wa grower march 08

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Truck loaded with bags of runner beans for WST/Perth markets (1936)

Field of

SINCE 1948


vegelinkIndustry Plan - time to have your say

Vol. 41 No 1. MARCH 2008

$19.00 + GSTP.P 602669/00248

LOCAL

ISSUES

spud cornerDemand - for potatoes grows

SINCE 1948

1936 Truck delivering bunched carrots to

the WST/Perth markets



Truck loaded with bags of runner beans Truck loaded with bags of runner beans for WST/Perth markets (1936)


Truck loaded with bags of runner beans

Field of

LOCAL

ISSUES Vegetable display a

t the Osborne Park Show

(early 1960’s)

Purchase tables of ten (10 ) or individual tickets,

please act with hast as tables are filling fast.

Contact vegetablesWA JIM Turley (08) 9481 0834

FEATURES

This month

industry plan

23industry plan

vegelink

4 Thank you to DAFWA

11 Food Strategy WA

13 Parents need healthy lunch box tuition

15 EnviroVeg comes to Binningup

16 The Walk gains Momentum

18 Better Irrigation Management

19 Market City enters New Era

20 Gingin West weather station online

21 The Soil Page

22 Presidents Message

23 Vegelink

29 Good Practice - managing manures & vegetable crop residues

31 The Bill Stevens Award for Excellence

32 Wayne Edwards - organic vegetable grower

34 Good Practice Glossary now available

35 Manjimup Fresh Produce Christmas Party

38 WA Grower Index

40 Editorial

42 Spud Corner

This month

demand grows

39demand grows

spud corner

VGA 60th anniversary dinner

• Agspread• Bejo Seeds• Brandt Electrical• Carefree Water Conditioners• ChemCert• Clause Pacific• Fairbanks Seeds• Global Omega Gro• Landmark• Syngenta Seeds

• WA Crates• WA Industry Development Officer• Premiers Water Foundation Project• Environmental Assurance Project• Best Management Practice Project

Cover Photos supplied by Don Arbuckle

President David Anderson m: 0418 195 759 e: [email protected]

Vice President Maureen Dobra t: 9575 2086 m: 0417 174 110 e: [email protected]

Magazine Editor Figaro Natoli t: 9405 4817 m: 0438 628 517 e: [email protected]

Committee D. Anderson (president) m. 0418 195 759 M. Dobra (vice president) m. 0417 174 110 D. Arbuckle (treasurer) m. 0411 437 299 F. Natoli (editor) m. 0438 628 517 J. Trandos m. 0417 979 461 C. Stevens m. 0412 585 985 S. Calameri m. 0418 957 236 P. Humble m. 0419 917 302 A. Marinovich m. 0419 801 824 J. Neave m. 0418 927 410 H. Shapland t: 9845 1064 T. Dang t: 9923 0218 K. Sue m: 0417 986 467 H. Vander Gugten t: 9419 1836 A. Grubelich t: 9524 1110 A. Bogdanich m: 0419 248 422 M. Le m: 0417 962 427 R. Shain t: 9941 8419 R. Kuzmicich t: 9941 8185

Contact Details for Office vegetablesWA Horticultural House 103 Outram Street West Perth 6005 t: (08) 9481 0834 f: 08) 9481 0024 e: [email protected]

Executive Officer Jim Turley m: 0410 697 842 e: [email protected]

WA Industry Development Officer David Ellement m: 0408 941 318 e: [email protected]

Research Manager Gavin Foord t: 0419 939 209 e: [email protected]

Finance & Advertising Manager Susan Watson m: 0407 471 646 e: [email protected]

vegetablesWA Reporter Linda Manning t: 9434 2628 e: [email protected]

Life Members A.J. Anderson, D.J. Arbuckle, J. Arbuckle Snr*, J.H. Arbuckle* (M.B.E.J.P), S. Calameri, G. Kiriros*, R.G.Leach*, F. Natoli, S. Sawle, R.M. Schultz. C.P.Stevens, W.R. Stevens* (M.B.E.J.P), HR. Ashby*, Amy Harris*, A. Ingrilli. * deceased

vegetablesWA

Articles reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher.

This issue of the WA Grower is brought to you by

Produced by vegetablesWA60th

The 60th Anniversary Dinner Tickets are on sale NOW

contact Jim Turley (08) 9481 0834. 24 Hrs

To be held at the Burswood Complex Saturday 31st of May 2008

Commencing at 6.30 pm.

vegetablesWA 60th Year Anniversary Dinner

Sponsored by Landmark

4

The Department of Agriculture has a long history of protecting the vegetable industry in this

state. The Plant Diseases Act in 1914 appointed inspectors to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases.

The Agricultural Products Act in 1929 regulated the packing and sale of agricultural products. The Minister had the power to prohibit sales of vegetables that were below a specified size and grade. Topping was prohibited and finable.

From a legislated beginning in mainly pest and disease control, the Department of Agriculture created the Vegetables Branch in 1946. The first employees of the Vegetable Branch were E. T. Morgan (O.I.C), J. C. Palmer, M. Hardie, and B. Low (Inspectors) and F. Bennett (Agricultural Advisor).

By 1950, the Vegetable Branch had 12 positions of which 7 were filled. J. P. Eckersley was the Chief Advisor Vegetables, J.P. Fallon (Assistant Chief Advisor), J. C. Palmer (Senior Vegetable Instructor), M. Hardie (Vegetable Instructor) and D.A.

Johnston, and T. Wachtel (Advisors) and D.C. Fouracres was the Manager of the Research Station.

The Vegetables Branch started working on improving nutrition and watering.

They were involved in the development of the large dedicated vegetable production areas in Kununurra, Carnarvon, and Manjimup.

They applied advances in science to the tomato export trade from Geraldton, the cauliflower export trade at Manjimup, and the carrot export trade on the Swan coastal plain.

They developed and bred new varieties for Western Australian conditions. The first was the rust resistant runner bean ‘Westralia’ selected and developed by Walter Cass Smith, Olga Goss and Jim Arbuckle. Chris Hosking bred the Cadima crisping potato.

Matt Hardy developed the Spearwood brown globe onion and Mark Webb introduced the first hybrid cauliflowers into Manjimup.

Dennis Phillips introduced the Nantes varieties of carrots and fusarium wilt resistant tomatoes into Western Australia.

The potato variety evaluation team of Peter Dawson and Jeff Mortimer evaluated, selected and introduced the following commercial varieties; Nadine (1990), Ruby Lou (1998), White Star (2008) and the crisping varieties Dawmor (1999) and Bliss (2003).

Olga Goss broke new ground with her identification and methods of control for nematodes on the coastal plain.

Jim Fallon’s contribution as Principle Officer Vegetables spanned twenty years and in that role and he was responsible for vegetable and potato research and establishing research stations at Medina, Carnarvon, and Manjimup as well as a large amount of regulatory and policy work particularly in the potato industry. There is no single equivalent position in the Department of Agriculture and Food today with such a wide range of responsibilities for the vegetable and potato industries.

Thank you to DAFWA A century of assistance from the Department of AgricultureVegetable growers would like to thank the men and women who have devoted their careers to improving their bottom line.

Thank you to DAFWA

Linda Manning

WA Grower March 2008

1926

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5WA Grower March 2008

Thanks to DAFWA for allowing me to use the following photos: 222/77 James Fallon, 1254/78 John Eckersley, Ken Cole, 1978 Olga Goss, 1986 Neil Delroy, and 1979 Chris Hosking. Thanks also to Robert Floyd, David Johnston, Allan McKay, Dennis Phillips, and Gordon MacNish for assisting with information. This is a work in progress, any details or photographs that can be used in a future articles about the Vegetable Branch would be gratefully accepted by Linda Manning, 301 Forrest Road, Bibra Lake, 6163.

1926 Thomas Dunne PhD (1907-1977) joined the Department of Agriculture in 1926 aged 19 and retired after a long career in 1971 as the Director General of Agriculture. Thomas was the Agricultural Advisor in 1935. During the war years, he was in charge of the distribution of vegetable seed and its production. In 1947, he became the Chief Plant Nutrition and Research Officer.

1928 Edward (Ted) Morgan (1895-1952) was employed by the Department of Agriculture in 1932 and

in 1935 was appointed Senior Potato Inspector. He was still in this position in 1949 although the name of the position had changed to Chief Advisor of the Vegetable Industry.

1936 Lew Jones (1914-1990) Lew retired as a Senior Plant Research Officer in 1978 after serving 42 years with the Department of Agriculture. He wrote a paper on blood and bone manure (1950), boron deficiency of vegetables in Western Australia (1965), commercial vegetable growing in the Perth metropolitan region (1959) and sewerage sludge as fertilizer (1967). Profiled in WA Grower February 1979, p.4.

1938 Walter Cass Smith (1900-1977) was appointed Plant Pathologist in 1938 and retired in the 1960’s. In 1949 wrote a number of papers on black rot of cabbage and cauliflowers, blossom end rot in tomatoes, bacterial canker of tomatoes, and diseases of French and runner beans. Walter is credited with breeding the rust resistant ‘Westralia’ runner bean with Olga Goss and Jim Arbuckle. The average yield of

‘Westralia’ was 11,000 lbs per acre compared to the regular variety ‘Golden Harvest’, which yielded 3,300 lbs per acre.

1945 Olga Goss PhD (1916-1994) had a 35-year career at the Department of Agriculture from 1945 to 1980 and retired as Senior Plant Pathologist. She worked on seed treatments for bacterial canker in tomatoes, Rhizobium cultures, the rust resistant runner bean ‘Westralia’, and nematodes. She wrote ‘Practical Guidelines for Nursery Hygiene’ in 1978 and won the Australian Nurseryman of the Year award in the same year. Profiled in WA Grower May 1978, p. 10.

1946 John Eckersley (1919-2006) had a 41-year career in the Department of Agriculture rising to the level of Chief of Horticulture Division. He transferred to the Vegetable Branch in 1946 and became Assistant Chief Advisor in 1947. He was officer in charge from 1952 to 1955. He believed in orderly marketing schemes and advised the Potato and Onion Boards.

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He fostered a seed improvement programme and a seed certification scheme for the Spearwood brown globe onion. Profiled in WA Grower February 1979, p.12.

1946 Matt Hardy (1910-1988) had a 34-year career at the Department of Agriculture from 1939 to 1974 mainly as a Vegetable Instructor. He was one of the first employees in the Vegetable Branch. Matt made a major contribution and improved the Spearwood brown globe onion, which was a valuable export crop. Profiled in The Market Gardener Jan-Feb 1974, p.12.

1946 John C. Palmer (1891-1963) started at the Department of Agriculture in 1925 and moved to the Vegetable Branch in 1946 as the Senior Vegetable Instructor. Born in Malta, he was the son of a Naval officer and fought in the Great War. He came to Western Australia and took up land as a group settler in Pemberton. He worked with the growers in the Spearwood area. After a heart attack, he was confined to office duties.

1946 Basil N. Lowe (1911-1994) started at the Department of Agriculture in 1938 and moved to the Vegetable Branch in 1946 as Vegetable Instructor based at Harvey.

1947 Douglas C Fouracres (1910) was appointed as Manager of the Vegetable Research Station at Carnarvon in 1947. He later transferred to Manjimup to work on potatoes. Doug had spent time in the British army in India and was an excellent hockey player.

1951 Ken Cole (1924-1995) retired in 1986 after a 35-year career in irrigation. He is best known for his work on the Ord River from 1961 to 1965 where he developed large scale surveying techniques to allow grid leveling for irrigated crops.

1953 Jim Fallon retired as the Chief of Horticulture in 1984 after a 37-year career at the Department. He started in soil conservation as an extension officer and transferred to the Vegetable Branch in 1953 where he worked on a wide range of vegetables and potatoes. He spent many years

on potato production research and helped administer the quality control and seed certification scheme to maintain disease free potatoes. The 1968 outbreak of potato bacterial wilt was contained within four years because Jim Fallon insisted on strict quarantine and the destruction of infected tubers. Jim Fallon is considered to be the single greatest influence on the Vegetable Branch in the last sixty years. Profiled in WA Grower February 1979, p. 12.

1953 David A. Johnston (1928) was employed as an Advisor in the Vegetable Branch in 1953. He did the first research work in Geraldton on export tomatoes in response to problems with transport and breakdown. He joined Junior Farmers in 1963 and returned to the Department of Agriculture as editor of scientific publications in 1975.

1954 Geert de Haan (1920) was appointed as an Instructor in the Vegetables Branch in 1954. He worked with the potato growers at Manjimup and left the Department in

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Thank you to DAFWA

the late 1960’s to farm on his property on the Muir Highway.

1955 Tim Wachtel (1921-1997) was employed in the Vegetable Branch in 1955. He worked with the potato industry in Manjimup and left in the 1960’s to take up an appointment with Beyer in Melbourne.

1955 Harold G. Leitch (1916) was appointed as an Instructor in the Vegetables Branch in 1955. He was stationed at Bunbury and assisted potato growers in Bunbury, Dardenup and Donnybrook.

1956 Jerzy (George) Najman (1915) was appointed as an Instructor in the Vegetables Branch in 1956. George was an officer in the Polish Army who had been taken prisoner by the Nazis in WW2. He worked mainly with potato growers in Albany and Manjimup.

1956 Bill Kooyman (1911-1996) had a 20-year career at the Department of Agriculture in the Vegetables Branch from 1956 to 1976. He was an expert in growing tomatoes on sandy soils in the metropolitan

area. He was a vegetable grower in Holland before migrating to Australia. He co-authored ‘Commercial Tomato Production in W.A.’

1960 Gordon MacNish PhD had a 36-year career at the Department of Agriculture. He worked in the Plant Pathology Branch on diseases of vegetables from 1960 to 1968. He then obtained a PhD at the University of Adelaide and returned to work in the Plant Pathology Branch until he retired. After retiring from the Department, Gordon became a Senior Research Fellow in the Biotechnology group at Murdoch University.

1961 Robert Floyd PhD had a 41-year career from 1957 to 1998 with the Department. He began a tobacco cadetship in 1957 and started working just as the tobacco industry folded. Rob transferred to the Vegetable Branch in 1961 and spent the next eight years in Albany and the following seven years in Manjimup. He completed a Masters degree at Massey University and transferred to the Plant Pathology Branch at South Perth.

1961 Mike Hawson (1940) was appointed Advisor in the Vegetables Branch in 1961. He retired in 1985 having spent 10 years in Carnarvon and 14 years in Perth. He worked on sweet potatoes and Chinese and Japanese green vegetables. Mike is credited with establishing the avocado industry in Western Australia. After leaving, he grew native plants for export on a property near Lake Pinjar in Wanneroo. He now lives in Mt Helena.

1964 Chris Hosking (1932) was appointed Advisor in the Vegetable Branch in 1964 and was appointed Principal Officer, Vegetables in 1979 taking over from Jim Fallon. Chris developed potato varieties for processing, fresh consumption and export. His work resulted in the release of the Cadima potato for crisp processing in 1977. Chris retired in 1984 and lives at Dunsborough. Profiled in WA Grower 1979 August p.4.

1967 Dennis Phillips – Winner of the 2007 AusVeg Researcher of the Year, the inaugural Bill Stevens

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Landmark, specialists in horticulture.

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Landmark, specialists in horticulture.

AW02

16VE

GA4

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Award of Excellence in 1995 and an award from the VGA and MGA to attend the Horticultural Congress in California in 1986. Dennis started as a vegetable cadet in 1967 and became a vegetable advisor in 1974 after starting with the Department of Agriculture in 1973 at Manjimup. He introduced the Nantes carrots into WA after conducting variety trials on carrots. Dennis has assisted growers to produce better crops and solve problems and recently developed the ‘drench/spray/band’ technique for transplants and the use of minimum fertilizer inputs. He also developed a single use bulk bin for export. Profiled in WA Grower June 2007, p.9.

1971 John Burt started with the department in 1971 after working in agriculture in Zambia for four years. He spent 17 years at the Gascoyne Research Station in Carnarvon, 15 months in Manjimup and 18 years in Perth. He has completed successful work on ‘Black Dot’ in Chinese cabbage and is currently working on tea. John did research on the irrigation systems in Carnarvon in the

1980’s changing practices from flood irrigation to trickle irrigation. John has published hundreds of publications on vegetable growing and continues to handle vegetable enquiries. Profiled in WA Grower December 2005, p41.

1977 Harry Gratte was appointed Advisor in the Vegetable Branch in 1977 in Perth. He spent three years in Albany and ten years in Bunbury.. He worked on field peas and the seed potato scheme in Albany and rock melons, water melons and sweet corn at the Wokalup Research Station. He left in 1990 and owns a vineyard and orchard in the Swan Valley.

1979 Greg Paust joined the Department of Agriculture in 1976, transferred to the Vegetable Branch in 1978, and became an Advisor in 1979. He worked in Manjimup, Perth and Albany on potatoes. Virus free potato seed was adopted by the potato industry and yield and quality were increased by 5%. He also worked on introducing potatoes to control the Golden Cyst nematode. He became Principal Officer Vegetables in 1991 and Regional Manager before he left

in 1995 to take up a position with the Department of Fisheries.

1979 Mark Webb was appointed as Advisor in the Vegetable Branch in 1979. He introduced the hybrid cauliflower varieties in Manjimup and made a significant contribution to the establishment of the melon industry in Kununurra.

1980 Terry Hill is the Director for Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture and Food. He was appointed Advisor in 1979 in the Vegetable Branch. He has had a wide range of roles including research, extension, marketing and industry development in Perth, Manjimup, Carnarvon and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Terry is a Director of the Horticulture Australia Limited Board, Chair of the National Research Network and Project Leader for an ACIAR project between Australia and Indonesia.

1982 Neil Delroy started at the Department in 1982. He worked on potato variety trials, in particular, the yellow flesh export potatoes with Harry

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Gratte in Manjimup. He trialed rock melons and water melons at Wokalup and at Kununurra. Neil left in 1989 and started Agribusiness Research and Management based in Busselton.

1984 Allan McKay worked on oilseed research before joining the Vegetables Branch in Manjimup in 1984 to work on export cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage and potatoes. He transferred to Perth in 1990, where he researched the agronomy and disease control in export carrots in collaboration with Angie Galati and Elaine Davison. Allan received the Bill Stevens Award of Excellence in 2000 for his research on carrots. He is now involved in vegetable irrigation with Chris Denby and vegetablesWA. Allan has published over 70 vegetable related articles.

1985 Peter Dawson joined the Department of Agriculture in 1985 and four months later started working in Albany for 4 years as a general horticultural adviser and seed potato inspector. He then moved to Bunbury for 7 years to work on the Potato Variety Evaluation Program. He returned to Albany in 1997 where he continued work on the Potato Variety Evaluation Program as well as being responsible for testing WA potato seed for export. The DAFWA Potato Variety Evaluation Team has been responsible for evaluation and release of the following commercial varieties; Nadine (1990), Ruby Lou (1998), White Star (2008) and the crisping varieties Dawmor (1999) and Bliss (2003).

1987 John Bonnardeaux started at the Department of Agriculture in Kununurra in 1987 after working as a consultant in Africa and Asia. He spent many years on melon production research and helped

establish the QA protocol. After 11 years, he transferred to Geraldton where he introduced and developed table grapes as a commercial crop in Geraldton, with Ian Cameron, and mangoes in Gingin. He is the author of the popular “Horticulture in the Mid West Region – Starter’s Kit”.

1988 Ian McPharlin PhD is a Senior Research Officer and joined the Department of Agriculture in 1988. He has 20 years experience in research into nutrition and growing of vegetables on the coastal plain and potato agronomy and extension. Since 2002, Ian has been working on the export of seed potatoes South East Asia. He has published many scientific and other papers. Profiled in WA Grower September 2007, p. 15.

1989 Soon Chye Tan PhD joined the Department of Agriculture in 1989 and is the Principal Research Scientist (Post-Harvest) and Manager for the Market Development for the Greater China Region. He received the 2001 Department of Agriculture’s Excellence Award for Customer Services. His project, Focus Taiwan, won the 2001 Premier’s Award in the category of Economic Development. He received the 2001 Zhejiang Province West Lake Friendship Award, and in 1999, The People’s Republic of China Friendship Award and in 1998, the Shandong Province QiLu Friendship Award for strengthening friendship and trade relationship between China and Western Australia.

1991 V R (Kesi) Kesavan PhD started at the Department of Agriculture in Kununurra in 1991 after many years in Papua New Guinea. He transferred to Carnarvon in 1997 and moved to Manjimup in 2002.

1993 Rachel Lancaster started at the Department of Agriculture in Geraldton in 1993, and moved to Manjimup in 1996 to work on vegetables. Rachel lives in Bunbury and works on the management of clubroot disease in Brassica crops and agronomic methods to improve Brassica crop yield and uniformity.

1995 Elaine Davison PhD, plant pathologist, worked for ten years (1995 to 2005) on carrot diseases, in particular cavity spot and nematodes. Profiled in WA Grower Sep 2006, p. 29.

1996 Bob Paulin was appointed as an Advisor in the Fruit Branch in Manjimup in 1975. He transferred to Perth in 1986 to work on avocadoes and citrus. In 1996, Bob started working on soil management practices and stable fly control.

1998 Aileen Reid joined the Floriculture Branch of the Department of Agriculture in 1983. In 1998, Aileen started working on compost trials with Bob Paulin and in 2000 with Dennis Phillips on bulk bin concept for export and the very successful lettuce and strawberry irrigation and nutrition management trials.

2000 Peter O’Malley joined the Horticulture section in 2000 to work with Bob Paulin on the compost project to determine the value of compost to vegetable production. He is currently managing a project to improve water and nutrient use efficiency in vegetable production on sandy soil.


HeaderThe WA Food Industry

As Western Australia’s economy continues to grow in an era of unprecedented

prosperity, the people of Western Australia are looking to the food industry as a key sector of the economy to create future sustainable benefits that build on the ‘boom times’ in the mining and petroleum industry.

The WA food industry already represents a significant part of the State’s economic activity. The direct annual turnover of the WA food manufacturing industry is estimated at $5.5 billion, a three percent increase on the previous year. Beyond this direct impact, the food industry’s economic influence reaches sectors such as health, retail, hospitality, infrastructure, tourism, environment and education. The WA food industry is an active and energetic participant in local and overseas markets, and makes an enormous economic and social contribution to our local community. Western Australians from all walks of life are employed in - or associated with – our food enterprises and support businesses. In one way or another, every Western Australian is affected by the economic and social benefits of the WA food industry.

The WA food industry is vital to our economy and our health, with consumers demanding greater accountability when it comes to safe, nutritious foods.

To bring specific focus on the WA food industry, the Premier allocated the responsibility for food industry development to the Minister for Agriculture and Food in February 2006. This responsibility involves leading debate on the many issues

facing the State’s food industry. To complement this responsibility, the Department of Agriculture was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food in April 2006 and is the lead Department in food related matters, driving a supply chain approach to developing the industry. It relies on the combined expertise and commitment of many other WA Government Departments responsible for various aspects of food industry regulation and industry development.

Food Strategy WAThe WA Government and industry will now work together to develop a determined and far-sighted program to expand the WA food industry and safeguard its future. Developing the State’s food industry requires addressing production, marketing and consumption issues of food. A coordinated effort across the industry is therefore necessary to achieve success.

A comprehensive strategy must be developed – Food Strategy WA. The strategy will address issues and impediments to growth throughout the supply chain – from agricultural production and first stage packing through to processed product for retail, hospitality and export markets.

If you have any queries regarding Food Strategy WA, or would like to meet to discuss, please contact:Stuart ClarkeA/DirectorFood Industry DevelopmentDepartment of Agriculture and Food [email protected] 9368 3199

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/foods/fstrat/February 2008

Food Strategy WAThe Western Australian Food Industry

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for WA’s finest fresh fruit and vegetables

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HeaderSchool Lunches

Parents need healthy lunchbox tuitionAlmost three-quarters of children do not have any salad or vegetables in their school lunchbox

Almost three-quarters of children do not have any salad or vegetables in their

school lunch box and almost half have too much junk food.

Alarming new research has prompted experts to call for government help to educate parents on healthier lunches.

Researchers found 72 per cent of students had no vegetables or salad in their lunch box, 24 per cent had less than one serve of fruit and only 34 per cent had one or more pieces of fruit packed in their schoolbag.

The preliminary findings of the RMIT University study - which peered into the lunch boxes of 170 prep and grade one students at five schools across Melbourne - also discovered up to 77 per cent of students had one or more snack foods such as chocolate, chips or cake. And 48 per cent had their total recommended daily amount of junk food - one to two small serves a day - just in their lunch box.

RMIT University researcher Leah Brennan said the results were worrying. “I was surprised that despite all of the information out there about healthy eating ... we still have a high number of extras (snacks) and a low number of vegetables,” she said.

Dr Brennan said the lack of salad, tomatoes, carrots, celery sticks or any vegetable was alarming. “That was one of the more concerning results, given one of the recommendations for four- to seven-year-olds is to have two to four

serves a day of vegetables, three to five serves of vegies a day for eight- to 11-year-olds,” she said.

“If they are not getting any vegetables during the school day, it means that they have to fit in two to four serves of vegetables in the evening.

“It is very unlikely that kids would eat that much at night, so chances are that very few kids are meeting the vegetable requirements throughout the day.”

Dr Brennan, from RMIT’s Parenting Research Centre, said the findings showed some action was needed to address unhealthy lunch boxes. “We need to be doing something to help parents prepare a healthier lunch box that has more vegetables and fewer serves of extra foods,” she said.

Dr Brennan said the next stage would be research on factors that influenced what parents put in lunch boxes. Anecdotal evidence suggested peer pressure on children, rather than convenience.

Parents Victoria president Elaine Crowle said governments, schools

and parents needed to work together on the issue. “A lot of it is about cost,” she said.

“There are good things out there but perhaps people need some help to find it.”

Ms Crowle said parents often were rushed for time and pre-packaged snack food was an easy option. “Another part of it is children’s taste,” she said.

Lina Avramidis, a Melbourne mum of triplets, said it was a struggle to make lunches interesting for her six-year-old children. Nicholas, Grace and Jack usually had a wholemeal sandwich, and a Nutella sandwich once a week for a treat.

“Our school is a great help. They have facilities to warm food up so often (the children) have leftovers like shepherd’s pie or pasta,” she said. “The school also does not allow us to send chocolate, lollies or chips. So you can blame the school and say (to the children) that’s the reason why you can’t have that stuff.”

Milanda Rout - The Australian


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The vegetablesWA Walking the Walk on Environmental Management project has

provided support to vegetable growers over the summer months ensuring that they can demonstrate their environmental sustainability. Gavin Foord (vegetablesWA) and Susie Murphy White (DAFWA) have been visiting growers in Wanneroo, Gingin, Baldivis and Myalup.

The environmental assurance process uses the continuous improvement cycle of plan – do – check - review. The process starts off by developing an environmental action plan. This plan is used to address activities on the farm that have an impact on the environment. Growers then need to prove that they are using environmentally sustainable practices and are able to do this using the recognised industry programs.

The auditable environmental code that is readily available to the vegetable industry at the moment is the Freshcare Code of Practice Environmental. This is supported by the AUSVEG EnviroVeg self assessment checklist specific for vegetable growers and a generic agricultural practices self assessment tool developed by the DAFWA Farming for the Future program (see EnviroVeg article page 15). All these tools will enable growers to demonstrate to customers and markets that their produce is environmentally sustainable.

To date, we have engaged 10 growers in the process, many of whom will be ready to go to audit this month.

To start the planning process, participating growers are provided

The walk gains momentumLand degradation maps identify the environmental risks

Environmental Management

Susie Murphy White, Department of Agriculture and Food WA

Above: Susie Murphy White with Michael and Andrew Bogdanich, developing their environmental action plan. Below: Shire of Gingin - Subsurface Acidification Hazard. Opposite: Aerial image of Bogdanich Farms


HeaderEnvironmental Management

TomatoesMERCURY F1

• Indeterminate Gourmet tomato.

• Large (200g+), glossy firm red fruit.

• Proven performer in all regions in W.A. Essential TSWV and Nematode resistance for Western Australia.

Resistances:HR: ToMV / V / Fol:1,2 / MIR: TSWV

YIELD!!!HERCULES F1

• Hercules is a blocky capsicum. • It produces fruit that are

approximately 11 x 10cm and weigh 300-350gm.

• The bush on Hercules is short and strong for excellent sunburn protection and is best field grown

Resistances: HR: TMV / PMMoV:1-2 / PVY:0,1,1-2 / PepMoV / PepYMVIR: CMV / Pc

SPF 30+MERCURY

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YIELD!!!SUNSHINE F1

• Sunshine is a large, blocky green turning yellow capsicum.

• Strong, productive plant with good foliage cover.

• Fast turning bright yellow fruit which remain firm at maturity

Resistances:HR: TMV / PMMoV:1-2IR: TSWV

NEW

TITAN F1

• Titan (Roma) is a 130-140gm indeterminate roma tomato.

• Titan has high yield and very good quality fruit.

Resistances:HR: ToMV / V / Fol:1,2,3 / MIR: Ss / TSWV

QUALITY FRUIT!RICH COLOUR + QUALITY

RED JEWEL F1

• Red Jewel is an elongated green turning dark red blocky type.

• It produces fruit that are approximately 12 x 10cm and weigh 300-350gm.

• The bush is vigorous and strong and is better grown with support.

Resistances: HR: TMV / PVY:0,1,1-2 / PepMoV / PepYMV / Xv:1,2,3IR: TSWV

DEO F1

• Deo is large, elongated blocky green turning yellow capsi-cum.

• Compared to Sunshine, Deo is larger in size but not as quick to change colour as Sunshine.

Resistances:Intermediate Resistance to TSWV

SIZE + TSWV

Capsicum

TITAN

• Titan (Roma) is a 130-140gm

• Titan has high yield and very • Titan has high yield and very good quality fruit.

Resistances:HR: ToMV / V / Fol:1,2,3 / MIR: Ss / TSWV

QUALITY FRUIT!

HR: High/standard resistance.IR: Moderate/intermediate resistance.For key to diseases, please refer to our website: www.clausetezier.comThe descriptions, recommendations and suggestions are offered in goodfaith, for informational purposes only and can therefore in no way act as a guarantee of production.

DEO

•

• Compared to Sunshine, Deo is

Resistances:Intermediate Resistance to TSWV

SIZE + TSWV

HERCULESHERCULES• •

•

SPF 30+

RICH COLOUR + QUALITY

RED JEWEL

•

•

•

WA Sales and Development Manager: Graham Adams Mobile: 0400 622 314 -e-mail: [email protected]

with aerial photo’s of their property with 2 metre contours. The next step is gathering information on the environmental hazards. Soil and land degradation hazards have been identified at a regional scale by DAFWA after many years of soil and landscape mapping. Each of the land degradation hazards; wind erosion, subsoil acidity, water repellence, subsoil compaction, phosphorous export risk and water erosion are mapped at a 1:100 000 scale and need to be field checked at the paddock scale to be relevant to your farm. A number of databases are used to create each land degradation map usually soil landscape characteristics, landform, land use and climate.

Land degradation hazard maps identify the environmental risks the property may experience now or in the future. The maps give an

overview of what environmental impacts need to be addressed in the environmental action plan. In all cases growers participating in the project have been addressing soil and land degradation impacts on the farm by using preventative measures. It was just a matter of reviewing the farming practices and recording them to gain environmental assurance.

Environmental assurance includes waste, air and energy management plans. The biosecurity plan that most growers operate to control feral animal, weeds and diseases is then recorded in a management plan. It is then a matter of recording a strategy for pest and disease management which demonstrates when and why you make those decisions to control a pest, disease or weed invasion. An irrigation strategy is recorded to review the decision making process of determining irrigation frequency.

For further information please contact either Gavin Foord (vegetablesWA) 9481 0834 or Susie Murphy White (DAFWA) 9368 3929.

Environmental Management

EnviroVeg comes to BinningupFunding successful

Helena Whitman, Environmental Manager AUSVEG

EnviroVeg Workshop


AUSVEG Ltd has been successful in obtaining funding under the Australian

Government’s EMS Pathways to Sustainable Agriculture Programme to run a series of workshops aimed at building cooperative partnerships between Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies and the vegetable industry.

Five regions have been selected nationally, including the Peel-Harvey Catchment. Growers in these 5 regions have been encouraged to become involved in the project and to take advantage of the resources and assistance offered.

Through participation growers are able to form closer relationships with their catchment representatives and be informed about funding opportunities that can assist them in implementing on-ground environmental works which in turn can lead to savings and long-term viability of their farms.

The workshop, run by Alison Anderson and Helena Whitman from AUSVEG, was held at Binningup on Tuesday 12th February, 2008.

Alison explained to growers the role and targets of their Catchment and outlined what impact, if any, this could have on their production methods.

Growers also received an introduction to EnviroVeg (the environmental management guidelines owned and developed by the vegetable industry) and assistance to work through the EnviroVeg self-assessment.

“It was rewarding to see that these growers had most of the suggested

environmental practices in place”, said Alison. “Being environmentally responsible does not mean having to change practices or having to spend lots of money on making major changes.”

Gavin Foord provided information on the vegetablesWA ‘Good Practice’ approach to Environmental Management and David Anderson was on hand to share his experience with the EnviroVeg program.

“This was an excellent example of the collaboration between AUSVEG and vegetablesWA on environmental issues.” said David “Although many growers are nervous about where this process may lead, the Binningup group viewed the workshop with an open mind and by the end, had a better understanding of the issues and were pretty relaxed about the process.”

The project will also determine in which areas growers require further information and assistance and this

will help to develop future projects and training initiatives as well as provide information to Catchment Councils on future investment.

For further information please contact Alison Anderson, EMS Project Officer on 0400 600 628 or (02) 9576 5449.

Peter Ivankovich, Helena Whitman, Anthony Ivankovich and Gavin Foord.


Header

For the past two years I have been visiting farms from Lancelin to Myalup while

working on the HAL/AUSVEG funded project aimed at improving water and nutrient use efficiency on sandy soils. Over this time, water has become an even hotter topic and vegetable growers, like everyone else in the community, have been questioned over their use of water.

Working on this project I have learned that most of you are genuinely concerned about the water resource, not only the critical business input view, but also from a community and environmental perspective. I have also seen that vegetable farming is not just a job but a way of life and you love what you do, even though you won’t often admit it.

So, as growers, what can you do to ensure that you are using water and nutrients efficiently? How can you show the community that you don’t just provide them with high quality fresh vegetables all year round, but that you are using water in a sustainable way?

The check list below allows a quick self-assessment. Do you:

Think of your irrigation as a key •component within the vegetable farming system?Have an appropriately designed •and maintained irrigation system?Check the pressure, output and •uniformity of your system and make the necessary modifications in winter when you are not relying on daily irrigation?Schedule irrigation using •evaporation and replacement factors (crop factors)?Consider the water holding •characteristics of the soils on your property and understand the impact on irrigation?Monitor and fine tune irrigation •using soil moisture monitoring devices?Ensure farm staff are trained in •irrigation management, such as Water Wise on the Farm training, and are supplied with the up to date technical information (vegetablesWA Good Practice Guide)?

If you answered ‘yes’ to each of these points, congratulations, you have made a great start towards sustainable irrigation management. If some answers were no, then now is the time to start making some changes.

We can work with you to assess your irrigation system and discuss your irrigation and fertiliser practices. Often simple changes can result in useful gains.

On some farms, a more comprehensive assessment is possible and we can install soil moisture sensors and drainage lysimeters to record soil moisture and measure drainage beneath your crop. After harvest you will receive a confidential report covering irrigation and crop performance.

We are already working on several farms with good results, but the current HAL and AUSVEG funding on this project ‘Improving water and nutrient use efficiency in vegetable production on sandy soils’ is coming to an end, so while you have the chance, let your levy work for you.

Contact Rohan Prince at the Department of Agriculture and Food (phone 0429 680 069 or email [email protected])

Water for the Future

Rohan Prince, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

Vegetable

Your nationalvegetablelevy at work

R&D

Rohan Prince with vegetable grower Tony Colloti

Water has become an even hotter topic

Better irrigation management - simple changes, useful gains

19

Header

All growers, transporters, buyers, wholesalers, agents and staff wishing to regularly

enter Market City at Canning Vale now require a Market City Access Card, while casual visitors must first report to security staff at the guard-house off Bannister Road.

Perth Market Authority (PMA) Chief Executive Officer, Mike Donnelly, said the security upgrade conformed with world’s best practice for similar large commercial produce markets and would better protect tenant assets and PMA’s commercial interests.

“Increased security measures will also provide a safer working environment,” he said.

“An upgraded 24/7 security presence, including closed circuit television systems, will safeguard the product integrity and biosecurity of more than $350 million worth of fresh produce sold and transferred through Market City’s Central Trading Area every year.”

More than 100 tenants occupy 100,000 square metres of lettable floor-space at Market City, including more than 50 primary and secondary wholesalers, plus providores, distributors and food processing facilities.

About 400 buyers regularly use the market, representing major and independent supermarkets, fresh produce suppliers, food service and catering businesses.

The 50 hectare Market City site is almost fully leased, with only a few vacancies in the commercial area and very strong demand for warehouse space.

Mr Donnelly said the PMA was investing more than $20 million to raise Market City’s profile and consolidate its position as WA’s centre for fresh food excellence.

“Investments have included upgrading technology, developing an industry training and function facility and constructing a new 6,000 square metre cool-chain warehouse.

“While bringing this vision to reality has meant extensive planning and commitment, the transition has been made easier by the accommodating and professional attitude of all involved, including transport companies, growers, buyers, agents and their staff.

“Everyone, including tenants, has been very accommodating and understanding during the capital works program, which has included altering roadways, installing boom gates and now issuing Market City Access Cards.

“The PMA is all about ensuring the integrity of WA’s fresh produce supply chain, from producer to consumer, and we believe our latest upgrades and security initiatives will help us deliver exactly that,” Mr Donnelly said.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Mike Donnelly, CEO, PMA,

Tel 08 9456 9200, Mob 0428 100 252

Peter Cooper, GM, PMA,

Tel 08 9456 9200

Market City enters new era of securityMedia Release February 2008

Market City

John & Angelo Alessandrini

Authorised by PMA and issued on its behalf by Brendon Cant & Associates

A truck carrying quality, fresh vegetables enters Market City, Canning Vale, via the Perth Market Authority’s new, upgraded security entrance.

Security Officer Daniel Brunetti at the new entrance to Market City

Truck driver Eric Innes shows his Market City Access Card


Weather station

Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) staff have installed a new online weather

station at Gingin West, 85 km north of Perth. Funded by vegetablesWA, this station provides real-time weather data to local farmers and fills the gap between the existing Wanneroo and Lancelin East stations. Situated on Sun City Farm west of the Center West packing shed, the new station will be especially useful to irrigators in the Gingin West area.

Andrew and Michael Bogdanich, vegetable growers on the Gingin Brook Road at Gingin West are delighted to see the live weather station installed in the area. “We’ve been using evaporation data from Lancelin East via the SMS service on a daily basis and that’s been giving us a good indication of what we need to do here.” said Andrew. “The new station is in line of site of our place, so we expect the evaporation and other

data from it to be even more useful,” added Michael.

Evaporation data from DAFWA online weather stations can also be received via a mobile phone text message service run by vegetablesWA as part of the collaborative Premier’s Water Foundation project with DAFWA.

Evaporation figures are necessary for efficient irrigation. By using the evaporation figures and applying an evaporation replacement factor (also called a crop factor) related to crop growth stage, it is possible to schedule irrigation efficiently and optimise crop yields.

The Gingin West station brings the number of DAFWA live weather stations to 21 which are spread from Kununurra to Esperance. Twelve of these are in horticultural areas including the Pemberton station which went live last month.

On the Swan Coastal Plain, live weather stations are located

at Lancelin East, Gingin West, Wanneroo, South Perth, Medina and Myalup. The coastal plain weather stations provide the data for the web-based system for guiding vegetable irrigation on sandy soils which will be available soon. This is another component of the Premier’s Water Foundation project managed by DAFWA’s Chris Denby.

The Gingin West station went live on the 31st January 2008, following installation by DAFWA’s Peter Hanson and John Wall.

Live weather station data can be viewed through the DAFWA website at:www.agric.wa.gov.au then enter ‘weather stations’ in the search window or via the vegetablesWA website at: www.vegetableswa.com.au under ‘Grower information’.For further information contact vegetablesWA by phone 9481 0834 or email [email protected]

Gingin West weather station onlineReal-time weather data for local farmersAllan McKay, Department of Agriculture and Food WA and Gavin Foord, vegetablesWA

Peter Hanson installing the Gingin West weather station

Andrew and Michael Bogdanich


Header


The Soil Page no.4

Soil performance and different organic inputs

Want to fine tune your irrigationperformance?Rohan Prince and Peter OÕ MalleyDepartment of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

In the past few issuesof WA Grower we

have presented

guides for testing and

improving sprinklerirrigation and

scheduling. While

several growers have come forward andput their irrigation systems and

management to the test, we would like

more growers involved.

If you are a vegetable grower on theSwan Coastal Plain and consider

yourself a good irrigator, you will be

following the following goodmanagement practices and will:

• Regard irrigation management as a

key component within the vegetablefarming system

• Understand the water holding

characteristics of the soils on your

property

• Have an appropriately designed and

maintained irrigation system which

accounts for wind in the irrigationdesign and you will have planted

wind breaks where practicable

• Check the pressure, uniformity andoutput of your system and make the

necessary modifications before each

summer

• Schedule irrigation using estimatesof pan evaporation and pan

replacement factors (crop factors)

• Monitor and fine tune irrigation usingsoil moisture monitoring devices

• Regularly check the system for leaks

and sprinkler blockages

• Ensure farm staff are trained inirrigation management, such as

Water Wise on the Farm training,

and are supplied with the up to date

technical information

Interested to see if your management is

on the money? Is there scope to makebetter use of your water and fertiliser,

and improve crop reliability?

Growers are invited to contact Rohan

Prince at the Department of Agricultureand Food (phone 0429 680 069 or email

[email protected]) who will work

with you to assess your irrigation systemand discuss your irrigation and fertiliser

practices. On some farms a more

comprehensive assessment is possibleand Rohan and team can install soil

moisture sensors and drainage

lysimeters to record soil moisture and

measure drainage beneath your crop.Growers will receive a confidential

report after harvest of the crop. And its

free.

RohanÕ s project Ô Improving water and

nutrient use efficiency in vegetable

production on sandy soilsÕ is funded byHAL and AUSVEG through the national

vegetable levy. Rohan is already

working on several farms with good

results, but greater grower participationwould be good.

Make Rohan and your levy work for you,

Bob Paulin, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

In vegetable production, continuous cropping has become an important part of maintaining returns.

However with continuous cropping, soil performance and returns inevitably decline as marketable yields decrease and inputs of fertilisers and pesticides increase. The traditional solution has been to alter crop rotations with the introduction of break crops, or resting the land, often for several years.Previous editions of ‘the Soil Page’ have discussed how soil performance is largely determined by levels of soil carbon. Some important benefits from increasing soil carbon include:

protection against adverse •weather and management failures that damage crops; andmaintaining cropping levels •and crop quality over repeated cropping cycles as indicated by recent work with carrots (see previous soil page #3).

Current soil investigationsA recently initiated HAL funded project is investigating how we can best measure improvements to soil performance. Two commercial vegetable production sites around Perth are involved and some of the preliminary findings (Table 1) have again confirmed that soil carbon and soil quality are better when soils are amended organically.

The aim of this work is to develop more sensitive cost effective monitoring tools so that we can identify problems with soil performance so that corrective strategies can be applied and productivity maintained.

Strategies to increase soil carbonThe need to improve soil performance, improve grower returns, to reduce fertiliser, pesticides and irrigation and to better manage possible environmental concerns were the reasons for holding two ‘Soil Management workshops’ in late November last year.The workshops outlined soil management strategies that included the use of cover crops, organic amendments and the use of less aggressive and less frequent cultivation. By combining these approaches, it was suggested that we could achieve greater soil carbon levels than has been possible to date. We already have a lot of information on different management practices that will increase soil carbon, what is needed is information on how to best combine these to maximise soil carbon.

The establishment of ‘soil management sites’ on grower properties at which better soil management practices could be developed was discussed. These would be developed in conjunction with fertiliser and irrigation management work that is being carried out by Rohan Prince and the combined approach would also provide valuable input to environmental accreditation. Unfortunately, only a relatively small number of growers and industry people that indicated an interest, were able to attend the workshops and therefore two further evening workshops are planned for April. They will present a brief summary of the earlier workshops and will discuss the establishment of grower sites and consider possible management options to be tested. Vegetable growers and people involved with vegetable production are invited to take part and should contact either Gavin Foord at Horticulture House; 9481 0834, email [email protected] or Bob Paulin at DAFWA; 9358 3308, email [email protected] These workshops are supported by vegetablesWA, the Department of Agriculture and Food with funding from the Department of Environment and Conservation through the Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme.

Next edition » Report from soil management workshops

» Progress with developing vegetable soil management

Soil

Site

Organic Carbon

(%)

pH (1:5

CaCl2)

CEC* (Meq/ 100g)

Bulk density

(t/m3)

Nitrate (mg/

kg)

Biological diversity

(relative values)

Gingin - conventional site. 0.68 4.58 2.73 1.40 12.00 0.41

Gingin - organic amended 1.95 6.85 10.62 1.11 31.20 0.55

Baldivis - conventional 0.45 6.08 3.75 1.39 6.70 0.19

Baldivis - organic amended 0.73 6.20 4.69 1.34 9.20 0.26

Table 1. Comparison of soil quality between conventional and organic amended sites.

A Message from the President

Welcome to 2008. The start of the year has been remarkebly hot. Nobody

knows this better than the growers themselves. A number of media organisations have contacted me and the office regarding the hot weather. The direct cost to us is very difficult to measure straight away and it is only after some time that we see the effects. Some seedlings have died or the germination is down, the water pumping costs are higher, the cool rooms have worked harder and the wear and tear on us and the staff starts to show. The yield per hectare subsides, who do we pass the cost onto?

If the consumers see prices a little higher-do they resist buying? Being price takers in the supply chain makes these costs very difficult to pass on immediately. I am hoping that when consumers see price rises, they make a judgement that the price they pay and the price received by producers is reasonable.

The national inquiry into grocery prices has come at an interesting time. The enquiry will examine the “paddock to plate” supply chain for the first time. It is a real opportunity to clear the air.

vegetablesWA will be hosting the 60th anniversary in May. Also while we are celebrating 60 years, the Bill Stevens award of excellence will be presented to a grower. The time and attention to detail that has been put in by the sub-committee has been nothing short of outstanding. While carrying out their usual busy lives, the organising has taken up a fair amount of time. There are surprises installed for all, so be prepared for a big night out. My thanks to all for their concerted efforts so far.

Each year the VPC considers proposals for striking the fee for service. vegetablesWA will be reviewing its operations and submitting a budget. This gives the organisation its direction for the next

12 months. With so many issues being handled for the growers, the office just keeps getting busier and busier.

Whilst we are all very busy, vegetablesWA has to make sure that we don’t just keep working in the business. The day to day operations are moving along, vegetablesWA must also work at the business. Currently we are compiling a strategic plan that will be debated by the committee of management. This will underpin how we represent growers and where there are alternative funding opportunities. There are varying opinions about strategic plans and their net worth. I think it gives us a clear pathway for the future.

Please make sure you have your tickets secured for the 60th. It will be a great night.

David Anderson

Presidents Message

June, 2005 33

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

96 CLARKSON AVENUE, WANNEROO 6065TELEPHONE: (08) 9405 2956

MOBILE TELEPHONE: 0418 926 551FACSIMILE: (08) 9306 2173

EC Lic No. 000 346

KEEPING IN TOUCHWelcome to the 33rd issue of WA VegeLink. You will read in this edition: Kununurra grower meeting, weather stations go live, managing pests and planning industry’s future.

There are many issues confronting industry; water access, pest and disease, marketing and environmental management just to name a few.

One issue that we do not discuss regularly is market access, as most of our product is domestically focused and most markets for vegetables can be accessed without much problem. Recently Taiwan has proposed changes to their importation requirements which would result in WA carrot growers not being able to send carrots to that market. The effects are not only on export growers but the ripple effect of this occurring would result in market pressure in domestic markets. This example highlights the importance of a range of issues for modern vegetable farms, not just the issues facing us on a day to day basis. So, to the message; please take the time to have input into the industry’s new strategic plan, to assist us in focusing on issues that affect all of your business’s.

Thank you

David Ellement

ISSUE 33 | MARCH 2008

Vegetable


R&D

CONTENTS

Kununurra - water keeps flowing . 2

Shamrock gardens - Broome ....... 3

Managing pests ........................... 3

Planning for the Future ................. 4

Recently two more weather stations have gone live so growers can now get up-to-date weather information from the internet and on their mobile phones in two more locations.

These stations are located in the regions of:

Visit the vegetablesWA website to view station information or to get a copy of the mobile SMS service order form.

More Weather Stations Go LIVE!!!

Do you know what happens to your product after it leaves your property on the back of a truck? To understand this question and others we are organising a “Bus Tour” of the central markets, a major retail distribution centre and a couple of retail stores. The tour will be held on the 30th May 2008, the day before the vegetablesWA 60th Anniversary dinner.

This is your opportunity to find how the supply chain can affect your business and customers buying your product. Numbers are limited so get in quick. Contact David Ellement on: 0408 941 318 to reserve your seat.

Where does my product go?

Header

KEEPING IN TOUCHWelcome to the 33rd issue of WA VegeLink. You will read in this edition: Kununurra grower meeting, weather stations go live, managing pests and planning industry’s future.

There are many issues confronting industry; water access, pest and disease, marketing and environmental management just to name a few.

One issue that we do not discuss regularly is market access, as most of our product is domestically focused and most markets for vegetables can be accessed without much problem. Recently Taiwan has proposed changes to their importation requirements which would result in WA carrot growers not being able to send carrots to that market. The effects are not only on export growers but the ripple effect of this occurring would result in market pressure in domestic markets. This example highlights the importance of a range of issues for modern vegetable farms, not just the issues facing us on a day to day basis. So, to the message; please take the time to have input into the industry’s new strategic plan, to assist us in focusing on issues that affect all of your business’s.

Thank you

David Ellement

ISSUE 33 | MARCH 2008

Vegetable


R&D

CONTENTS

Kununurra - water keeps flowing . 2

Shamrock gardens - Broome ....... 3

Managing pests ........................... 3

Planning for the Future ................. 4

Recently two more weather stations have gone live so growers can now get up-to-date weather information from the internet and on their mobile phones in two more locations.

These stations are located in the regions of:

Visit the vegetablesWA website to view station information or to get a copy of the mobile SMS service order form.

More Weather Stations Go LIVE!!!

Do you know what happens to your product after it leaves your property on the back of a truck? To understand this question and others we are organising a “Bus Tour” of the central markets, a major retail distribution centre and a couple of retail stores. The tour will be held on the 30th May 2008, the day before the vegetablesWA 60th Anniversary dinner.

This is your opportunity to find how the supply chain can affect your business and customers buying your product. Numbers are limited so get in quick. Contact David Ellement on: 0408 941 318 to reserve your seat.

Where does my product go?

02

ISSUE 21 | DECEMBER 2005

2

Kununurra growers have two main issues that are different to vegetable growers across other parts of WA: the access to water and “When will stage two be reality?” For growers in the rest of the state the region is worth a look at to see how growers work under a very seasonal arrangement and the impressive Lake Argyle and its influence on horticulture.

As part of organised grower regional visits around the state late last year, Kununurra growers were visited to discuss a range of issues. The next round of meetings will be in Carnarvon in the first week of April.

telling our organisation that meetings should cover a range of issues so that everyone can benefit and that there can be less meetings held during the year. To achieve this, a wide range of issues were presented in Kununurra that aligned with previous priorities from the region and projects that are being managed by vegetablesWA.

The meeting was very well attended and three speakers presented the following information:

is a board member for vegetablesWA

to the program. He was able to provide local growers with information from his perspective as a grower and as their

hear from the growers what their needs were so he can work with the industry to address them.

The local growers took the opportunity to discuss the issues important to them. These issues included:

workable and implemented

payments and the few that collect it when departing the country

return to growers

Supporting important developments eg Ord Stage 2

position that is supported by growers across the country

pumpkin crops

expand to include different irrigation systems and soil types

the status of coverage for the Kununurra region

to the Kununurrra growers on most of the issues above and vegetablesWA is working to address all the issues raised. We hope to see all the growers at these meetings when we visit your local region.

KUNUNURRA - The Water Keeps on Flowing

of lettuce in the northern Perth area. Whilst CLA is a relatively new pest, WFT has been present in the area for much longer. Worldwide, research has

strategy, since both pests can develop insecticide resistance. Once insecticide resistance has developed, it is not

has developed resistance to pyrethrins, organophosphates such as endosulfan, and to newer insecticides such as fipronil and spinosad. Overseas, CLA has developed resistance to pirimicarb

resistance has not yet been detected in Australia. The widespread use of imidacloprid in lettuce may eventually result in the development of resistance to this insecticide as well.

for sustainable management of insect pests, Horticulture Australia and the

funded a 5 year project to increase

one grower that has been trying out

one of the largest growers of lettuce in the northern Perth area, where WFT and CLA are key insect pests.

management decisions, the number of sprays that Luch uses for insect control has decreased, whilst control has increased. The incidence of diseases such as tomato spotted wilt virus has also decreased.

in the Perth metropolitan area who

would like to participate in the program, or would like to find out more information are asked to contact Sonya Broughton at the WA Dept. of

or email [email protected].

with from monitoring only, to use of beneficials and other techniques for pest control. The service is initially free to growers for a trial period.

033

SHAMROCK GARDENS - Broome

km south of Broome owned by Danny Fyffe and managed by Phil Anderson. They raised a number of issues that they deal with by growing in such a remote location.

Shamrock is typical of a successful operation, constantly developing and trying new technology and farm practice

team and shows what can be achieved in an isolated area with good planning and management. Danny grows melons on drip irrigation and his product is sent throughout the country.

We would like to thank Danny and Phil for the tour of their operation and acknowledge the issues and opportunities they manage in the region.

Having problems, managing pests? Applying too many sprays? Perhaps Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can helpWritten by Sonya Broughton Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

4

Here is your opportunity to influence the direction of your industry.

progressed over the last decade. There is now a strong need to formalise industry direction, position and opportunities.

The new draft strategic plan contained on the vegetablesWA website, www.vegetableswa.com.au, has been compiled using information gathered from a range of sources. The plan is important as it provides us with direction required to achieve outcomes that benefit you.

The information sources include:

Regional and crop training • needs analysis,

•

National industry stocktake, •

Vegevision 2020, •

Regional grower meetings,•

Supply chain workshops,•

Carrot and Cauliflower strategic • plans,

•

• plans and meetings,

Department of Agriculture and • Food, WA,

WA research community and•

•

Your Strategic Plan

There are four steps to complete the plan and ensure we are working towards a common purpose.

These include the development of:

Vision•

•

Strategies•

Actions•

The plan will provide a number of outcomes including:

Direction for vegetablesWA, • Assist with funding proposals,• Strengthen relationships with • the research community andA focus on issues and • opportunities.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN

VISION:Purpose

GOALS

Stra

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esA

ctio

ns

GOALS

Stra

tegi

es

Act

ions

Act

ions

Stra

tegi

es

GOALS

Stra

tegi

es

Act

ions

Act

ions

GOALS

Stra

tegi

es

Act

ions

Act

ions

Stra

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esA

ctio

ns

GOALS

Stra

tegi

es

Act

ions

Act

ions

5

VISION: PurposeOur first step is to establish the industry vision or purpose. Below is the current vision of the plan.

Your Vision

To assist growers, industry and government in the development

of a profitable, sustainable, viable vegetable industry.

GOALS and STRATEGIESThe second step is to build the goals that will achieve that vision then build strategies under each goal. As we are part of a national industry and provided a large amount of input into Vegevision 2020 the goals adopted for the WA plan are derived from Vegevision 2020 and unsurprisingly do fit with the priorities for the WA industry. The draft strategies have been completed from information from across the State and are on the vegetablesWA website or can be obtained from David Ellement on 0408 941 318

ACTIONSThe final step is to build the list of actions under the goals and strategies. Actions are the outputs of the plan that you will see on the ground that affect your business.

This is a key area where your input can influence industry direction. Your feedback will assist us in addressing issues that are important to you.

Please address the following for you feedback;

1. Issue or Opportunity

2. Desired Outcome

3. Your details

Your VoiceThis is your opportunity to have further

assist us to better serve the industry.

To have your say please complete one of the following:

Visit vegetablesWA website •

feedback information,

Contact David Ellement • on 0408 941 318 for more information or

Mail, fax or email your • comments to vegetablesWA using the information above.

Table: GOALS from the draft plan

4

Here is your opportunity to influence the direction of your industry.

progressed over the last decade. There is now a strong need to formalise industry direction, position and opportunities.

The new draft strategic plan contained on the vegetablesWA website, www.vegetableswa.com.au, has been compiled using information gathered from a range of sources. The plan is important as it provides us with direction required to achieve outcomes that benefit you.

The information sources include:

Regional and crop training • needs analysis,

•

National industry stocktake, •

Vegevision 2020, •

Regional grower meetings,•

Supply chain workshops,•

Carrot and Cauliflower strategic • plans,

•

• plans and meetings,

Department of Agriculture and • Food, WA,

WA research community and•

•

Your Strategic Plan

There are four steps to complete the plan and ensure we are working towards a common purpose.

These include the development of:

Vision•

•

Strategies•

Actions•

The plan will provide a number of outcomes including:

Direction for vegetablesWA, • Assist with funding proposals,• Strengthen relationships with • the research community andA focus on issues and • opportunities.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN

5

1. Consumers 2. Markets 3. Competitiveness 4. Information 5. Leadership

Facilitating better interaction between consumers and industry

Maintaining and building domestic and international markets

Ensuring profitable, competitive and sustainable businesses

Delivering information for better business decisions

Building industry capability through leadership development and training.and training.and training.

VISION: PurposeOur first step is to establish the industry vision or purpose. Below is the current vision of the plan.

Your Vision

To assist growers, industry and government in the development

of a profitable, sustainable, viable vegetable industry.

GOALS and STRATEGIESThe second step is to build the goals that will achieve that vision then build strategies under each goal. As we are part of a national industry and provided a large amount of input into Vegevision 2020 the goals adopted for the WA plan are derived from Vegevision 2020 and unsurprisingly do fit with the priorities for the WA industry. The draft strategies have been completed from information from across the State and are on the vegetablesWA website or can be obtained from David Ellement on 0408 941 318

ACTIONSThe final step is to build the list of actions under the goals and strategies. Actions are the outputs of the plan that you will see on the ground that affect your business.

This is a key area where your input can influence industry direction. Your feedback will assist us in addressing issues that are important to you.

Please address the following for you feedback;

1. Issue or Opportunity

2. Desired Outcome

3. Your details

Your VoiceThis is your opportunity to have further

assist us to better serve the industry.

To have your say please complete one of the following:

Visit vegetablesWA website •

feedback information,

Contact David Ellement • on 0408 941 318 for more information or

Mail, fax or email your • comments to vegetablesWA using the information above.

Table: GOALS from the draft plan


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Good Practice

Good Practice Managing manures and vegetable crop residuesNew guidelines released

Managing manures and vegetable crop residues can be challenging for vegetable

growers on the Swan Coastal Plain. vegetablesWA has a long history of collaboration with vegetable growers, the State Government, the Stable Fly Action Group (SFAG) and local shires, to address the issue of fly breeding associated with the use of raw manure and crop residues.

One key output of this collaboration is the development of a set of guidelines titled GOOD PRACTICE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES AND VEGETABLE CROP RESIDUE. This document will be published as part of the vegetablesWA Good Practice Guide and is now available for download from the vegetablesWA website: www.vegetableswa.com.au

Good management of animal manure and crop residue includes aspects that are described as being either:

Essential and therefore required in all situations or;

Advisory, in which case they should be considered as a part of Good Practice.

Practices are presented under the following headings:

1 Storage and Delivery of Manure

Minimise storage time and ensure that manure is kept dry at all times. The vegetable producer is responsible for co-ordinating the delivery, storage, spreading and incorporation of the raw manure.

2 Use of Manure – Application Timing and Method

If your property is within a local government district included under the Health (Poultry Manure) Regulations, you are only permitted to use poultry manure for three months of the year (June to August). This applies until September 2011, after which a total ban will apply.

3 Chemical Control of Fly Breeding

Only use chemicals registered for use in vegetables to control fly breeding. Products must be applied in accordance with the label or with AVPMA Permit.

4 Management of Crop Residues

Minimising fly breeding in crop residues relies on the application of a range of management practices.

5 Monitoring

Regularly monitor fly breeding by checking for the presence of

fly larvae, particularly in clumps of manure, decaying crop waste (stalks and roots) and other sources of organic matter on your property.

6 Considerations for Neighbours and the Public

Locate manure storage away from boundaries and avoid applying on weekends, public holidays and windy conditions.

GOOD PRACTICE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES AND VEGETABLE CROP RESIDUE forms part of a project entitled ‘Linking Best Management Practices with Vegetable Growers’. Funded by investment from both the Australian and State Governments, through the Natural Heritage Trust, the project is administered in the Swan Region by the Swan Catchment Council.

To get your copy visit our website or phone Horticulture House on 9481 0834.

Gavin Foord, vegetablesWA and Bob Paulin, DAFWA

28

HeaderHeader

Good Practice – Managing manures and vegetable crop residuesBy Gavin Foord, vegetablesWA

Managing manures and vegetable crop residues can be challenging for vegetable growers on the Swan Coastal Plain. vegetablesWA has a long history of collaboration with vegetable growers, the State Government, the Stable Fly Action Group (SFAG) and local shires, to address the issue of fly breeding associated with the use of raw manure and crop residues.

At a meeting at Gingin in November 2007 were (L-R)David Ellement (vegetablesWA), Gavin Foord (vegetablesWA), Wayne

Harris (Gingin Shire), Dave Peckitt (Health Department), BernardMcCarthy (SFAG), Rod Withnell (SFAG), Bob Paulin (DAFWA), RegBeale (SFAG), Bob Wilson (SFAG). Behind the camera were Anne

Sibbel and Jo Ottaway.

One key output of this collaboration is the development of a set of guidelines titled GOOD PRACTICE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES AND VEGETABLE CROP RESIDUE. This document will be published as part of the vegetablesWA Good Practice Guide and is now available for download from the vegetablesWA website: www.vegetableswa.com.au

Good management of animal manure and crop residue includes aspects that are described as being either: Essential and therefore required in all situations or; Advisory, in which case they should be considered as a part of Good Practice.

Practices are presented under the following headings:

1 STORAGE AND DELIVERY OF MANURE

Minimise storage time and ensure that manure is kept dry at all times. The vegetable producer is responsible for co-ordinating the delivery, storage, spreading and incorporation of the raw manure.

2 USE OF MANURE – application timing and method

If your property is within a local government district included under the Health (Poultry Manure) Regulations, you are only permitted to use poultry manure for

At a meeting at Gingin to discuss crop residue and manure management in November 2007 were (L-R) David Ellement (vegetablesWA), Gavin Foord (vegetablesWA), Wayne Harris (Gingin Shire),

Dave Peckitt (Health Department), Bernard McCarthy (SFAG), Rod Withnell (SFAG), Bob Paulin (DAFWA), Reg Beale (SFAG), Bob Wilson (SFAG). Behind the camera were Anne Sibbel and Jo Ottaway.

June, 2005 31

SPREADING CONTRACTORS

FERTILISERS • ORGANIC • INORGANIC • LIME • GYPSUMSAND • TOPSOIL • COMPOST • ALL MANURES • MULCH

Specialising in Service to VEGETABLE GROWERS & THE HORTICUTULTRAL INDUSTRY

FOR AN OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE CONTACT JOHN BRANCHI

AGSPREAD 10 Leeward Road, Australind W.A. 6233 TELEPHONE: (08) 9797 2439 MOBILE: 0417 903 617

Good Practice


Professor Phil Simon

Users in W.A. Include Commercial Vegetable & Fruit Growers Sporting Venues in WA School & Shire Ovals, Golf CoursesHundreds of domestic stock & Garden suppliers

SALINE CALCIUM AFFECTED

BORES SOAKS DAMS…...

IN USE THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA

Contact:

Brief History...Care-Free Conditioners Australia was pioneered by Bob Uden in 1980. Bob, a plumber by trade, began selling water conditioners to farmers out of the back of his panel van. From these modest beginnings the Care-Free company grew throughout Australia and today exports to several overseas countries.

Compare the Difference

Without Carefree With Carefree

These plants were watered from the same water supply for five months. The only difference being one plant received Care-Free “conditioned” water, the other unconditioned water.

Care-Free Conditioner rids Vegetable Grower of salt water problems “With our salty water we couldn’t afford not to have our Care-Free Conditioner.”

Brad Ipsen Manjimup WA

Brad says “Before we installed the conditioner our 2,800mg/lit salty dam water was causing severe losses to our broccoli crop. In fact during Dec 06 to Jan 07 we had losses of about $80,000 due to the high salty water. Ten days after installation of our 100mm Care-Free Con-ditioner we had a complete turnaround. The results were truly amazing.”

Simple safe and economical» The Care-Free Water Conditioner simply becomes part of your pipeline and so delivers a continuous supply of w a t e r . » Properly maintained it should last you a lifetime. What’s more there are no moving parts to wear out or cartridges to replace.

As the name suggests it is a "water conditioner" not a softener or filter. It will help minimize the adverse affect of many of the undesirable substances in your water supply.

Engineered to overcome water problems to make .......... the difference you can see

Fred Bremner PO Box 90, Beverley Phone 9646 111 Mobile 0429 461 115 Email: [email protected] Website: www.carefree.com.au

Header





Contact:Fred Bremner PO Box 90, Beverley Phone 9646 111 Mobile 0429 461 115 Email: [email protected] Website: www.carefre.com.au








Simple safe and economical» The Care-Free Water Conditioner simply becomes part of your pipeline and so delivers a continuous supply of water.» Properly maintained it should last you a lifetime. What’s more there are no moving parts to wear out or cartridges to replace.




Header

Bill was a contributor to society. Always endeavouring to make things better for

all. Bill’s service to the vegetable growing industry was nothing short of outstanding. His contribution on an agri-political level of local, state, and federal government brought about many changes that have benefited all growers. He was an involved grower with seed variety development, especially cauliflower for export. He was a great promoter of the WA export industry and was the inaugural founder member of the Western Australian Vegetable Growers Association (Inc) in 1949.He served in every capacity within

the VGA: President, Secretary, Treasurer and editor of the WA Grower magazine. He was chairman and participant of every committee or government inquiry that involved the vegetable industry. His contribution spanned five decades, proving that more things are possible if you pursue your vision it will materialise.

The Bill Stevens Award of Excellence is awarded biennially. It is given to an individual, or company, who have attained the highest levels and have made a significant contribution to the vegetable growing industry.

The June 2008 award will be a production (growing) award. The BSA will be presented at the WA VGA’s 60th anniversary dinner on Saturday the 31st of May at the Burswood Complex.

Bill Stevens Award

The Bill Stevens Award of ExcellenceThe B.S.A is in honour of the late W.R. (Bill) Stevens M.B.E., JP.

PEOPLE WISHING TO NOMINATE A GROWER SHOULD FORWARD DETAILS OF THE NOMINEE TO;

vegetablesWA 103 Outram St West Perth W.A. 6005.Attention Susan Watson.

Nominations close 31st March 2008.

DETAILS OF PERSON NOMINATED:

Surname: ......................................................................................................................................................................

Other Names: ...............................................................................................................................................................

Occupation: ..................................................................................................................................................................

Address: .......................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................Postcode ................................................

Telephone Home ........................................Business ....................................... Mobile ................................................

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE PERSON SUBMITTING THE NOMINATION:

Name: ...........................................................................................................................................................................

Address: .......................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................Postcode ................................................

Telephone Home ........................................Business .............................................Mobile ..........................................

Signature: .....................................................................................................................................................................





Contact:Fred Bremner PO Box 90, Beverley Phone 9646 111 Mobile 0429 461 115 Email: [email protected] Website: www.carefre.com.au








Simple safe and economical» The Care-Free Water Conditioner simply becomes part of your pipeline and so delivers a continuous supply of water.» Properly maintained it should last you a lifetime. What’s more there are no moving parts to wear out or cartridges to replace.




Local Grower

Wayne Edwards - organic grower

Wayne Edwards is the fourth generation to farm the rich dark jarrah and red gum

soils north of Manjimup. The first two generations cleared the land, planted apples and potatoes and ran cattle and sheep.

Apples were the main source of income for Albert, Dave and Hector, the sons of Robert who arrived in the District in 1906.

They had 40 hectares in apples between them from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. Wayne’s grandfather, Albert, grew 11 ha of apples.

The third generation – Doug and Kay Edwards - grew magnificent cauliflowers for the export market and with six other local families started and managed Manjimup’s premier packing house, Manjimup Vegetable Export Growers (now rebadged as Manjimup Fresh Produce).

They also grew potatoes for Simplot under contract and ware potatoes for the Potato Marketing Board.

When the export market for cauliflowers collapsed in 2001 and Simplot made the decision to leave the district, the family lost both their major sources of income at the same time that they had committed to the purchase of a centre pivot.

Wayne Edwards made the decision to keep farming and asked his parents to support him in growing organic produce.

Wayne visited organic farms in New Zealand and the United States to investigate how they were faring. He

returned convinced that he could make it work for him on the family property.

“Kay and I were real skeptics when we started growing organic”, said Doug Edwards. “We went from a pivot and a half of cauliflowers to organic and it was tough. Everyone thought we were crazy.”

Organic growing

Wayne Edwards grows commercial crops of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers, potatoes, beetroot and onions on 40 hectares with his father, Doug.

They grow three varieties of cabbage – green, red and Savoy and four different potatoes, Royal blue, Delaware, Eureka and Spunta. They also grow small crops of kale for the market.

“We grow the varieties that taste good”, said Wayne.

This year they are growing carrots. Their last crop of carrots split due to a boron deficiency and they hope they have remedied this problem.

“We crop about 40 hectares a year under pivot”, said Wayne. “We plant in beds and use the same wheel tracks every year to avoid compacting the planting areas”.

They rotate their crops and plant lucerne between the rotations. The farm is set up to handle three 24 ha centre pivots. “We have two pivots and three 24 ha sites”.

Over the last seven years, the heavy loam soil has become friable and

WA’s largest organic vegetable farm sits on the rolling hills amoungst the giant jarrah, red gum and forest blackbutt along Perup Road north east of Manjimup

Wayne Edwards - organic

Wayne Edwards is the fourth Wayne Edwards is the fourth Wgeneration to farm the rich Wgeneration to farm the rich Wdark jarrah and red gum Wdark jarrah and red gum Wsoils north of Manjimup. The first two generations cleared the land, planted apples and potatoes and ran cattle and sheep.

Apples were the main source of income for Albert, Dave and Hector, the sons of Robert who arrived in the District in 1906.

They had 40 hectares in apples between them from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. Wayne’s grandfather, Albert, grew 11 ha of apples.

The third generation – Doug and Kay Edwards - grew magnificent cauliflowers for the export market and with six other local families started and managed Manjimup’s premier packing house, Manjimup Vegetable Export Growers (now rebadged as Manjimup Fresh Produce).

They also grew potatoes for Simplot under contract and ware potatoes for the Potato Marketing Board.

When the export market for cauliflowers collapsed in 2001 and Simplot made the decision to leave the district, the family lost both their major sources of income at the same time that they had committed to the purchase of a centre pivot.

Wayne Edwards made the decision to keep farming and asked his parents to support him in growing organic produce.

Wayne visited organic farms in New Zealand and the United States to investigate how they were faring. He

returned convinced that he could make it work for him on the family property.

“Kay and I were real skeptics when we started growing organic”, said Doug Edwards. “We went from a pivot and a half of cauliflowers to organic and it was tough. Everyone thought we were crazy.”

Organic growing

Wayne Edwards grows commercial crops of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers, potatoes, beetroot and onions on 40 hectares with his father, Doug.

They grow three varieties of cabbage – green, red and Savoy and four different potatoes, Royal blue, Delaware, Eureka and Spunta. They also grow small crops of kale for the market.

“We grow the varieties that taste good”, said Wayne.

This year they are growing carrots. Their last crop of carrots split due to a boron deficiency and they hope they have remedied this problem.

“We crop about 40 hectares a year under pivot”, said Wayne. “We plant in beds and use the same wheel tracks every year to avoid compacting the planting areas”.

They rotate their crops and plant lucerne between the rotations. The farm is set up to handle three 24 ha centre pivots. “We have two pivots and three 24 ha sites”.

Over the last seven years, the heavy loam soil has become friable and

WA’s largest organic vegetable farm sits on the rolling hills amoungst the giant jarrah, red gum and forest blackbutt along Perup Road north east of Manjimup


Local Grower

easy to dig. “When we first started we couldn’t put our fingers into the soil, now we can put our hands in up to the elbows and we have worms everywhere”, said Doug.

“The water soaks in instead of running off. The soil is like a sponge and everything is growing better now.

Wayne is about to take delivery of a GPS. The paddocks are not flat and Wayne manages to plant on the contours.

They obtain their organic compost from a farmer who composts the litter from Mt Barker Free Range Chicken.

The Edwards farm on 340 hectares with 90 ha kept as native bush. There are 23 ha of creeks and dams on the property. It is very pretty.

“It is all a matter of balance and after five years we are getting the balance pretty close,”said Wayne.

“We have just been certified organic for sheep and cattle. I am involved in setting up a local co-operative ‘Organic and Biodynamic Meats’ with several other farmers.

Manjimup pioneer – Robert Edwards

Robert Edwards arrived in Manjimup in 1906 and took up land 17 kilometres to the east of the town. He started farming out there with an axe and a spade – and developed an orchard. He, and his three sons, Albert, Dave and Hector, drained the swamps and planted potatoes and kept cows for milking.

Organic Onions

Organic beetroot between rows of potatoes

Doug Edwards Wayne Edwards


GLO

SS

AR

Y

GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS

AND ABBREVIATIONS

Glosscover.qxp 2/7/07 10:41 AM Page 1

Good Practice Guide

Good Practice glossary now availableFirst update to the vegetablesWA Good Practice Guide

Gavin Foord, vegetablesWA

This is the first update to the vegetablesWA Good Practice Guide and we hope you find it

useful to better understand some of the technical terms and abbreviations used in the Guide and by our industry.

The Glossary has been posted to those who already have a copy of the Good Practice Guide. However, if you have a copy of the Guide and have not received your Glossary, or if you want a copy of the Guide (including the Glossary) please contact Horticulture House on 9481 0834.

This Good Practice Guide, produced by vegetablesWA forms part of a project entitled ‘Linking Best Management Practices with Vegetable Growers’. Funded by investment from both the Australian and State Governments, through the Natural Heritage Trust, the project is administered in the Swan Region by the Swan Catchment Council.


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New cooling system for Manjimup Fresh Produce

Manjimup Fresh Produce Christmas Party

Manjimup Fresh Produce displayed their new vacuum and hydro cooling system

to their partners, suppliers, growers, buyers, owners and friends at their Christmas party on 14 December 2007.

The new system is a three pallet Alltech Hydro-Vac cooler that has a patented hydro-cycle which allows the product, mainly lettuce, to remain fully hydrated throughout the cooling process.

A load of lettuce is brought down from a field heat of 25 degrees Celsius and to 2.5 degrees within 15 to 20 minutes.

The local member and Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Paul Omodei officiated. “If you want a good quality product come to Manjimup Fresh Produce”, said Mr Omodei.

“I was fortunate enough to open this business in 1988. Now I am back again, and in the meantime, I have seen many businesses come and go – Simplot, Sumich, and MAES. Congratulations to everybody involved.”

Golden State Foods (gsf) has formed a partnership with Manjimup Fresh Produce to supply lettuce heads for six months each year over the summer growing season. They have located a vacuum cooler at Manjimup for that purpose.

gsf have been sourcing fresh produce from the Manjimup area for six to seven years.

“Growers will harvest in the morning and vacuum cool their product before shipping to Perth by road. We find that vacuum-cooled product has a longer shelf life,” said Phillip van de Einden, gsf’s WA state manager.

Mr van de Einden thanked the various stakeholders involved in the partnership - Lee and David East, Waterfield Park, Manjimup Fresh Produce and Warren District Transport.

Manjimup Fresh Produce is the new name of Manjimup Vegetable Export Growers known locally as MVeg. MVeg was the major packer of cauliflowers out of the Warren Blackwood area and out of Australia in the 1990’s.

At its peak, MVeg packed 240,000 cartons of cauliflowers for the Singapore market in 1997.

Eighty-five per cent of all cauliflowers that were exported out of Australia came from MVeg and approximately 85 per cent of those came from Perup Road from the Ryan and Edwards families.

The lucrative cauliflower trade collapsed when the Chinese entered the South East Asian marketplace in 2001.

Manjimup Fresh Produce is now concentrating on the domestic market, hence their partnership with gsf.

Manjimup Fresh Produce is a business name owned by members of the Ryan, Ipsen and Edwards families of Manjimup. There were originally seven partners in 1988 and at present, there are four directors – John Ryan, Colin Ryan, Don Ipsen, and Doug Edwards.

The directors will make the vacuum cooler available for other produce said Belinda Ipsen, Manjimup Fresh Produce employee.

Manjimup Fresh Produce

36


The Hon Paul Omodei Member Warren Blackwood

Colin RyanOwner & Director MFP

Gary Ryan

Kim & Donnette Edwards

Don Ispen Owner & Director MFP

Ross Ryan

Doug & Kay EdwardsOwner & Director MFP

Morgan Sewell & Gemma Edwards

Tony Ispen

John RyanOwner & Director MFP

Dale & Paul Edwards

Rick MatsenMFP Shed Manager


37

Header

Andrea Brown MFP Office Manager

Kelly & Greg Jones

Grant MonkWarren District Transport

Conrad NatoliManjimup Bridgetown Journalist

Geoff Edwards

Ian Wauchope

Tony VojkovicScalzi

Phillip Van Dan Eindengsf

Belinda Ispen

Barry Bussfrom Sumich

Steve NicolaouScalzi




WA Grower Index

WA Grower Index 2007 Volume 40Agricultural Produce Commission – profile No 1 p33Alessandrini, Angelo No 4 p28-29Alessandrini, John No 4 p28-29Alessandrini, Tony No 4 p28-29Anderson, David – President’s Annual Report 2007 No 3 p22Anderson, David – President’s Report 2007 No 1 p19AUSVEG Researcher of the Year 2007 No 2 p9-11AUSVEG Young Vegetable Grower of the Year 2007 No 3 p6-8Baldivis Market Garden No 2 p4-8Bellini, Josie No 4 p9-10Bellini, Paul No 4 p9-10Bellini, Peter No 4 p9-10Bill Stevens Award of Excellence - profile No 3 p38-39BMG-Okuma Alliance No 2 p4-8Brothers Grubelich, Albert, Sam, Ken No 4 p4-5Bulk shipping for export No 4 p20-21Buy West, Eat Best No 4 p11-12Calameri, Sam No 2 p4-8Carrot Conference in France No 4 p30-32Chilli festival No 2 p26Chilman, Lachlan - profile No 2 p27-28DBM- insecticide resistance No 3 V 2Environmental Management No 4 p13-14Export – bulk shipping No 4 p20-21Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year 2007 No 2 p15-19Good Agricultural Practice on Sand No 4 p6-7Good Practice Guide – What’s that all about? No 3 p36-37Good Practice – Road Trip No 3 p20-21Greenhouse Growers No 4 V 2Grubelich, Albert No 4 p4-5Grubelich, Ante and Antica No 4 p4-5Grubelich, Ken No 4 p4-5

Grubelich, Sam No 4 p4-5International Compost Week No 2 p35IPM in Western Australia No 4 V 4Irrigation – Are growers walking the talk? No 3 p4-5Irrigation – Efficient irrigation expert systems No 3 p11-12Irrigation - Good Practice Road Trip No 3 p20-21Irrigation – Premier’s Water Foundation Project No 2 p29Irrigation- fine tuning No 1 p29MOMOKO tomatoes No 2 p-8Labelling – Jim Turley speaks to Probus Club No 2 p12-13Lincoln, Pamela – RIRDC Rural Woman 2007 No 1 p31Manchil IPM Services – profile No 2 p27-28Market City Ball 2007 No 2 p15-19McPharlin, Ian – profile WA research scientist No 3 p15-17Meechamnan, Sac – retail manager No 2 p18Minor use permits, new No 3 V 4-7Mr Fresh Carine – Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year No 2 p19Plastic mulch, new biodegradable No 3 p18President’s Annual Report 2007 No 3 p22Natoli, Figaro – editorial Eat More Vegetables! No 3 p42Natoli, Figaro – editorial Obesity: Trimming the Nation No 2 p42Natoli, Figaro – editorial Perks for the over 50’s No 4 p38Natoli, Figaro – editorial Why Change? No 1 p42Obituary – Pat Scarfo vegetable grower Okuma, Yoshihisa - profile No 2 p4-8Patane Produce No 4 SC 3-4Patane, Michael No 4 SC 3-4Patane, Penny No 4 SC 3-4Paulin, B – The Soil Page No 3 p19Paulin, B – The Soil Page No 2 p19


HeaderWA Grower Index

Fairbanks Seeds We’ve got the West covered.

Disclaimer: All cultural and descriptive information is given as a general guide only. Substantial variations may occur due to many environmental factors, including climate, soil type, location,management and cultural practices. No liability will be accepted by Fairbank’s Selected Seed Co. Pty. Ltd. (ABN 86 007 138 276), or its representatives as to the accuracy of theinformation. All information is given in good faith . Fairbanks Seeds Ph 03 9689 4500 Fax 03 9689 8106

West Australian Agent: Mr. Don Arbuckle Mobile: 0411 437 299

Brittany – 12/13week cauliflower,well covered curd,with excellentadaptability. Dualpurpose, cuts welllate autumn andagain mid spring

Prophet – Uniform broccoliwith thick stems, mediumbeads and heavy head weight.Cuts well from late autumnthrough winter into spring.Not recommended for cuttinglater in spring, as it performsbest under cooler conditions.

Origin – Newrelease, a topperformer intrials. Relativelyslow bolting withIR to some ClubRoot strains.

Miyako – Greenstem Pak Choiwhich hasdominated themarket, especiallywhere Club Rootis a problem. IRto Club Root.

Celtic Arevelation in thebaby leaf market.Mid green oakleafwith very uprighthabit. Excellenttolerance tomildew pressure.

Peter McGauran Federal Minister for Agriculture visit No 1 p8-11Phillips, Dennis – profile researcher No 2 p9-11Potato Growers Association No 4 Premier’s Water Foundation Project No 2 p29President’s Report 2007 No 1 p19Preventing slips, trips and falls No 4 p35RIRDC Rural Woman of the Year 2007 No 1 p31Scarfo, Pat - obituary No 2 p33-34Soil moisture monitoring tool No 4 p18Soil – The Soil Page No 3 p19Soil – The Soil Page No 2 p19Soil Page – organic inputs No 4 p19Spud Corner No 3 p43Stevens, Clive - profile No 1 p4-7Sun City Farms – Minister’s visit No 1 p8Taste – Closing the satisfaction gap No 3 p30-31Taste – No Standards for Taste No 3 p33

Tempra, Paul – new President of PGA No 4 SC 1Tony Ale and Co No 4 p28-29Trandos, Danny – profile Young Grower of the Year 2007 No 3 p6-8Turley, Jim - comments No 2 p40-41Turley, Jim – Federal Minister of Agriculture visit No 1 p19Turley, Jim - Labelling No 2 p12-13WA Grower index 2000-2006 No 1 p38-41WA Grower survey responses No 1 p35-36Water Awards No 4 p33Water – efficient water use No 3 p4-5Water – irrigation expert system No 3 p11-12Water measurement – text message No 4 V 5Waterwise workshops No 4 p15-16White Star – new potato variety launched No 4 SC 8Yan, Guijun – profile WA plant breeder No 1 p30

SC: Spud Corner V: Vegelink


HeaderFigaro Natoli

EditorialProfessionalism

When one reads publications or visits terminal markets overseas, it becomes

apparent how unprofessional our vegetable industry is, in a number of areas.A study by the Michigan State University shows that some Agent/Wholesalers offered 14 different services to their client (ie retailers).To mention a few: data management, education, niche demographics, help retailers understand their customers needs, and building a connection between the farmer and the customer. How many services do our local agents offer? One thing that is understood in the USA is that all participants in the chain understand that it is in their best interests to participate.The most obvious thing that happens here is that most people in the

chain operate in isolation, with a thought process that it is not their responsibility.The objective for all concerned is to optimise volume in sales with maximum returns.Most growers are way behind the eight ball in terms of post harvest cooling and presentation, with very poor communication skills. Remember if your agent does not talk to you on every sale day the responsibility is yours to start a dialogue.Your agent’s sales person is usually pooly trained and unaware of the bigger picture.A grower’s input allows more options to surface.The reason these situations exist is because nobody chooses to try and enact change, most participants in the supply chain would rather complain about the problems.

Talking to each other in the supply line helps manage over supply issues with a better out come for all.Conversely, short falls well managed are a winner all along the chain.The vegetable industry has a unique opportunity at this time, with all the health issues as a result of our sedentary lifestyle and 80 per cent of the population not eating the daily recommended intake of fruit and vegetables.If we all work together the flow on benefits to all will be substantial.

Spud Corner

1

News in Brief

Spud CornerISSUE 03 | MARCH 2008western australia

State Executive Members:

PresidentMr Paul TempraPh: (08) 9772 1102Fax: (08) 9772 1103Mobile: 0417 095 899

Vice PresidentsMr Bert RussellPh/Fax (08) 9731 8216Mobile: 0429 318 216

Executive OfficerMr Jim TurleyPh: (08) 9481 0834Fax: (08) 9481 0024Mobile: 0410 697 842E: [email protected]

Zone ChairmenAlbanyMr Terry AckleyPh: (08) 9841 4286Fax: (08) 9841 1987Mobile: 0427 423 684

BusseltonMr Darryl SmithPh/Fax: (08) 9755 4121Mobile: 0428 933 154

DonnybrookMr Bert RussellPh/Fax: (08) 9731 8216Mobile: 0429 318 216

ManjimupMr Paul TempraPh: (08) 9772 1102Fax: (08) 9772 1103Mobile: 0417 095 899

MetropolitanMr David AndersonPh: (08) 9529 2325Fax: (08) 9529 1325Mobile: 0418 195 759

MyalupMs Pennie PatanePh: (08) 9720 2235Fax: (08) 9720 2236Mobile: 0407 993 580

PembertonSimon MoltoniPh/Fax: (08) 9776 1693Mobile: 0427 761 693

Processing RepresentativeMr Gary BendottiPh: (08) 9776 1230Fax: (08) 9776 0330Mobile: 0427 569 903

CONTENTS

Rhizoctonia in Potatoes ........................ 3

Demand for potatoes is growing ....... . 4

Potato facts ........................................... 5

Albany Seed Suppliers .......................... 6

Potato Growers Association of WA Incorporated

Horticulture Export Programe – Taiwan – Proposed Changes to Importation Requirements

The proposed changes are of major concern to our Vegetable Industry. I note that Taiwan is proposing to prohibit the import of carrots, parsnips, swede, turnips and sweet potatoes. Carrots are of particular concern for Western Australia. All states are affected relating to these vegetables except Tasmania and Victoria.

Radopholus similis (burrowing nematode) reported to be in Western Australia, appears to be one reason for the proposed prohibition.

vegetablesWA (David Ellement IDO Officer) along with a number of our growers, Australia’s Peak Industry Body Ausveg and Horticulture Australia Limited are pressing BioSecurity Australia to fight these proposed changes.

vegetablesWA is also working with Dr Shashi Sharma, Director of Biosecurity in DAFWA on this issue with emphasis on preparing a submission to Taiwan to try to avert these changes.

Costs are Rising

vegetablesWA and the Potato Growers Association of WA are pressing the Western Australian Government to review the long term viability of vegetable growing in this State.

Fertiliser prices have increased by around 50%, water charges could do anything and fuel prices are continuing on their way up. I strongly believe if the Government wants fresh vegetables to be produced in Western Australia they should act now.

I have told the State Government many times that our growers are not looking for hand outs but they are looking for a fair go. While our Minister Mr Kim Chance is

helping I believe Cabinet and the Premier should closely examine the vegetable industry’s long term future.

Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed

The vegetable and potato industry in Australia has still not signed the deed. Therefore the growers are on their own. No financial help for eradication, no compensation for crops destroyed.

Both vegetablesWA and the PGA have agreed AUSVEG Australia, Australia’s peak industry body, should immediately sign the deed. They have not because AUSVEG can’t agree on a funding mechanism with Plant Health Australia. David Anderson and Jim Trandos have tried to persuade their fellow members without success at this stage. continued...

by Jim Turley

Households in Western Australia are most likely to save and at a significantly

greater rate than the national saving propensity, a survey has found. The Melbourne Institute’s latest Household Saving and Investment Report shows Australian household budgets were more stretched in the lead-up to Christmas than this time last year because we’ had saved less.Little more than 45 per cent of Australian households saved part of their income in the December quarter compared to 52.1 per cent last year.The proportion of households running into debt increased when compared to one year ago and the proportion drawing on savings was also higher, according to the report.

“It appears that households’ overall financial positions are worse than one year ago,” the Institute said.Holidays and travel continues to be the most popular reason for saving, but while 32.7 per cent of respondents cited it as a reason to save, it was down from 43 per cent a year ago.The proportion citing Christmas presents as a motivation for saving is 15.2 per cent, significantly down from 23.1 per cent a year ago.Among the states, the survey found that Queenslanders are least likely to run into debt and South Australians are most likely to run into debt and the least likely to save.Victorian households are most likely to rent and least likely to own

a house with a mortgage, while conversely, households in Western Australia are least likely to rent and most likely to have a mortgage.West Australians expressed a strong preference for investing in shares, while Victorians are more likely to invest new savings in a deposit-taking institution.South Australians expressed roughly equal preference for putting savings in deposit-taking institutions, investment property and making superannuation contributions.Households in NSW and Queensland are more likely to be thinking about their retirement and more inclined to increase their superannuation contributions.

Western Australians are biggest savers: Survey 5-December-07 by AAP

Spud Corner

1

News in Brief

Spud CornerISSUE 03 | MARCH 2008western australia

State Executive Members:

PresidentMr Paul TempraPh: (08) 9772 1102Fax: (08) 9772 1103Mobile: 0417 095 899

Vice PresidentsMr Bert RussellPh/Fax (08) 9731 8216Mobile: 0429 318 216

Executive OfficerMr Jim TurleyPh: (08) 9481 0834Fax: (08) 9481 0024Mobile: 0410 697 842E: [email protected]

Zone ChairmenAlbanyMr Terry AckleyPh: (08) 9841 4286Fax: (08) 9841 1987Mobile: 0427 423 684

BusseltonMr Darryl SmithPh/Fax: (08) 9755 4121Mobile: 0428 933 154

DonnybrookMr Bert RussellPh/Fax: (08) 9731 8216Mobile: 0429 318 216

ManjimupMr Paul TempraPh: (08) 9772 1102Fax: (08) 9772 1103Mobile: 0417 095 899

MetropolitanMr David AndersonPh: (08) 9529 2325Fax: (08) 9529 1325Mobile: 0418 195 759

MyalupMs Pennie PatanePh: (08) 9720 2235Fax: (08) 9720 2236Mobile: 0407 993 580

PembertonSimon MoltoniPh/Fax: (08) 9776 1693Mobile: 0427 761 693

Processing RepresentativeMr Gary BendottiPh: (08) 9776 1230Fax: (08) 9776 0330Mobile: 0427 569 903

CONTENTS

Rhizoctonia in Potatoes ........................ 3

Demand for potatoes is growing ....... . 4

Potato facts ........................................... 5

Albany Seed Suppliers .......................... 6

Potato Growers Association of WA Incorporated

Horticulture Export Programe – Taiwan – Proposed Changes to Importation Requirements

The proposed changes are of major concern to our Vegetable Industry. I note that Taiwan is proposing to prohibit the import of carrots, parsnips, swede, turnips and sweet potatoes. Carrots are of particular concern for Western Australia. All states are affected relating to these vegetables except Tasmania and Victoria.

Radopholus similis (burrowing nematode) reported to be in Western Australia, appears to be one reason for the proposed prohibition.

vegetablesWA (David Ellement IDO Officer) along with a number of our growers, Australia’s Peak Industry Body Ausveg and Horticulture Australia Limited are pressing BioSecurity Australia to fight these proposed changes.

vegetablesWA is also working with Dr Shashi Sharma, Director of Biosecurity in DAFWA on this issue with emphasis on preparing a submission to Taiwan to try to avert these changes.

Costs are Rising

vegetablesWA and the Potato Growers Association of WA are pressing the Western Australian Government to review the long term viability of vegetable growing in this State.

Fertiliser prices have increased by around 50%, water charges could do anything and fuel prices are continuing on their way up. I strongly believe if the Government wants fresh vegetables to be produced in Western Australia they should act now.

I have told the State Government many times that our growers are not looking for hand outs but they are looking for a fair go. While our Minister Mr Kim Chance is

helping I believe Cabinet and the Premier should closely examine the vegetable industry’s long term future.

Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed

The vegetable and potato industry in Australia has still not signed the deed. Therefore the growers are on their own. No financial help for eradication, no compensation for crops destroyed.

Both vegetablesWA and the PGA have agreed AUSVEG Australia, Australia’s peak industry body, should immediately sign the deed. They have not because AUSVEG can’t agree on a funding mechanism with Plant Health Australia. David Anderson and Jim Trandos have tried to persuade their fellow members without success at this stage. continued...

by Jim Turley

2

Spud Corner

2

0-4 months $70 per tonne plus GST


Capacity up to 1,500 TonneDonnybrookPh: Anthoney 0417 919 906

Water Reform

Currently (18 February 2008) we are all waiting for the results of the Legislative Assembly’s Economics and Industry Standing Committee’s report due on 28 February 2008.

The Minister for Water has in the mean time released another revised set of water licence administration fees. While most of our growers have received a reduction in their water licence fees, our larger growers however have received a substantial increase.

Our industry is still totally convinced the Minister can’t justify the fees.

Our involvement with the Government not only includes trying to have them justify their latest water licence charges, it also includes reviewing the new legislation, National Water Initiative issues and COAG payments.

On 30 April 2008, as a member of the Horticulture Water Initiative, I will be meeting with Ken Mathews (CEO) National Water Commission.

This will be a great opportunity to find out how the Commission is currently thinking on issues affecting Western Australia.

Class Water EntitlementKilolitres per

LatestCharges

Previous charges

1 0 - 5000 $2001 (Oct 07) 1501 – 5000 $1002 5001 – 50,000 $150 $3253 50,001 - 100,000 $250 $6004 100,001 – 500,000 $700 $1,2005 500,001 – 1,000,000 $1,600 $1,8006 1,000,001 – 5,000,000 $2,500 $2,4007 5,000,001 – 10,000,000 $4,000

$3,0008 >10,000,000 $6,000payments.

$3,0008 >10,000,000 $6,000

New schedule of water licence charges vs previous charges

Spud Corner

3

Rhizoctonia solani is an intractable fungal disease of commercially valuable vegetables worldwide. It was the focus of a recent workshop in Melbourne, held to address ongoing economic losses for Australian vegetable and potato growers. The workshop attracted farmers, seed producers, research scientists and chemical companies within Australia.Existing practices for controlling rhizoctonia were reviewed and continuing issues for managing the pathogen were identified during the workshop.

Rizoctonia solani can be divided into mating types which vary in their ability to cause different forms of the disease (e.g. stem canker and black scurf and also their sensitivity to common fungicides used for their control). The Australians have developed molecular diagnostic tools to differentiate between these types. Various uses for the tools are being explored – for example determining how the amount of rhizoctonia solani in the soil relates to resulting disease in potatoes. The Potato Product Group are currently in the process of applying for funding from MAF SFF to implement this technology in New Zealand in association with Crop & Food Research.

Peter Lane, an Australian grower supplying the potato processing industry described eloquently his experience of rhizoctonia and its impact on potato production. By his calculations, rhizoctonia – related diseases within his crop resulted in a 5-8 tonne per acre loss of potatoes suitable for sale to the processing industry. With the additional cost of control, the economic losses amounted to approximately $A 1500

per acre. Like many growers in New Zealand, he is presently applying chemical treatments in-furrow to reduce the incidence of rhizoctonia. Chemical treatments, both in-furrow and directly onto seed stocks are widely used for control of rhizoctonia.

The presentation initiated a debate about the best methods for chemical treatment of rhizoctonia. Soil borne infestation is thought to be the primary source of infection of potato crops, yet research suggests that seed treatments can also reduce disease severity. Results were also presented demonstrating that a combination of seed and in-furrow treatments provides particularly effective protection from rhizoctonia. It was noted that use of a single chemical class can result in control failure due to the fungi becoming resistant to that chemical. Non-chemical methods of control are being investigated with a particular focus on crop rotation. It

was noted that New Zealand has a longterm crop rotation trial underway that is expected to yield valuable information.

Rhizoctonia in Potatoes NZ Grower December 2007 By Dr Sonia Whiteman

Rhizoctonia in PotatoesFrom: NZ Grower December 2007By Dr Sonia Whiteman

hizoctonia solani is anintractable fungal

disease of commerciallyvaluable vegetablesworldwide. It was thefocus of a recent workshopin Melbourne, held toaddress ongoing economiclosses for Australianvegetable and potatogrowers. The workshopattracted farmers, seedproducers, researchscientists and chemicalcompanies within Australia.Existing practices forcontrolling rhizoctonia werereviewed and continuingissues for managing thepathogen were identifiedduring the workshop.

Rizoctonia solani can be divided into mating typeswhich vary in their ability to cause different forms ofthe disease (e.g. stem canker and black scurf andalso their sensitivity to common fungicides used fortheir control). The Australians have developedmolecular diagnostic tools to differentiate betweenthese types. Various uses for the tools are beingexplored – for example determining how theamount of rhizoctonia solani in the soil relates toresulting disease in potatoes. The Potato ProductGroup are currently in the process of applying forfunding from MAF SFF to implement this technologyin New Zealand in association with Crop & FoodResearch.

Peter Lane, an Australian grower supplying thepotato processing industry described eloquently his

experience of rhizoctonia and its impact on potatoproduction. By his calculations, rhizoctonia – relateddiseases within his crop resulted in a 5 8 tonne peracre loss of potatoes suitable for sale to theprocessing industry. With the additional cost ofcontrol, the economic losses amounted toapproximately AU $15,000 per acre. Like manygrowers in New Zealand, he is presently applyingchemical treatments in furrow to reduce theincidence of rhizoctonia. Chemical treatments, bothin furrow and directly onto seed stocks are widelyused for control of rhizoctonia.

The presentation initiated a debate about the bestmethods for chemical treatment of rhizoctonia.Soil borne infestation is thought to be the primarysource of infection of potato crops, yet researchsuggests that seed treatments can

R

Rhizoctonia solaniDisease Cycle

also reduce disease severity. Results were alsopresented demonstrating that a combination of seedand in furrow treatments provides particularlyeffective protection from rhizoctonia. It was notedthat use of a single chemical class can result incontrol failure due to the fungi becoming resistant tothat chemical. Non chemical methods of control arebeing investigated with a particular focus on croprotation. It was noted that New Zealand has a longterm crop rotation trial underway that is expected toyield valuable information.

Potato facts Where and when did farmers start growing potatoes?Recent research indicates that the first potatoes were cultivated near Lake Titicaca, on the Peru/Bolivia border, about 8 000 years ago.

Where are potatoes grown today?All around the world! Potato farming has spread to China's Yunnan plateau and the subtropical lowlands of India, to Java's equatorial highlands and the steppes of Ukraine.

How many varieties of potato are there?The International Potato Center (CIP) holds 7 500 different varieties of potato (1,950 of them wild).

How much potato is produced in the world each year?In 2006, potato farmers produced 315 million tonnes (that's 347 million US tons)!

Andean Potatoes

also

redu

cedisease

severity.

Results

were

also

presen

tedde

mon

stratin

gthat

acombinatio

nof

seed

and

infurrow

treatm

ents

provides

particularly

effectiveprotectio

nfrom

rhizoctonia.

Itwas

noted

that

use

ofa

single

chem

ical

classcan

result

incontrolfailure

dueto

thefungibecom

ingresistantto

that

chem

ical.Non

chem

icalmetho

dsof

controlare

beinginvestigated

with

aparticular

focuson

crop

rotatio

n.Itwas

notedthat

New

Zealandhasalong

term

crop

rotatio

ntrialund

erway

that

isexpe

cted

toyieldvaluableinform

ation.

Pota

to fa

cts

Whe

re a

nd w

hen

did

farm

ers

star

t gro

win

g po

tato

es?

Rec

ent r

esea

rch

indi

cate

s th

at th

e fir

st p

otat

oes

wer

e cu

ltiva

ted

near

Lak

e Ti

ticac

a, o

n th

e P

eru/

Bol

ivia

bor

der,

abou

t 8 0

00 y

ears

ago

.

Whe

re a

re p

otat

oes

grow

n to

day?

All

arou

nd th

e w

orld

! Pot

ato

farm

ing

has

spre

ad

to C

hina

's Y

unna

n pl

atea

u an

d th

e su

btro

pica

l lo

wla

nds

of In

dia,

to J

ava'

s eq

uato

rial h

ighl

ands

an

d th

e st

eppe

s of

Ukr

aine

.

How

man

y va

rietie

s of

pot

ato

are

ther

e?Th

e In

tern

atio

nal P

otat

o C

ente

r (C

IP) h

olds

7

500

diffe

rent

var

ietie

s of

pot

ato

(1,9

50 o

f th

em w

ild).

How

muc

h po

tato

is p

rodu

ced

in th

e w

orld

ea

ch y

ear?

In 2

006,

pot

ato

farm

ers

prod

uced

315

mill

ion

tonn

es (t

hat's

347

milli

on U

S to

ns)!

An

de

an

Po

tato

es


LatestCharges

Previous charges

1 0 - 5000 $2001 (Oct 07) 1501 – 5000 $1002 5001 – 50,000 $150 $3253 50,001 - 100,000 $250 $6004 100,001 – 500,000 $700 $1,2005 500,001 – 1,000,000 $1,600 $1,8006 1,000,001 – 5,000,000 $2,500 $2,4007 5,000,001 – 10,000,000 $4,000

$3,0008 >10,000,000 $6,000

3

2

Spud Corner

2



Capacity up to 1,500 TonneDonnybrookPh: Anthoney 0417 919 906

Water Reform

Currently (18 February 2008) we are all waiting for the results of the Legislative Assembly’s Economics and Industry Standing Committee’s report due on 28 February 2008.

The Minister for Water has in the mean time released another revised set of water licence administration fees. While most of our growers have received a reduction in their water licence fees, our larger growers however have received a substantial increase.

Our industry is still totally convinced the Minister can’t justify the fees.

Our involvement with the Government not only includes trying to have them justify their latest water licence charges, it also includes reviewing the new legislation, National Water Initiative issues and COAG payments.

On 30 April 2008, as a member of the Horticulture Water Initiative, I will be meeting with Ken Mathews (CEO) National Water Commission.

This will be a great opportunity to find out how the Commission is currently thinking on issues affecting Western Australia.


LatestCharges

Previous charges

1 0 - 5000 $2001 (Oct 07) 1501 – 5000 $1002 5001 – 50,000 $150 $3253 50,001 - 100,000 $250 $6004 100,001 – 500,000 $700 $1,2005 500,001 – 1,000,000 $1,600 $1,8006 1,000,001 – 5,000,000 $2,500 $2,4007 5,000,001 – 10,000,000 $4,000

$3,0008 >10,000,000 $6,000

New schedule of water licence charges vs previous charges

Spud Corner

3

Rhizoctonia solani is an intractable fungal disease of commercially valuable vegetables worldwide. It was the focus of a recent workshop in Melbourne, held to address ongoing economic losses for Australian vegetable and potato growers. The workshop attracted farmers, seed producers, research scientists and chemical companies within Australia.Existing practices for controlling rhizoctonia were reviewed and continuing issues for managing the pathogen were identified during the workshop.

Rizoctonia solani can be divided into mating types which vary in their ability to cause different forms of the disease (e.g. stem canker and black scurf and also their sensitivity to common fungicides used for their control). The Australians have developed molecular diagnostic tools to differentiate between these types. Various uses for the tools are being explored – for example determining how the amount of rhizoctonia solani in the soil relates to resulting disease in potatoes. The Potato Product Group are currently in the process of applying for funding from MAF SFF to implement this technology in New Zealand in association with Crop & Food Research.

Peter Lane, an Australian grower supplying the potato processing industry described eloquently his experience of rhizoctonia and its impact on potato production. By his calculations, rhizoctonia – related diseases within his crop resulted in a 5-8 tonne per acre loss of potatoes suitable for sale to the processing industry. With the additional cost of control, the economic losses amounted to approximately $A 1500

per acre. Like many growers in New Zealand, he is presently applying chemical treatments in-furrow to reduce the incidence of rhizoctonia. Chemical treatments, both in-furrow and directly onto seed stocks are widely used for control of rhizoctonia.

The presentation initiated a debate about the best methods for chemical treatment of rhizoctonia. Soil borne infestation is thought to be the primary source of infection of potato crops, yet research suggests that seed treatments can also reduce disease severity. Results were also presented demonstrating that a combination of seed and in-furrow treatments provides particularly effective protection from rhizoctonia. It was noted that use of a single chemical class can result in control failure due to the fungi becoming resistant to that chemical. Non-chemical methods of control are being investigated with a particular focus on crop rotation. It

was noted that New Zealand has a longterm crop rotation trial underway that is expected to yield valuable information.

Rhizoctonia in Potatoes NZ Grower December 2007 By Dr Sonia Whiteman

Rhizoctonia in PotatoesFrom: NZ Grower December 2007By Dr Sonia Whiteman

hizoctonia solani is anintractable fungal

disease of commerciallyvaluable vegetablesworldwide. It was thefocus of a recent workshopin Melbourne, held toaddress ongoing economiclosses for Australianvegetable and potatogrowers. The workshopattracted farmers, seedproducers, researchscientists and chemicalcompanies within Australia.Existing practices forcontrolling rhizoctonia werereviewed and continuingissues for managing thepathogen were identifiedduring the workshop.

Rizoctonia solani can be divided into mating typeswhich vary in their ability to cause different forms ofthe disease (e.g. stem canker and black scurf andalso their sensitivity to common fungicides used fortheir control). The Australians have developedmolecular diagnostic tools to differentiate betweenthese types. Various uses for the tools are beingexplored – for example determining how theamount of rhizoctonia solani in the soil relates toresulting disease in potatoes. The Potato ProductGroup are currently in the process of applying forfunding from MAF SFF to implement this technologyin New Zealand in association with Crop & FoodResearch.

Peter Lane, an Australian grower supplying thepotato processing industry described eloquently his

experience of rhizoctonia and its impact on potatoproduction. By his calculations, rhizoctonia – relateddiseases within his crop resulted in a 5 8 tonne peracre loss of potatoes suitable for sale to theprocessing industry. With the additional cost ofcontrol, the economic losses amounted toapproximately AU $15,000 per acre. Like manygrowers in New Zealand, he is presently applyingchemical treatments in furrow to reduce theincidence of rhizoctonia. Chemical treatments, bothin furrow and directly onto seed stocks are widelyused for control of rhizoctonia.

The presentation initiated a debate about the bestmethods for chemical treatment of rhizoctonia.Soil borne infestation is thought to be the primarysource of infection of potato crops, yet researchsuggests that seed treatments can

R

Rhizoctonia solaniDisease Cycle

also reduce disease severity. Results were alsopresented demonstrating that a combination of seedand in furrow treatments provides particularlyeffective protection from rhizoctonia. It was notedthat use of a single chemical class can result incontrol failure due to the fungi becoming resistant tothat chemical. Non chemical methods of control arebeing investigated with a particular focus on croprotation. It was noted that New Zealand has a longterm crop rotation trial underway that is expected toyield valuable information.

Potato facts Where and when did farmers start growing potatoes?Recent research indicates that the first potatoes were cultivated near Lake Titicaca, on the Peru/Bolivia border, about 8 000 years ago.

Where are potatoes grown today?All around the world! Potato farming has spread to China's Yunnan plateau and the subtropical lowlands of India, to Java's equatorial highlands and the steppes of Ukraine.

How many varieties of potato are there?The International Potato Center (CIP) holds 7 500 different varieties of potato (1,950 of them wild).

How much potato is produced in the world each year?In 2006, potato farmers produced 315 million tonnes (that's 347 million US tons)!

Andean Potatoes

also

redu

cedisease

severity.

Results

were

also

presen

tedde

mon

stratin

gthat

acombinatio

nof

seed

and

infurrow

treatm

ents

provides

particularly

effectiveprotectio

nfrom

rhizoctonia.

Itwas

noted

that

use

ofa

single

chem

ical

classcan

result

incontrolfailure

dueto

thefungibecom

ingresistantto

that

chem

ical.Non

chem

icalmetho

dsof

controlare

beinginvestigated

with

aparticular

focuson

crop

rotatio

n.Itwas

notedthat

New

Zealandhasalong

term

crop

rotatio

ntrialund

erway

that

isexpe

cted

toyieldvaluableinform

ation.

Pota

to fa

cts

Whe

re a

nd w

hen

did

farm

ers

star

t gro

win

g po

tato

es?

Rec

ent r

esea

rch

indi

cate

s th

at th

e fir

st p

otat

oes

wer

e cu

ltiva

ted

near

Lak

e Ti

ticac

a, o

n th

e P

eru/

Bol

ivia

bor

der,

abou

t 8 0

00 y

ears

ago

.

Whe

re a

re p

otat

oes

grow

n to

day?

All

arou

nd th

e w

orld

! Pot

ato

farm

ing

has

spre

ad

to C

hina

's Y

unna

n pl

atea

u an

d th

e su

btro

pica

l lo

wla

nds

of In

dia,

to J

ava'

s eq

uato

rial h

ighl

ands

an

d th

e st

eppe

s of

Ukr

aine

.

How

man

y va

rietie

s of

pot

ato

are

ther

e?Th

e In

tern

atio

nal P

otat

o C

ente

r (C

IP) h

olds

7

500

diffe

rent

var

ietie

s of

pot

ato

(1,9

50 o

f th

em w

ild).

How

muc

h po

tato

is p

rodu

ced

in th

e w

orld

ea

ch y

ear?

In 2

006,

pot

ato

farm

ers

prod

uced

315

mill

ion

tonn

es (t

hat's

347

milli

on U

S to

ns)!

An

de

an

Po

tato

es


LatestCharges

Previous charges

1 0 - 5000 $2001 (Oct 07) 1501 – 5000 $1002 5001 – 50,000 $150 $3253 50,001 - 100,000 $250 $6004 100,001 – 500,000 $700 $1,2005 500,001 – 1,000,000 $1,600 $1,8006 1,000,001 – 5,000,000 $2,500 $2,4007 5,000,001 – 10,000,000 $4,000

$3,0008 >10,000,000 $6,000

3

Spud CornerSpud CornerSpud Corner

4

World potato production has increased

World potato production has increased at an annual average rate of 4.5 percent over the last 10 years, and exceeded the growth in production of many other major food commodities in developing countries, particularly in Asia. While consumption of potato has declined in Europe, it has increased in the developing world, from less than 10 kg (22 lb) per capita in 1961-63 to almost 22 kg (48.5lb) in 2003. Consumption of potato in developing countries is still less than a quarter of that in Europe, but all evidence suggests it will increase strongly in the future.

Over the next two decades, the world’s population is expected to grow on average by more than 100

million people a year. More than 95 percent of that increase will occur in the developing countries, where pressure on land and water is already intense. A key challenge facing the international community is, therefore, to ensure food security for present and future generations, while protecting the natural resource base on which we all depend. The potato will be an important part of efforts to meet those challenges.

The world potato sector is undergoing major changes. Until the early 1990s, most potatoes were grown and consumed in Europe, North America and countries of the former Soviet Union. Since then, there has been a dramatic increase in potato production and demand in Asia, Africa and Latin America, where output rose from less than

30 million tonnes in the early 1960s to almost 120 million tonnes by the mid-1990s. FAO data shows that in 2005, for the first time, the developing world’s potato production - some 162 million tonnes - exceeded that of the developed world (156 million tonnes).

China is now the biggest potato producer, and almost a third of all potatoes is harvested in China and India.

Asia and Europe are the world’s major potato producing regions, accounting for more than 80 percent of world production in 2006. While harvests in Africa and Latin America were far smaller, production was at record levels. North America was the clear leader in yields, at more than 40 tonnes per hectare.

Asia consumes almost half of the world’s potato supply, but it’s huge population means that consumption per person was a modest 25 kg in 2005. The heartiest potato eaters are Europeans. Per capita consumption is lowest, but increasing, in Africa and Latin America.

Demand for potatoes is growing

World potato production 1990-2006

Developed countries Developing countries

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Countries million tonnes

Developed 195.22 184.64 168.69 193.59 169.25 182.04 163.58 171.79 155.25

Developing 84.09 93.44 102.38 117.71 131.41 146.51 152.41 157.77 159.12

WORLD 279.32 278.09 271.07 311.31 300.67 328.55 315.98 329.56 314.37

Harvested area Quantity Yield

hectares tonnes tonnes/hectare

Africa 1 499 687 16 420 729 10.95

Asia/Oceania 9 143 495 131 286 181 14.36

Europe 7 348 420 126 332 492 17.19

Latin America 951 974 15 627 530 16.42

North America 608 131 24 708 603 40.63

WORLD 19 551 707 314 375 535 16.08

Source: FAOSTAT

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006


Developed 195.22 184.64 168.69 193.59 169.25 182.04 163.58 171.79 155.25

Developing 84.09 93.44 102.38 117.71 131.41 146.51 152.41 157.77 159.12

WORLD 279.32 278.09 271.07 311.31 300.67 328.55 315.98 329.56 314.37

developed developing


1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006


Developed 195.22 184.64 168.69 193.59 169.25 182.04 163.58 171.79 155.25

Developing 84.09 93.44 102.38 117.71 131.41 146.51 152.41 157.77 159.12

WORLD 279.32 278.09 271.07 311.31 300.67 328.55 315.98 329.56 314.37


1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006


Developed 195.22 184.64 168.69 193.59 169.25 182.04 163.58 171.79 155.25

Developing 84.09 93.44 102.38 117.71 131.41 146.51 152.41 157.77 159.12

WORLD 279.32 278.09 271.07 311.31 300.67 328.55 315.98 329.56 314.37

FAO, 2008

Spud CornerSpud Corner

035



Africa 1 499 687 16 420 729 10.95

Asia/Oceania 9 143 495 131 286 181 14.36

Europe 7 348 420 126 332 492 17.19

Latin America 951 974 15 627 530 16.42

North America 608 131 24 708 603 40.63

WORLD 19 551 707 314 375 535 16.08

Source: FAOSTAT

Potato production by region 2006



Africa 1 499 687 16 420 729 10.95

Asia/Oceania 9 143 495 131 286 181 14.36

Europe 7 348 420 126 332 492 17.19

Latin America 951 974 15 627 530 16.42

North America 608 131 24 708 603 40.63

WORLD 19 551 707 314 375 535 16.08

Source: FAOSTAT

Potato consumption, by region, 2005

Population Consumption

Total food (t) kg per capita

Africa 905 937 000 12 850 000 14.18

Asia/Oceania 3 938 469 000 101 756 000 25.83

Europe 739 276 000 71 087 000 96.15

Latin America 561 344 000 13 280 000 23.65

North America 330 608 000 19 156 000 57.94

WORLD 6 475 634 000 218 129 000 33.68

Source: FAOSTAT

Potato consumption by region 2005

Potato consumption, by region, 2005

Population Consumption

Total food (t) kg per capita

Africa 905 937 000 12 850 000 14.18

Asia/Oceania 3 938 469 000 101 756 000 25.83

Europe 739 276 000 71 087 000 96.15

Latin America 561 344 000 13 280 000 23.65

North America 330 608 000 19 156 000 57.94

WORLD 6 475 634 000 218 129 000 33.68

Source: FAOSTAT

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Potato factsWhere and when did farmers start growing potatoes?Recent research indicates that the first potatoes were cultivated near Lake Titicaca, on the Peru/Bolivia border, about 8,000 years ago.

Where are potatoes grown today?All around the world! Potato farming has spread to China’s Yunnan plateau and the subtropical lowlands of India, to Java’s equatorial highlandsand the steppes of Ukraine.

How many varieties of potato are there?The International Potato Center (CIP) holds 7,500 different varieties of potato (1,950 of them wild).

How much potato is produced in the world each year?In 2006, potato farmers produced 315 million tonnes!

Andean potatoes

Spud Corner

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Bejo Seeds Pty Ltd • 460 Hall Road, Skye, Vic. 3977 • Tel.: (03) 9782 2811 • Fax: (03) 9782 2445 • E-Mail: [email protected] • Website: www.bejo.com.au

Come and visit us at ourOpen Days

Our Open Days this year will be held on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th April at our trials farm in Victoria (Melways ref: 132 F4), and our representatives will be on hand from 8am on each day to give guided tours and provide additional information.

Our wide range of specialist outdoor vegetable varieties will be displayed in our demonstration fi eld, with the featured product this year being cabbage in its many and varied forms. Onions and shallots (from seed) will be displayed indoors.

Your Partner for Added Value

03) 9782 2445 • E-Mail: [email protected] • Website: www.bejo.com.au

Bejo, a Name that stands for Quality

wa grower march 08

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