Tree Crop Feb/Mar '25

Tree crop insights

Reinventing the pre-seeding double-knockdown tactic

The double-knockdown tactic is a key component of the WeedSmart Big 6 strategy, which aims to keep weed numbers low, preserve herbicide efficacy and give competitive crops ahead start.

Know your pest

Mighty mites

Mites which specialise in eating plants have modified abrading and sucking mouthparts differing from those with chewing/mandibular mouthparts for mites that eat grain, books, straw, birds, people (as in scabies).

Macadamias

The art of the macadamia masterclass

The Australian Macadamia Association’s macadamia masterclass saw participants gathering in Bundaberg in early February, to learn about harvest and post-harvest management.

Macadamias

Assessing benefits of organic nutrition for macadamia production

Long-term trials of organic soil amendments in macadamia production were established by the Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) Research project in 2023. The trials have now been underway for almost 18 months at the NSW Centre for Tropical Horticulture near Alstonville.

Macadamias

Market access improves for macadamias

The Australian macadamia industry welcomes a major development in trade access, with the Government of India officially gazetting an amendment to its Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) for Australian macadamia nuts.

Specialty tree crops

BASF and partners pump up castor success

Pragati, the world’s first sustainable castor bean program, completed eight years of operation in the 2023-2024 season.

Specialty tree crops

Australia’s first QTee pears are here

Australian fruit lovers have something new to celebrate with the arrival of the first crop of QTee pears.

Avocado - Specialty tree crops

If big is better, try a JALA

Big is proving to be a big part of being better in the avocado business – just ask Fleming’s Nurseries in far north Queensland, which was recently awarded the NGIQ Best New Product for its JALA giant avocado at the Green Expo held on the Gold Coast.

News

APVMA pulls 532 unregistered products from online store

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)continues to take action to protect the Australian community, most recently by removing 532 unregistered agricultural and veterinary (agvet)chemical products from online stores in the six months to December 2024

Branching out

Leading industry advocates join IFPA ANZ board

Two of Australasia’s prominent fresh produce industry leaders have been appointed to the International Fresh Produce Association ANZ’s board of directors.

News

AUSVEG welcomes withdrawal of biosecurity tax

Ausveg has welcomed the Government’s decision to discharge the Biosecurity Protection Levy legislation from the Senate.

News

Tangible takeaways for growers

This month’s Australian Citrus Congress is all about delivering tangible takeaways for growers.

News

Low interest loans for low emissions machinery

Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) has welcomed news low-emissions heavy equipment, trucks and Utes will be eligible for low-interest loans under a new scheme supported by the Federal Government.

News

Consumer choices shaping the future of climate-impacted produce

New research from The University of Western Australia has found consumers tend to prioritise the quality of produce, such as size, firmness, and aesthetics, over their empathy for farmers impacted by extreme weather events.

News

Horticulture production value reaches $17 billion

The February release of The Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2023/24 has revealed a 4.3 per cent growth (YOY) in total production value for Australia’s horticulture sector to $17billion.

News

Paraquat back in the spotlight

Agsafe has been in discussions with Work Safe Victoria regarding concerns the storage threshold for Paraquat products in Victoria – before a premises is classified as a major hazard facility (MHF) – was significantly lower than in other jurisdictions.

Orchard equipment and pruning

John Deere responds to challenge of rising input costs

John Deere is responding to customers’ concerns about rising input costs in tree production crops with a range of solutions and technologies, including further refining its range of 5 Series tractors custom-built for the sector.