to cultivate lettuce plants within the weightless atmosphere. The astronauts initiated the plant growing project on day two of their 12 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
“On entering the Space Lab on the fifth morning, we found the seeds had germinated. We were happy, so we took a lot of photos and informed ground staff”. Dr John Newstead of Delta-T Devices said: “The WET Sensor is used by thousands of growers around the world to help maintain optimal growing conditions. We were naturally thrilled to discover that China’s space team had the confidence to use our instrumentation in such an important and exciting study.” For more information contact: Dominic Cahalin Marketing Communications Manager +44 (0) 1638 742922 +44 (0) 1638 745081 dominic.cahalin@delta-t.co.uk www.delta-t.co.uk
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 13
HELIOSPECTRA AB LAUNCHES CORTEX Heliospectra AB, a world leader in intelligent lighting technology for greenhouse and controlled plant growth environments, introduces CORTEX – claimed as the market’s leading light control software. “The new Heliospectra solution enables growers to significantly increase consistency and control of crop quality, harvest cycles and yields,” said a company spokesperson. Integrating with Heliospectra’s intelligent LED lights and an array of plant sensors, the new platform ensures that greenhouse and indoor crops receive perfect light 365 days a year. CORTEX offers advanced controls and dynamic adjustments of supplemental light intensities, quality and schedules with real-time response to changes in local weather and other lightlimiting factors. “The new solution was showcased at Cultivate 2017 in Columbus, Ohio during July this year with live demonstrations of how growers can standardise production and boost year-round yields using automated light schedules, sensor feedback and centralised controls,” he said. “We understand that close
collaboration with our customers is vital and that every grower wants to improve business performance,” said Ali Ahmadian, CEO of Heliospectra AB. “The guiding principle in developing CORTEX is providing a customisable control system and metrics that improve profitability and operations for growers. “After years of working with our customers in the field, it’s clear that existing platforms do not provide growers with the controls required. The addition of CORTEX to Heliospectra’s product portfolio introduces an intuitive and unrivalled light control system that enables businesses to standardize production, reliably forecast yields and achieve negotiation advantages in the marketplace,” Mr Ahmadian said. “CORTEX also brings a higher level of integration and light management capabilities to existing control software systems, enabling our customers to make the most of their other investments in greenhouse technologies.” Heliospectra’s CORTEX introduces new features to the company’s current software and product portfolio to elevate the level of automation and control capabilities for growers. Centralised control
14 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
components include: Automated light response gives growers the ability to replicate preset light strategies across the plant growth cycle and ensures consistent light quality year-round. Energy and power consumption monitoring increases visibility so growers can adapt and optimize light use and schedules based on peak hours, rising energy costs and potential dollar savings. Repository of data logs, historical lighting strategies and instance isolations equips growers to make data-driven decisions for predictable, reliable and repeatable business forecasting and harvest results. Multiple light zones and groupings standardise schedules and settings to allow growers to use their time and staff hours more efficiently. Real-time management and remote notifications from any device—anytime, anywhere—enable growers to monitor hardware status across their facilities and quickly control light settings, intensities and spectrum strategies. Heliospectra remains focused on the company’s active biofeedback program patents as the CORTEX platform accelerates intelligent lighting software, dynamic response and automated
controls that enable growers and business operations to achieve consistent crop quality and sustainable success. More information at: www.heliospectra.com or call +46 31 40 67 10 (+1 888 942 GROW for Americas). Read more at www.heliospectra.com/blog Follow @Heliospectra on Twitter Like Heliospectra on Facebook at facebook.com/heliospectra
TASMANIAN GROWERS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BLUEBERRY RUST MANAGEMENT PLAN Tasmania’s peak farming body says it is “extremely disappointed” in the State Government’s plans to manage blueberry rust. The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association says the decision to manage the disease through regulated containment methods, rather than eradicate it, is
a major blow, particularly for organic producers. The comments follow calls by the TFGA, blueberry growers and industry stakeholders for the Government to ensure the disease would be eradicated from the state. TFGA chief executive officer Peter Skillern said it was now clear the advice surrounding blueberry rust in 2016 was not appropriate as it has continued to cause issues for the industry. “Having taken this decision, the Government will now have to accept responsibility for future outbreaks of
blueberry rust and any decline of the industry in Tasmania, most notably the lucrative organic sector, which represents over 25 per cent,’’ Mr Skillern said. Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the strategy was based on science and managing industry impact. Mr Rockliff said their evidence and advice was that in the current circumstances the disease cannot be permanently eradicated and a regulated containment approach was the best strategy. source: weeklytimesnow.com.au
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 15
PHILIPS LIGHTING SIGNS NEW HORTICULTURAL LED LIGHTING PROJECT WITH LONGTIME PARTNER WIM PETERS Philips Lighting, a global leader in lighting, has announced it has been awarded a new project with longtime partner Wim Peters, one of the largest high wire tomato growers in The Netherlands. Philips Lighting will again provide Peters with LED lighting for two greenhouses that he’s rebuilding after they were destroyed during a hailstorm in June 2016. The company will also provide LEDs for one new greenhouse that Peters is building to expand his business and meet the growing demand for LED grown tomatoes by his customers. The LED lighting will have higher light levels than the twenty kilometers of LED grow lights that Philips Lighting installed in the two greenhouses in 2013. Over the last 10 years, light levels in tomato cultivation (actually all
vegetables) have continued to rise. In his previous installation, Peters had a light level of 55 µmol/m²/s LED interlighting. With the new project, he chose for 75 µmol/m²/s LED interlighting, a significant increase in light level. “A higher light level gives me more uniform production in winter and better quality and taste,” Peters said. “It also gives me a better balance between vegetative and generative phases, so leaf versus production.” “This is in line with the trend we are seeing from other tomato growers who want to go to higher light levels,” said Udo van Slooten, Managing Director of Philips Horticulture LED Solutions. “To meet this demand, we launched the new Philips GreenPower LED interlighting module earlier this year with a system efficacy of up to 3.0 µmol/J. The modules are easier to install and maintain, bringing the total cost of project installation down significantly.” Several other Belgian, Russian
16 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
and French tomato growers have recently moved to higher light levels as well. In total, Philips Lighting will install over 26,000 GreenPower LED interlighting modules in the two rebuilt greenhouses and the greenhouse that is scheduled to be built in October 2017. The new hybrid lighting installation combines HPS toplighting with Philips GreenPower LED interlighting High Output, spanning a total area of 10.6 hectare. The entire lighting installation will be installed by Philips Lighting’s Horti LED partner Codema B-E de Lier, who has been working with Horti LED partner Agrolux to come up with the best hybrid lighting system for the customer. For more information contact: Daniela Damoiseaux, Global Marcom Manager Philips Horticulture LED Solutions, Nederland email: daniela.damoiseaux@philips.com www.philips.com/horti
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18 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
OVERSUPPLY OF STRAWBERRIES IMPACTING AU GROWERS Queensland strawberries are in over-supply and practically being given away. While the spring favourite fruit is flying off grocery shelves for $1.50 a punnet, the cheap prices and high quality come at a price for the industry. Unpredictably warm winter temperatures are ripening strawberries early and a surplus of plants in the ground across the state means there are more strawberries than the consumer can eat. Queensland Strawberry Growers Association vice-president Adrian Schultz said if there wasn’t an early spring cold snap, prices would stay low and the current over-supply would continue. He said the peak strawberry period was traditionally in September but it
had come early this year and was likely to hold until the local weather changed. “It’s a combination of a number of things, the warm weather brings the berries on faster but it also creates smaller fruit which is harder to sell. A high percentage of the crop we can’t sell because the consumer wants the big fat strawberry,” he said. “It means we are throwing away a large percentage of the crop that has nothing wrong with it at all. The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association is working with farmers to develop a healthy Queensland strawberry export market, which would ease pressure on the domestic supply and return
prices to a profitable margin. b Read more at qt.com.au
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 19
AUSTRALIA’S FIRST COMMERCIAL MEDICINAL CANNABIS HARVEST COMPLETED Melbourne-based Cann Group has
completed harvest of its first
cultivation cycle of medicinal
cannabis at its southern facility
in Victoria.
The production process, which includes the curing and drying of harvested material, has been completed, and approval was received from the Office of Drug Control (ODC) late on Friday 25 August to send samples for full analysis. The plant material was harvested in the first half of August under Cann Group’s cannabis research permits as well as its medicinal cannabis permit. These permits, received in May 2017, allow for the establishment of breeding plants for propagation purposes; a research program being undertaken with CSIRO to develop unique cannabis extracts; and the supply of plant material for manufacturing into medicinal cannabis products for patient use.
20 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
Cann Group is producing medicinal cannabis for subsequent manufacturing into a final product that can be accessed by patients via clinical trials, or through the TGA’s Authorised Prescriber or Special Access Scheme. “We are pleased to have successfully completed this first harvest and production process,” said Cann Group CEO Peter Crock.
“While this first harvest is relatively small, it has been important to validate our processes as we build up our capacity, and being the first commercial product to be harvested in Australia, this is a key milestone for both Cann Group and the developing medicinal cannabis industry in Australia.”
Propagation continues for the next crop of
M: +61 (0) 451 896 420
plants to go into production at the
E: matt@nwrcommunications.com.au
Southern facility.
W: www.nwrcommunications.com.au
For further information contact: Matthew Wright, Investor Relations Cann Group
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 21
BEST NEW PRODUCT 2017: APEX GREENHOUSES RETRAC™ RETRACTABLE ROOF SYSTEM At the recent Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) conference in Adelaide Apex Greenhouses launched its RETRAC™ retractable roof and was awarded “Best New Product” for 2017. “This product was developed after frustrating experiences with other products on the market,” said director Eddie Braaksma. “The RETRAC™ system gets rid of wires, cables and other unnecessary parts that are common in other retractable systems. Cables and wires used on other systems mean long installation hours and high maintenance, as well as losing space around the structure.
Our system is clean and clear meaning low maintenance as well as being fast and safe to construct”. Grower Stephen Hill from Tasmania had the RETRAC system built on his property eight months ago. “I couldn’t think of anything better on the market. The RETRAC system provides the best of both worlds, being able to cover up when it’s raining and opening up to full light,” Mr Hill said. The directors of Apex believe their system has a lot of applications in protected cropping both domestically and worldwide. “More and more we see supermarkets demanding produce year round. We see in Australia with extreme weather events, more
22 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
growers are looking to move under cover to protect their investment. A glasshouse is not always the right choice for climates with high humidity and temperature or the ROI might not be there depending on the value of the crop. This product can fill a big gap in that market,” said Folco Faber from Apex’s management team. Director James Harris added: “A lot of time and investment has gone into the development of the RETRAC™. Were leveraging off our long history in the greenhouse industry and we are confident that this is going to bring some much needed competition to this sector.” More information at: www.retracgreenhouse.com.au or email sales@retracgreenhouse.com.au
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 23
Thanks for your letters
I have a few suggestions to help us better identify your problems, and hence give the most appropriate answers: • Some of your letters are very long. This is not a problem, but they will have to be edited down before publishing. • Please keep your actual questions short, and limit yourself to one, or at most two, questions. • Please comment as to whether you are a hobbyist or a commercial grower, and what crop you are growing. • Please describe at least the basics of your system, especially whether you recirculate or not. This is vital information, but often overlooked. Other useful information, if known, would be: media type, container size and depth, channel size, length and slope, solution volume per plant. • For irrigation and nutrient questions, please describe your typical irrigation pattern over a day, plus how and when your solutions are made up. If you have had any analysis done, such as your raw water, please attach a copy. • Include any extra information you wish. Rick Donnan
Address your inquiry to: PH&G PO Box 225, Narrabeen, NSW 2101 AUSTRALIA Int: +612 9905 9030 Email: info@hydroponics.com.au
Question: Higher eCs within the medium than in the runoff. “False drain”. i have been growing tomatoes in rockwool slabs for over three years. Recently, my plants have been looking stressed and i have had some blossom end rot. Friends have suggested that it might be high eC in the slabs, but my run-off eC (electrical conductivity) is usually below 3 (ms/cm). At their suggestion i recently bought a Wet (Water, eC, temperature) meter to measure properties within the slab. i now find that i am sometimes getting much higher eC readings within the slab than in the drain. is this normal, and what should i do?
the medium. Although it is possible in rockwool (only) to syringe a solution form the medium, collecting a representative sample is too difficult because every point sampled probably has a different EC due to the distribution pattern. Consequently, the solution used for measuring rootzone solution EC (and also pH and nutrient balance) is the run-off solution, collected over the 24-hour period. This avoids sampling errors and gives consistency regardless of the medium used. In broad outline the EC pattern has the following major influences: In the direct route from dripper to drain the EC tends to be closer to the drip EC, but in more remote zones, solution movement is lower and consequently, the EC there tends to be higher. In all cases the pattern is erratic and cannot be accurately predicted.
AnsWeR: Distribution within a medium
irrigation pattern
In the extreme, some growers think that what they feed down the dripper line is what is in the medium in the bag and uniformly distributed. This is totally wrong. In your case, you have been measuring the properties of the run-off solution (also called the “drain”) so that you already knew that there is a difference, usually a significant rise, in EC between the drip and the drain solutions. What you have now discovered through using the WET sensor is that there is also a distribution pattern of EC within
Once irrigation ceases for the day, usually an hour or two before sunset, there will be a continuing uptake of water and nutrients overnight. At this point the medium is at saturation, but from then the water content of the medium will steadily reduce overnight as the plant continues to take up nutrients and also water, although at a lesser rate because of lower transpiration. Consequently, the water content in the medium will drop overnight. Depending upon how low the grower allows the water
24 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
content to drop, irrigation is usually started about one to two hours after sunrise. If conditions are very overcast, it may need to be delayed until the pants are working. There are different ways of triggering an irrigation cycle. Sometimes used is a simple timer, but this gives poor control because of not allowing for differing plant uptake. Better methods are using a solar integrator to trigger an irrigation cycle (counts a set number of Joules of light, then resets) or using the water content measured either by a WET sensor or weigh scales. Normally, a set amount of irrigation is given each cycle, what the Dutch call a “gift”. The best approach to effective control of irrigation is to give “little and often”. Between the frequency of irrigation and the gift, the overall rate of water addition needs to be slightly more than the plant is taking up. This leads to the water content eventually getting back to saturation, which usually happens about late morning. Subsequent irrigations replace what the plant has taken and the surplus beyond saturation runs off as drain. Then irrigation is stopped and the daily cycle starts over again.
solution movement within the medium In general active roots are reasonably well spread throughout the medium (sometimes zones at the top of the medium have fewer active roots). Between irrigations roots take up water (and nutrients) from throughout the medium. In general the plants take up more water relative to nutrient through the day due to radiation driven transpiration. Removal of water brings more air into the medium. Through the influence of gravity, the solution in the upper layers moves lower down leaving more air spaces higher up.
When the next irrigation happens, the solution spreads into a limited volume under the dripper, fills part of the air spaces and displaces some older solution towards the drain. In an ideal situation the hydraulic pressure from dripper gift is enough to overcome the hydraulic resistance within the medium and displace some old solution into the drain. This will have a relatively high EC, that is, higher than most other readings within the slab.
“False drain” What can go wrong is if much more solution feed is dripped onto the slab than can all overcome the hydraulic resistance through the slab. In this case the surplus new feed finds paths of least resistance and ends up at the drain, what I term a “short circuit”. In the simplest case it flows across the top of the slab and down to the drain. This is sometimes called “false drain’ and the symptom is relatively low EC in the drain but high EC within the medium, adversely impacting on the plants, such as inhibiting water uptake. The cause is usually that the quantity of gift is too high. One or both of the following can cause this: Too long between irrigation cycles so the gift has to be large, and/or too high a flow rate from the dripper. The recommended dripper rate for media based hydroponic systems is 2 litres/hour. Some systems use 4 litres/hour drippers, but this can be too high. If you have these conditions, to break out of this cycle you need to delete one irrigation to regain control and then substantially reduce the quantity of your dripper gift. If possible, this should be done on a permanent basis by increasing the irrigation frequency. b RD
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 25
North Shoal Bay
ANGUILLA Long Bay Road Bay Mead’s Bay Long Bay West End CuisinArt
Shoal Bay
Crocus Bay The Valley
North Hill Sandy Ground Blowing Point
Clayton J.Lloyd International Sandy Hill Bay Airport
Forest Bay Rendezvous Little Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal
Map of Anguilla in the middle of the Caribbean
Island Harbour
Windward Point Bay Savannah Bay
AGAINST THE WIND A us-BAseD CoMPAny is enGineeRinG tHe FiRst HuRRiCAne-ResistAnt CoMMeRCiAl-sCAle GReenHouse teCHnoloGy to DeVeloP CARiBBeAn AnD PACiFiC islAnD AGRiCultuRe.
Caribbean hurricane tracks.
The Caribbean, although paradise most of the year round, suffers tremendous hurricanes during the rainy season.
The Alquimi Renewables system will withstand up to Category 4 hurricane strength (Saffir-Simpson scale) with sustained winds up to 156mph.
Caribbean Farm Market. The region currently imports over 80 per cent of its annual fresh produce needs to meet the demands of its retailers and growing tourism industry.
28 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
Based in Connecticut USA, Alquimi Renewables, LLC (“Alquimi”) and its EPC division, Clarusys announced recently that it has filed for US and International patents on the first hurricane-resistant commercial-scale greenhouse structures. the system was engineered specifically to address the challenges in agricultural production in high-risk climate areas such as the Caribbean and Pacific islands, which are threatened each year by hurricanes and typhoons. (see our story Caribbean Fresh last issue PH&G Iss 182). the system will withstand up to Category 4 hurricane strength (saffir-simpson scale) with sustained winds up to 156mph. the greenhouse structure utilises galvanised steel frames, double-walled polycarbonate panels, and the patented ground screw anchoring system. Additionally, a wind deflection system and hurricane resistant racking and tracking systems for the solar panels are integrated into the overall design. “For the first time in history, new technologies in greenhouse structural engineering, combined with our off-grid energy systems (solar and/or Wte cogeneration), environmental controls, and the latest in hydroponic growing systems will allow us to develop commercial scale fresh food production in regions that have been limited to relatively small scale outdoor farming that cannot produce enough food to meet its own needs,” said Ralph Birkhoff, one of Alquimi’s principal partners. the Caribbean region as an example, currently imports over 80 per cent of its annual fresh produce needs to meet the demands of its retailers and growing tourism industry. Consequently these food products are expensive, lacking in quality and nutritional content, and the supply chain can be inconsistent. “Regional grocery chains are constantly faced with challenges in maintaining a fresh produce supply chain and keeping these products on their shelves,” Mr Birkhoff said. “Fresh berry fruits, various lettuces, peppers, and tomatoes, are in high demand and can be available one day and gone the next.”
the Alquimi greenhouse production model for small island states is the first comprehensive growing solution that will generate local production of currently imported produce on a scale that will make a difference to the local economies. each 20-acre operation includes a 620,000 square foot greenhouse structure, a 50,000 sf production and packaging facility, and a custom designed off grid energy generation system producing approximately 1.6MW for operational power. “Depending on crop mix allocations from our customers the system will produce about 3500 tons of fresh produce annually, but from current demand we already know we are going to have to increase this scale – even for smaller islands,” Mr Birkhoff said. Alquimi has pre-commitments signed for over 70 per cent of the planned greenhouse production from regional grocery chains, resort companies, and agri-processing companies across the Caribbean and Pacific islands who are eager to access a local production of fresh produce and fruit. Alquimi has also signed a partnership agreement with netherlands-based Farmedtoday™, which will provide the first online marketplace in the Caribbean for fresh produce. supply will come from the Alquimi operations, plus locally produced crops, meats, and packaged food items. “this will provide local producers access to our supply chain and promote trade opportunities between the Caribbean and the european market,” Mr Birkhoff said. Alquimi is working with regional agriculture and energy developers across the Caribbean region, including usAiD, CARDi, and the oeCs Agricultural unit, as well as national agricultural ministries, to integrate its commercial growing platform with local production, and to promote access to greenhouse technologies to local commercial farmers. “Critical to our success is to recognise that there is already a solid focus on agricultural development in each island across the Caribbean region. We want to be a part
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 29
Caribbean hydroponic farm supplied by Alquimi’s hydroponic partner AMHydro.
30 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
of that development by partnering with private and public sector stakeholders, providing them with technology access and financing solutions,” Mr Birkhoff said. Alquimi intends to offer training in hydroponic growing to attract youth back to farming, in a region where the average farmer is around 55 years old. Alquimi is currently seeking established greenhouse growing companies from Canada, the us, and europe to partner with the consortium on these projects. “We have four projects approaching design/build stage, seven others in advanced pre-development, and about 14 others identified, so we need more experienced grower companies to join us and be a part of this tremendous business opportunity,” Mr Birkhoff said. “our projects are not yet developed to the stage in Caribbean region where we are operational, however, this should be achieved inn the foreseeable future. our plan is to develop over 20 commercial operations across the islands, each 15 acres in size, and each producing over 3500 tons of fresh produce and fruit annually. the two main differences are that a) we will be selling our production to a number of local grocery stores, resorts, agri-processing companies, and even an online marketplace, and b) we will not be desalinating water in most locations, but will be using a designed water catchment, storage, and filtration system,” he said. “Alquimi is also employing an alternative energy system to solar where conditions exist using a biomass/waste fed gasification system to fuel a CHP biodiesel cogeneration system which produces both energy and cooling for its greenhouse operations. in addition the company is exploring the production of Co2 from this system. “establishing a series of these scalable fresh produce ‘factories’ across the Caribbean region would begin to displace the level of fresh produce food imports significantly. Hundreds of high skilled jobs would be created, and it might even lure young people back to the farming industry who want to learn about solar energy, hydroponic growing systems, and operating a commercial scale business,” Mr Birkhoff said. b
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 31
All hydroponically grown produce will be nurtured in hurricane-proof greenhouses.
32 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
ABout AlQuiMi ReneWABles, llC
Ralph Birkhoff, one of Alquimi’s principal partners.
Alquimi Renewables, llC, (“Alquimi” or the “Company”) is a specialised project development and ePC firm that identifies potential investment opportunities and secures project financing for high quality, institutional grade, energy and other infrastructure projects, targeting the Caribbean, latin American, and Pacific markets. the Company focuses on off-grid hydroponic greenhouse development, and centralised and decentralised renewable energy applications (solar, wind, Wte/WtP, and geothermal), including dedicated off grid applications. it actively develops its proprietary technology solutions in greenhouse food production, particularly for small island developing states (siDs), and the integrated technologies for energy and water production. Alquimi looks to bring high quality projects and companies to select institutional investment firms, platforms, funds, and agencies. the focus is on opportunities with a high degree of repeatability and scalability to facilitate follow-on opportunities. the team identifies, develops, structures, and packages projects, bringing shovel-ready projects and select postconstruction assets to strategic investors or other select energy or holding companies. For more information contact: Ralph D. Birkhoff, Director, Business Development Alquimi Renewables, LLC, Westport, Connecticut, USA 1.855.257.8464, Caribbean: 1.264.582-2442 Skype: ralph.birkhoff, www.alquimirenewables.com
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 33
For our children and our children’s children 34 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 35
BerryWorld Australia managing director, Gavin Scurr.
36 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
BERRY SHAKE-UP Joint VentuRe CoMPAny, BeRRyWoRlD AustRAliA is CuRRently senDinG its FiRst AustRAliAn-GRoWn sPeCiAlty stRAWBeRRies to MARket.
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 37
A leading player in Australia’s strawberry industry, Pinata Farms, and global berry brand, BerryWorld Group, based in the united kingdom, have established joint venture company, BerryWorld Australia, which is currently sending its first Australian-grown specialty strawberries to market. BerryWorld Group works with a dedicated global grower base to commercialise proprietary berries from its breeding program. It has a presence in multiple retail sectors around the world. Pinata Farms has been selected to exclusively grow and market BerryWorld variety berries in Australia and New Zealand. BerryWorld Australia managing director, Gavin Scurr, said the joint venture company would produce selected BerryWorld-bred strawberries, raspberries and blackberries under the premium BerryWorld label. The first strawberries recently arrived in-store with raspberries following in February 2018 and blackberries in 2020. Mr Scurr said the joint venture realised a long-held ambition for Pinata Farms to enter the premium berry
The joint venture realised a long-held ambition for Pinata Farms to enter the premium berry category.
38 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
category. Almost all other strawberries grown in Australia are from varieties, which are widely available to producers.
sPeCiAlty stRAWBeRRies set tHe PACe FoR RAsPBeRRies, BlACkBeRRies “We had been actively seeking opportunities to produce exclusive strawberry varieties and diversify into raspberries in Australia for at least eight years when BerryWorld began looking for an established Australian producer partner to develop the brand here. Negotiations began in 2014 and BerryWorld Australia was officially established in 2016,” he said. “BerryWorld brings superior varieties and extensive sales and marketing experience, based on global berry research and knowledge to the mix. Pi ata Farms will identify the varieties, which warrant commercialisation here, then grow and market them to Australian consumers. “Both joint venture partners have been operating for some 25 years and have the same commitment to quality
and flavour. It’s a privilege to work with global leaders in the berry category and we’re extremely excited about the possibilities,” Mr Scurr said. BerryWorld Group chief executive officer, Adam Olins, said after acquiring a foothold in South Africa, BerryWorld saw an opportunity in Australia for better tasting berries and, in Gavin Scurr, a partner with a similar vision. “We took time investigating potential partners in the Australian market. Pinata Farms is a talented and experienced grower, it has a great reputation in the local market and, on a strategic level, a similar outlook to the BerryWorld business, making it a great choice,” Mr Olins said. “In Pinata Farms, we believe we have everything required for a successful business to flourish. This venture takes the BerryWorld Group into its third continent and expands our global reach beyond Europe and Africa,” he said.
Australia’s blackberry industry is small and underdeveloped, we’re excited to be part of the industry’s development here.”
oPPoRtunities FoR tHiRD-PARty GRoWeRs
strawberry operations include BerryWorld crop
Mr Scurr said while BerryWorld strawberries would launch with small volumes this winter, he expected to be producing fruit year ‘round by 2019. “As we prove the commercial aspects of the varieties, we will offer third party growers the opportunity to produce berries under contract to BerryWorld Australia. We’ll be looking to fill the October to November and April to May shoulders and will select specific geographic locations to suit winter and summer production. “This winter, we’ll grow strawberry varieties selected from BerryWorld’s exclusive access to the Edward Vinson breeding program in the United Kingdom and Spain, which have superior flavour and appearance attributes. Based on how they are performing in other parts of the world, we’re confident we can deliver brilliant tasting strawberries here too.” Mr Scurr said the Australian raspberry industry was largely untapped and presented a significant opportunity for BerryWorld Australia to improve consumers’ (often underwhelming) eating experience of Australian raspberries. “The latest BerryWorld-bred raspberries are making a huge impact around the world for flavour. We see this as an opportunity to give Australian consumers the great tasting and consistently good raspberries many parts of the world already enjoy. “While we weren’t looking to diversify into blackberries, they came with the joint venture bundle and, as
Owned and operated by Queensland’s Scurr family, Pinata Farms is Australia’s largest pineapple producer, a
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 39
leading strawberry producer and holds the breeding rights to produce specialty Honey Gold mangoes. It will continue to produce public variety strawberries under the Pinata brand at its Sunshine Coast and Granite Belt farms year ‘round. It has been growing strawberries since 2000. A significant portion of Pinata Farms’ 70-hectare strawberry operation has been reserved to grow BerryWorld strawberries. All BerryWorld Australia lines will be produced under polytunnels to mitigate weather impacts. “Heat is the enemy of berries. When the plants get too hot, they stress and don’t flower or set fruit. We’re growing European-bred berries under Australian conditions to taste as they do in Europe, so we’ve gone into protected cropping and substrate production, to embrace the future and give our new lines optimal growing conditions,” he said. Mr Scurr said while flavour was the key objective, BerryWorld Australia would look at strawberry plant performance and yield and measure aspects of varieties objectively to establish if they were appropriate to be profitable and then select varieties accordingly.
The joint venture company would produce selected BerryWorld-bred strawberries, raspberries and blackberries under the premium BerryWorld label.
40 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
BerryWorld Australia announces retail partner BerryWorld strawberries will be available at Woolworths. “Our retail partner has seen what we’ve done with Honey Gold mangoes since 2009 and is as excited as we are to offer consumers quality tasting berries,” Mr Scurr said. This winter, BerryWorld strawberries will be available at selected Queensland stores. However, as production increases, they will also be available in New South Wales and Victoria. They will be available in heat-sealed 350g punnets. According to Mr Scurr, BerryWorld strawberries would be available in the fridge section of Woolworths stores to set them apart as a premium brand. BerryWorld Australia is a joint venture between global berry breeder and marketing company, BerryWorld Group, and leading Australian fruit producer, Pinata Farms Pty Ltd. It was established in 2016 to grow and market proprietary BerryWorld varieties exclusively in Australia and New Zealand. b For more information contact: Gavin Scurr, Managing director BerryWorld Australia, T: (07) 5497 4295
Future growing Dr Mike nichols reports on the 2017 Protected Cropping Australia biennial conference. With its theme of “Future Growing�, the 14th Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) conference (the 10th of which I have attended) was by far the best. It was held at the Adelaide Convention Centre in South Australia from 9-12 July, and provided attendees with a mass of information, and also the very important opportunity of networking with other growers in the servicing industries as well as researchers.
42 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
Yara Fertisers.
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 43
PCA is tHe inDustRy BoDy, WHiCH seRViCes CoMMeRCiAl HyDRoPoniC AnD AQuAPoniC GReenHouse GRoWeRs in AustRAliA, AnD HolDs tHe ConFeRenCe eVeRy tWo yeARs At DiFFeRent Venues WitHin AustRAliA. Attracting 431 delegates the conference boasted main sponsors including Apex Greenhouses (which originated as Faber Greenhouses in New Zealand) and the Dutch company, Royal Brinkman. There were a total of 67 exhibitors, primarily from Australia, but also some from overseas, including New Zealand’s Hamilton-based electronic fruit grader, BBC Technologies, Palmerston North’s Redpath Greenhouses, and Haygrove Tunnels. Other exhibitors included a Chinese greenhouse manufacturer (Beijing Kingpeng), Yara Fertilisers, and a coir company from Sri Lanka (BrownGrow). Of course, many of the Australian exhibitors were linked directly to large international companies.
the conference (as is usual) was divided into a first day of plenary presentations and concurrent general sessions on the second morning. Following this, the conference broke up into five specialised sections for the rest of the second day, namely: • fruit and vegetable vine crops, • leafy greens, • floriculture, • aquaponics, • and berries. This restricted the opportunity of attending more than a small number of the final day’s presentations. The conference was formally opened by the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, senator Anne Ruston. The keynote speaker was Dr katherina Adamitza, from the LED light company Valoya in Finland. Her topic was “LED and light quality in plants”. There were three other papers on “Plant Factories and Artificial Lighting” (PFAL as it is now commonly called)), however, Dr Adamitza’s paper was by far the most authoritative. She described how light affects plants because the light energy is transferred by photons, which are then sensed by photoreceptors within the plant, such as phytochromes and cryptochromes, which trigger the start of important metabolic processes such as 44 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
photosynthesis etc. These photoreceptors are sensitive to specific wavelengths, for example, blue light stimulates stomatal opening, red light photosynthesis, and UV-A light enhances pigment accumulation. LEDs differ from HPS and Metal halide lighting and because they are monochromatic, offer the potential to target specific wavelengths. However, Dr Adamitza concluded that since nothing is as good as nature, it is important to imitate the light source of the sun with LED lighting as qualitatively as possible. This is a statement that I for one would strongly disagree with!!! My good self Dr Mike nichols gave the next paper (on medicinal cannabis), and this was followed by Graeme smith who spoke on vertical farming based on his attendance at conferences in Singapore and Panama –is the Sky Greens project in Singapore a plant factory with artificial lighting (PFAL)? Certainly, when I visited it some years ago, there were no artificial lights, and the growing medium was soil. Later the first morning James Altmans (Biological Services, South Australia) presented a paper in which he posed the question of how best to optimise IPM in the future. He raised the spectre of new pest incursions (such as the Tomato Potato Psyllid, the Tomato Red Spider Mite), and suggested not to use heavy chemical control unless it was being utilised due to export quarantine requirements (as in New Zealand). He also posed the possibility of using insect pathogens such as fungi/bacteria/virus to control insects (e.g. B thuringenis), and new release methods of bio-control agents using sachets etc. With the trend towards the protective cropping of berryfruit the value of cucumeris and persimilis is becoming very apparent. In the final paper before lunch kelly McJannett (Food Ladder) gave an inspiring account of how greenhouses could support impoverished communities. The food ladder is an Australianbased not-for-profit organisation working to address food security using climate-controlled greenhouses. It is apparently a model, which works in two very diverse environments, namely: impoverished slum areas in India, and remote Indigenous communities in Australia. In the afternoon session, Wim van esch (Achmea, Australia) explained the need to manage and mitigate the risk of product liability. Something that many people have never considered, but something that is becoming more and more relevant with improvements in product traceability.
This involves initially identifying the risks involved in your business, and establishing a risk management framework. ton Habraken (Ludvig Svensson) then presented a fascinating paper on the underestimated effects of outgoing long-wave radiation on your greenhouse crop. Essentially, this was a plea to use screens to control the outgoing long-wave radiation, in order to ensure that the plants grow effectively. He explained how on clear nights the top of the plant could be well below the desired optimum temperature, so that not only would transpiration slow down (or cease) and calcium not reach to cells at the tip of the plant, but also that guttation could occur, and with it a risk of fungal diseases. Marcel Bugter (Yara) enjoys a well-deserved international reputation for his knowledge of the efficient use of chelates in hydroponics. He explained very clearly the need to use chelates in hydroponics to ensure that the plant roots were able to absorb adequate iron. He suggested that the use of compound chelates incorporating manganese, zinc and copper in the iron chelate was far superior to using a simple iron chelate with copper, manganese and zinc sulphates, as the pH close to the plant roots can frequently get to pH 6 or even pH 7. Finally, the day concluded with Jefferey Pouw’s (Hermadex Agro) discussion, ”Ideal Lightshading/diffusion”. He explained how shading simply reduces the overall light intensity, whereas the use of diffusion coatings on the glass ensures that the light is spread more evenly throughout the greenhouse, and more importantly, that diffusion results in deeper penetration of light throughout the canopy. A conference dinner on the Monday involved an after-dinner speaker, Don Grant (Tasman Bay Herbs) who gave us a fascinating account of his life, which included being a postmaster (of a very small Southland post office), a tour bus driver, and finally, a herb grower. This was followed by the presentation of the PCA awards, with saskia Blanch, company secretary of the PCA being presented with a well-deserved award for her 25 years of service. Graeme smith, Rick Donnan and leigh taig achieved awards for their contribution to industry training, while len tesoriero was declared researcher of the year. Marcus Brandsema was presented with the Chairman’s Award, and steffan krauhaar the Young Achiever Award, while
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Beijing Kingpeng.
Redpath Greenhouses.
ian Mortlock won Grower of the Year. The best trade exhibit award went to Grow Systems Australia, and Apex Greenhouses was awarded the New Product Award for their innovative “retrack sliding roof system.” The second day provided me with a limited opportunity to attend the wide range of presentations, because of their concurrent nature. Apart from the two presentations I gave (which I had to attend!), on “Fruit growing in the future” (see next issue of PH&G) and a paper on “Aquaponics – Food for the future or flawed concept?” I was only able to attend a few of the other presentations. I was particularly impressed with John leslie (Vertical Farm Systems, Queensland), who gave a Churchill-like presentation of offering nothing but blood, toil, tears and sweat. In other words, vertical farming is not that simple. Sadly, I was less than impressed with young Han from Enza Zaden (in Korea) who provided a less than critical review of lettuce plant factories. A series of pictures from different places does not provide a useful paper unless there is a sound commentary. In the concurrent sessions on the Tuesday morning, sonny Moerenhout (Grodan) suggested that water was the challenge of the future and that stone wool and hydroponics was a possible solution. ian Gesche (Starfish Initiatives) considered the emerging opportunities and challenges for greenhouse carbon dioxide enrichment in relation to a changing landscape of increasing costs for natural gas, climate change, and the shift towards renewable energy sources. David Cavallaro (Stoller, Australia) described how nutrients influence the growth of plants through their effects on plant hormones, while ton Habraken (Ludvig Svensson) explained how climate screens can be used to optimise plant growth in hot climates. Following this, Rick Donnan presented his paper on fundamentals of hydroponic management. Graeme smith then gave a talk on Fundamental Principles Behind Greenhouse Management, clearly based on his training programs, and full of useful information. sohum Ghandi (Enriva) suggested that temperate climate heating systems – in which the CO2 produced by burning gas was used in the greenhouse during the day, and the hot water stored for night-time use – might not be appropriate for Australia and that liquid CO2 might be
a better solution. This was followed by John leslie’s excellent talk, which I have referred to earlier.
After morning tea it was time for the specialised interest groups. The Vine Vegetables group heard Dion Potter (Syngenta) describe different crop protection options. Farm Biosecurity was the subject of len tesoriero’s presentation, and he emphasised that plant biosecurity was essential in order to protect the investment. Marcus van Heijst (Priva) described the first of the robots for greenhouse work—a de-leafing machine. The future is already here! In support plant biosecurity, Jonathan lidbetter suggested that grafting of cucumbers should be evaluated on a case-bycase basis. Finally, ivan Casteels (Cutilene) emphasised the importance of fibre in stone wool. In the Leafy Greens section, len tesoriero spoke on Downy Mildew Down Under, and veteran Rick Donnan told us all about start-up solutions for hydroponics. Basic but essential knowledge. To conclude the afternoon, Harry turna (Rijk Zwaan, Australia) gave a general view on new hydroponic developments throughout the world, with an emphasis on urban farming and Graham Grant (Wardell Hydroponic Lettuce) then reflected on the use of IPM on leafy greens. He concluded that although IPM is far from perfect (and is certainly not the silver bullet), it has some welcome benefits, including a stronger social licence. In the Berries section my presentation on “Fruit Growing in the Future” was included, and was followed by sophie Parks’ presentation on “Consumer preferences for blueberries”, in which she found that flavour attributes were a major factor. Being healthy and good for consumers and tasting good were very important drivers, although expense was a major barrier to purchase. nicky Mann then gave a presentation on berry production in greenhouses, later to be followed by her husband (Wade Mann) speaking on IPM for greenhouse berry crops. Both Nicky and Wade delivered excellent presentations, and obviously, gained a great deal of valuable information from their (separate) Nuffield Scholarships. A further paper by sophie Parks opened up a potentially important research area, “The effect of thinning flowers to increase blueberry fruit size and flavour.”
Royal Brinkman.
Apex Greenhouses.
Haygrove Tunnels.
De Ruiter/Seminis.
Clause/Hazera.
Boiler house at P’Petual.
Vine grafting.
Vine grafting machine.
The results are still not clear, so the jury is still out on the commercial potential of fruit thinning. In the Flower section nicky Mann spoke on “Surviving and striving in the Australian flower industry”. She concludes that flowers are part of a global economy, and with threats will come opportunities. Mark Massey (Polito Farms) described the conversion of a family-run flower business near Sydney from the field to a hydroponic greenhouse operation. This type of change is very challenging to both workers and management, and were not fully appreciated at the time the changes were made. sonia Bitmead (Currey Flowers) then presented a paper, which should be relevant to everyone, that of succession planning. She emphasised that this involves the transfer of leadership, managerial control, and ownership of family farming assets from one generation to the next. How can this be achieved while also surviving as a family? Good question. Rick Donnan then presented a paper on behalf of Herman eijkelboom (The Netherlands) who was unable to attend, on the Influence of pH and EC on flowers. The section on Aquaponics began with Wilson lennard who addressed one of the major criticisms of aquaponics—that of “Creating appropriate hydroponic analogues in aquaponics”. Dr lennard stated that the food supplied to fish in an aquaponics system did not provide plants with adequate levels of potassium, calcium and phosphorous, and provides plants with excessive levels of nitrogen. He proposed that by using a refined mass balance methodology, 95 per cent of the plant’s nutrient requirments can be supplied through fish waste products. Jenny ekman (Horticulture Research Australia) then turned aquaponics on its head and asked “Can we turn vegetable waste into fish food”? She proposed that black soldier flies, yellow meal worm, super worm, and house flies might provide possible solution. One obvious comment is that fish are consumed not only for their protein, but also for the valuable 3 fatty acids, which are derived by fish from algae. Andrew Bodlovich (Urban Ecological Systems) then proposed that, “Lessons could be learnt from ancient Chinese integrated farming systems”, and concluded that we should remain open to modern technology, while at the same time not forgetting ancient agriculture, and the principles of
Boiler house at P’Petual.
holism. The aquaponics section concluded with my critical views on whether aquaponics was off for the future, or simply a flawed concept. On the Wednesday, two optional farm visits were available. The first (which I took) was to visit P’Petual Pty Ltd, and then the Yalumba Nursery, while the alternative visits were to the Waite Research Institute and the historic town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. It had been intended to visit other greenhouse tomato growers, however, the concern over the Tomato/Potato Psyllid in Western Australia resulted in these being quarantined . At P’Petual we observed two tomato crops, one just finishing, and the other just starting to flower. P’Petual recently engaged Apex Greenhouses to build 2ha of state-of-the-art greenhouses, with all the necessary bells and whistles to produce heavy, high quality crops. Finally, to round off the visits, at the Yalumba Nursery in the world-renowned Barossa Valley we were shown how rootstocks were selected, and trimmed, and then how grafting was undertaken using an automatic grafter to ensure a close fit of scion and rootstock. b
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 49
50 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
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symptom images. Specific pest coverage includes: • Bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases • Insect and mite pests • Abiotic disorders, such as herbicide injury and environmental stressors • Diseases caused by an alga • Diseases caused by a phytoplasma • The use and effects of cultural practices • The development of healthy planting materials in the nursery/greenhouse industry. Each section includes information on symptoms, causal organisms, distribution, diagnostic features or detection methods, and management strategies. The Compendium of Raspberry and Blackberry Diseases and Pests, Second Edition is ideal for commercial growing operations, nurseries, crop consultants, extension educators, diagnosticians, plant pathologists, entomologists, horticulturists, regulators, & gardeners. Visit www.shopapspress.org to learn more about the Compendium of Raspberry and Blackberry Diseases and Pests, Second Edition and other important crop health titles available from APS PRESS.
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 51
Lifting the fibre track from the trough is easy and shows stable root growth.
52 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
NEXT GENERATION HYDROPONICS
in taiwan, one company has developed a new take on the traditional Flood and Drain hydroponics system for urban farming with impressive first results.
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 53
Rob Virgin from Taiwan Hydroponics Development Co., Ltd. Inspecting the purslane crop for insects.
54 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
the Flood and Drain hydroponic method (also known as ebb and Flow hydroponics) is a popular method of growing plants hydroponically that is known for its reliability, simplicity of operation and low cost of investment. This method allows growers to easily alter their gardens, adding or removing plants without affecting any of the surrounding crops. Like other methods, the basic concept is very simple – plants are placed in a tray filled with a grow media such as gravel, clay pellets, lava rock etc. The tray is then periodically filled with nutrient-rich water pumped out of a reservoir below. The system uses gravity to return the water to the reservoir to be reused. However, in the Shihlin District of Taipei City, Taiwan, the Taiwan Hydroponic Development Co., Ltd (THDC) along with Taiwan-based Aquaponics Innomaker, has taken the traditional Flood and Drain method to a new level. THDC is pioneering innovative, cost-effective solutions for growing crops in confined spaces within an urban environment. “Taiwan Hydroponic Development Co., Ltd was established to provide hobby and commercial growers with simple and affordable solutions for growing vegetables and other crops in a limited area with minimal maintenance,” THDC Manager Robert Virgin said.
tHe FiBeR tRACk MetHoD PH&G first caught up with THDC in 2015 when we reported on the company’s proprietary vertical growing system that fits in many places where traditional systems would not be practical, and is easy to install (Growing up in Taiwan, PH&G Iss 162). Now, THDC has developed a new method that promises to revolutionise the old Flood and Drain hydroponics system. “We have developed a new type of flood and drain system and the results are very, very good. The Fiber Track Method (FTM) has very many advantages over clay ball medium; variable spacing, continuous harvest (baby leaf to full head), portability, better aeration,” said Robert, who, together with Frank Wei created the system. Both are Taiwan-based urban farmers with years of experience in agriculture and hydroponics
ReseARCH & DeVeloPMent “In Taiwan, high temperatures and humidity during summer bring unique problems for growing outdoors, adding to a farmer’s workload and increasing system design and crop choice restrictions. After several discussions and much experimentation, a cooperation between these two resulted in the development of innovative and simple solution: the Fiber Track Method (FTM) for planting flood and drain hydroponic and aquaponic systems.
so HoW Does tHe FiBeR tRACk PlAntinG MetHoD WoRk? According to Robert, the FTM is closely allied to the mediumcontrolled method of Flood and Drain system, however, the Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 55
planting container is changed from deep plant beds to fibre-stuffed tracks in a long outer trough or tray. This allows easy handling and portability of the FTM tracks and the resident plants. The fibre tracks are lightweight and require only shallow water to work effectively. Also, flood duration and frequency can be adjusted accurately to suit the needs of different crops.
FtM Consists oF tHRee MAin CoMPonents: • A U-shaped track or channel that holds strips of grow media fibre strips. Such track or channel may be vented on sides or bottom and may have various designs of claw-type shapes or appendages to hold the grow media strips in place. In some cases, the clamp or strap may be used to secure the grow media fibre strips in the channel. • A number of long strand grow media fibre strips. These grow media fibre strips can be manufactured from any material able to hold enough water for the plants to absorb and drain to allow the plants to breathe. Such materials include coco coir fibre, rockwool, PP or other synthetic fibres, etc. • External shallow system water toughs or trays hold the FTM and nutrient water. These system troughs are connected to the feeder and drainage systems of compete hydroponics installation.
Planting methods • Step 1: Flood and drain systems are universally known and generally accepted by experienced hydroponics growers. The system’s troughs are installed and prepared as for a regular flood and drain operation that requires timely filling and draining of the trough to supply nutrient solution to the plants. • Step 2: The FTM components are prepared: The grow fibre strips are cut to a suitable length and height as required for the project according to the type of crop, height of system trough and required water level. These cut grow media fibre strips are stuffed in the Ushaped channels, filling the internal width of the channel. After stuffing, the grow media fibre strips are held in place by the claw-like appendages on the side of the plastic channel. The channel size can be selected according to crop type and planting method. In future, the team will test larger FTM strips for growing carrots, parsnips and other tuber crops. The stuffed FTM channels are then placed in the 56 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
system troughs in preparation for Flood and Drain operation, which can be managed by an electronic timer to control the frequency and duration of the water supplied to the system troughs and the irrigation of the resident plants. Flooding frequency and duration is controlled by the grower to provide the appropriate amount of water for optimal growth, depending on crop type, weather conditions, and state of growth.
Advantages of the FtM method According to Frank Wei, the FTM system offers many inherent advantages. “Installation and usage costs are low. FTM uses readily available components and the coir fiber can be replaced reasonably. Using the system, time spent planting and maintaining is greatly cut compared to current methods.” “In terms of the use of grow media fibre strips as a medium, fibre can provide an optimal environment for rooting and microbial life. It provides humidity, ventilation and a stable anchor for the plants to root into,” he said. “Also the use of the plastic channel or track allows the grow media fibre strips to be clamped or fixed firmly from the bottom while the upper portion of the fibre can be easily separated by the grower for seeding, transplanting, cutting, harvesting and even adjustment of crop spacing. “Crops can be easily handled with the track – FTM channels can be easily lifted from the system intact and transported to other areas for grow out or sale. This is more convenient for growers to perform targeted management, such as de-worming, pruning, foliar fertilisation, etc. Growers can also transport the track with the crop to the sales location, to show consumers the freshest produce that retains the most nutrition and flavour of live vegetables,” Frank said. “The FTM method offers benefits over the traditional Flood and Drain hydroponics method. Root systems of plants do not require and may not do well being continually soaked in water. Plants breathe through their roots. Constant flooding impairs this breathing, especially during high ambient temperatures. Intermittent interaction with the nutrient solution and air allows the plant to breathe easier and allows nutrient ions to be more easily absorbed by the root zone. “Additionally, crops can be sown in rows much like regular soil cultivation and then the crop can be thinned at various stages to make room for the larger growth. Cuttings from the thinnings can be sold as young veggies. The garden becomes productive and earning all through
Frank Wei says he is feeling good about the progress so far.
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 57
PVC retainer track with claws holds the long strand coir fibre in place while allowing roots to breathe.
Checking the crop at the test facility.
58 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
the growth cycle,” he said. Finally, the coir fiber has superior water retention that ensures resident plants remain viable during transport. Even intermittent power outages and pump failures do not place the crop in immediate jeopardy. “We are always impressed with the stability and versatility of coir fibre. We believe this system, matched with the inherent properties of coir as a grow media, really extends the grower’s capabilities,” Robert said. Robert added that currently, the FTM has been tested in an open roof system with good results. “Both seeded and cutting crops are growing fast and stable. During the second phase of the development, the FTM is being tested in summer greenhouse environment during the hot months of planting lettuce and other leafy vegetables. We expect that after tuning the watering frequency, successful lettuce cropping is very possible.” As far as plans for the future Robert and Frank aim to first gather key data on each crop type including watering cycles, depth of fibre, nutrient mix, etc. It is hoped that these tests will help assist and encourage
more hydroponic or aquaponic farms to experiment with the FTM and redesign the systems with minimal change and build-out cost. More reports on the testing and applications of the FTM are set to follow. b For more information contact: Robert Virgin, Manager Taiwan Hydroponics Development Co., Ltd +886986628588 rob.taiwanhydroponics@gmail.com www.taiwanhydroponics.com Skype: archer62
Test System troughs that seat the fibre tracks and allow flooding.
editor’s note: In Taiwan, online resource OnHydroponics publishes news and information for the growing number of hydroponic and aquaponic professionals and enthusiasts in China and is currently following updates on developments at THDC. PH&G is proud to announce its collaboration with OnHydroponics to share articles that promote hydroponics and aquaponics knowledge across Asia. See: Onhydroponics.com
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Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 59
TOMATO POTATO PSYLLID: GUIDE FOR GROWERS
60 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
Adult tomato-potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, with eggs. (Photo courtesy N. Martin, Plant & Food Research, NZ)
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 61
Symptoms of psyllid yellows on capsicum plants caused by Bactericera/Candidatus Liberibacter. (Photo courtesy of MAF Biosecurity NZ)
in response to the discovery of tomato-Potato Psyllid in Perth, Western Australia, in February 2017, Hort innovation Australia (HiA) and the nsW Department of Primary industries (nsWDPi) have released information for the benefit of growers. As reported in a recent article by ABC News, the vegetable industry in Western Australia has been impacted by the tomato potato psyllid, which has been found in three regional locations outside of the Perth quarantine zone. The Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) chief plant biosecurity officer John van Schagen said he now suspects the psyllid could have been in the state for two or more years. “Seeing it is right across the metropolitan area and now those regional areas it could mean that it’s been here for two or more years,” he said. Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) is an exotic pest with a wide host range, including tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums, chillies, eggplants, tamarillos and sweet
Symptoms of psyllid yellows on tomato caused by Bactericera/Candidatus Liberibacter. (Photo courtesy of MAF Biosecurity NZ)
potatoes. TPP causes a disease called Psyllid Yellows. It can also transmit the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, which is associated with Zebra Chip disease in potatoes.
WHeRe AnD WHAt to look FoR TPP is a tiny sap-sucking insect with three lifecycle stages – egg, nymphs and adult. All stages are very small (less than 3mm) but can be seen with the naked eye. Infestations are usually found on the undersides of leaves. The psyllid tends to establish first on edge plants in field crops or near doorways, vents and walkways in protected crops. This is where scouting attention should be focused. Sticky traps can be used to monitor TPP but they only pick up winged adults (not eggs or nymphs). The absence of psyllids on sticky traps is not enough to rule out an incursion of this pest, so direct searching is essential. Check plants for eggs, nymphs and adults, and look out for other signs of an infestation. This is the best and most reliable way to detect the arrival and establishment of TPP in your crop.
Signs and symptoms of a TPP infestation include: • adult psyllids jumping from foliage when disturbed • stunting and yellowing of growth tips • yellowing or purpling of leaf margins • ‘cupping’ or upward curling of leaves • severe wilting of plants • ‘psyllid sugars’ (small white granules) deposited on leaves by adults and nymphs, which can attract ants and lead to growth of sooty mould. b THE nSW DPI FACT SHEET CAn BE DoWnLoADED AT: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/427515/E xotic-Pest-Alert-Tomato-potato-psyllid.pdf THE HIA GUIDE CAn BE DoWnLoADED AT: http://horticulture.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/TomatoPotato-Psyllid-pocket-guide.pdf
Eggs of tomato-potato psyllid laid near leaf edge. Photo courtesy N. Martin, Plant & Food Research, NZ)
suRVeillAnCe PRoGRAM The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), funded by HIA, is coordinating a National surveillance program for the Tomato Potato psyllid (TPP), which was discovered in Western Australia in February 2017. TIA have been operating a surveillance program for adult TPP in processing potato crops in eastern Australia since 2011 using yellow sticky traps. This program will be intensified in the 2017/18 growing season to encompass all host crops in the family Solanaceae across the nation. “Surveillance for TPP will help to support state requirements in providing evidence of area freedom of this pest to preserve export markets,” said a spokesperson. “We invite industry stakeholders to participate in the surveillance program by placing sticky traps in TPP susceptible crops and returning them to TIA for checking the presence of the pest. TIA will provide this service free of charge and supply reply-paid envelopes for returning traps.” Surveillance packs contain the following: • Four sticky traps • Bulldog clips and wire tags for securing traps • TPP monitoring guide • Clear plastic to place traps on after collection • Zip-lock bags for completed traps • Reply paid envelopes FoR MoRE InFoRMATIon ConTACT: Raylea Rowbottom Tomato Potato Psyllid Trapping Coordinator T: 0428 745 752 E: raylea.rowbottom@utas.edu.au & www.utas.edu.au/tia
nymphal tomato-potato psyllid with sugar crystals. (Image N. Martin, Plant & Food Research, NZ)
Psyllid sugar fallen on leaf below feeding colony. (Photo courtesy N. Martin, Plant & Food Research, NZ) Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 63
(L to R) founders of Green Mountain Harvest, David Hartshorn, John Farr and Ted Farr.
64 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
LIGHTING THE MOUNTAIN us CoMPAny GReen MountAin HARVest HyDRoPoniCs ACCeleRAtes HARVest CyCles WitH sMARt leD liGHtinG solutions.
The team now supplies locally grown summer crisp lettuce, spring mix, basil and watercress to an expanded account base of new England grocers.
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 65
In 2013, David Hartshorn, John Farr and Ted Farr founded Green Mountain Harvest Hydroponics with the vision to provide fresh lettuce, herbs and leafy greens to local, specialty retailers in Waitsfield, Vermont, USA. Fast forward four years to 2017 and the Green Mountain Harvest team is now supplying flavourful, locally grown summer crisp lettuce, spring mix, basil and watercress to an expanded account base of New England grocers that includes wholefoods stores in the Boston, Massachusetts area. In November 2016, Green Mountain Harvest strategically scaled operations to establish consistent year-round yields, replacing traditional HPS lights with Heliospectra LED lighting solutions across its 11,000 square foot (1,022 square metre) greenhouse. “As soon as the new LEDs were installed, Green Mountain recognised immediate benefits from the optimised light spectrum,” said John Farr. “We typically harvested our summer crisp lettuce at 55 days. With Heliospectra, we now harvest between 42 and 45 days. The opportunity to accelerate harvest and create additional revenue cycles significantly scales our business and success.” By controlling consistency, plant health and crop quality, Green Mountain Harvest has standardised the fresh weight on the summer crisp lettuce to six or seven ounces per head. Mr Farr said that consistent weight was very difficult to achieve under HPS. Green Mountain experienced a 50 per cent reduction in the yellowing on the bottom lettuce leaves because the lights penetrate down deeper into the canopy. The optics and uniform light distribution also reduce tip burn. “The Heliospectra lights mimic the sun and enable Green Mountain to supplement natural daylight during the shorter winter days and adjust to changes in local weather,” said John Farr. “The ability to forecast production and predictable, repeatable harvest results has proven invaluable for our business.” b Watch the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pid3kfukR_g&t=9s For more information contact: John Farr, Green Mountain Harvest Hydroponics T: 802-272-3158 E: greenmountainharvest@yahoo.com www.heliospectra.com
66 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
As soon as the new LEDs were installed, Green Mountain recognised immediate benefits from the optimised light spectrum.
Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 67
DR
UN
68 . Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017
THE FINAL WORD:
R MIKE NICHOLS STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF BIOSECURITY AS A CONTROL TO KEEP OUT NWANTED DISEASES AND PESTS FROM ENTERING A COUNTRY WITH THE POTENTIAL TO WREAK HAVOC ON ITS HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY. Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 69
Myrtle rust (Puccinia psidii) is a fungus that causes disease in plants in family Myrtaceae. It is one of a complex of fungal pathogens known as eucalyptus or guava rusts.
of people. A no brainer! So really biosecurity is it is clear that new Zealand First leader Winston risk management. Peters does not appreciate the workings of biosecurity A lot better than the early days, as a quick look at a when he stated that the appearance of â&#x20AC;&#x153;myrtle rustâ&#x20AC;? in notice on the wharf at Nelson lists the names of the first a northland nursery was a failure of the system, as it settlers, along with details of the wide range of plant appears likely that the rust may have been brought in material they brought with them. No biosecurity then! by the wind (possibly from Raoul island) in a similar to Of course, biosecurity is not perfect. Several years ago the manner to the introduction of poplar rust on the jet I was asked by a multinational seed company to trial stream from south America via south African and some F1 hybrid strawberries. They would produce the Australia) some decades ago. i am a little unclear how seed in a screen house in The Netherlands from we would hope to prevent this, and what responsibility pathogen-free parent, and then send the Minister of Primary industry might me the seed to grow the plants in from have for this? seed in New Zealand. Biosecurity In any case although the purpose of advised me that due to the presence of biosecurity is to stop any organism seed-borne viruses in strawberry, they from entering New Zealand without would have to grow the seed in approval, the reality is that it will only quarantine, and then test every plant delay the inevitable. The only sure way for virus. Clearly, not a to stop anything from entering the A brown marmorated workable solution. country is to close the borders, no stink bug. Of course, there was nothing imports, no exports and no movement Beat Wermelinger
stopping anyone from going to the supermarket and purchasing imported strawberry fruit from USA or Australia and growing plants from that seed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with a much higher probability of it containing seed-borne virus than the Dutch seed. The same argument could be made in terms of much of the other imported fruit, because once the product legally passes through the border it is clear from any biosecurity constraint. There is of course sound justification to completely closing the borders for any potentially suspect fruit and vegetables, but as a trading nation, which relies on exporting fruit and vegetables throughout the world, this would be extremely counterproductive. The price in Japan of fruit and vegetables is very high, due partially to this type of policy. I am not aware of the current situation regarding exporting cherries to Japan, but at one stage a Japanese biosecurity man was based in New Zealand, to ensure that the cherries were free from codlin moth. A pest, which was once recorded as able to eat cherry leaves, way back in the early 20th
century, and therefore this had to be carefully checked. Some 20 years ago I returned from a visit to California, where I spent my final day looking at asparagus research, including an asparagus rust trial. This disease was not in, and hopefully, will never get to New Zealand, so on my return to Auckland I advised Plant Quarantine that it was likely (as I had no had the opportunity to change my clothes after my field visit) that I was carrying asparagus rust spores on clothes. I was advised that this was no problem, but I made sure that these clothes were dry cleaned as soon as possible. I certainly had no wish to be responsible for the entry of a new disease into the New Zealand horticultural industry. Because of our freedom from some major pest and diseases, and the fact that we are islands (Australia is simply a bigger island than New Zealand), biosecurity enables us to take advantage of this and delay the inevitable entry of pathogens, which would increase our production costs. b Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses . September . 2017. 71
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