wa grower winter 14

Labour featurewhat you need to know

WA GrowerPotato GrowersAssociation Inc.

APC-VPCAPC-PPC

Agricultural Produce Commission

SINCE 1948Vol. 50 No 2. Winter 2014

$25.00 (inc GST)

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

Vegetable Growers Association

President Maureen Dobra Gingin t: (08) 9575 2086 m: 0417 174 110

Vice President Ken Sue Busselton m: 0417 986 467

Treasurer Anthony Marinovich Myalup/Bunbury m: 0417 907 910

Committee H. Shapland t: (08) 9845 1064 Albany K. Edwards m: 0427 724 243 Manjimup T. Le m: 0408 910 761 Metro D. Rigali m: 0407 447 524 Metro M. Grubisa m: 0413 050 182 Metro North S. Calameri m: 0418 957 236 Metro South P. Wauchope m: 0400 717 600 Gingin P. Shain m: 0419 041 045 Carnarvon D. Kuzmicich m: 0408 910 761 Carnarvon

Potato Growers Association

Executive Officer Jim Turley Metro m: 0410 697 842

President Dean Ryan Pemberton m: 0427 731 066

Vice President Andrew Tempra Manjimup m: 0417 097 729

Treasurer Mia Rose Myalup m: 0409 112 245

Committee C. Ayres m: 0428 451 014 Albany S. Calameri m: 0418 957 236 Metro V. Carter m: 0417 092 505 Busselton G. Bendotti m: 0427 569 903 Pemberton B. Russell m: 0429 318 216 Donnybrook D. Ryan m: 0427 731 066 Pemberton

• APC- Vegetable Producers Committee

• Potato Growers Association

• vegetablesWA

This issue of the WA Grower is brought to you by:

Cover photo: Vaughan Carter

Contact details for Horticulture House vegetablesWA, Potato Growers Association, Western Potatoes Horticulture House 103 Outram Street West Perth 6005 t: (08) 9481 0834 f: (08) 9481 0024 e: [email protected]

Executive Officer John Shannon m: 0488 111 526 e: [email protected]

Finance/Administrator/Communications Rebecca Blackman t: (08) 9481 0834 e: [email protected]

Magazine Advertising Morena Tarbotton t: (08) 9481 0834 e: [email protected]

Export Development Manager Gavin Foord m: 0435 018 189 e: [email protected]

Field Extension Officer Sarah Houston m: 0427 373 037 e: [email protected]

Vietnamese Field Extension Officer Truyen Vo m: 0457 457 559 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

Produced by vegetablesWA

Management Committees

WA cratesThe professional packaging service

for WA’s finest fresh fruit and vegetables

0 email: [email protected]

WAGROWER_0909.indd 18 15/9/09 3:52:00 PM

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WA GrowerVol. 49 No 2. Winter 2014

14 5832

1WA Grower WINTER 2014

YOUR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 3

From the Executive Officer 4

Field Extension Officers are here to help 5

President’s Report 8

President’s Report 8

Fresh Potatoes Campaign monthly highlights 10

International stage for Fresh Potatoes campaign 12

YOUR PRODUCTION 13

Biological options for stable fly appear promising 14

Post harvest management for vegetables 16

Melon industry looks to improve soil quality 20

Are you measuring crop water use effectively? 22

Benchmarking 24

Surveying insecticide resistance of green peach aphid 26

Soil pH — don’t let it get too acidic 27

Seed potato varieties 95

Permits 105

TOOL TIME 29

YOUR INDUSTRY 33

Why the future belongs to the potato 34

Grower profile — Vaughan Carter 38

Gascoyne Food Bowl Initiative moving ahead 40

Professional profile — Annie van Blommestein 42

Peter Ivankovich retires from Onions Australia 43

Budget overview for Agriculture 44

Economic Regulation Authority 45

Apply now for a Nuffield scholarship 46

YOUR BUSINESS 47

Calculating the decline in value of horticulture plants 48

Thinking about expansion? 50

2014–15 Federal Budget for business summary 52

Don’t let disputes ruin your business 54

Credit reporting changes 55

Labour feature

Project Tricord/Operation Polo 57

Employing legal workers a guide for businesses 58

Labour hire — where to find workers 60

Example of contractual clauses and exchange of letters 61

Seasonal Worker Program 63

City of Wanneroo — market gardens 65

YOUR MARKET 67

International interest in Southern Forests 68

Opening doors to business with China 71

National projects to benefit local growers 72

Government election promise to small exporters 74

YOUR ENVIRONMENT 75

Soil organisms potential indicators of soil health 76

drumMUSTER 79

YOUR SELF 81

It’s no surprise... we need fruit & veg 82

Coping with stress issues in the bush 84

When vegetables become your life and your clothing 89

VIETNAMESE TRANSLATIONS 90

YOUR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

Pricing From a low 40c* Crate Hire

Excluding GST. Excluding crate deposit. Perth depot pricing.

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YOUR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONSYOUR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS



4 WA Grower WINTER 2014


There are many who say that life wasn’t meant to be easy. Unfortunately this appears to apply all too much to the vegetable industry and the continual challenges we face.

Taking labour as an example, we’ve had a number of factors which make this situation more and more difficult. This starts with the latest increase to the minimum wage of 3%, which will flow to those operating under the Horticulture Award from July 1. When labour is a grower’s single largest cost even an increase of 3%, which may seem modest, is anything but insignificant. Those making these decisions about the price of labour seem to forget that vegetable growers are price takers rather than price makers when it comes to the sale of resulting produce and we simply can’t pass these additional labour costs on up the supply chain as labour can by law. Although the settings and desires of the potato industry are a matter for them, no wonder there are some vegetable growers who look enviously at the regulated WA ware potato industry.

Labour availability and costs have certainly come into particular focus recently as a concern for the industry beyond the effects of increasing the minimum wage. Growers should ensure they are doing all is required by law to ensure the bonafides of their staff.

This edition of the WA Grower continues providing information that growers need in this area as in previous editions and through our Field Extension Officers.

vegetablesWA will continue advocating with government the policy changes required by our industry to keep us viable. In the more immediate term, growers should also look into existing labour pools, including the Seasonal Labour Scheme, labour hire companies, refugees, and the unemployed through job search agencies (http://jobsearch.gov.au/provider/default.aspx). Please contact me or our Field Extension Officers if you would like further information on these options.

vegetablesWA is also part of and assisting a working group of growers from across the vegetable, fruit and strawberry industries to seek solutions to labour problems, largely through investigating the options above. I will keep vegetable growers updated through the e-news and the WA Grower.

I strongly encourage any growers who don’t already receive the fortnightly vegetablesWA e-news and have an email address to make contact with our office so we can add your details to the distribution list.

In the modern world there are often issues which arise that need to be considered more immediately than via a quarterly magazine. Similarly, although we try to ensure that the WA Grower is comprehensive, there will inevitably some things which will be detailed in the e-news but not included in the magazine. To update your email address, please contact Rebecca Blackman on (08) 9481 0834 or [email protected].

Given the ever rising costs of our industry, growers should also give some real attention to opportunities for reducing costs which they might not have considered properly before.

This includes the use of things such as: solar panels through reputable companies; efficient irrigating through the Vegetable Irrigation Scheduling System; through to more simple production methods such as getting your soil pH right. In addition to helping growers with these, vegetablesWA is working on achieving other additional cost savings measures for members — so stay tuned in future editions.

As well as reducing costs, at the other end of the business equation there is a definite trend that some growers are reconsidering their market opportunities as well. Given that our domestic market is dominated by a small number or retailers, some growers have begun thinking about the opportunities in export markets who have not thought about this before, as a way of improving their sales prices and volumes as well as spreading their risks. Our Export Development Manager, Gavin Foord, would be pleased to talk to you to assist no matter whether you’ve only just begun to wonder about what is possible or you’re already engaged in export markets. Like all things regarding your vegetablesWA, there is no harm in asking.

If there are other things you would like assistance with please give me a call or speak to our Field Extension Officers. That is definitely why we are here as we try to make your life easier amongst the continual challenges. I hope the Winter edition may have some information of interest to you.

From the Executive Officer

Growers should look into existing labour pools, including the Seasonal Labour Scheme, labour hire companies, refugees, and the unemployed.

BY JOHN SHANNONEXECUTIVE OFFICER, VEGETABLESWA

http://jobsearch.gov.au/provider/default.aspx

http://jobsearch.gov.au/provider/default.aspx

mailto:finance%40vegetableswa.com.au?subject=



vegetablesWA employs two Field Extension Officers to ensure continual contact and communication with vegetable growers around the state.

Both myself and Truyen Vo have been on board since 2012 (March and September respectively), and have spent countless hours on the road and in the field speaking with growers and industry personnel, looking at crops and production systems, and taking time to understand and assist vegetable growing businesses here in WA.

The word ‘extension’ in our industry is a general term meaning the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education.

Field Extension Officersare here to help

BY SARAH HOUSTONFIELD EXTENSION OFFICER,VEGETABLESWA



It includes a wide range of communication methods and activities to connect farmers with the latest information, industry professionals and keep producers up-to-date on issues such as science and research, production, marketing, business skills and health.

Our role as Field Extension Officers for the vegetable industry allows for the extension of research and development that goes on within the industry, as well as other important industry related information such as innovation and technology. We develop relationships with growers over time, helping them to grasp new concepts, find new information and gradually implement change. The role also provides a valuable feedback mechanism so that the broader industry is kept aware of issues important to growers and their views can be heard.

Our specific jobs change from day-to-day and depend on what is happening in the industry at any given time. As such, our roles involve many different tasks and a wide range of skills. In the field, we could be helping a grower with a specific weed or pest problem, either by providing them with the most up to date research and information, or by connecting them with an expert in the field. We could be discussing issues such as water availability, soil health or chemical application and taking any issues back to someone who will be able to assist.

In the field we are also collecting information from growers about what information they would like to access to and the type of research they would like to see conducted in the future.

We have completed many surveys of growers regarding their requirements and expectations in areas such as soil health, labour requirements, business skills and development, exporting, irrigation, business costs, markets and more. These studies help to direct and research in the future to ensure R&D projects are meeting the needs of the growers.

We also have the responsibility to be constantly looking out for new and relevant information to provide growers in the quarterly WA Grower magazine. Through these articles, we are able to extend information to a large number of growers all over the state about major issues, recent events, latest research and exciting new technologies for vegetable growers in WA.

Holding grower workshops, information sessions and field days is another way that we can educate growers on different subjects as extension officers. In our travels around the state, we are always taking on board the big issues that affect growers and understand the areas where growers need more information. The events run by vegetablesWA aim to provide the detailed information that growers are after, as well as providing a networking opportunity and an environment for discussion with industry professionals as well as with other growers.

Vegetable growers in WA often have extremely hectic lifestyles, due the ability to grow crops for 12 months of the year or having other enterprises on the go at the same time. Ground preparation, planting, irrigating, fertilising, pest management, harvesting, packing, marketing and transporting are just a few of the year round activities that growers are involved in, not to mention other day-to-day duties such as staffing, maintenance, bookwork, logistics and audits. With this constant production and housekeeping, we know that growers don’t always have time to go out and research new methods, groundbreaking technology or available courses to help improve their business.

As Field Extension Officers, we are here to help you get in touch with this information. We are always on the lookout for available courses or development opportunities for growers — whether they be business workshops, farm safety or Freshcare courses, information sessions, field walks, study tours overseas or demonstrations.

We are passionate about the longevity and sustainability of the WA vegetable

We develop relationships with growers over time, helping them to grasp new concepts, find new information and implement change.



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industry into the future, and so we want to provide you with the information you need to become as productive and profitable as possible by helping you find the right opportunities to ensure you can continue to develop your business.

Truyen and I spend a lot of our time visiting growers on their properties to find out what you need from vegetablesWA to help your business. So please contact us with any ideas or if you’d like us to come and see you to discuss any ideas or issues you might have.

vegetablesWA also send out a fortnightly email newsletter to growers informing them of upcoming events and recent news. This is a great source of information for growers with links to information and opportunities in different areas of WA.

If you do not receive the e-news, please get in touch with us and we will be sure to add you to the mailing list.

We encourage you to contact the vegetablesWA Field Extension Officers for any information you need on research and development or industry matters, or to talk about upcoming opportunities and events. Truyen and I travel all over the state to visit growers and aim to provide the information you need to have a successful vegetable growing operation into the future.

MORE INFORMATION

Contact Sarah on 0427 373 037 or email [email protected]

Contact Truyen on 0457 457 559 or email [email protected]

mailto:sarah.houston%40vegetableswa.com.au?subject=

mailto:truyen.vo%40vegetableswa.com.au?subject=



I recently attended the launch of the ERAs draft report into the regulated marketing of potatoes in WA. My hopes were high after the PGA and the PMC provided the ERA with two professional reports, comprehensively extolling the benefits to the state of the regulated system.

Unfortunately the ERA did not see it the same way. Instead they relied on outdated research, sought out disgruntled growers and were influenced by a small number of stakeholders looking for a scapegoat for failed export seed initiatives. Time will tell whether they take any notice of our response to their draft report. With the ERA’s ideological bias to opposing any sort of regulation we can only hope that the government will see through the discrepancies upon receiving the final report.

The Manjimup Pemberton Grower Group and the PMC recently held a four day agronomy workshop featuring agronomist Doris Blaesing from Tasmania. The main message from Doris was that healthy balanced soils are an important driver of yield and internal/external quality. Feedback from the growers that attended was very positive. The PMC are now organising a study tour of Tasmania to visit grower’s farms that have already implemented these and other techniques.

BY DEAN RYANPRESIDENT, POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION

President’s Report

Potato GrowersAssociation Inc.

The vegetable industry has been experiencing some difficult issues lately. That issue — is labour. However, it is not just the vegetable industry but all industries that use international workers.

When an international person commences work, it is the responsibility of all Australian businesses to employ legal workers and it is necessary to check their visas. This can be done quite easily by opening the Department of Immigration website www.immi.gov.au. At the bottom right hand side of the home page is: Check Visa Conditions. You will need to register as a VEVO Organisation — fill in your details and tick VEVO Access. Once you have registered — you will receive a temporary password. Once received, you can create your own password and you will be given a username.

There are a variety of businesses that can supply labour to our industry. One of these, that I have been involved with for many years, is Essential Personnel. They are a specialist employment agency for people with disabilities. They are funded through the Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

During March, John Shannon and Sarah Houston and I visited growers in the Albany region. It was really great to catch up with these growers and hear their successes and also their problems.

They also face labour issue but along with other regional areas — transport is a major issue. Another issue identified was the ability to purchase their supplies at a reasonable cost without affecting their businesses and their bottom line of profit. I would like to say thank you to all the growers of Albany, for their hospitality.

I would like to end this report on a positive note. In April we hosted an information afternoon about the benefits of solar energy and also information regarding the federal government’s renewable energy situation. It was very well attended. In the previous two months, we had our solar system turned on and we were able to demonstrate the remarkable savings we had made.

Solar energy is usually targeted at domestic use but commercial businesses are now realising the advantages of solar energy. Businesses use the majority of their energy during daylight hours and solar power can be of great financial benefit to them. One note is to make sure that the solar company is reputable. I would encourage the vegetable growers of Western Australia to not only think about the benefits that can be gained but do something about it. Make that call!

President’s Report

BY MAUREEN DOBRAPRESIDENT, VEGETABLESWA

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JanuaryMediaCinema — 30 second commercial shown in previews to family blockbuster movies.

Digital video — TV commercials aired to TV On Demand viewers

Digital online — interactive adverts across targeted websites

Google Adwords — targeted adverting to users who search for potato related terms

Digital — Woolworths campaign within the online store. Banner adverts served to consumer in categories Potato Chips, Rice, Pasta, Fruit & Veg to remind them about potatoes.

Social media — a Fresh Potatoes Twitter accounts was established and Tweet Perth committed to retweeting our tweets to their 35,000 followers.

Tactical — health campaignThe objective was to refocus on health and remind consumers about the positive health benefits of consuming potatoes.

Activities included:

• Outdoor — a heavy 2-week Shop-A-Light campaign targeting major supermarkets with the creative message ‘Potatoes Fuel For Life’

• PR — delivered 100 x 1kg potatoes to 8 commercial radio stations to prompt presenters to discuss potatoes without paying for advertising or sponsorship

• Ambassador — the engagement of Dr Joe Kosterich, as our ‘Locally grown Fresh Potatoes Health Ambassador’

• Radio — 4-week campaign on the Red FM. 10 x 60 second ‘fact/myth busting’ style adverts where Dr Joe covered health topics Carbohydrates, Starch, GI, Fat, Fibre, Folate, B-Vitamins, Vitamin-C, Potassium and Cooking.

FebruaryMediaTV — Seven Weather sponsorship within My Kitchen Rules

Video — TV commercials aired to TV On Demand viewers

Press — half page adverts in West Australian Fresh



Digital — Coles campaign within the online store. Banner adverts served to consumer in categories Vegetables, Frozen Potato Products, Rice, Pasta and Grains to remind them about potatoes.

Tactical — Karri Country PotatoesKarri County was officially launched. The major features of the campaign were:

• Heavy support to Pemberton Washpackers to drive independent stores to trial product

• Dedicated Sales Manager to personally visit IGA’s, Good Green Grocers and Independents to generate customer leads

• Point-of-sale which included a ‘WIN A Holiday to Manjiumup Pemberton’ consumer incentive.

New website www.karricountrypotatoes.com.au

• Launch dinner with The West Australia to showcase the product to the media

• Trade Launch at The Perth Markets Authority for buyers to generate sales leads.

Event — Chef SundownerMonday 10th February the Potato Marketing Corporation hosted 80 Top Chefs, Growers, Media, and Industry at Don Hancey’s HQ Panorama Catering for the 2014 Chef's Sundowner.

Media coverage from the event was fantastic with articles in:

• The West, Fresh

• The Western Suburbs Weekly

• The Countryman.

MarchMediaTV — metro and regional TV plus sponsorship of Seven Weather within My Kitchen Rules


Google Adwords — Targeted adverting to users who search for potato related terms

Fresh Potatoes Campaign monthly highlights

The Potato Marketing Corporation of Western Australia’s Marketing Campaign

Serve Up Some GoodneSS

http://www.karricountrypotatoes.com.au

http://www.karricountrypotatoes.com.au



Coloured smallsThe Potato Marketing Corporation is currently driving a coloured smalls program designed to inspire product usage and stimulate market demand all year round amongst Perth’s top Chefs and Caterers.

Lead by Don Hancey, Sam Calameri and supported by marketing, the team met with Beaumonde Catering, Comestibles Catering, Ultimo Catering, The Print Hall and Perth Arena to talk about varieties, availability, seasonality and size of smalls.

“The feedback from Chef’s has been overwhelming positive,” said Don. “Most Chefs admitted they were lacking knowledge on the potato industry, regions and varieties and wanted their wholesalers to be more pro-active in communicating what varieties are coming on stream and in what volume.”

Don also said “They [Chefs] said in the past year they had noticed the Fresh Potatoes campaign, and said it is having a positive influence on their knowledge and buying habits.”

The program is set to expand into TAFEs and in addition to the current program, educate students on varieties and cooking usages.

Tactical — Coloured Smalls Launch of the Coloured Smalls program that aims to inspire product usage and stimulate market demand all year round amongst Perth’s top Chefs and Caterers.

AprilMediaTV — metro and regional TV



Tactical — Easter recipesPromotion of Easter recipes across social media and freshpotatoes.com.au to inspire and remind consumers to cook potatoes.

MayMediaTV — metro and regional TV



Tactical — Dan Masters on Nova 937Potatodor Dan Masters, Head Chef at Rockpool joined Nova’s breakfast team Nathan, Nat & Shaun and cooked the perfect chip, live on air. Dan promoted local, West Australian potatoes, the Potatodor program and Rockpool.

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Tactical — Seed for Schools ProgramStudents from 338 Early Learning Centres, Pre-Primary and Primary Schools across the Perth metro area received seed potatoes and educational resources to enable students to grow and learn about potatoes.

JuneMediaTV — metro and regional TV



Tactical — Western Australia DayReminding consumers about the importance of supporting and eating local West Australian potatoes as part of the ‘WA Day’ celebrations.

http://freshpotatoes.com.au

PRODUCTIONYOUR



An online study conducted by Colmar Brunton has been released which looks into consumer sentiment towards the Potato Marketing Corporation and the regulation of the West Australian potato industry.

The results show the majority of West Australians (81%) support the existence of the PMC.

The majority of respondents agreed that the PMC should manage WA potatoes as they ensure quality, freshness and consistency of local potato supply.

One responded said “...it is comforting to know that there is a body to oversee and manage the supply of this staple food on behalf of West Australian growers and consumers”.

Despite the importance of potatoes to West Australians, the vast majority are unaware of the PMC and their role in the industry.

Peter Evans, PMC CEO said "This survey provides guidance for us on work we need to undertake so consumers better understand our role, but does show a very high level of support for the existence of the PMC and the regulated system."

West Australian’s support regulation

International stage for Fresh Potatoes campaign The PMC are thrilled to announce the Fresh Potatoes — Serve Up Some Goodness campaign has been nominated as a finalist in two prestigious fresh produce marketing awards.

First nomination is in the AUSVEG National Awards for Excellence which is the industry’s premier awards, recognising the outstanding achievement and commitment by individuals and organisations within the vegetable and potato industry. The campaign is competing in the ‘Innovative Marketing Award’ with the winner set to be announced in Cairns on the 21 June 2014.

The second is in the PMA-Produce Plus Awards 2014 for ‘Marketer of the Year’. It recognises outstanding achievement over the past year in the marketing of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers in Australia and/or New Zealand.

The campaign is up against tough finalists Jazz Apple ‘Big Crunch’ campaign, ‘Delight Potatoes’ range at Woolworths, ‘Vital Vegetables’ range of fresh pre-packed slaw and salad, and ‘Love Beets’ a range of vacuum-packed natural baby beetroot.

The winner will be announced in Auckland, New Zealand on the 25th June 2014.

Yes 81%No 19%

Yes 75%No 25%

Yes 81%No 19%

Yes 75%No 25%


PRODUCTIONYOUR

YOUR PRODUCTION


YOUR PRODUCTION

BY DAVID COOK1 AND IAN MCPHARLIN2

1 CONSULTANT ENTOMOLOGIST, UWA 2 SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, DAFWA

Biological options for stable flyappear promising

Slashing cauliflower residue after harvest near Guilderton.


YOUR PRODUCTION

Field work testing the impact of various treatments on stable fly breeding as part of the HAL Stable Fly project has shown that some biological products appear very effective at controlling fly breeding in vegetable crop residues.

The most effective product cut breeding by 90%.

These products fall under two broad categories:

1. Products that enhance beneficial microbes in the soil such as the dikarya (higher or advanced) fungi. These products are referred to as ‘bio-accelerants’ or ‘bio-promoters’ of which Digester™ and Bioprime™ were tested.

The dikarya fungi enhanced in the soil through this indirect way are then thought to be pathogenic on the stable eggs and adults. They can be applied either directly to the crop residue after harvest or to the growing crop.

2. Biological products that contain the dikarya fungi in a formulation that can be applied directly after harvest to the crop residues in the field.

One of these is Mycoforce™ a formulation which contains three dikarya fungi (Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Verticillium lecani) reported to be pathogenic to stable fly eggs or adults.

Of these biological products the bio-accelerant Digester™ applied just after planting at 12L/ha to cabbage showed the biggest decrease in stable fly emergence (80%) in the harvested residue (see Figure 1).

This was followed by Mycoforce™ (60%) at 4kg/ha and Bioprime™ at 120L/ha, applied to the growing crop (20%).

By comparison, lime or lime sand at 2.5t/ha applied to the residue will reduce stable fly emergence by 50% on average, with Perlka™ (66% calcium cyanamide) at 500kg/ha and zero watering having the greatest impacts at 90% reduction.

These biological products may offer cheaper options than using high value fertilisers with insecticidal properties such as Perlka™. It should be noted that while properly composted chicken manure products should not breed stable fly or only breed the fly in very low numbers, partially/incompletely or poorly composted chicken manure (see Precom in Figure 1) applied to soils may breed more stable flies than untreated crop residues.

Given these promising results, we have applied for an extension to the HAL Stable Fly project for another season for more comprehensive testing of the biological products.

One option to be looked at is a new formulation of Mycoforce™ with a higher concentration of Metarhizium anisopliae which may be more pathogenic on stable fly than the other fungi.

We hope to know the result of this application by the beginning of July.

FIGURE 1 Stable fly numbers in crop residues after various treatments

Treatment number

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Adu

lt s

tabl

e fl

y em

erge

nce

(% o

f con

trol

)

0

20

40

60

80

100ControlPre-compostBioprime™

Mycoforce™

Lime sandDigester™

Perlka™

Zero irrigation or no water

Source: DAFWA


YOUR PRODUCTION

TABLE 1 Loss causes and prevention

Issue Where it occurs Result Prevention

Misshapen, split product

Production in field Low pack out and potential rejections from market Good soil, irrigation and nutrition management. Variety selection to suit growing conditions, and careful harvesting.

Wrong harvest maturity

Harvest Poor flavour and storage life. Mixed qualities in the same packaging and associated quality problems.

Maturity assessments before harvest and no mixing of different maturities in the same packaging.

Water loss after harvest

Throughout the supply chain

Shrinkage, loss of weight, increased susceptibility to diseases.

Maintain adequate humidity during storage. Avoid stresses due to handling, damage, or incorrect storage temperatures.

Mechanical damage Harvesting, grading, re-packing, stacking of boxes, shipping, retail handling

Careless handling of vegetables and containers causing splitting, internal bruising, superficial grazing, and crushing of soft produce leading to entry points for diseases, increased water loss and increased respiration.

Adequate harvest method, no over or under trimming. Grading line design with minimum drop heights, no sharp corners or points. Adhering to recommended pallet and container stacking patterns.

Increased respiration Throughout the supply chain

Increased use of stored energy resources (starch, sugars) leading to ageing and death when reserves are exhausted. Stress due to mechanical injury, diseases or temperature fluctuations can increase respiration rates and cause faster use of stored energy and increased water loss.

Adhere to temperature requirements for each vegetable type throughout the supply chain. Take field heat out as soon as possible after harvest.

Wrong temperatures, temperature fluctuations


Cold damage (browning, mushiness). Freezing at temperatures between 0 and -2ºC. Rots following low temperature injuries.

Check and maintain cooling equipment for stores, shipping containers and trucks. Do not store vegetables that need higher temperatures, for example, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes or eggplants with those requiring low temperatures.

Low oxygen, high carbon dioxide in storage atmosphere

In store rooms, containers and packaging

Poorly ventilated, controlled atmosphere/modified atmosphere storage reduces oxygen supply and can lead to accumulation of damaging carbon dioxide, ‘suffocating’ vegetables. This leads to stress that increases respiration and water loss. Stressed vegetables may release more ethylene and carbon dioxide into the storage atmosphere, which promotes ageing.

Good atmosphere control in controlled atmosphere rooms if used. Good ventilation in normal storage (including leaving gaps between pallets and walls for sufficient ventilation/head space in packaging). Correct use of modified atmosphere packaging and maintenance of the cool chain.

Diseases Throughout the supply chain

Rotting and contamination of surrounding produce Do not use dirty, contaminated field boxes or insufficiently sanitised washing water. Do not pack damaged, over mature or diseased produce in the same packaging as healthy produce.

Ethylene (a ripening agent) produced by fruits or from fuel exhausts

Packing sheds, stores, transport containers, depots

Pre-mature ageing (senescence), loss of colour and firmness, vegetables susceptible to decay.

Do not store or transport fruit emitting ethylene with vegetables that are sensitive to it. Do not use gas or diesel forklifts and vehicles in or near packing and storage facilities.

What does ‘post harvest’ mean?Post harvest activities include cooling, curing, handling, storage, processing, packaging, transport and the market phase. Post harvest management is about maintaining quality from production in the paddock to the vegetables being placed on a plate for consumption. Maintaining vegetable quality requires good systems and communication throughout the supply chain as each step is influenced by the previous; it is a chain of interdependent activities.

Why is it important?An estimated 10 to 40% of the food that is grown is never eaten because of damage, rotting, pests, and the consumers’ demand for ‘perfect’ produce. Generally, fresh produce losses are higher than those of processed food. These losses are often higher in warmer, more humid climates as in Northern Australia.

Post harvest management for vegetablesfacts on preventing losses

Key messages• Keep a focus on quality throughout

the supply chain

• Keep it healthy: at harvest and from there on

• Keep it cool: check optimum temperature requirements

• Keep it gentle: no rough handling/bumpy rides

• Keep it clean: storage rooms, equipment, sanitation tanks, packaging materials and people

• Keep it breathing: vegetables are alive, airflow and ventilation are vital in storage, transport and packaging.

Post harvest losses mean that production resources such as land, water, energy, fertilisers, labour and effort are wasted, and ultimately, profitability for growers is reduced.

How do vegetables get wasted after harvest?Minimising wastage requires a focus on quality throughout the supply chain.

Many post harvest losses are a direct result of production management (see Table 1). Vegetables that are affected by weeds, pests and diseases, inappropriately irrigated and fertilised, generally of poor quality before harvesting, or harvested past optimum maturity can never be improved by post harvest treatments.

The climate makes it more difficult to control diseases in the field, and take out field heat. Long transport distances also make it more challenging to maintain an

adequate cool chain.


YOUR PRODUCTION

TABLE 1 Loss causes and prevention

Issue Where it occurs Result Prevention

Misshapen, split product

Production in field Low pack out and potential rejections from market Good soil, irrigation and nutrition management. Variety selection to suit growing conditions, and careful harvesting.

Wrong harvest maturity

Harvest Poor flavour and storage life. Mixed qualities in the same packaging and associated quality problems.

Maturity assessments before harvest and no mixing of different maturities in the same packaging.

Water loss after harvest


Shrinkage, loss of weight, increased susceptibility to diseases.

Maintain adequate humidity during storage. Avoid stresses due to handling, damage, or incorrect storage temperatures.

Mechanical damage Harvesting, grading, re-packing, stacking of boxes, shipping, retail handling

Careless handling of vegetables and containers causing splitting, internal bruising, superficial grazing, and crushing of soft produce leading to entry points for diseases, increased water loss and increased respiration.

Adequate harvest method, no over or under trimming. Grading line design with minimum drop heights, no sharp corners or points. Adhering to recommended pallet and container stacking patterns.

Increased respiration Throughout the supply chain

Increased use of stored energy resources (starch, sugars) leading to ageing and death when reserves are exhausted. Stress due to mechanical injury, diseases or temperature fluctuations can increase respiration rates and cause faster use of stored energy and increased water loss.

Adhere to temperature requirements for each vegetable type throughout the supply chain. Take field heat out as soon as possible after harvest.

Wrong temperatures, temperature fluctuations


Cold damage (browning, mushiness). Freezing at temperatures between 0 and -2ºC. Rots following low temperature injuries.

Check and maintain cooling equipment for stores, shipping containers and trucks. Do not store vegetables that need higher temperatures, for example, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes or eggplants with those requiring low temperatures.

Low oxygen, high carbon dioxide in storage atmosphere

In store rooms, containers and packaging

Poorly ventilated, controlled atmosphere/modified atmosphere storage reduces oxygen supply and can lead to accumulation of damaging carbon dioxide, ‘suffocating’ vegetables. This leads to stress that increases respiration and water loss. Stressed vegetables may release more ethylene and carbon dioxide into the storage atmosphere, which promotes ageing.

Good atmosphere control in controlled atmosphere rooms if used. Good ventilation in normal storage (including leaving gaps between pallets and walls for sufficient ventilation/head space in packaging). Correct use of modified atmosphere packaging and maintenance of the cool chain.

Diseases Throughout the supply chain

Rotting and contamination of surrounding produce Do not use dirty, contaminated field boxes or insufficiently sanitised washing water. Do not pack damaged, over mature or diseased produce in the same packaging as healthy produce.

Ethylene (a ripening agent) produced by fruits or from fuel exhausts

Packing sheds, stores, transport containers, depots

Pre-mature ageing (senescence), loss of colour and firmness, vegetables susceptible to decay.

Do not store or transport fruit emitting ethylene with vegetables that are sensitive to it. Do not use gas or diesel forklifts and vehicles in or near packing and storage facilities.


YOUR PRODUCTION

Starting a new carrot export business was exciting. There was a lot to learn about growing the new varieties for the Japanese market. Size and quality specifications were tight. Luckily it was a good growing year, not too hot, not too wet and there were no disease issues.

Getting readyThe team building the packing shed was working day and night to get everything ready so we could start harvest in ten days. The new forced-air cooling unit was working fine, new bins had arrived, the grading line was coming together and even the new cartons and liners would be on site early. The packing shed would be ready for a Tuesday morning start; we could bring in at least 10 tonnes. The marketing department got excited.

HarvestingBy lunchtime on Tuesday we were in full swing out in the paddock. The new floating tank and washer worked a dream. So far so good. Bins of clean carrots were put into the cool room for pre-cooling prior to grading and packing. On Monday we had curtains fixed in the cool room doors to keep the cold air inside while the doors were open. The automatic opening and closing mechanism was not fitted yet but all forklift drivers had been worded up to keep the door shut when shifting bins around inside.

Story from the packing shedDoris Blaesing

CASE STUDY

The Vegetable Industry Development Program is funded by HAL using the vegetable levy and matched funds from the Australian Government.

Vegetables are living, breathing parts of plants and contain 65 to 95% water. Once harvested their internal food and water reserves decline over time and vegetables deteriorate and rot.

Anything that increases the rate at which food and water reserves are used up increases the rate of deterioration.

Acceleration of deterioration can be due to high temperature, low humidity, incorrect atmosphere and/or physical damage.

Reducing wasteAssessing and avoiding losses

Accurate records of losses at various stages of the marketing chain are rarely kept. Without agreed methods of assessing losses and good data about wastage along the chain, making reliable assessments of the potential cost-effectiveness of interventions is virtually impossible.

Quality Assurance systems that cover all supply chain partners can be set up to collect data on losses during each step.

TABLE 2 Temperature and Modified Atmosphere (MA) requirements for fresh-cut vegetables

Fresh cut product Temperature (ºC)

Atmosphere1 Efficacy2

%02 %CO2

Beans sprouts 0–2 - - -

Beets (red), grated, cubed or peeled 0–5 5 5 Moderate

Broccoli, florets 0–5 2–3 6–7 Good

Cabbage, shredded 0–5 5–7.5 15 Good

Chinese cabbage, shredded 0–5 5 5 Moderate

Carrots, shredded, sticks or sliced 0–5 2–5 15–20 Good

Leeks, sliced 0–5 5 5 Moderate

Lettuce (butterhead), chopped 0–5 1–3 5–10 Moderate

Lettuce (green leaf) chopped 0–5 0.5–3 5–10 Good

Lettuce (Iceberg), chopped or shredded 0–5 0.5–3 10–15 Good

Lettuce (red leaf), chopped 0-5 0.5-3 5-10 Good

Lettuce (Romaine), chopped 0–5 0.5–3 5–10 Good

Mushrooms, sliced 0–5 3 10 Not recommended

Onion, sliced or diced 0–5 2–5 10–15 Good

Peppers, diced 0–5 3 5–10 Moderate

Potato, sliced or whole peeled 0–5 1–3 6–9 Good

Pumpkin, cubed 0–5 2 15 Moderate

Spinach, cleaned 0–5 0.8–3 8–10 Moderate

Tomato, sliced 0–5 3 3 Moderate

Zucchini, sliced 5 0.25–1 - Moderate1 Humidity requirements are 95–100%; 2 Efficacy of modified atmosphere packaging

Source: Gorny, J.R. 2001. A summary of CA and MA requirements and recommendations for fresh-cut (minimally processed) fruits and vegetables. pp 95–145. Postharvest Horticulture Series No. 22A, University of California, Davis.

They can be used to minimise waste effectively and increase returns, by focusing on the areas where wastage is greatest. Staff training can greatly assist in reducing waste.

Optimum storage conditions

The more closely optimum storage conditions for vegetables are adhered to throughout the supply chain, the longer is the post harvest life span. Optimum conditions are listed in Table 2 in relation to temperature (optimum and range) and atmosphere (percentage oxygen, carbon dioxide and relative humidity). Most vegetables listed are more or less ethylene sensitive; for example carrots turn bitter when exposed to it.


YOUR PRODUCTION

Grading and packingOnce the carrots had reached the target pre-cooling temperature, we could start up the grading line and adjust the sizers. Something was wrong with one of the motors that we had ‘borrowed’ from another line so no-go for grading and packing. It could be a day at least to get things fixed which was no problem really as we could continue harvesting and washing, moving the incoming bins to the forced air cooling unit and shift the cold ones to the back of the store.

Problem!Getting the grading/packing line up and running properly took a couple of days, then we were ready to roll. By now the high humidity cool room was getting full with bins of washed carrots. I grabbed one from a bin harvested on day one to have a bite — it tasted awful and bitter! What had happened? I knew that the same batch coming in from the field had been very sweet. Then it dawned on me — we had used a gas forklift inside the cool room over the last four days. Our door curtains and policy of keeping the room closed at all times, had allowed enough ethylene to build up to turn the carrots bitter. The first batch was the worst and it had to go to the horses; electric forklifts were hired straight away.

This made me think about other issues we had with some of our lines over the past. Other vegetables do not turn bitter but can deteriorate quickly when exposed to ethylene and we had received complaints about shelf life from the market. I checked with our freight forwarders and found out that they were also using gas forklifts in their rather small cool rooms, which were used to hold all kinds of fresh produce for consolidation to wholesalers. Our lettuce may also have been stored and transported with apples, or other fruit, that produces quite a bit of ethylene.

SolutionThis issue made me talk to everybody handling our vegetables to find out how they were stored and how long for. It was interesting to follow the transport routes, especially for export lines.

The ‘bitter carrot issue’ looked like a loss to start with however it helped build some great relationships throughout our supply chains, and also streamlined and improved our handling processes. Now there are fewer complaints about product quality and less waste — a good result for the bottom line.

Story from the packing shedDoris Blaesing

MORE INFORMATION

Information on appropriate post harvest management for a range of vegetables can be found on the Postharvest Fresh website at www.postharvest.com.au

Go to the R+D Insights Database (within the log-in section of the AUSVEG website) to search for further information on post harvest management of vegetables.

http://www.postharvest.com.au

YOUR PRODUCTION


A win for the environment and a win for the melon industry. That’s the goal of a new initiative that’s brought together growers, industry and government in an effort to tackle climate change, while improving soil quality.

Soil scientist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Justine Cox, said the Fruit Salad Project involves applying biochar to increase carbon in the soil on trial farms.

“We often see with increased carbon, improved soil structure and nutrient availability,” she said.

Melon industrylooks to improve soil qualityDIANNE FULLELOVEAUSTRALIAN MELON ASSOCIATION INC

“We’re hoping to find reduced nitrous oxide, so the nitrogen they put on will be more efficient, which will be a win for the climate and a win for growers.”

“We’ll be watching to see where the nitrogen goes and to see if the biochar and the compost reduces the nitrous oxide emissions,” she said.

There have been trials of biochar before, but very little in horticulture, Ms Cox said, “So we really don’t know what to expect.”

“We’re finding the biochar works well with fertiliser; it holds onto it, but releases it easily to the plants, so there’s less loss and few nitrous oxide emissions.”

Two melon producers have been selected to trial the biochar as part of the multi-million dollar project that’s being led by the Australian Melon Association, and Justine Cox expects their farm will benefit from the three year trial.

“Some biochar can really improve the chemistry of the soil’s structure so, as well as being beneficial to the climate, we’re keen to look at the crop benefit and examine the yield and yield quality,” she said.

We hope to improve the production of crops as well as the environment.

MORE INFORMATION

For further information please contact Australian Melon Association Inc on: (07) 3374 0453 or [email protected]

Justine Cox, NSW DPI, preparing a biochar and compost trial.

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Vegetable_WA_FULLPAGE_outlines.indd 1 8/23/2013 4:11:40 PM


YOUR PRODUCTION

Crop water use is one of the key drivers of effective irrigation scheduling. It is determined by environmental and plant factors. Environmental factors are related to climate and weather while plant factors relate to the type of crop, its stage of growth and vigour.

Temperature, wind speed, solar radiation and relative humidity determine the amount of water required for productive plant growth. They can be measured directly using an evaporation pan or calculated as evaporation (Epan) or evapotranspiration (ET) from weather stations.

Epan and ET data can be sourced from DAFWA, the Bureau of Meteorology or SMS weather services such as the one run by vegetablesWA.

Funding through the Royalties for Regions program has enabled DAFWA to expand its weather station network of irrigated agricultural areas. This will ensure growers have more accurate data available to them.

Are you measuring crop water use

effectively?BY JAMES DEEMANAGER, MORE DOLLARS PER DROP PROJECT, DAFWA

Temperature, wind speed, solar radiation and relative humidity determine the amount of water required for productive plant growth.

Using crop water use to plan irrigation scheduling is more sensitive to the fluctuations in crop water requirements on a daily basis.

Crop water requirementsAs plants grow larger, produce more leaf area, start producing crop or approach maturity, the proportion of Epan or ET that needs to be replaced by irrigation changes.

Differences in water requirements and the proportion of Epan to be replaced are called crop factors (CF). When using ET, they are called crop coefficients (Kc).

Crop factors and crop coefficients are split into periods of growth that relate to key stages in the plant’s development. Descriptions may detail the development stage or may reference a generic stage or phase of growth when water requirements change.

Crop factors and crop coefficients are only a guide to crop water demand and are not definitive. Some form of crop or soil moisture monitoring is always recommended to ensure plant water demands are met for each farm situation.


YOUR PRODUCTION

Most crop factors and coefficients are developed for maximum potential yield. Where a specific size or quality of product is required or an area is subject to high disease pressure, generic crop factors may over- or underestimate plant water requirements. Soil moisture monitoring can also assist in these situations.

Using evaporation to calculate crop water useCrop water use can be determined by physically measuring water evaporating from an A Class pan or it can be calculated from weather data and crop stage, which is less time consuming.

Epan (mm) = Evaporation (mm) x crop factor

For example, the crop water use for a carrot crop in growth stage one for a 24 hour period where there has been 10mm of evaporation from an A-class pan is calculated as follows:

Carrot crop water use = 10 x 0.8 (carrot crop factor) which equals 8mm over the 24 hour period. This means 8mm needs to be replaced by irrigating.

This method is effective but the base information is not directly related to plant water use. Generally the use of A-class pans for crop water use is being replaced by evapotranspiration and crop coefficients.

Using evapotranspiration to calculate crop water useAnother widely used method of calculating crop water use is the Penman Monteith method. It is based on the water use of a short perennial ryegrass crop, referred as ETo. This method also uses measurements of solar radiation, temperature, wind and relative humidity, but it calculates an actual crop water use.

There have been extensive experiments validating this method around the world. The standard crop water use is then multiplied by a crop coefficient (Kc) to adjust the standard crop water use to that of the specified crop.

Using crop water use to schedule irrigation is a much more sensitive method of managing irrigation and reducing crop stress. Using evapotranspiration (ETo) to determine crop water use is a newer and more widely accepted method. Any of these methods of scheduling based on crop water use need to be checked by monitoring the soil moisture status of the root zone and adjusting the crop coefficient to consider local conditions.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information contact James Dee at [email protected] or phone (08) 9780 6185.

An A Class pan.

(ETo standard) = Evapotranspiration (mm) x crop coefficient (Kc)

For example, the crop water use for a carrot crop for a 24-hour period where there has been 8mm of reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) would be calculated by the following equation:

Carrot crop water use = 8 x 1.05 (carrot Kc) which equals 8.4mm over the 24 hour period. This means 8.4mm needs to be replaced with irrigation.

Epan versus ETo

In most cases the crop coefficient used for the Penman Monteith method is larger than the crop factor used with Epan for the same crop. At the same time the evaporation from an A-class pan is usually larger than evapotranspiration from the reference crop.

The reason for moving towards evapotranspiration is that most of the new research into crop water use in Australia and around the world is using this as a basis for calculating crop water use. If we want to adapt this research for Western Australia we need to use the same processes. The other advantage of this system is that there are more crop coefficients for different crops compared to the number of crop factors for different crops.

Research in South Australia has highlighted the impact of high solar radiation, high temperature and low relative humidity on evapotranspiration (ETo standard). In dryer areas the evapotranspiration calculated for a tall crop (ETo tall crop) was a better indicator of crop water use while still using the same crop coefficients (Kc).

Adapting this information to Western Australia, we would recommend evapotranspiration ETo standard to be used in the more humid regions (Broome to Kununurra and Perth to Albany to Esperance). For the dryer regions, evapotranspiration (ETo tall crop) would be more appropriate (north of Perth to Carnarvon).

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YOUR PRODUCTION

Benchmarking water use is showing some growers opportunities worth hundreds of thousands of dollars by switching to more profitable crops or irrigation systems.

It is an old saying: “If you don’t measure, you can’t manage”, but recent examples found through the Royalties for Regions-funded More Dollars per Drop project, are showing how important this is.

Benchmarking of water use is the process of periodically recording various factors in order to compare current and past performance.

The More Dollars per Drop project questionnaire, filled out by all participants at the interview, uses the ‘Water for your business’ section to ask about use of benchmarking and record keeping. Analysis of results shows these practices are consistently neglected, possibly because their value is largely unrecognised.

Figure 1 shows that of the four sections in the interview, the average score in ‘Water for your business’ is significantly lower than the others. This implies the majority of irrigated agriculture businesses do not recognise the importance of benchmarking.

Systematically measuring the performance of your business helps to maintain performance as well as identify opportunities for improvement.

Through the benchmarking process, you will also be able to compare your performance against various averages that are released by industry bodies.

There are many reasons for monitoring your business performance. Some of these include:

• Constraint management — maximising the farm’s potential within its limiting factors

• Increased productivity and quality — identifying practices and varieties that perform best

• Cost reduction — focus in areas where significant efficiency gains can be made from small changes

• Improved efficiency — new technology and methodology is not cost effective on every scale and requires careful evaluation

• Identification of opportunities — strategic expansion or reduction of an enterprise can bring impressive results on dollar return for effort and profitability.

BY DAVE WILLIAMSMORE DOLLARS PER DROP, DAFWA

Benchmarkingkeeping a finger on your business’s pulse

FIGURE 1 Relative importance of main topics as rated by interviewed irrigators

Source: DAFWA

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

100

Efficiency ofwater use

Irrigationscheduling practice

Crop waterneeds

Water for your business

Ave

rage

sco

re (%

)

The benchmarking process allows you to compare your performance against averages released by industry bodies.


YOUR PRODUCTION

The backbone of useful benchmarking is comprehensive record keeping.

Often, a lot of the required figures are available from farm diaries and financial records, but are not regularly collated and analysed. Consideration should be given to the following areas:

• Return and production volume per crop variety for each block planted

• Input and production costs per variety for each block planted

• Pack-out percentage and class breakdown per variety for each block planted

• Area associated with each variety and block planted

• Monthly water use per block planted

• Daily irrigation records for each valve operated.

This allows you to determine:

• Average tonnes per hectare for each production block and each variety within that block; investigation is necessary where there is significant difference across the farm

• The effect of cultural practice or new products on the quality, quantity and pack-out

• Cost and return per hectare for each production block and variety and subsequently the profitability of each block and variety

• Ongoing water budget and associated cost of pumping leading to the value of water which is particularly necessary for drought planning

• Identification of the largest costs to illustrate where focused attention is required.

This information becomes valuable when planning future expansion, replacement or reduction, as the most profitable aspects of the farming enterprise become apparent.

Such knowledge is especially useful when considered against limiting factors. Most enterprises are constrained by market volumes or timing, land availability, water supply or quality, capital, labour or some combination of these factors. It therefore becomes important to maximise potential within these limitations.

The following example illustrates the use of benchmark figures:

It is calculated that you use an average 10ML/ha to grow carrots and 12ML/ha to irrigate tomatoes, giving a farm water use estimate of 95ML/y.

Industry averages for your area indicate that carrots require 8ML/ha and tomatoes need 10ML/ha. This indicates you may be overwatering your crops. A change in your irrigation scheduling practice could save up to 40ML annually, a surplus that would reduce the impact of dry years or represent potential increase in production.

On average your farm produces 45 tonnes per hectare of carrots and 70t/ha of tomatoes, with the average return to the farm gate being $400/t and $2/kg respectively.

A 40ML saving could represent another 5 hectares of carrots and possible increase of $90,000 in farm gate return (turnover).

Alternatively, using the same 40ML water saving you could grow allow another 4 hectares of tomatoes, realising a greater potential of $560,000 in farm gate return.

In this case the value of your water is $2250/ML for carrots and $14,000/ML for tomatoes.

Constraints such as labour supply, capital requirement and land availability among others should be assessed as part of any expansion plans. Markets and variety choices will also impact on any decisions.

Pressure on water supplies is likely to cause a reduction in available quantity and quality, as well as an increase in reporting and accountability requirements. As water becomes a relevant constraining factor, it is important to begin recording and understanding its value.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information contact Tilwin Westrup, Department of Agriculture and Food at [email protected] or phone (08) 9780 6165.

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YOUR PRODUCTION

A counter-attack is underway across Australia on one of the worst aphid pests affecting horticulture — green peach aphid.

This aphid attacks a range of both broadacre and horticultural crops, but like many of our important pests it develops resistance to insecticides.

There is no simple answer or quick fix to managing resistant aphids and they must be tackled using a number of approaches.

A survey on insecticide resistance of the aphid in broadacre crops was undertaken by Dr Paul Umina of The University of Melbourne in the past couple of seasons.

For Western Australia, populations with resistance were common. His study has generated insecticide resistance baseline data that helps to screen for resistant populations. He has also commenced genetic studies to help understand spread and mixing of aphid populations.

Paul is seeking to extend this national study in 2014 to include aphids from horticultural crops. He is requesting aphid samples from growers who produce crops such as capsicum, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, brassicas and lettuce.

As well as looking at aphid insecticide resistance levels these samples will be used to explore the movement patterns of the aphid both within local regions and across States.

This information will be used to develop and implement strategies that minimise the risk of resistance being introduced to new areas, and on-farm approaches to use insecticides and other non-chemical tactics more strategically against this pest.

If you experience any chemical control failures involving green peach aphid, for example when an insecticide is applied but does not provide adequate or expected levels of control, we are keen to hear from you.

We are specifically interested in control issues following application of imidacloprid (Confidor), pymetrozine (Chess), spirotetramat (Movento) or pirimicarb (for example, Pirimor).

MORE INFORMATION

To assist with this survey or for more information please contact Stewart Learmonth or Helen Collie, Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Phone (08) 9777 0000 or email: [email protected]; or [email protected]

For background reading on insecticide resistance in green peach aphid, visit: www.grdc.com.au/Resources/Factsheets/2014/Copy-of-Copy-of-03/Resistance-management-for-green-peach-aphids.

Surveying insecticide resistanceof green peach aphid

There is no simple answer or quick fix to managing resistant aphids.

BY STEWART LEARMONTHENTOMOLOGIST, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

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http://www.grdc.com.au/Resources/Factsheets/2014/Copy-of-Copy-of-03/Resistance-management-for-green-peach-aphids




YOUR PRODUCTION

Monitoring soil pH on your farm is important. In the South West Region, particularly in the Manjimup and Pemberton areas, some growers have reported that soil pH on their farms has become lower or more acidic over time.

Soil acidification can be a natural process over many years, however the process can be accelerated on farms.

What causes acid soils?Acid soils can be caused by the use of nitrogen fertilisers and removal of crops from the area. Soil acidification is the build-up of hydrogen ions in soil.

Nitrogen fertiliser, particularly ammonium-based fertiliser, contributes to soil acidity when the ammonium is converted to nitrate by bacteria in the soil.

The conversion process releases hydrogen ions which may contribute to increasing the acidity. The leaching of nitrate also contributes to soil acidification.

When a plant uses the nitrate (which is negatively charged), it releases a hydroxide ion (also negatively charged) into the soil, so the plant can remain electrically neutral. When this occurs, the released hydroxide ions combine with hydrogen ions (which are positively charged) to form water, neutralising the acidifying effect of the hydrogen ions. When nitrate is not taken up by plants and is leached from the soil, the hydrogen ions remain behind, causing the soil to become more acid.

Leaching of nitrate can occur when more nitrogen-based fertiliser is applied than the crop needs or when poor irrigation practice has allowed excessive water to be applied, causing the nitrates to be carried below the plants’ root zone as the water drains away.

The removal of crops from a paddock can also contribute to increasing soil acidity. Most plant material tends to be slightly alkaline. Removal of this material, either by harvesting crops or by grazing animals, contributes to increasing soil acidity as hydrogen ions remaining in the soil are not neutralised by the slightly alkaline plant material being returned to the soil.

If the crop was not harvested, then the plant material would rot back into the soil, neutralising the hydrogen ions. More information on the chemistry of how soil acidity occurs is available on the DAFWA website at www.agric.wa.gov.au.

Why do I want to prevent soil becoming too acid?When the soil pH becomes too low, that is too acid, some nutrients become less available for plant uptake (for example, molybdenum). However, this does not occur for all nutrients. Iron becomes less available as the soil pH increases or becomes more alkaline. The relative availability of different nutrients has been put on a pH scale in Figure 1.

By keeping soil in the middle pH range, plants can access a wide range of nutrients easily. This means that applied fertiliser is not being wasted as some nutrients in fertiliser are not available to plants in either highly acid or alkaline soils.

Preventing the soil from becoming too acid also prevents aluminium toxicity occurring. On some soil types, aluminium is present but is usually unavailable to plants as it is bound to clay particles and organic matter.

Soil pHdon’t let it get too acidic

BY RACHEL LANCASTERDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

FIGURE 1 Relative availability of nutrients depending upon soil pH

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Strong acid

4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0

Medium acid

Slightlyacid

Very slightly

acid

Very slightlyalkaline

Slightlyalkaline

Mediumalkaline

Strongly alkaline

Molybdenum

Magnesium

Calcium

Sulphur

Copper & zinc

Boron

Manganese

Iron

Source: www.growing-life.com

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

YOUR PRODUCTION


When the soil pH becomes too acid (less than pH 4.8 in calcium chloride), aluminium is converted into a form which can be taken up by plants. Aluminium is toxic to plants, causing poor growth. If the fall in pH occurs over a long time period, the effects of increasing aluminium in the soil may not be immediately obvious.

Increasing the soil pH can also help to control some diseases, such as clubroot of brassicas. Clubroot is a fungal disease which becomes less prevalent as the soil pH increases. Increasing soil pH, combined with other control options, can help to manage this disease.

How do I increase soil pH?The easiest way to increase pH is to apply lime or dolomite to soil. Lime is mainly calcium carbonate; dolomite is mainly magnesium carbonate. Both products will neutralise soil acidity.

Before starting a liming program, take some time to plan how you are going to get the best value from the lime you apply.

FIGURE 2 Plan for a farm liming program

Four year liming plan

Paddocks of different colours are each done in a separate year. Once all paddocks have been limed, begin again to maintain soil pH.

Increasing soil pH can help to control some diseases, such as clubroot of brassicas.

Think about what crops you grow, what is the ideal soil pH for those crops and where on your farm are these crops going to be grown in the next four to five years.

Develop a liming program that allows part of your farm to be limed each year, with a different section done in each of the following years (see Figure 2).

You may decide to lime 20 to 25% of your farm each year. This means it would take four (25% limed) to five (20% limed) years to get around the whole farm.

When using agricultural lime, plan to spread it at least six months before the crop is due to be grown in the limed area. This gives time for the agricultural lime to start to increase soil pH.

By having a planned liming program and progressively working your way around the farm, the costs of liming are spread over several years.

Once you have completed the liming program and are back at the start, you should continue following the plan. Reapplying lime every few years to the same area helps to maintain soil pH.

Over time, the liming effect moves from the topsoil into the subsoil, helping to increase the soil pH in the subsoil where the roots of some crops grow. Applying more lime on the topsoil will maintain topsoil pH at a desirable level and help increase the pH of the subsoil.

MORE INFORMATION

There is a large amount of information on soil pH and lime quality on DAFWA’s website at www.agric.wa.gov.au.



TIMETOOL

TOOL TIME


Imagine being able to shoot videos, get driving directions and search the internet all hands free and while remaining aware of your surroundings?

It’s not so farfetched with the hot new device ‘Google Glass’ able to perform all of these things as well as a variety of other computer functions without the operator ever having to use their hands.

Google Glass works by displaying information through a prism on the headset (like lens-less glasses) and appears to be floating on a semi-transparent screen in front of the wearer’s eyes. It responds to voice commands and a connected touchpad on the headset.

So how can this innovative technology be utilised by farmers in the real world? There are already many examples of how the technology could be used in agriculture. Communication with your agronomist or a consultant can be done hands free while you are right there in the field. Diagnosing a crop disease or trying to fix a technical problem could be done simply by streaming exactly what you see through your glasses to your agronomist or advisor in another location. It is hands free, so less awkward than struggling to use a mobile device, and can transmit the image to the other person as if they are there themselves.

With Google Glass, farmers can record everything they see, hands free. You can take a photo of a problem in the irrigation system, or a shot of a sick animal, and Glass can give you a GPS location reading, tag the location and file it for later reference.

Live streaming would allow you to tune in to what others wearing Glass are seeing in different areas of the business — how are the harvesting crew going with the lettuces on the other property? Is everything running smoothly in the cool room? Basic information is also easily accessible such as checking the following day’s weather and evaporation forecast in order to set the next day’s schedule.

The hands-free feature of Glass means that the situations mentioned above as well as many others are made so much easier for farmers who are constantly using their hands. The technology could mean extreme efficiency gains if farmers can facilitate two-way communication upload and download information on their devices all while their hands are free to do all the essential farm duties, whether it is machinery repair, irrigating, driving a tractor or scouting a crop for pests. In short, it would enable farmers to continue to work with their hands while deriving the full benefits of modern mobile technology effortlessly.

On top of all this, the ability to instantaneously collect and record data from these ‘wearable computers’ would allow producers to keep up-to-date and extremely accurate records of their production that has never before been possible. This could even be used to help growers demonstrate their good farming practices, safe production standards and environmentally sustainable methods to consumers.

Currently there are very few devices in circulation, with Google choosing only a few thousand people as ‘Explorers’ to trial the technology and see how they can be used in different industries and situations. However, software systems for Glass are already being developed around the world and will no doubt quickly become available when the technology is commercially released in late 2014–early 2015.

As more farmers come into contact with the device and are able to see the potential for its uses, the extent of possibilities on farm will certainly become ever more apparent.

Hands free technology hits new level with Google Glass


TOOL TIME


Many growers will already be familiar with EnerNOC, an international provider of energy intelligence software and technology.

The company’s suite of energy intelligence software applications available to businesses include demandSMART, their comprehensive demand-response system that many growers in WA are on board with. The idea behind demandSMART is that businesses get paid to be part of our virtual power plant and use EnerNOC’s real-time energy monitoring to drive savings year round.

Now EnerNOC have released the EnerNOC mobile App which provides EnerNOC customers convenient access to their facilities' demand response dispatches and energy data profiles from their smartphones and tablets.

The App is available for iPhone and Android and can be downloaded from iTunes app store for iPhone users, or through Google Play and the Amazon Appstore for Android. It is free to download but requires an EnerNOC account to access it’s features.

Efficiency at your fingertipswith the EnerNOC mobile App

Current EnerNOC DemandSMART or EfficiencySMART customers may use their EnerNOC username and password to log into the app.

Demand response dispatch managementEnerNOC App users get an at-a-glance view of dispatches occurring throughout their portfolio of facilities. No matter if they’re managing a single site or dozens spread across the globe, the EnerNOC app summarises performance so that energy managers can focus their efforts on where they matter most.

Mobile-optimised energy profilingThe EnerNOC app offers site-by-site energy data, including intuitive charts and key measurements of maximum, minimum, and average kilowatt-hour consumption, as well as load factor. Data refreshes automatically so that customers can be sure they are looking at up-to-the-minute information.

One-click access to relevant staffFor multi-facility organisations, coordination is essential. The EnerNOC app centralises staff contact information within each facility record so that energy managers can be certain that their key contacts are informed about demand response.

Site-by-site searchEnergy managers need clear ways to organise their facilities. The EnerNOC app’s built-in search function helps them key in on the facility they’re targeting, whether they’re managing a dozen sites or several hundred.

Secure sign-inEnerNOC customers use the same secure username and password to access the app as they do to access EnerNOC.com, ensuring that their energy data is protected and secure.

Information viewingDuring a dispatch, you may view your list of locations currently in the dispatch, the overall performance of each location, and the energy reduction plan and list of contacts for each location. You may also view the target demand for a given dispatch and the actual demand over the course of the dispatch. The mobile app does not display baselines for a dispatch.

When viewing a facility’s energy profile in the app, you may review the facility’s actual demand over the past day, week, month, or year. You may also view the minimum, maximum, and average demand, as well as the load factor over that time period.

MORE INFORMATION

You can contact EnerNOC support for help regarding the App at [email protected] or on 1888 ENERNOC (1888 363 7662). You can also visit EnerNOC’s website, www.enernoc.com, to find more information about how EnerNOC can help your business or organisation realise continuous energy savings.

DOWNLOAD OUR APPCustomers go mobile with the

EnerNOC app. Available for iPhone and Android:

www.enernoc.com/our-technology/applications/mobile

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WA Grower WINTER 201432

The next generation of surveillance technology is well and truly establishing itself in the world, and their presence is even starting to increase in the agricultural industry.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also widely known as drones, are automated flying aircraft that range in size from small indoor remote controlled helicopters to extreme military weapons, in order to monitor and record data from the air. The technology is now used across a range of industries for many purposes.

Agricultural applications for UAV technology is currently focused on the areas of scouting, mapping and aerial spraying, and their use is starting to take off in many broadacre and horticultural operations around the world including USA, Europe, Japan and even Australia.

Flight times for UAVs can vary from less than 10 minutes up to close to an hour depending on their size and the load they carry. They can travel as far as 10km from their take-off point and can be fitted with all types of technology from cameras, GPS equipment, sprayers and infra-red imaging technology. As such, they can be used to monitor and record all sorts of information as they fly over a crop or area, with information collected during their flight able to be downloaded once they return.

A camera attached to a UAV can take thousands of photos and using the infrared technology can even detect unhealthy plants and possibly even individual leaves. This can have benefits to pest and disease control as well as irrigation management.

With increasing labour costs and an ever-declining workforce, farmers are increasingly looking towards new technologies such as UAVs to improved productivity and efficiency.


Unmanned Aerial VehiclesBut using a UAV is more complicated than just strapping a camera to a remote control plane. The use of UAVs is governed in Australia by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and CASA-approved associations, such as the Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (MAAA).

Operation of UAVs requires a UAV controller’s certification and an operators certificate to fly. The controller requires general aviation knowledge in line with a private pilot’s licence, as well as specific UAV skills. Additionally, the operator will need a flight radio operators licence and experience on the type of UAV operated.

UAV activities are approved in Australia for operations over unpopulated areas up to 120m above ground level, or higher with special approvals. Operations are not permitted in controlled airspace without CASA approval and coordination with Airservices Australia.

There is no doubt that this technology will find its place in the agricultural and horticultural industries in Australia over time, and that new applications for its use will also develop.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the regulation and operation of UAVs, you can visit the Australian Government CASA website at www.casa.gov.au and also Unmanned Systems Australia at www.unmannedsystemsaustralia.com.au.

http://www.casa.gov.au

http://www.unmannedsystemsaustralia.com.au


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The lowly spud may seem like the most humble of foods, but it built the glittering empire of the Incas, and it may yet secure the future for billions of people across the globe.

In this special report, Caddie Brain visits the Peruvian farmers playing a big part in one of the world’s most unusual food projects.

There’s something very strange about the flight to the ancient city of Cusco in the Andes. There’s nearly no descent. The nose of the plane angles up for take-off, then just stays up as you climb into the mountains. Out the window the peaks of the Andes poke through the clouds like knees in a soapy bathtub.

Cusco, the once booming capital of the Inca empire now has a runway down its central valley, and box-like houses sprinkled up the mountains on both sides.

It’s 3,400 metres above sea level, and with the air so thin up here, it’s not just its beauty that makes Cusco breathtaking.

Spud facts• The potato is native to Andes in

South America

• It is thought to have been domesticated around 8000 years ago

• Peru has more than 2,500 varieties of native potatoes in the Andes

• Potatoes can grow from sea level up to 4600 metres above sea level

• 156 countries grow potatoes, including every state in the United States

• More than one billion people eat potato on a regular basis

• Potato crops cover more than 19 million hectares worldwide

• Potatoes are the world’s third most important crop, behind rice and wheat

• One hectare of potato can yield more food per unit of water than every other major crop, four times that of wheat

• China is the world’s biggest producer of potatoes, growing more than 88 million tonnes per year

• When boiled a single medium-sized potato contains half the daily requirement of vitamin C.

Why the future belongs to the potatoBY CADDIE BRAINABC RURAL

Native potato varieties served with salsa verde de cilantro sauce at the Parque de la Papa in Peru.


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This is potato country — the birthplace of the humble spud that probably sits on your dinner plate a couple of nights each week. Its history is firmly rooted in the soil of the Andes.

When the Spanish were draining Peru of all the silver and gold they could, they also took an interest in this hardy little Inca plant, which turned out to be perhaps even more valuable.

From here, the tuber colonised the rest of the world.

Today, more than one billion people eat potatoes regularly. That makes it the third most important crop in the world, after rice and wheat. Potatoes can be grown across vastly different environments, and they produce more food per unit of water than any other major crop.

That’s why attention has again turned to the idea of using the potato against the food shortages that many see looming on the horizon.

But to do that, the world once more needs the Incas’ help.

On the steep mountainsides outside Cusco, traditional farmers still grow more than 2,500 varieties of native potato, just as their ancestors have for thousands of years.

I have come here to meet these farmers, and to understand the part they are playing in building food security for themselves, and for populations all over the globe.

Potatoes, the ancient wayHigh in the Andes above Cusco a group of five farming communities have formed a collective called ‘Parque de la Papa’ — the Potato Park.

The 6,500 people who live at the park work its 9,000 hectares as a collective. They want to protect the biodiversity of their crops, especially rare native potatoes. Around them, they’ve seen other farmers subdivide their land smaller and smaller, making it hard to rest it between crops.

Farmers here use traditional methods to till, plant and harvest. In an average harvest they’ll produce about 4,000 kilograms of potatoes per hectare. Helped by mechanisation and other technologies, Australian farmers produce roughly nine times that.

Most people are in cities, outside the areas where everything’s produced. They cannot talk about climate change because they’re not involved in the field.

Elisban Tacuri Ccana

There’s a potato for everything, even marriage. The ‘mother-in-law’ potato is peeled by prospective brides as a readiness test for marriage.

There’s also a potato suited to every cooking style. Chuno are naturally freeze-dried using a method thousands of years old, that involves exposing the potato to freezing temperatures overnight, covering them again during the day. It preserves the potato for up to 20 years.

But climate change is threatening even the most fundamental traditions.

These farmers say the rains have started to come at strange times of the year. Disease is increasing and varieties are disappearing with warming temperatures. They’re having to plant at higher and higher altitudes — but the mountains are only so high.

For people who time their entire crop production simply by reading the landscape — a change in weather patterns changes everything.

I tell them that many people in Australia don’t believe in climate change. Farmer Elisban Tacuri Ccana, is silent for a really long time. His answer, in Quechua, comes in a calm but firm voice.

“Most of those people don’t know what climate change is,” he says, “because they’re not involved in the field. They cannot talk about climate change. They’re in the cities, outside the areas where everything’s produced. But come and see… come and see us and find out.”

Director of the International Potato Centre Dr Pamela Anderson hugs local custodian farmer during a ceremony celebrating the exchange of native potato varieties.


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The world’s biggest potato library Part of the answer for these traditional potato farmers may lie in a room back in Peru’s capital.

On Lima’s eastern fringe, next to a potato field behind a high security fence, is the Centro International de la Papa — the International Potato Centre, or CIP. It’s basically a potato university, with labs, a library, sports grounds — you name it. And everything is potato themed; even the lampshades have potatoes lovingly painted on them.

There are 300 people here researching everything from potato disease to genetics — even which varieties make the best chips. But much of what goes on here revolves around one extraordinary room: the potato gene bank. It looks like the set of a 1960s sci-fi movie, with row upon row of metal shelves, from floor to ceiling, filled with tiny test tubes.

It’s the largest in vitro gene bank in the world. There are 10,000 individuals in tissue culture of over 4,500 varieties of the world’s potatoes. In each of the tubes is a tiny plant, sometimes sprouting miniature potatoes the size of peppercorns. The whole collection is backed up in Brazil and the central plateaus of Peru.

Head scientist at the gene bank is David Ellis.

“What we’re trying to do is preserve all the diversity of potato, sweet potato and Andean root and tuber crops for future generations,” he says.

“We go through a process that can take two years or longer, and thousands of dollars, to clean each individual variety. This is irreplaceable, the diversity that we have here — we’d never be able to collect it again.”

This is irreplaceable, the diversity that we have here — we’d never be able to collect it again.

David Ellis

You do wonder: is all of this overkill? If the stakes are as high as these people believe them to be, then maybe not.

In their minds, the spud not only has the potential to feed the world, but feed it well. And they’ve got the proof.

Gabriella Burgos has spent 15 years researching the nutritional qualities of the potato. Her work involves a lot of myth-busting: that potatoes aren’t particularly nutritious, that they make you fat — notions that Burgos says simply aren’t true.

“Potatoes are a good source of energy — but this does not mean that potatoes make the people fat, [even though] that is something that for a million years has been accepted as right.”

One average-sized potato contains about half an adult’s daily dose of vitamin C — especially if it’s boiled before peeling.

Burgos’s lab is working now to develop new potatoes that contain more even micronutrients.

“I am not talking about transgenic here,” she says. “I am talking about conventional breeding, because our major objective is not only to develop potatoes with high levels of micronutrients but also to offer the farmers a set of materials that can grow well, resistant to pests and diseases.”

And that could benefit farmers economically as well. Joel Ranck, who works with communications and public awareness at CIP, sees a big role for the potato in giving non-potato farmers a Plan B.

“If you’re a rice farmer you have some very set seasons in a year and your crops are more vulnerable — a hailstorm could wipe out your crop. “Potato, because it grows below ground, is more resistant to that.

“In central Asia one of our priorities in the coming years will be trying to introduce a potato that has a shorter growing season, so 70, 90 or 100 days — so if it’s a rice-based culture where they have two seasons, we’re trying to ask them to see if they can put a potato in there, so if one of their crops fails they can fall back on the potato.”

David Ellis inside the potato gene bank at the International Potato Centre.


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But to do that, they’ll need plenty of good genetic resources to play with. Which is why David Ellis at the gene bank worries about each little potato plant at the gene bank.

“Potato improvement is critical,” he tells me later. “And this bank has the genes that the breeders need to get those into the potatoes that we all eat everyday — to feed the world.”

But the gene bank needs those Andean farmers — their potatoes and their knowledge.

An eye for an eye: the big potato swapWhen I walk into the gene bank the next day it’s unrecognisable. After two long days on a bus down the mountains from Cusco, the colourfully dressed farmers from the Potato Park have arrived in Lima.

They’re here to get a better look at what the gene bank is doing with their potatoes — and also something a bit more special: today the gene bank is giving back to the farmers several hundred varieties of potato it has collected over the last 40 years — varieties that the farmers used to have, but have now

disappeared from their region. In return the farmers are donating yet more varieties to the gene bank for preservation.

It’s a cause for celebration.

We may be able to address climate change. But how do we convince young farmers to continue with these traditions?

Dr Oscar Ortiz

As the handover ceremony starts, with much blowing of deep notes through big seashells, a woman pours a liquid onto the potatoes and drapes a rope around them. Dr Oscar Ortiz, deputy director of research at CIP says it’s about capturing the potato spirit.

“That’s part of the ceremony of giving thanks to the spirit of the earth,” he tells me. “The idea of tying it is [so] the spirit doesn’t escape, to be maintained in the potatoes for the future cropping cycle. And the spilling of the liquor, the chicha, maize beer, is a way of giving thanks. You know, we are giving to the earth what the earth gives to us.”

On the mountain, these farmers told me how worried they were about climate change, but as we watch them dance in coloured circles throughout the auditorium, Oscar says they’re dealing with some even bigger problems.

“The farms [are] getting less and less people, or young people, [with] the willingness to stay and work, because they want to make profit outside of the community. Those challenges are perhaps even more complicated to address. Because climate change, with a good combination of varieties, we may be able to address. [But] how do we convince young farmers to be in the places to continue with these traditions — so that in 100, 200, 300 years potatoes are still there?

“That’s a bigger challenge.”

MORE INFORMATION

Caddie Brain travelled to Peru with the support of the Crawford Fund, a not-for-profit Australian group that promotes agricultural research in developing countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Council on Australia Latin America Relations and ABC Rural.

A selection of more than 2,500 native potato varieties on display at the International Potato Centre gene bank.


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Grower profileVaughan Carter

BY REBECCA BLACKMAN FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER, VEGETABLESWA

Grower profileName Vaughan Carter

Location Busselton, Marybrook & Anniebrook

Property size 230ha & leases an additional 250ha

Enterprises Potatoes

PERTH

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Vaughan Carter with his wife Elizabeth and three children have a dynamic farm; they have their home block in Busselton as well as other property in Marybrook with a gorgeous stream running through it. In addition to this they also lease two other properties in Busselton and Anniebrook.

The properties are utilised for both horticulture and agriculture. Vaughan grows his potato crops on a four yearly rotation, with Nadine, Royal Blue, Almera and Lady Christl in the rich, vibrant red soils. In between the potato crops he rotates these with canola, oats, and triticale and also has over 2,000 ewes.

Vaughan has been on the Potato Growers Committee of Management for almost one year and is a passionate grower who is happy to get his hand dirty and help out all growers.

Vaughan is currently putting together a grower group in the Busselton region to constantly improve quality outcomes. He is also getting together with his local government member, Troy Buswell, to ensure the potato industry is understood.

Vaughan like many growers is trying to look at ways to reduce the potato waste which he sees on a weekly basis. He mentioned that he recently heard about a set up in Germany where they utilise their waste potatoes by converting them into methane and running villages on the gas.

Whilst Vaughan realises we do not have the population or waste to go down this path he believes that we need to keep reviewing these policies to ensure that we are doing the best we can with what we have and do not become complacent.

Vaughan is currently digging potatoes, varieties Nadine and Lady Christl, over two properties in Busselton and Marybrook. The seed for next season is ready to plant when the time comes. Vaughan sources his seed potatoes from Albany and local growers.

Vaughan is currently putting together a grower group in the Busselton region.


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This industry also has the potential to become a major exporter, as it is well placed geographically and offers short air and sea freight delivery times to many Asian and Middle Eastern markets.

Annual horticultural production from the area is generally around $100M.

Over winter about 60% of Perth’s vegetables are supplied from the Carnarvon horticultural precinct. Carnarvon’s warmer winters, coupled with reliable water supplies, have enabled it to become a major source of out-of-season fresh vegetables when southern growing areas cease production due to lower temperatures.

The Gascoyne Food Bowl Initiative was established in 2012. Its goal is to significantly increase horticultural production in the Carnarvon precinct through provision of new land and water resources for irrigation expansion.

This initiative is funded by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions with the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), as the lead agency.

The Gascoyne Food Bowl project has four major components and is due for completion in 2016:

1. Sourcing and delivery of additional water suitable for horticultural production (approximately 4 gigalitres) including surface water optimisation strategies

2. Electrification of the existing northern borefield and a new borefield

3. Identification, development and release of an additional 400 hectares for horticulture

4. Improved management of land and water resources by growers to assist the Carnarvon horticultural precinct to address impacts of flooding and conversely, of water shortages during drought.

Great progress has been made so far with key achievements being:

• An Airborne Electromagnetic Survey (AEM) was carried out and analysed to identify drill target sites. These sites enable the drilling for water to be more targeted and more effective in terms of successful strike rate.

• $300,000 was released in November 2013 for an emergency drilling program. Twelve exploratory holes were drilled, with one production bore established. The bore is highly productive, producing 1.5–1.9 megalitres of water daily (approximately double the borefield average flow rate). Three other sites were identified by DAFWA and developed by Gascoyne Water Asset Mutual Co-operative (GWAMCO).

• Global Groundwater has been appointed as the drilling supervisor through an open tender process.

• A 400 hectare draft detailed farm design has been prepared and lodged with the Department of Lands (DoL).

Gascoyne Food Bowl Initiative moving ahead

The next steps in the project are:

• Progressing of land tenure arrangements

• Market and investment appraisal and review

• Design completion for electrical supply of current borefields.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on the Gascoyne Food Bowl Initiative please visit www.agric.wa.gov.au or email [email protected] for a copy of the most recent newsletter.

The Carnarvon horticultural industry is an important contributor to production of fresh fruit and vegetables for the Western Australian market.

BY TONY DELLA BOSCAPROJECT MANAGER, CARNARVON

Airborne Electromagnetic Survey used to identify drill target sites.


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The Carnarvon Growers Association (CGA) has been busy over the past six months. Recently acquiring new Operations Manager, Luke Skender, and Junior Agronomist, Annie van Blommestein, the team at CGA are heading into the coming season with a new look team full of experience and enthusiasm.

Annie van Blommestien is an essential part of the new CGA crew, starting the role of Junior Agronomist in March this year. The role entails liaising with growers in regards to production based issues, new technologies and products, as well as providing agronomic assistance, pest and disease management solutions, fertiliser recommendations and leaf and soil testing.

Annie grew up in Perth and always showed a passion for agriculture from an early age.

“When I was growing up I always had a menagerie of animals, vegetables plots, fruit trees and flowers. We were out in the garden from sun up to sun down, always coming up with new enterprises — a lemonade stand, cake stall, insect re-locators, garden maintenance, flower shop, fresh produce, just to name a few.”

Her interest in horse riding was what inevitably connected Annie to the wide world of agriculture, and she spent her school holidays undertaking work experience on a variety of farming enterprises.

On completion of high school, Annie started a Bachelor of Agribusiness at Curtin University where she was drawn to the pastoral scene and spent her semester breaks mustering and working livestock.

After completing her degree, Annie started work at Wooramel Station and was involved in the establishment of a centre pivot irrigation system designed to utilise artesian water to grow pasture to finish off livestock.

“I have now been the Gascoyne region for eight years and love the diversity of industry which we are immersed in,” says Annie of her new home.

“I am relatively new to the horticultural sector but am blown away by the attention to detail and precision that the growers have with each of their product lines. Daily monitoring, delicate adjustments and years of experience are just a few of the things that give these growers the edge.”

When asked about some of the main issues facing growers in Carnarvon at the present time, Annie’s immediate answer was water.

“Although we have minimal say in the final water decisions, CGA as an industry representative body need to do our best to get all the information, concerns, suggestions and complaints through to the decision makers,” said Annie about the importance of representing the growers on this important issue.

Looking to the future, Annie hints that she and her team are planning to hold a number of information sessions in conjunction with DAFWA in the coming months. Examples of topics they hope to include are soil monitoring, new technologies and product comparisons, and a soil health workshop.

“There is also a Banana Road-show heading to town in July which has a great line up of industry experts and information.”

Annie believes the best thing about her job as Agronomist at the CGA is being out in the field and liaising with the growers.


Annie van Blommestein

Professional profile


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Peter Ivankovichretires from Onions Australia

Radmila and Peter Ivankovich.

One of Onions Australia’s long-time representatives has stepped down from the Executive Committee.

West Australian Peter Ivankovich, who has spent the past half-century in the onion industry, announced his resignation at the April Devonport Conference.

Peter followed his father and grandfather into the farming business and continued to market garden in the Spearwood area, however as the residential areas of Perth started to encroach on the property the Ivankovich family purchased a farm in Myalup.

Peter continued to develop the farm and over the years increased the land holding in the Myalup area, and at one stage also operated a property in the Manjimup Pemberton area.

All of the properties in Myalup have had to be developed from the Tuart forests well known in the area. The soil is sandy and within three kilometres of the Indian Ocean.

While potatoes were once part of the operation, the enterprise now concentrates on carrots and onions for the domestic market, as well as carrots for the export market.

Peter has been progressive in the horticulture industry, representing

WA on industry bodies and also new machine systems (he was the first TOPAIR owner in WA).

Peter has also been a key member of the Onions Australia executive, serving as chairperson in 2005 and 2006, and has been a member of the executive for almost two decades. He received the Reg Miller Award in 2011 in recognition for his service to the industry.

Peter was President during the period when the IAC was becoming established and played a leading role in working toward a smarter onion industry, he later served as an IAC representative for WA for a term.

Peter has always taken an interest in biosecurity issues and been a supporter of OA’s activities with Plant Health Australia such as the Biosecurity Plan.

The fact that Peter has attended so many meetings from ‘the West’ is a testimony to his dedication to the Association.

Peter will continue to be highly regarded as an all round ‘good bloke’ and friend by all members of Onions Australia.

BY LECHELLE EARLONIONS AUSTRALIA ACTING CEO

“The growers out on the river hold decades of information, and I have been very impressed by their willingness to share their experiences and knowledge.”

She is excited about her role, believing that it’s practical and hands on approach is the best way to learn and an important factor in helping the industry to move forward. Annie also feels lucky to have some excellent industry contacts including Steve Poole (Albany) and a large contingency of DAFWA experts who can help with specialist questions, recognising that these networks are an essential part of being successful in her role.

“Horticulture is an exciting and challenging industry and I have been caught hook, line and sinker!”

MORE INFORMATION

To contact Annie at the Carnarvon Growers Association, you can email her at [email protected], or call the CGA on (08) 9941 8384.

Annie van Blommestien is an essential part of the new CGA crew.

mailto:annie%40cga.org.au?subject=

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Summary of the 2014-15 Federal Budget for AgricultureThe Budget which was handed down during May, has honoured some major election commitments for agriculture for 2014–2015 whilst cutting some of the smaller federal programs.

Some of the major changes are detailed below.

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation — reduced funding

The Government will achieve savings of $11 million over four years from 2014–15 by reducing annual funding to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC). RIRDC will continue to receive approximately $8.5 million per annum in annual funding from the Government as well as funding from statutory levies collected from rural industries and Commonwealth matching contributions for expenditure on research and development.

Cooperative Research Centres

The Government will reduce funding for the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program by $80 million over the forward estimates.

Infrastructure Program

Agriculture and mining will share in the benefits of the big infrastructure program, including improved highways and better port access, while tax will be reduced on sea freight, one of the plans is for a $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link.

Due for completion in 2021, and supplemented by funding from the Western Australian Government and industry, the Perth Freight Link aims to use the Roe Highway as the main east-west freight route.

Early works should include a five-kilometre dual carriageway extension of the Roe Highway from the Kwinana Freeway.

Protection against supermarket power

The Federal Government acknowledges that many farmers and food processors get a rough deal from ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ supermarket contracts.

The Budget offers $1.4 million to extend unfair contracts provisions to small businesses, which is aimed at stopping the inclusion of unfair terms and conditions in standard contracts.

Research and development

The Government will continue to provide funding to match levies for research and development up to a cap, in accordance with existing co-investment arrangements.

The Government will provide an additional $100 million over four years to fund research in partnership with Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs). The funding will be used to provide grants for research projects that focus on delivering cutting edge technologies and applied research, with an emphasis on how the research outcomes would be used by farmers.

Budget overviewfor Agriculture

Improved access to agricultural chemicals

The Government will provide $8 million over four years to improve access by farmers for minor use agricultural chemicals. The funding will support the development of tools for improving access to the chemicals identified as high priority and enhancing existing legislative and administrative arrangements to facilitate access.

Biosecurity and quarantine measures

The Government will also provide $20 million over four years to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity and quarantine arrangements by providing additional resources to address pest and disease incursions.

For more information and all of the specific budget information please go to: www.budget.gov.au/2014-15/index.htm

Summary of the 2014–15 State Budget for AgricultureThe major points of the WA state budget which will affect the agricultural sector are the land tax exemptions for agricultural land will be tightened. This means with parts of agricultural properties used for processing or other purposes they will now be assessed for land tax.

The Royalties for Regions spending has now been capped at $1 billion per year. The State Government’s Seizing the Opportunity agricultural policy will be ramped up in coming years, with $51.5 million allocated to the initiative in 2014–15 and this will grow to $124 million in 2016–17. In addition to this the potential sale of the Perth Market Authority may affect vegetable growers.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on the WA State Budget please see the full details at: www.treasury.wa.gov.au/cms/budget.aspx?id=2018

The Government will provide $100 million over four years to fund research in partnership with Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).

http://www.budget.gov.au/2014-15/index.htm

http://www.treasury.wa.gov.au/cms/budget.aspx?id=2018

http://www.treasury.wa.gov.au/cms/budget.aspx?id=2018


YOUR INDUSTRY

At this point in time May 2014 the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) has produced a Draft Report of their inquiry into many matters associated with the microeconomic reform. One of these matters relates to the regulation of marketing Fresh Ware Potatoes in Western Australia.

For the ERA to successfully achieve this task there must be a total understanding of how the Fresh Potato Industry operates in Western Australia. The last Royal Commission investigating the Fresh Potato Industry stated “People who criticise the Potato Industry don’t understand how it operates”.

The ERA’s draft report released in April 2014 certainly contained many conclusions that are factually incorrect. This was very disappointing particularly when you consider the quality of the two submissions submitted by the Potato Growers Association of WA and the Potato Marketing Corporation. Further, to blatantly disregarding the WA Seed Potato Producers submission that stated emphatically that “the Potato Marketing Corporation has no negative effects on the Western Australian Seed Potato Industry” demonstrates the ERA doesn’t understand how the seed potatoes industry operates or the ERA have another agenda altogether.

Of further disappointment is there ERA’s reluctance to accept modern up-to-date technical data when deciding on Fresh Potato Pricing throughout Australia. This data clearly indicates that Western Australia fresh retail potato prices are below the average prices in the Eastern States and at many times are in fact the cheapest in Australia.

Variety of choice is another area where the picture portrayed is not the total picture. For example Coles and Woolworths only allow at any one time approximately six varieties that are the same in each of their stores. Therefore, it really does not matter how many varieties a state has, it’s all about how many varieties the retail stores will allow in.

A regulated market allows a concentration on varieties consumers prefer. IE. Royal Blue arguably the best potato in Australia is available now (May 2014) in our regulated market but very little is available in the non-regulated Eastern States market now (May 2014). Retailers also sell potatoes under a single brand name that may consist of several varieties.

Western Australia sold 23 varieties of fresh potatoes last year and has approximately 38 varieties that are currently in the development stage.

It is very interesting to note the ERA report didn’t take into consideration at any length the enormous power that the two supermarkets have over a non-regulated market industry versus a regulated market industry where the industry sets the wholesale price.

Both of our consultants have totally rebutted most of the ERA conclusions with facts that were referenced. Now the problem our regulated potato industry faces is what will the ERA place in their final report, now that the ERA’s Draft Report has been demolished by the facts. Will they stick to their ideological agenda of deregulating everything or will they face reality and recognise that the regulated potato industry should remain a regulated industry for the benefit of the consumers and Western Australian growers and their regions.

Economic Regulation Authorityinquiry into microeconomic reform – marketing of potatoes act — regulations

BY JIM TURLEYPOTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION OF WA INC

It really does not matter how many varieties a state has, it’s all about how many varieties the retail stores will allow in.


BUSINESSYOUR

YOUR INDUSTRY

While success in recent years has seen farming scholarships organisation Nuffield Australia undergo rapid expansion, the core of the program remains the same — give scholars a life-changing experience.

For up to 25 Australian primary producers, 2015 could be that life-changing year.

Applications for the 2015 Nuffield Australia scholarship program opened on the 1st April, and run through to the 30th June 2014, for travel in 2015.

The prestigious scholarship program is run in two distinct phases — firstly the Global Focus Program (GFP) takes participants on a whirlwind six-week tour of the powerhouses of world agriculture.

Scholars travel on the GFP with their fellow Nuffield colleagues on an itinerary set by the organisation — the success of Nuffield in recent years is such that the number of GFP’s run annually has doubled to four.

While traditionally the GFP programs have travelled to destinations such as Europe,

North America, New Zealand and Brazil, in recent years the program has expanded to include destinations such as China, South Africa, Kenya, India, Qatar and the Philippines.

As 2013 scholar Carly Buttrose, from South Australia, explains, the travel is eye opening.

“I met some of the best farmers and researchers in the world and an experience that money cannot buy. I gained valuable knowledge about global agriculture and the sheep industry and made wonderful friends all over the world,” she says.

Scholars then travel for a further 10 weeks by themselves, to drill down into a research topic of interest to them and of value to industry.

The value Nuffield scholars return to industry is evident in the range of topics recently covered, including; export opportunities for vegetables, farm machinery manufacturing, harvest residue management, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,

hydroponic berry production and supply chain management.

While the technical knowledge gained by scholars is significant, the networking opportunities within Nuffield globally are great, with member countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Zimbabwe, Canada, New Zealand and new member country the Netherlands.

Applications opened on the 1st April and close on 30th June 2014, for travel in 2015.

There will be up to 25 scholarships offered by Nuffield Australia, sponsored by a range of Australia’s leading primary sector organisations — for more information and selection guidelines please email [email protected] call (03) 5480 0755 or visit www.nuffield.com.au.

To keep up with the latest from our organisation, please follow us on Twitter @nuffieldaust and #nuffieldag and like Nuffield Australia on Facebook.

Apply now!Just days left to apply for a 2015 Nuffield scholarship!

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BUSINESSYOUR

YOUR BUSINESS


YOUR BUSINESS

TABLE 1 Effective life of a plant

Plants with effective life of three or more years

Annual write-off rate Maximum write-off period

3 to less than 5 years 40% 2 years 183 days

5 to less than 6 2/3 years 27% 3 years 257 days

6 2/3 to less than 10 years 20% 5 years



30 years or more 7% 14 years 105 days

If the effective life of the plants is less than three years, you can claim the establishment costs in full.

Calculating the decline in valueof horticulture plants

As a vegetable grower you are entitled to claim a tax deduction for the decline in value of your horticulture plants. There are a few guidelines which must apply in order to claim the deduction:

• You own the plants

• You use the plants in a business of horticulture to produce assessable income

• The expense was incurred after 9 May 1995.

A horticultural plant is a live plant or fungus that is cultivated or propagated for any of its products or parts.

Effective life of a plantThe effective life of a horticulture plant can be determined by the ATO’s guidelines or you can choose to work it out yourself. This will provide you with the period in which you can deduct the expenditure of the plant.

If the effective life of the plants is less than three years, you can claim the establishment costs in full, generally in the year in which the products or parts of the plant are first able to be harvested and sold commercially.

If the effective life of the plants is three or more years, you can write off the establishment costs over the maximum write-off period, which generally commences at the start of what is expected to be the plants’ first commercial season (see Table 1).


YOUR BUSINESS

Change in ownershipWhere ownership of the horticultural plants changes, the new owner is entitled to continue claiming the balance of capital expenditure incurred on establishing the plants on the same basis.

Small business entitiesIf you are a primary producer and a small business entity, you must use the Uniform Capital Allowance (UCA) rules to work out your deductions for horticultural plants.

The UCA system consolidates a range of former capital allowance provisions, it does this by providing a set of general rules that applies across a variety of depreciating assets. It maintains some concessional tax requirements such as those applying to primary production depreciating assets.

If you are using the simplified depreciation rules you generally will not use the UCA rules.

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Under the simplified depreciation rules you can claim an immediate deduction for most depreciating assets costing less than $1,000 and pool most other depreciating assets.

Recouped expenditureAny expenditure recouped is assessable income. Where the expenditure is deductible over more than one income year, special rules apply to determine the amount of any recoupment to be included in assessable income in the year of recoupment and later income years.

PartnershipsThese deductions are not available to a partnership. Costs incurred by a partnership in establishing horticultural plants are allocated to each partner who can then claim the relevant deduction in respect of their share of the expenditure.

MORE INFORMATION

For further information visit the ATO website www.ato.gov.au/Business/Primary-producers/In-detail/Valuing-plants-and-animals/Calculating-the-decline-in-value-of-horticultural-plants/

Please see your accountant or financial advisor to see if you can claim this deduction.

http://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Primary-producers/In-detail/Valuing-plants-and-animals/Calculating-the-decline-in-value-of-horticultural-plants/




YOUR BUSINESS


You’re walking your boundary fence and hear loud, frustrated swearing up ahead. As you get closer, you see your neighbour attempting to cut a fair size tree down with an axe. You watch to see what the problem is, and notice that every few swings the axe gets stuck in the trunk, or bounces off without biting in.

As good neighbours sometimes do, you call out “Hey, why don’t you stop for a second and sharpen your axe? It‘ll make it much easier!”

He looks around, and shouts back; “Can't you see I‘m too bloody busy cutting this tree down to sharpen the axe?”

(Adapted from Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)

Not having a Strategic Plan for your horticultural enterprise is like cutting a tree down with a blunt axe — it’s much harder, and there’s much more frustration involved!

vegetablesWA is organising FREE five-day strategic planning workshops specifically for WA horticulturalists, with funding from Department of Agriculture and Food, WA (DAFWA) and the Australian Government. The workshops lead you through developing your own Strategic Plan (and provide expert support along the way). Each session is about getting more of what you want back for you, your family, your farm and your future. The aim is to help you increase your profits, and ultimately build a better business that's easier to run and better able to cope with bad times as well as good.

MORE INFORMATION

Contact vegetablesWA Field Extension Officers, Sarah Houston (phone 0427 373 037 or email [email protected]) or Truyen Vo (phone 0457 457 559 or email [email protected]), for more information.

Why bother with a business plan?

FREE five-day strategic

planning workshops specifically for WA

horticulturalists

There is the fact that some small-scale farm owners would possess a larger farm whilst most of sharefarmers and lease farmers often dream to own a farm.

The routes to realise such a dream require the involved people to make many decisions every day. Some of these decisions have a direct impact on how much money is made or lost. The April 2011 factsheet Vegetables Industry Development Program — Thinking about Expansion? provides some key messages that give those involved simple thoughts to make better decisions.

The factsheet describes a case study on a vegetable farm, a young family and a small sized farm with some debt. Questions were raised along with suggestions in the factsheet to stimulate thoughts towards helping people to make better decisions. This is based on a scenario that a block of land has become available to purchase on a nearby property — if they conduct the same crop rotations what should they pay for the land?

• What are the overhead and variable costs? Efficiencies can be gained or lost on additional land. For example if the same machinery is used across a larger area, then a better profit per hectare can be made across the entire farm, as it is more efficient. Planning, budgeting and reviewing overhead and variable costs will be useful to make the best decision.

• Managing profit and cash flow. Is the parcel of land good enough to generate a profit? If so; how much? Is a different production system required? What will it cost? Are there opportunities to grow different crops and spread production risk or are there opportunities to grow a larger crop

and maximise revenue through different marketing techniques, such as year round supply to one retailer? Will the additional block have a positive or negative impact on cash flow at different times in the year?

• Debt and risk. There is an increased risk with more debt. For example if the whole crop fails for one or two years on the new or both farms; more debt means higher interest repayments and hence risk. Is the increased debt load able to be serviced with the crop rotation risk profile being used?

• Growth in equity. If the profit on the new block of land can pay the interest on the new block, tax bill and consumption or distribution, then growth in equity can occur. There may be a good opportunity to grow equity and perhaps participate in some capital gain.

• Buy, lease or share farm. If there is an opportunity where the land can be leased or share farmed under a suitable arrangement then it may give a better average cash result to the family and a lower level of risk. Land does not always have to be owned for it to be profitable.

In addition to thinking about all the numbers and financial outcomes it is crucial to consider all the people in the decision making process and what impact these decisions will have on families, workloads and the management challenges and skills required to run a larger business.

MORE INFORMATION

Refer to the Business Decision Making fact sheet available at: http://ausveg.com.au/rnd/fact_sheets.htm to find further guidance on making these types of decisions.

BY VO THE TRUYENVIETNAMESE EXTENSION OFFICER, VEGETABLESWA

Thinking about expansion?

mailto:sarah.houston%40vegetableswa.com.au?subject=



http://ausveg.com.au/rnd/fact_sheets.htm



YOUR BUSINESS

The Federal Budget which was handed down on 13 May, made some significant changes which will affect all levels of business and the majority of these changes will be implemented within the next year if legislated through parliament.

Please note while this is a comprehensive overview and you should speak with your accountant or financial advisor in relation to all of the budget changes and ensure your business complies with the regulations.

Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate — change to increase scheduleProposed effective date 1 July 2014

The Government will change the schedule for increasing the SG rate. The SG rate will increase from 9.25% to 9.5% from 1 July 2014 as currently legislated. The rate will remain at 9.5% until 30 June 2018 and then increase by 0.5 percentage points each year until it reaches 12% in 2022–23 (see Table 1).

TABLE 1 Superannuation Guarantee rate

Year Superannuation Guarantee rate (%)

2013–14 9.25

2014–15 9.50

2015–16 9.50

2016–17 9.50

2017–18 9.50

2018–19 10.00

2019–20 10.50

2020–21 11.00

2021–22 11.50

2022–23 12.00

Personal marginal tax rates in 2014–15Proposed effective date 1 July 2014

TABLE 2 Personal marginal tax rates

Income ($)

Residents marginal tax rate (%)

0–18,200 0

18,201–37,000 19

37,001–80,000 32.5

80,001–180,000 37

>180,000 47

Temporary budget repair levy (TBRL)Proposed effective date 1 July 2014

Previously announced in the media as the ‘deficit levy’, an additional two per cent levy is proposed to apply to certain individuals. The TBRL will be levied on taxable income in excess of $180,000 pa from 1 July 2014 for a period of three years expiring at 30 June 2017.

This will effectively raise the top marginal tax rate from 45% to 47%.

Temporary increase in fringe benefits tax (FBT) rateProposed effective date 1 April 2015

The FBT rate has already risen to 47% as a consequence of the increase in the Medicare levy (see below) and an additional rise to a total of 49% is proposed. This will prevent individuals liable for the TBRL from swapping taxable income (taxed at 49%) for fringe benefits taxed at the lower rate of 47%.

The increase in the FBT rate to 49% will occur from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2017 (aligning with the FBT years).

In summary:

1. FBT rate of 49% will occur from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2017

2. The TBRL will apply from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2017

3. Employees will need to be aware of the impact of this to their salary packaged benefits given the differing timeframes.

Medicare levy risesEffective date 1 July 2014

Medicare levy will rise to 2% effective 1 July 2014 (previously 1.5%). Medicare levy is assessed based on taxable income.

Consequential tax rate increasesProposed effective date 1 July 2014

Effective 1 July 2014 (except as noted), the 0.5% increase in Medicare levy flows onto other effective tax rates (see Table 3).

Still to be legislated, the TBRL will require a consequential increase to 49% for other tax rates based on the top marginal tax rate. These increases are proposed to apply generally for the period of the TBRL i.e. 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2017. These include the FBT rate, discussed in detail above, and potentially the other tax rates in the table above identified as flat rate taxes currently increasing to 47%.

Reduction in corporate tax rateProposed effective date 1 July 2015

The Government has indicated that it remains committed to cutting the company tax rate by 1.5% to 28.5% from 1 July 2015.

2014–15 Federal Budget for businesssummary


YOUR BUSINESS

TABLE 3 Consequential tax rate

FBT (effective 1 April 2014) 47.0%1

Excess non-concessional contributions tax 47.0%1

No Tax File Number (TFN) super contributions tax 47.0%1

Withholding tax on employee share schemes where no TFN provided

47.0%1

Amounts improperly accessed from First Home Saver Accounts

47.0%1

Tax applied to family trusts egg non-distribution of income to eligible beneficiaries

47.0%1

Employment termination payments (ETPs) < whole of income (WOI) cap and ETP cap (both $180,000 in 2013–14)

< preservation age ≥ preservation age

32.0%2

17.0%2

ETPs > ETP cap 47.0%1

ETPs > WOI cap 47.0%1

Taxable lump sum super withdrawals by those less than preservation age

22.0%2

Taxable lump sum super withdrawals by those aged 55–59 (>low rate cap $180,000)

Taxed element Untaxed element

17.0%2

32.0%2

Taxable lump sum super death benefit — non-dependents Taxed elementUntaxed element

17.0%2

32.0%2

1 Flat rate; 2 Maximum rate

MORE INFORMATION

For more information and all of the specific budget information please go to www.budget.gov.au/2014-15/index.htm




YOUR BUSINESS

Whether you’re just starting out in business, or you’ve had a business of your own for years, the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) is an organisation you need to know about.

Even the best business operators can sometimes find themselves at odds with customers, suppliers or landlords, but court proceedings are time consuming and costly and can end in bad feelings between the parties.

In 2012, the SBDC introduced an Alternative Dispute Resolution service as a low cost, convenient way to resolve disputes without the need to go to court. The early stages of the service are free of charge, with a small subsidised fee if mediation is required.

Small Business Commissioner, David Eaton oversees the service, and says the aim is to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible and get businesses back to business with relationships intact.

“Since the service began, we’ve been able to resolve disputes that had been ongoing for up to two years.

“What the parties needed was the opportunity to sit down together and reach a sensible solution,” Mr Eaton said.

“The Alternative Dispute Resolution service has been an outstanding success right from the start.”

The service is provided in stages, with an 80% success rate achieved in the first stages of the resolution process. The SBDC advisory service assists disputing parties by providing advice and guidance on rights and obligations as well as practical tools to help the parties resolve the dispute themselves.

If they do not succeed in resolving the dispute through these resources, the matter can be escalated to more intensive case management including bringing the parties together. At this stage, an ADR case manager will contact the parties to clarify the main issues, identify solutions and facilitate an agreement.

Often the pre-mediation phase of the process results in an agreement, but if not it has at least clarified the issues in dispute and identified options for resolution. Where parties are willing, the SBDC can also facilitate a mediation session with an independent mediator who can also assist the parties to resolve the dispute. There is a small fee for mediation.

The SBDC cannot force parties into a course of action and at any time, either party may decide to proceed to court or a State tribunal or to abandon the process altogether. Clients are encouraged to engage their own independent legal advice when considering such an option.

In the case of retail tenancy disputes, the Alternative Dispute Resolution service has been particularly successful in resolving disputes between landlords and small business tenants however, should that not occur, parties can proceed to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for a binding decision. A certificate from the Small Business Commissioner is required for disputes to proceed to SAT.

Don’t let disputesruin your business

Dispute typesThe types of disputes the Commissioner regularly receives include:

Business to business disputes:• Contracts

• Debt collection

• Franchising

• Non-supply or non-performance of goods

• Motor vehicle disputes

Business to Government disputes:• Navigating licensing and other red

tape issues

• Issues relating to local government, for example, planning approvals

• Issues relating to utility services

Retail tenancy disputes:• Market rent reviews

• Valuations

• Responsibility for maintenance

• Termination of leases

• Misrepresentation.

Some specific matters including those requiring emergency action can proceed directly to the SAT without requiring a certificate from the Commissioner.

In the 2012–13 financial year, the SBDC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution service resolved cases worth a total of more than $18 million.

SBDC research shows that this process not only reduces the amount of time and money associated with resolving disputes, it also reduces the number of small business disputes that go unaddressed because people are reluctant to pursue a matter they believe will be too expensive and too time-consuming.

Mr Eaton says the best policy is to have sound systems and procedures in place to avoid disputes, but if a dispute does arise, the Alternative Dispute Resolution service is a practical, inexpensive and effective way to resolve the problem, and keep important business relationships intact.

“Whether the dispute involves a small amount of money or is over a million dollar contract, the service has proved to be a very economical way to resolve difficult situations and get back to work sooner,” Mr Eaton said.

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Small Business Commissioner, David Eaton.

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YOUR BUSINESS


MORENA TARBOTTONPOTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

If you haven’t paid much attention to your credit history, you may want to now.

As part of the reforms to the Privacy Act that took effect on the 12 March 2014, comprehensive credit reporting has been introduced. This enables credit providers to share a broader range of information about your credit history to credit reporting agencies. This type of information is called Repayment History Information (RHI).

A credit report contains details of your credit applications such as for a mortgage, a mobile phone, a credit card or gas and electricity accounts. It also lists any significant problems you have had meeting your repayments.

The report is what banks or any service provider use to assess whether or not you have the capacity to pay for their services and what fees they should be charging to cover their risk. It’s the basis for how a financial institution picks and chooses its customers — whether they approve or deny your loan or credit application.

RHI can only relate to payments that an individual has made or missed from 12 December 2012. Then since March 2014 licensed credit providers can pass your RHI onto credit reporting bodies.

It is important to note that this information cannot be held for more than two years after the due date of the payment and the report won’t include any information about payments made or missed before December 2012.

A missed payment can include part-payments or payments made after the due date. So ultimately the changes mean that if you have failed to make the full repayments, on time from December 2012 it will potentially affect your ability to obtain credit in the future.

The implications of the new laws could positively or negatively impact on you depending on how you manage your credit. The more you pay your bills on time and don’t miss payments the better your credit score will be. This means lenders will be able to distinguish between high and low risk borrowers easily and potentially offer more competitive financial products to lower risk borrowers.

These changes are good news for young people and recent migrants who up until now have faced a lot of difficulty applying for loans because the banks didn’t have enough information about them and considered them too much of a risk.

When a credit provider collects your RHI they should notify you of certain matters, including the name and contact details of any credit reporting body to whom it is likely to disclose the information to.

Only holders of an Australian credit licence can exchange repayment history information with a credit reporting body or with another licensed credit provider.

The Privacy Act restricts who can access your credit report and under what circumstances.

Generally your credit report can only be obtained from a credit reporting body by credit providers to whom you apply to for credit, such as banks, finance companies or credit unions to telecommunications and utilities companies or by organisations that provide mortgage insurance for a home loan. If you run a business, credit providers that provide a commercial loan or insurance for a commercial loan may also be able to access your credit report.

Your credit report cannot be accessed by organisations that provide other types of insurance, real estate agents or by your employer.

In addition the Act gives you a right of access to your credit information. You are entitled to one free credit report every year from each credit reporting body. You can also get another credit report without charge from the credit reporting body if you show that a request for credit has been refused in the last three months.

If you believe there is incorrect information on your credit report you can contact the credit reporting body or the credit provider who listed the information and they will investigate the matter for you. They will let you know the outcome of the investigation and if needed fix the information on your credit report.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on the credit reporting changes go to www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-topics/credit-and-finance/

Credit reportingchanges

http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-topics/credit-and-finance/

http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-topics/credit-and-finance/

PROJECT TRICORD / OPERATION POLO

OPEN LETTER

Page 1 of 1

To Western Australian business

PROJECT TRICORD/OPERATION POLO

You may have noted recent coverage in the news media of a joint agency investigation into organised crime activity, known as Project Tricord/Operation Polo. This media coverage has included a focus upon the employment of workers. This open letter is intended to remind business operators of their responsibilities with respect to the employment of legal workers. Employers should check their workers are allowed to work, regardless of whether they are sourced directly or via a contractor, labour hire or by referral from another business entity. Businesses should be aware they potentially face fines and are liable for civil penalties if they employ, refer or contract non-citizens who do not have a valid visa allowing them to work. Penalties range from $3,060 to $76,500 per illegal worker. Businesses convicted of knowingly or recklessly allowing or referring illegal workers to work face fines of up to $20,400 and two years’ imprisonment, while companies face fines of up to $102,000 per illegal worker. Businesses can avoid penalties by taking reasonable steps at reasonable times to check that a non-citizen is allowed to work. The preferred method of checking is to use VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online), a secure and free government web-based service. Employers can also ask non-citizens to send their current visa details directly using VEVO Email. More VEVO information can be found at www.immi.gov.au/Services/Pages/vevo.aspx. It is important that every level of Australian business assists to stop the exploitation of vulnerable foreign nationals and to ensure Australian produce and products are produced free from exploitation. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has information about employing legal workers and a guide for businesses at www.immi.gov.au/legalworkers. This joint agency operation will continue to target illegal activities and dismantle organised crime syndicates that use labour illegally. Your awareness and cooperation is appreciated. A/Detective Superintendent Chris ADAMS (WA Police) Operational Commander Project TRICORD / Operation POLO 6 May 2014

PROJECT TRICORD/OPERATION POLOOPEN LETTER

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It is the responsibility of all Australian businesses to employ legal workers.

Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents are all examples of legal workers and have unlimited permission to work in Australia. A single check confirming citizenship or permanent residency at the time of employment is all that is required.

All Australian businesses should check that all non-citizen workers they use are allowed to work. This includes both paid and unpaid work. This is regardless of whether workers are sourced directly or via a contractor, labour hire or referral company. Checks should be conducted before the non-citizen commences work, before their visa expires and when the non-citizen’s circumstances change.

Penalties

TABLE 1 Penalties for employing illegal workers

Sanction category Maximum penalty

Illegal worker warning notice Administrative warning

Infringement $3,060 fine for individuals

$15,300 fine for bodies corporate

Civil penalty $15,300 fine for individuals


Criminal offence $20,400 fine and/or two years imprisonment for individuals


Aggravated criminal offence $51,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment for individuals


An example of an individual would be a sole trader; a body corporate would be a company.

Does this apply to me?A person might be liable for an infringement or civil penalties if they allow an illegal worker to work, or refer an illegal worker for work in Australia. This is regardless of whether they knew the worker was an illegal worker or not.

The circumstances in which a person allows another person to work are broad enough to cover not only the traditional employer-employee relationships and contract relationships, but also alternative working arrangements that are common in the construction, taxi, hospitality, cleaning and sex industries.

Employing legal workersa guide for businesses

What if I use a contractor or labour supplier?Businesses might still be held responsible for hiring illegal workers even if they use a contractor or labour supply company to source their workers. However, businesses can avoid being penalised by adding a clause to their contract or by specifying in writing (an exchange of letters) that the supply of labour includes only legal workers.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection have prepared examples of contract clauses and exchange of letters for businesses to use. These are addressed more fully in a separate article on page 61.

If an employer sights an Australian or New Zealand passport, this is sufficient to confirm unlimited permission to work.

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Business operators might wish to seek independent legal advice in relation to use of the sample wording and clauses to ensure compliance with the Migration Act 1958 and other relevant law, as amended from time-to-time.

Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residentsAustralian citizens, New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents are legal workers and have unlimited permission to work in Australia. A single check confirming citizenship or permanent residency at the time of employment is all that is required.

An employer would not need to conduct any other checks where:

• The person has worked in Australia for five or more years and the employer has no reason to believe the person might be a foreign national, or

• The person states that he/she was born in Australia and lived in Australia until at least 10 years old and the employer has no reason to believe this is not true, or

• The person provided information that their primary and further education was in Australia and the employer has no reason to believe the person might be a foreign national, or

• The employer has personal knowledge that the person has lived in Australia long term, that is 10 years or more, and the employer has no reason to believe the person might be a foreign national.

If further checks are requiredIf you have reason to believe the worker might be a foreign national, you might need to conduct further checks. A single check confirming citizenship or permanent residency at the time of employment is all that is required. In most cases, this is straight-forward as most people have some form of government-issued photo identification proving their citizenship.

If an employer sights an Australian or New Zealand passport, this is sufficient to confirm unlimited permission to work. A passport issued by the government of another country and a VEVO check confirming the worker is a permanent resident is also sufficient.

If the worker does not have a passport, a business might consider an Australian or New Zealand birth certificate, citizenship

certificate, or a certificate of residence status, along with a form of government-issued photo identification.

In the absence of a form of government-issued photo identification, a business might choose to sight as many of the following supporting documents considered necessary by the business to confirm identity:

• Confirmation of enrolment to vote in Australian state or federal elections

• Medicare card

• Tax file number

• References from previous employers

• Tenancy agreements or home ownership details

• Tertiary qualifications certificate

• Trade certificate

• Change of name certificates (if applicable).

The above documents do not, on their own, provide evidence of permission to work.

It is recommended copies of any sighted documents be kept in the employee’s record.

Tax file numbers, Medicare cards, driver’s licences and taxi licencesTax file numbers, Medicare cards, driver’s licences and taxi licences are useful to help confirm a person’s identity. They do not, on their own, provide evidence that a person is allowed to work in Australia.

Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) is the preferred method of checking if a non-citizen is allowed to work in Australia.

Privacy considerationsThe Australian Information Commissioner provides the following advice for businesses who are seeking to understand how their obligations in relation to employing legal workers interact with their obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Where a business decides, taking a risk-based approach, to keep a copy of a document sighted, they should collect the minimum amount of personal information.

Consideration should be given to blacking out unnecessary personal information (such as date of birth or address) or a government related identifier (such as a passport number, driver licence number, Medicare number or taxi licence number).

In addition, in accordance with the binding Tax File Number Guidelines 2011, a business must not collect a person’s tax file number for the purpose of confirming that a person is allowed to work in Australia. Businesses should destroy any personal information collected when it is no longer required. Further information about which businesses are covered by the Privacy Act and their obligations, and the Tax File Number Guidelines 2011, is available at www.oaic.gov.au.

Checking non-citizensWe expect businesses to take reasonable steps, at reasonable times, to confirm that a non-citizen is allowed to work.

Legal defencesMigration law prescribes the following actions businesses can take to confirm that non-citizen workers are allowed to work:

• Viewing evidence of the worker holding an unrestricted right to work in Australia (this includes evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residency), or

• Using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service to check that a non-citizen holds a valid visa that allows them to work, or

• Entering into a contractual arrangement with another party to verify that workers are allowed to work in Australia and/or supply workers who are allowed to work in Australia (see also above, What if I use a contractor or labour supplier?).

Other reasonable stepsIt is open to employers, labour suppliers or referrers to consider other reasonable steps to confirm if a person is allowed to work. Businesses might take a risk-based approach to decide the most suitable method or arrangement for checking if a non-citizen is allowed to work. This might vary from business to business and will depend on the nature of the business, industry and related risks. For example:

• If a business operates in an industry where illegal workers are often detected (such as the hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, transport, retail or sex industries) it might be prudent to check all of their non-citizen employees through VEVO.

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• Where a business has a workforce comprising a high turnover of workers, a practical approach might be to have a formal contractual arrangement with a labour supplier, such as an employment agency, obligating them to undertake checks and to only supply workers who are allowed to work in Australia on behalf of the business.

Using Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)VEVO is a free online government service and is the preferred method of checking if non-citizens are allowed to work. VEVO checks can be used as evidence that reasonable steps have been taken to check that a non-citizen is allowed to work.

Businesses registered to use VEVO can see relevant information about workers, including:

• The type of visa the person holds

• When the visa was granted and when it will expire

• If the person is allowed to work or if there are any conditions that might have been placed on the visa that will limit their capacity to work.

If VEVO returns a notification that a person does not have a VEVO record, and the person claims to be:

• An Australian citizen or permanent resident or New Zealand citizen, businesses should consider one of the options listed

• A non-citizen with a visa that allows them to work, the person should be encouraged to contact the department’s Community Status Resolution Service (CSRS) on 1300 853 773 for assistance.

VEVO EmailEmployers can also ask the non-citizen to send their current visa entitlements directly from the department’s VEVO Email service. The non-citizen can do this when they login to VEVO as a visa holder, using their date of birth, passport number and country, and one of the following reference types:

• Visa transaction reference number

• Visa grant number

• Visa evidence number

• Password.

VEVO cannot confirm the non-citizen’s identity. In addition to receiving the VEVO Email response, employers need to confirm the non-citizen’s identity and ensure that it matches the VEVO details.

Labour hire optionsvegetablesWA have been dealing with Labour Hire companies to see if there was any capacity available for any immediate shortages.

Companies with staff available include:

1. Regional Labour Hire — David Moffat. David can be contacted on mobile 0427 575 221 or email [email protected] or go to www.rlh.com.au

2. Industrial Recruitment Partners — Andrew Lockyer. Andrew can be contacted on mobile 0418 917 978 or email [email protected] or go to www.irp.net.au/index.php

3. MADEC — Jackie Jarvis. MADEC can be contacted on phone 1800 062 332 or go to www.harvesttrial.gov.au

In the longer term growers may wish to access labour through the Seasonal Labour Scheme www.employment.gov.au/seasonal-worker-program. vegetablesWA are investigating other longer-term solutions.

Growers who are companies operating under the federal award may like to investigate employing people on a piecework rate basis rather than an hourly basis www.fairwork.gov.au/industries/horticulture/pay/pages/piecework-rates

Other labour hire optionsHigh schools — work experience or the structured workplace program for students from high schools is an option and students will work one whole day per week.

Universities — various universities encourage their students to work at the end of the year and vacancies can be listed with them.

There are also a number of agricultural colleges in Western Australia that have students leaving at the end of each year who will be looking for employment. Employers offering horticultural scholarships or apprenticeships would be welcomed.

A list of the websites for each of the agricultural colleges with WA are listed below:• www.det.wa.edu.au/wacoa/detcms/portal

• www.narroginag.wa.edu.au

• www.morawaag.wa.edu.au

• web.cacbindoon.wa.edu.au

• www.denmarkag.wa.edu.au

• www.harveyag.wa.edu.au

• www.cunderdinag.wa.edu.au

MORE INFORMATION

There is the Skills West Expo being held at the Perth Convention Centre on the 18–20 September. This is for Education, Training and Employment. Further information can be obtained here www.skillswestexpo.com.au

Also there is a company called 2 WorkInOz. This company provides training for workers.

2 WorkInOz provides training opportunities and employment links for backpackers to rural and regional employers.

For more information contact Ley Webster, phone 0429 726 118 or email [email protected]

Labour hirewhere to find workers

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http://www.rlh.com.au

mailto:Andrew%40IRP.net.au?subject=

http://www.irp.net.au/index.php

http://www.harvesttrial.gov.au

http://www.employment.gov.au/seasonal-worker-program


http://www.fairwork.gov.au/industries/horticulture/pay/pages/piecework-rates



http://www.det.wa.edu.au/wacoa/detcms/portal

http://www.narroginag.wa.edu.au

http://www.morawaag.wa.edu.au

http://web.cacbindoon.wa.edu.au

http://www.denmarkag.wa.edu.au

http://www.harveyag.wa.edu.au

http://www.cunderdinag.wa.edu.au/

http://www.skillswestexpo.com.au

mailto:wirraway%40bordernet.com.au?subject=

YOUR BUSINESS


Example of contractual clauses and exchange of letters with a labour hire company

Contractual clauses Businesses may face infringement notices or civil penalties for engaging or referring an illegal worker even if the person was sourced from a referral agent, labour supply company, contractor or subcontractor providing services.

However, there will be no penalty if the business can provide evidence that they have taken reasonable steps at reasonable times to determine if the worker was allowed to work.

Businesses can rely on contractors and labour hire companies to check that all workers are allowed to work. They can do this by adding a clause to their contract specifying that if the supply of labour includes non-citizens, the non-citizens must have the required permission to work.

Examples of suitable wording for a business to add to their contracts are provided below.

Referral of workers without permission to work

x. Referral of illegal workers prohibited

x.1. For the purposes of this Clause x, an 'illegal worker' is a person who is an Unlawful Non-Citizen who is working without a visa, or a Non-Citizen who is performing work in breach of a Visa Work Condition, and the following definitions also apply:

1. 'Non-Citizen' has the same meaning as under the Migration Act 1958; and

2. 'Unlawful Non-Citizen' has the same meaning as under the Migration Act 1958; and

3. 'Visa Work Condition' means a condition (as set out in Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994) attached to a visa restricting the work that the Non-Citizen may do in Australia; and

a reference to the Migration Act 1958 or to the Migration Regulations 1994 is a reference to the Act

or Regulations, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time.

x.2. The [labour supplier, however described] must ensure that each person referred under this Contract would not, in doing the work for which they are referred, be an illegal worker.

x.3. When requested in writing, the (labour supplier, however described) will provide evidence within 14 days that it has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that it has complied and is complying with its obligations under this Clause x.

Engagement of workers without permission to work

y. Engagement of illegal workers prohibited

y.1. For the purposes of this Clause y, an 'illegal worker' is a person who is an Unlawful Non-Citizen who is working without a visa, or a Non-Citizen who is performing work in breach of a Visa Work Condition, and the following definitions also apply:

1. 'Contractor' will, include the officers, employees, volunteers, bailees, agents and authorised subcontractors of the Contractor; and

2. 'Non-Citizen' has the same meaning as under the Migration Act 1958; and

3. 'Unlawful Non-Citizen' has the same meaning as under the Migration Act 1958; and

4. 'Visa Work Condition' means a condition (as set out in Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994) attached to a visa restricting the work that the Non-Citizen may do in Australia; and

a reference to the Migration Act 1958 or to the Migration Regulations 1994 is a reference to that Act or Regulations, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time.

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y.2. The Contractor must ensure that each person engaged by the Contractor would not, in doing the work for which they are engaged, be an illegal worker.

y.3. The Contractor must make compliance by any subcontractors with the provisions of this Clause y a condition of any subcontract.

y.4. The Contractor must remove, or cause to be removed, any illegal worker from any involvement in the provision of the services.

y.5. For the avoidance of doubt, compliance with the Contractor's obligations under this Clause 1.1 will not constitute a force majeure event, or give rise to an entitlement to claim any delay or otherwise excuse the Contractor from compliance with its obligations under this Contract.

y.6. When requested in writing, the Contractor will provide evidence within 14 days that it has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that it has complied, and is complying with, its obligations under this Clause y.

Exchange of lettersBusinesses may face infringement notices or civil penalties for engaging or referring an illegal worker even if the person was sourced from a referral agent, labour supplier, contractor or subcontractor providing services. However, there will be no penalty if the business can provide evidence they have taken reasonable steps at reasonable times to check that the worker was allowed to work.

Where a business has a workforce which comprises seasonal labour or has a high turnover of staff, a more practical solution may be to ask their referral agent, labour supplier, contractor or subcontractor providing services to enter into an exchange of letters arrangement which stipulates that all workers supplied are allowed to work.

It is recommended that a copy of the letters be kept by the business as evidence that reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the validity of all workers supplied.

Examples of suitable wording for an exchange of letters between the business and their referral agent, labour supplier, contractor or subcontractor providing services are provided below.

Referral agent or labour supplierTo (name of referral agent or labour supplier)

It is prohibited under the Migration Act 1958 to allow or refer an illegal worker to work.

You must ensure that each person you refer or supply to (name of business) for work is allowed to work in Australia

A person who is allowed to work in Australia is one of the following:

1. an Australian citizen; or

2. a non-citizen with a valid Australian visa that allows the person to work in Australia.

Certain visas, for example visitor visas do not allow non-citizens to work while they are in Australia. People who no longer hold a valid visa are also not allowed to work in Australia.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has published a set of practical examples of ways in which you can check if a non-citizen is allowed to work in Australia at www.immi.gov.au/legalworkers.

Please sign below as an agreement that each person you refer or supply to me for work is allowed to work in Australia.

Agreement of referral agent or labour supplier

Signature _______________________ Date ________________

Contractor or sub-contractor providing servicesTo (name of contractor or sub-contractor)

It is prohibited under the Migration Act 1958 to allow or refer an illegal worker to work.

You, as the contractor providing the services to (name of business) must ensure that each person you employ or sub-contract to provide the services is allowed to work in Australia.

A person who is allowed to work in Australia is one of the following:

1. an Australian citizen; or

2. a non-citizen with a valid Australian visa that allows the person to work in Australia.

Certain visas, for example visitor visas do not allow non-citizens to work while they are in Australia. People who no longer hold a valid visa are also not allowed to work in Australia.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has published a set of practical examples of ways in which you can check if a non-citizen is allowed to work in Australia at www.immi.gov.au/legalworkers.

Please sign below as an agreement that each person you employ or sub-contract to provide the services is allowed to work in Australia.

Agreement of contractor or sub-contractor providing the services

Signature _______________________ Date ________________

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About the Seasonal Worker Program The Seasonal Worker Program commenced on 1 July 2012 and aims to contribute to the economic development of eight participating Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste through seasonal workers. The Seasonal Worker Program offers Australian employers in the horticulture industry access to workers from the participating countries when they cannot find enough local Australian labour to meet their seasonal demand.

A recent study by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) found that seasonal workers were on average 22% more efficient that working holiday makers and returning seasonal workers are additional 12% more efficient. Given these statistics why not look into the Seasonal Workers Program and how it can work for you and your business.

Seasonal Worker Program

Which countries have been invited to participate?

Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste have signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Australian Government to participate in the Seasonal Worker Program.

Approved Employers of seasonal workers may choose which participating country to recruit from.

What type of work can seasonal workers undertake?

Seasonal workers can undertake a range of horticultural tasks, including sowing, harvesting, pruning, thinning, raising, packing, treating sorting and work related to the preparation of land for horticultural crops, including; clearing, fencing, trenching, draining or otherwise preparing or treating land for the sowing, raising, harvesting or treating of horticultural crops.

Accessing seasonal workers is easy

Only ‘Approved Employers’ — that is, organisations approved by the Australian Government — can recruit seasonal workers. Growers with unmet demand for labour can either:

• Contact an Approved Employer who can manage the recruitment of seasonal workers for you and take care of all the administrative arrangements during the workers’ stay; or,

• Apply to become an Approved Employer.

Will seasonal workers be able to return in following seasons?

Yes. The Seasonal Worker Program will provide for the return of seasonal workers in subsequent seasons where employers continue to have unmet demand for labour. This will provide Australian industries with opportunities to benefit from a reliable, returning workforce and it will give seasonal workers the chance to benefit from remittances, skills and knowledge transfer.

Are seasonal workers more expensive that recruiting Australian workers?

Yes. Approved Employers must contribute $500 towards the workers return international airfare, meaning that seasonal workers will generally be more expensive than Australian workers. Seasonal workers must be paid in accordance with Australian workplace entitlements.

Who manages the Seasonal Worker Program in Australia?

The Seasonal Worker Program team in the Australian Government Department of Employment manages the domestic implementation of the Seasonal Worker Program.

A seasonal worker from Tonga, harvesting zucchinis in Bowen, QLD, for the approved employer ‘Ikale’.

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Reliability, efficiency, versatility. Three words that perfectly describe the experience of Glossodia-based vegetable growers, and now Seasonal Worker Program approved employers F&K Xerri’s experience with seasonal workers recruited under the Seasonal Worker Program.

“Veggies are picked on time and seasonal workers turn up to work every day,” Karen Xerri, one of the owners of F&K Xerri said. “It’s not just about picking quickly, it’s about picking properly to ensure that products are received by the end-customer in the right condition, saving time and money.”

Karen said “Our seasonal workers have saved us time on training, and have helped us to consistently deliver quality veggies for our customers, on time.”

This observation by Karen Xerri is reflected in a recent study by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) which found that seasonal workers were on average 22% more efficient that working holiday makers and returning seasonal workers are additional 12% more efficient.

The other thing that F&K Xerri have discovered is that versatility is a trait their seasonal workers display in abundance. Unlike single crop farms, F&K Xerri grow a range of vegetables including zucchini, capsicum, eggplant and spinach. All need to be harvested at the right time, using the right technique — something the seasonal workers mastered in a very short period of time.

A similar experience has been enjoyed by another grower in the area who also recruits seasonal workers “I can trust them to do anything. They’re so on the ball, they even tell us what to do!”

Besides the obvious benefits experienced by F&K Xerri and others, there’s also another side to this program. Seasonal workers participate in this program to earn money to put towards education of family members, permanent housing and better living conditions. It’s a win-win for all involved.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, visit: http://employment.gov.au/seasonal-worker-program, call the Seasonal Worker (02) 6240 5234, or email [email protected]

Reliability, efficiency, versatility Vegetable growers’ experiences with seasonal workers

CASE STUDYDo seasonal workers receive briefings on what to expect in Australia?

Yes. Seasonal workers receive pre-departure briefings before departing for Australia on Australian workplace rights and regulations, the role of unions in Australia, Australian culture, laws, customs and climate.

Upon arrival into Australia, Approved Employers provide workers with an on-arrival briefing which complements the pre-departure briefing. The on-arrival briefing also includes a tour of the local community, including essential services, information on the Fair Work Ombudsman, unions in Australia, where to go for assistance both at work and outside of work, as well as a work-place induction.

Is there a minimum and maximum amount of time a seasonal worker can work in Australia for?

Yes. Workers can be recruited to work in Australia for between 14 weeks and six months, and at a minimum, must be provided with an average of 30 hours per week. Approved Employers will be required to demonstrate that workers will benefit financially from their participation.

Organisations interested in participating in the Seasonal Worker Program should contact the Department of Employment on (02) 6240 5234 or email [email protected] or visit the website: www.employment.gov.au/seasonal-worker-program.

How many places are available to employers under the Seasonal Worker Program?

Up to 12,000 places will be available to employers to recruit seasonal workers under the Seasonal Worker Program. This includes 10,450 places in total for the program in horticulture over four years to 30 June 2016 and 1,550 places for trial over three years to 30 June 2015.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit www.employment.gov.au/seasonal-worker-program.Call the Seasonal Worker Information Line on (02) 6240 5234 or, email [email protected]

Seasonal workers from Vanuatu, employed by the approved employer ‘E&P Xerri’.

Average cost of flightsPerth to Dili return $1,500–$1,800

Perth to Apia return $1,300–$1,800

Perth to Port Morseby return $1,200–$1,700

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City of Wanneroo Deputy Mayor Dot Newton says the city’s market garden industry remains important to Council, the local community and local economy.

“Our wonderful city was actually built by pioneering, hard-working, market gardener families,” Councillor Newton said.

“Today our city’s market gardeners and farmers continue to play a vital role in our community, offering local employment opportunities and providing our residents with fresh local produce.

“As a Council we would like to publicly recognise their hard work and the many positive attributes they bring to the city.

“Most people would not be aware that a number of new farming technologies have actually been developed by growers in our city,” Councillor Newton said.

“These technologies are making a real impact on the global market.”

With the introduction of irrigation in the 1930s and 1940s, market gardens moved on from the lake’s edge to the higher sandy flats.

Today the City of Wanneroo’s market garden industry is worth millions of dollars — in 2012–2013 it generated $46 million in international exports and more than $165 million in total annual sales, representing 2.9% of Western Australia’s agricultural output.

The industry is also a valued local employer of about 550 people, representing 2% of the state’s agriculture employment.

Chris Morrison, Director of City Businesses, says staff from the City of Wanneroo — like all other local councils — are on hand to help residents and local businesses.

Mr Morrison offers helpful advice on the following page, but advises people to contact their local council should they require specific information or assistance.

City of Wanneroo market gardens

BY JACQUELINE ROGERS SENIOR PR/COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, CITY OF WANNEROO

The city’s farming roots date back to the late 1800s when market gardeners first set up plots around Lake Joondalup.

From 1900 market gardening in Wanneroo intensified, becoming a major source of vegetables, particularly when migrants from southern Europe arrived after World War One.

1980s

1921 No date — Neerabup

1989 — Carabooda

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BY CHRIS MORRISONDIRECTOR OF CITY BUSINESSES

Food productionThe growing of primary produce does not require registration with local government under the Food Act 2008, however, growers intending to further process their produce in any way, such as packaging salads, will need to be registered as a food business.

Use of chemicalsCare must be taken when using chemicals as misuse may result in health impacts to growers, their employees and neighbours. It is illegal under the Health (Pesticide) Regulations to apply chemicals using an application method not consistent with the product’s labelling instructions.

Examples of this include the application of ‘metham sodium’ products through reticulation systems, which is a dangerous practice.

Fly breeding and animal manureIt is important to manage animal manures and crop residue on properties as breeding flies is illegal under the Fly Eradication Regulations.

The use of raw poultry manure is also banned in several shires and city councils on the Swan Coastal plain, from Gingin to Harvey under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act (2007), as it provides a breeding ground for stable flies, which are a serious pest to both animals and humans.

Burning wasteThe burning of non-organic waste such as plastic, polystyrene, rubber, car parts and tyres is an offence under the Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharge) Regulations 2004. This waste must be taken to a licensed waste management facility.

If any doubt, growers should telephone their local council for specific advice.

Planning approvalsAnyone wishing to use or develop land must have planning approval from their local council. Planning approval should be obtained prior to any activities, works or construction taking place.

An application should be submitted to the relevant local council, outlining the proposal together with supporting plans and information.

Growers should contact their local council’s planning team for further information and advice.

Rijk Zwaan is an internationally respected seed company with a long tradition of breeding top quality vegetable varieties for professional growers. We require a Sales Representative to service the vegetable growing industry in Western Australia.

You will be responsible for promoting varieties with proven added value by liaising with all involved in variety choice within the vegetable supply chain.

Ideally you will have a tertiary qualification in horticulture or equivalent, a background in horticultural production and a sound knowledge of the vegetable industry.

We offer an opportunity to work within an expanding company, which focuses on technical support and quality. Applications by 1st August 2014 to: email: [email protected]

Human Resources Manager, Rijk Zwaan Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 284 Daylesford VIC 3460 Inquiries Sue: 03 5348 9004

Sales RepresentativeVegetable Seeds - Perth, WA

Sharing a healthy futureSharing a healthy future

Building permitsFrom a building perspective, growers require a building permit for all structures such as sheds, pump houses and water tanks.

Exemptions are outlined in Schedule 4 of the Building Regulations 2012 and the most notable of these exemptions relating to a market garden are:

• Sheds, outbuildings, pump houses or the like that is not greater than 10sqm in area and not greater than 2.4m in height

• Water storage tanks with a capacity of 5000L or less.

Anyone undertaking building works should contact their local council for specific advice.

Care must be taken when using chemicals as misuse may result in health impacts to growers.

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Bevan Eatts, SFFC Chair and plum grower.


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A passionate group of growers and producers from the Southern Forests region of Western Australia headed to the 2014 Food and Hotel Asia Expo in Singapore, April 8 to 11 inclusive, to promote the regions great quality and diverse produce.

Spanning an immense area of 93,000 square meters, 3,000 exhibitors and 45,000 trade and media delegates, Asia’s largest biennial food and hotel expo attracted exhibitors from 64 countries.

The Genuinely Southern Forests stand and display was an extremely popular display attracting positive comments and a great number of enquiries from delegates.

Attendance at FHA by the Southern Forests Food Council (SFFC) and producers was stage 4 and the final stage in a process that was outlined at the launch of Genuinely Southern Forests brand in November and our approach to export marketing of the Southern Forests region and produce.

In developing our export strategy the four stages have included — supply chain analysis; a mission to Singapore to discuss opportunities with importers, wholesalers, retailers, chefs, and the industry in general; an export development workshop in Manjimup in March 2014 with local producers and finally our attendance at FHA.

“Having completed our research, including market and industry analysis it is now time to seek out the many export opportunities that we believe exist and develop our export strategy,” said Allen Burtenshaw, Executive Officer SFFC.

“The export strategy will be presented to the producer workshop group that attended the export development workshop in Manjimup on March 4 for their consideration and approval,” said Bevan Eatts, Chair SFFC.

“It is critical that the producers are pleased and supportive of the export strategy as it is they who are key to any export success,” Eatts further went on to say that “we need to be mindful that the export market will only represent 10% of our marketing focus in the coming 12 months with the 90% balance being focused on domestic market opportunities.”

International interest in Southern Forests produce and tourism

Jill and Jacquie Baker who attended FHA with their Pemberton Finger Limes commented “The quality of true buyers at the FHA exceeded our expectations. We have enough genuine business leads to last us another two or three years. Every day we had crowds of people lining up to taste our finger limes. One lovely buyer from Hong Kong even said she got goosebumps when she tasted our ‘citrus caviar’, as she had never seen anything like it,” said Jill Baker.

Jacquie Baker further went on to say “The most exciting export prospect was secured on day three of FHA. We were approached by the ‘King of Caviar’ Raphael Bouchez from Kaviari, Paris. He said he has chefs in France and Hong Kong crying out for Australian finger limes. We are planning to make a shipment to him in the next two weeks, as soon as we pick more fruit,” said Baker.

Pemberton Finger Limes now have export contacts for China, Korea, The Maldives, Italy, Thailand and Singapore. “We would never had made these contacts without the help of the Southern Forests Food Council,” said Jill Baker.

ALLEN BURTENSHAWEXECUTIVE OFFICER SOUTHERN FORESTS FOOD COUNCIL

IMAGES: CRAIG KINDER, F22 PHOTOGRAPHY

Jill Baker, with her Pemberton finger limes.


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Dean Ryan who also attended FHA said he was extremely pleased with his involvement and that he was already talking to a number of Singapore importers who were very pleased with a number of his potato varieties.

“The sheer size of the event can at times be overwhelming, but the Southern Forests producers who attended, along with representatives from the Southern Forests Food Council stood tall and received a lot of attention from very interested importers, chefs, retailers etc,” said Ryan.

“It appears a lot of Asia is now moving from the simple price proposition to instead looking for quality, fresh produce particularly from Australia and this puts us in a good position,” said Ryan.

He also commented that the SFFC management should be commended on their initiative to attend FHA with the intention of opening up and diversifying into new markets for local producers.

“It is not only the Asian produce importers that are interested in the Southern Forests,” said Burtenshaw.

Searching for ‘black gold’.“The Food and Wine strategies being adopted by Tourism WA and Tourism Australia are striking a chord with what we in the Southern Forests region are doing in relation to both our produce and tourism.

“Soon a Singaporean blogger and writer will be venturing to the Southern Forests, courtesy of Tourism WA, for our Truffle Kerfuffle and to explore the many food trail opportunities we have in the region. They are interested in nature, food, wine and soft adventure and we fit all needs,” said Burtenshaw.

“Because of these food and wine strategies by Tourism WA and Tourism Australia we are able to fast-track the tourism side of our overall strategy and integrate this with our produce positioning,” said Burtenshaw.

“It is indeed exciting times with many produce and tourism opportunities,” said Eatts.

“And we are keen to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.”

Eatts further went on to say that he could not have been more proud of the producers and staff who represented the Southern Forests region at FHA and that their efforts will go a long way to the region forging a successful export campaign.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information contact SFFC media contact Allen Burtenshaw, Executive Officer, on 0419 923 208.

Dean and Glenn Ryan, potato growers.


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A major conference in Perth in April aimed to strengthen business ties between Western Australia and our biggest agribusiness trading partner China.

The Western Australia-China Agribusiness Cooperation Conference attracted 156 Chinese delegates representing 102 companies or organisations. With 137 Australian participants, this stretched the capacity of the State Reception Centre in Kings Park to its limit.

The conference was hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Food and supported by the InvestWest Agribusiness Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIWA), the Australia-China Business Council, the Departments of State Development and Regional Development, and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Perth.

China was ranked as WA’s biggest market for agriculture and food products in 2012–13, valued at more than A$1 billion. Leading exports were wool, barley, canola, wheat and sheep skins.

Opening doors to businesswith China

Focus areas for the conference included beef, wine, dairy, grains and fodder, horticulture, gourmet food and fisheries — hoping to broaden interest under a theme of ‘Investing and growing together’.

Opening the conference, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Ken Baston, said the growth in demand for clean and safe, premium quality food and beverage products was an opportunity for both parties.

“By working together, we can meet the increasing demand of consumer and grow our economies to the benefit of all concerned,” he suggested.

Horticulture Western Australia’s Export Development Manager Gavin Foord addressed delegates on investment opportunities, and on the following day he also participated in a field tour for about 15 Chinese delegates specifically interested in horticulture.

DAFWA trade development manager Soon Chye Tan acted as interpreter for the group and research officer Allan McKay provided specialist information as they visited Benara Nurseries, Center West Exports, Taddei Orchards and Lamont’s Wines.

Nine delegates came from a single company from Fujian Province and were specifically interested in growing carrots, capsicums and tomatoes. This company has already invested in hydroponic production near Sydney and was keen to learn about opportunities in WA.

Our ‘clean and green’ environment, scale of operation and mechanisation was of particular interest.

At the Western Australia-China Agribusiness Cooperation Conference in Perth are Western Australian Agriculture and Food Minister, the Hon Ken Baston MLC, Department of Agriculture and Food Director General Rob Delane, and Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Perth Dr Huang Qinguo.

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National projectsto benefit local growers

BY GAVIN FOORDEXPORT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, HORTICULTUREWA

Trade and Investment Queensland is leading this HAL-funded project on broccoli exports to Japan. Bronwyn Warfield from Trade and Investment Queensland is the key contact. In April 2014, broccoli growers received an invitation to participate in (yes another) survey to build an understanding of grower perceptions around this market. You may remember the survey request came with the question: Japan gave us sushi — can we give them our broccoli?

Project overviewA value chain approach has been adopted for this project. All businesses from seedling companies to consumers will be engaged to provide a thorough analysis of the market opportunities and viability of boosting Australia’s exports of broccoli to Japan. A key strategy will be the active involvement of growers and exporters in directing project activities and participating in in-market activities.

The key strengths of this proposal include the project team, methodology and existing collaboration with broccoli growers on a Global Markets Initiative (GMI) funded export project to Singapore. GMI is an export development program managed by TIQ and DAFF-Qld and has been highly successful in boosting exports of mangoes, avocados and mandarins.

TIQ’s project team includes an experienced Business Development Manager based in Tokyo who has previously undertaken export development on value added broccoli opportunities in Japan. The team also includes Clinton McGrath from DAFF-Qld who is an experienced horticulturalist and is part of the project team involved in the GMI funded broccoli export project to Singapore. DAFF-Qld and TIQ are combining their trade and industry experience to collaborate with the academic expertise of Griffith University Department of International Business & Asian Studies to ensure a robust and rigorous methodology. The experience of the project team coupled with the learnings from the GMI funded broccoli project to Singapore, will deliver a well researched market analysis and strategy for broccoli exports to Japan which will focus on export outcomes.

It has been refreshing to find so many industries on the same page, working towards the common goal of export success to benefit Australian growers. We already have a few great export stories and now is a good time to share information and share the success.

AUSVEG export development teamFrom a vegetable perspective, it is fantastic that AUSVEG have assembled a National Export Development Team. I had the opportunity to meet with Claire McClellard (Export Development Officer) and Hayden Moore (National Manager — Export Development) when they were in WA for the regional forums in April, at which they presented information on the range of national export development initiatives.

About his role Hayden said “My position as National Manager — Export Development has been created to support the industry in its efforts to develop export markets. It is a reflection of the growing recognition that export markets are a very important part of a profitable and sustainable vegetable industry.

“Claire and I are focussed on the delivery of a number of national vegetable levy funded projects aimed at creating export opportunities and building export readiness in the industry. AUSVEG are also active in advocating for Government policy change to support export development, particularly in relation to gaining access in international markets and reducing the costs of export for growers.”

Features of this year’s convention include a reverse trade mission and Exporting to Japan Symposium. No doubt we will all have much to report from those events.

Two handy outputs that Claire and Hayden have produced are the:

• Export Readiness Checklist; and

• Guide to the Export Readiness Checklist.

Both documents have been distributed widely, however if you missed out or want additional copies, you can download from the AUSVEG website or contact vegetablesWA.

Hayden also detailed the recently developed Export Readiness Project for vegetable growers, and discussed opportunities available through horticultural exports.

“The Export Readiness Project is an exciting tool that has been developed by AUSVEG with the aim to assist growers in expanding their businesses. Horticultural exports have the opportunity to open up expansive new markets for vegetable growers, particularly in WA given its proximity to Asia, the Middle East and India.”

This edition of the WA Grower is being distributed at about the same time as the AUSVEG National Convention in Cairns.

Market analysis strategy Broccoli to Japan

When I started in this role in October last year, I talked about ‘Connecting the dots for export success’ (WA Grower, Spring 2013). Since then I have become more aware of the many projects and activity, focussed on vegetable exports, around Australia.


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Malaysia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) market analysis and strategy Carrots and sweet corn

Michael Clarke from AgEconPlus Pty Ltd, John Baker from Produce Marketing Australia and Mike Titley from MHT Consulting were successful in their tender for this HAL project.

The objectives of this project are to:

a) Complete market research and return on investment analysis of potential opportunities and threats for exporting carrot and sweet corn to Malaysia and the UAE.

b) Identify and profile relevant supply chain participants that would benefit/assist growers to develop export trade networks to and within Malaysia and the UAE.

c) Work collaboratively with service providers appointed to organise National Export opportunity Symposium.

d) To develop a market development investment program plan, subject to a positive outcome from objective a) that provides industry with a working document on the future strategy for Australian carrot and sweet corn exports to Malaysia and the UAE. The report should include; R&D investments required for implementing the

plan, industry positioning, product positioning, targeted strategies for different sectors within each market and projected timeline.

Detailed reporting is in progress and will be provided by the project team in due course.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to join the Malaysian leg of the export trade networking component of this project, accompanying John Baker, Joe Castro (Castro Farms, Myalup) and Tally Matthews (ACE Ohlsson).

This included engaging with a very good mix of marketing, retail, wholesale and logistics networks in Kuala Lumpur.

Like much of Asia, Malaysia is a maturing market place. Food safety and eating quality are increasingly important to consumers. In many cases this is reflected in the retail price of products from Australia. The strategies developed through this project are set to provide a framework to allow us to capitalise on identified market opportunities. Given our existing presence and proximity to these markets, this is a national project that will clearly benefit local growers.

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The recent Federal Budget has fulfilled an election promise by the Abbott Government. They have pledged to assist small exporters deal with the cost of export fees and charges, with an additional $15 million in funding over the next four years.

Small exporters in a range of industries; including horticulture may be eligible for the rebate. A rebate will be available in 2014–15 to cover 50% of export registration charges up to a maximum of $5,000.

For the remainder of 2014–15, the export sectors will work with the Department of Agriculture to review the export certification fees and charges, through existing Government-industry consultative committees.

These committees will need to report about the sustainability and equity of fees and charges, and recommend a new fees schedule to begin 2015 — a fee schedule that everyone can agree on and that doesn’t disproportionately discriminate against new or small exporters.

The industry committees will need to recommend projects that will help improve market access for small exporters in their field.

Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce said “I'm looking for projects that will support small exporters and help them remain competitive and profitable in the international marketplace.

“Australia’s produce is world-class and we need to support our small exporters and assist them through the export process.”

Government election promise to small exporters



ENVIRONMENTYOUR

YOUR ENVIRONMENT


YOUR ENVIRONMENT

We’re all aware of the range of different tools available to measure the different properties of soil including pH, salinity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), texture and so on. However, are these measures of soil health? An interesting concept to potentially measure the health of a soil is measuring the organisms in a soil.

The idea behind this concept is that if there are good healthy conditions for soil organisms then there is likely to be good healthy conditions for plant roots. Soil organisms, just like plant roots, need a range of common elements such as oxygen, water, nutrients etc. Therefore by identifying if there are healthy populations of organisms in the soils we grow our crops we might be able to identify weather or not we have healthy conditions for our crops. The aim is that healthy soils will lead to healthier plant roots which are capable of taking up nutrients and water more efficiently, leading to plants which are more resistant to diseases and other environmental stresses which produce better quality and yielding crops.

It should be noted that the great majority of soil organisms do not cause plant diseases and often those that do occur as a result of an imbalance within the soil ecosystem.

Measuring soil organismsWithin soils there are a whole range of different soil organisms including bacteria, fungi and soil fauna. There is literally uncountable numbers of different organisms living within a handful of soil. These organisms all have complex interrelationships between each other and their environment – the soil. The understanding of this complexity is very limited and experts in the field will be the first to tell you that we have a long way to go before we can feel confident that we have a strong understanding of soil ecosystems.

Within the fauna group there are three size ranges:

1. Soil macrofauna — ants, earth worms etc

2. Soil mesofauna — mites, spring tails etc

3. Soil microfauna — protozoa, nematoads etc

By focusing on the mesofauna group, which can easily be extracted and counted, we can potentially use them is as an indicator. Knowing that there are complex living ecosystems which the mesofauna are part of, we can potentially study this group to gain a greater understanding of the general health of the whole ecosystem.

Soil organismspotential indicators of soil healthBY NIGEL TODDSUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COORDINATOR, HORTICULTUREWA/PERTH REGION NRM

Key messages• If there are good healthy

conditions for soil organisms then there is likely to be good healthy conditions for plant roots which could lead to healthy crops, better yields and improved quality

• Farmers can potentially use soil organisms as an indicator of soil health

• Extracting and studying soil organisms is relatively easy and can be done in the farm shed with the use of a homemade Tullgren Funnel and microscope

• Soil organisms have many complex relationships with other organisms and the soil, most of which we have yet to fully understand and many of them potentially beneficial to farmers

• The great majority of soil organisms do not cause plant diseases and often those that do occur as a result of an imbalance within the soil ecosystem.

Diagrammatic representation of soil meso and macro fauna including mites and spring tails.

Source: www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/soil-biodiversity/what-is-soil-biodiversity/en/

Farmers across the country have all heard about the importance of soil health and how healthy soils can contribute significantly towards the health of their crops and therefore the quality and yield they can expect to achieve however, what is soil health?

http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/soil-biodiversity/what-is-soil-biodiversity/en/

http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/soil-biodiversity/what-is-soil-biodiversity/en/

Soil sample

Top of bottle/funnelLamp

Mesh

Vial

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Professor Lyn Abbott from the University of Western Australia has often demonstrated to growers across the region how easy this can be achieved using a simple Tullgren Funnel. The steps are as follows:

1. Collect a sample of top soil (only the top 5cm of the soil profile) from locations across your blocks which are of interest to you. Examples would be differing soil types, yields or quality. Keep these samples separate so you can compare them.

2. Make your own home made Tullgren Funnel (Figure 1)

i. Cut off the top off a plastic soft drink bottle (1.5L)

ii. Place a collection container/vial inside the bottle

iii. Using the top of the bottle as a funnel, place it inside the bottle

iv. Line the funnel with some mesh

v. Place your soil sample on top of the mesh

vi. Position a desk lamp over the soil (about 7cm away)

vii. Leave for 2 to 5 hours

3. Once you’ve collected your sample of mesofauna you can place the vial under a microscope to view them.

There are two main groups of organisms which you will find using this extraction method — mites and spring tails.

Springtails

Source: www.naturephoto-cz.com/skakaci-clenonozci-picture_sl-7881.html

Extracting and counting soil organisms

Source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/239135

Source: www.naturesfootprint.com/community/articles/worm-bin

Example of a USB Microscope which can be connected to a laptop or computer.

Notes:

• Dry conditions will likely lead to limited activity in the soil.

• USB drive microscopes which connect up to laptops and computers are a really easy way to study soil organisms. They are readily available and can be purchased relatively cheaply over the internet (e.g. dino-Lite www.dinolite.com.au)

FIGURE 1 Tullgren Funnel

http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/skakaci-clenonozci-picture_sl-7881.html

http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/skakaci-clenonozci-picture_sl-7881.html

http://bugguide.net/node/view/239135

http://bugguide.net/node/view/239135

http://www.naturesfootprint.com/community/articles/worm-bin

http://www.naturesfootprint.com/community/articles/worm-bin

http://www.dinolite.com.au

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Mites Role of soil organismsIts particularly important to note that scientist are still trying to fully understand the complexity and interrelationships between soil organisms and the soil however, listed below are some of the more widely accepted outcomes of soil microbial activity.

• Transforming nutrients from one form to another and through this process making them available to plants

• Contribute towards the aggregation of soil particles which provides better soil structure and protection and can therefore reduce leaching of soil nutrients

• Degrading of toxic substances in the soil

• Helping soil form from parent rock

• Increase the rate of nutrient cycling by taking up available nutrients and releasing them when they die or consumed by other organisms

• They can both assist and hinder water penetration into the soil

• They can both causing and limiting plant diseases

• They can both break down organic matter and protect organic matter.

How to encourage soil organismsSoil organisms need a source of nutrition, water and a suitable environment in which to live. If you wish to encourage soil organisms, you might like to consider the following practices:

• Maintain ground cover to limit extremes in temperature, the ground cover crops protect the soil from direct sunlight exposure and therefore reduce the large fluctuation in temperate,

• Ground cover will also reduce erosion especially of the top soil which contains the greatest populations of soil organisms

• Limiting tillage will have similar affects to the above

• Applying mulches which will not only provide a food source but minimise water loss and erosion

• Prevent compaction as this will reduces oxygen transfer in the soil and therefore the numbers and variety of organisms

• Reducing the use of chemicals such as copper from fungicides can be an effective way of keeping organisms active during dry periods

• Check the pH and modify if necessary, a neutral soil pH is preferable as it would be with most crops

• Improve soil drainage which will not only improve oxygen supply to roots but also to soil organisms.

An important point to consider when applying mulches and composts is that the population of organisms will likely increase rapidly particularly if there are moist conditions and will consume this food source.

Therefore over a period of time will you’ll notice a decline in the amount of organic matter in the soil and likewise the number and variety of organisms.

RESOURCES

Soil Health — www.soilhealth.com

Ute Guide Healthy Soils for Sustainable Vegetable Farms — www.ausveg.com.au

On Farm Soil Monitoring Handbook — www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Source: http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/Maps/Biodiversity_Atlas/Index.html

Source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/437489/bgimage

http://www.soilhealth.com

http://www.ausveg.com.au

http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/Maps/Biodiversity_Atlas/Index.htm

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/Maps/Biodiversity_Atlas/Index.htm

http://bugguide.net/node/view/437489/bgimage

http://bugguide.net/node/view/437489/bgimage

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drumMUSTER has launched a new campaign calling on farmers across WA to do the right thing for their community and their business and bring in their drums for recycling.

The national stewardship program launched the campaign across the state in an effort to help improve the amount of drums being recycled while also changing the attitudes of farmers.

The campaign is aimed at farmers who are not properly disposing of their chemical containers in an environmentally friendly way.

drumMUSTER Southern Western Australian Consultant Graeme Passmore said the campaign coincided with the end of spray season when farmers will be left with empty drums available for recycling.

Doing it rightdrumMUSTER’s call to farmers

“The program has seen a decline in the number of drums being returned in the state despite a national trend of an increase in the last few years,” he said.

“The state’s growers can do a lot better. We’ve been working with government agencies on how to change the behaviour of farmers who continue to do the wrong thing by burning or burying their drums.

“Today, we still find that farmers continue with these bad habits that are detrimental to not only their business, but their environment too.”

drumMUSTER saw more than 345,000 drums collected and 2000 deliveries by users during its peak in 2008-09. Since then, the program has seen a continued decline of participation in WA with 244,237 drums collected and 1745 deliveries in 2012–13.

Burning or burying is no longer an optionGraeme said despite changes to the way chemicals are packaged there are still many drums that are stacked in sheds, burnt or buried.

Late last year, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) put out a warning to farmers after reporting a number of black smoke fires which are generally associated with burning plastic or metal material.

According to the DEC, farmers who burn chemicals and their containers could face fines of up to $1 million and five years in jail for serious offences.

“We understand many farming operations are switching or have switched to containers that hold larger amounts of chemicals, such as IBCs which cannot be recycled through the program,” Graeme said.

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“But we know there are still a lot of farmers who purchase in smaller quantities that come in 1–20L drums that can be recycled. These drums are taken by drumMUSTER and turned into new things again.”

drumMUSTER is becoming a new feature of quality assurance programs which can be a major incentive for farmers.

“More and more farmers now have to satisfy their QA auditors. This is just another way they can get their waste off their land in a sustainable way,” he said.

“You’re not only meeting the requirements of QA programs, but you’re also preventing waste from ending up in the wrong place.”

Communities the heart of the programNational drumMUSTER Manager Allan McGann said they are now focussing on incentivising farmers to recycle their drums instead of reminding them of the penalties.

“One of the ways we try and encourage farmers to return their drums was to let them know how using the program can benefit community groups,” he said.

“More than 20 groups across WA hold drumMUSTER collections for farmers and other chemical users who are looking to get rid of their empty and clean agvet chemical containers.

“This means farmers using the program are putting money back into their local community by simply rinsing out their drums and returning them to their local site.”

Sporting groups, P&C Associations and Lions’ Clubs have raised more than $230,000 through drumMUSTER collections for farmers across Western Australia.

North Western Australia drumMUSTER Regional Consultant Bevan Henderson, who’s trained hundreds of volunteers, said local community groups have been vital to the program in rural WA.

“Councils usually take on the responsibility for local growers and chemical users, but where there’s an opportunity to provide it to groups and charities that can really benefit from the cash, we give it to them,” he said.

“I urge all farmers to support the local collections as the funds raised are used for local charities and community groups.”

Expanding the programDave Blakers at Capel Farms is one grower who enjoys the benefits of drumMUSTER.

Dave said his horticultural business has involved drumMUSTER as part of its environmental waste management system for the last 13 years.

“We have a few skip bins catering for recyclable and non-recyclable materials,” he said. “All waste is taken off site and dealt with in an appropriate way.”

Dave said he was glad a new site opened up in nearby Capel two years ago.

“Before Capel opened we had to travel about 30 kilometres to Donnybrook to deliver drums,” he said.

Southern WA Consultant Graeme Passmore said the new Capel site has been a major success, with more than 1200 drums inspected and collected at the site since 2011.

“Capel is just one success story for drumMUSTER in Western Australia,” he said.

“drumMUSTER has more than 100 sites across the state where farmers can drop off their eligible chemical containers.”

The program continues to expand its network of sites in the state to provide more flexible options for growers.

Bevan Henderson is currently working on opening a new site at Seabird. He said local growers will be notified later this year.

“We’re working hard to give horticulturalists and veggie growers some options to recycle their drums,” Bevan said.

“If they have the options to do the right thing then there’s no reason they should be harming the environment by burning or burying their containers.”

Once collected, the containers are shredded and transformed into practical items such as plastic cable covers, wheelie bins and cement reinforcing bar chairs.

drumMUSTER has collected more than 23 million drums since 1999. That’s more than 28,000 tonnes of material recycled into new products.

\

MORE INFORMATION

For information on where your closest collection site is please visit the drumMUSTER website www.drummuster.com.au/find-a-collecion-site/

drumMUSTER helps prevent waste ending up in the wrong place.

http://www.drummuster.com.au/find-a-collecion-site/

http://www.drummuster.com.au/find-a-collecion-site/


SELFYOUR

YOUR SELF

YOUR SELF


It’s no surprise...

BY LIVELIGHTER

With the increased popularity of tablets, smartphones, social media networks and businesses providing services online, all adding to the amount of time we spend online, it’s no wonder more than half of all Australian adults are overweight or obese, with WA adults tipping the scales at over 66 per cent who are either overweight or obese.

we need fruit & veg


YOUR SELF

Have you got 2&5FRUIT VEG

in your trolley?

®

Supported by:

But is just because we are too sedentary and we simply need to get up and move more? We know being overweight or obese is a complex issue with a variety of contributing factors however the new Australian Health Survey (AHS) food and nutrients data results clearly show that 68 per cent of adults are eating biscuits and cakes daily compared with 58 per cent who eat fruit.

The survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found that fruit and vegetable intake is dismal with only 1 in 14 people (7 per cent) eating enough.

Whilst we are bombarded with the barrage of advertising for junk food and junk drinks, and fad diets, healthy lifestyle messages and fruit and veg advertising battle to find a place.

Everyone knows that it’s important to eat a balanced diet and be active, but this new data reveals just how many of us struggle to achieve this healthier lifestyle.

Tackling our expanding weight problem needs to be WA’s top priority without turning to quick fixes or fad diets.

Fad diets are not the way to achieve or maintain a healthy weight — it may sound a bit boring, but one of the keys to achieving and maintain a healthy weight is enjoy a variety of foods and consume at least two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day.

But that’s not to say we should just focus on our diets, the national physical activity guidelines highlight that any physical activity is better than doing none. You might think you’re active in your job at work everyday and so are the people you work with but is your health at its best or could it better?

Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, unhealthy eating and physical inactivity contribute to time away from work. Poor morale and stress also impact negatively on the bottom line.

A 2005 study found that unhealthy workers take nine times more sick days per year than healthy workers and a 2010 study found that loss of productivity due to obesity is estimated to cost $6.4 billion a year in Australia so its not just down to public health advocates to encourage West Aussies to eat better by increasing their fruit and veg intake — we all have to lead by example.

There’s no doubt that this is a complicated issue, with a number of potential causes. Whatever the cause, the result is the same. Our bodies are getting bigger and carrying more fat than they should be. Health services are scrambling to keep up with the increased rates of chronic diseases (including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and several cancers) — all of which have links to being overweight or obese.

So, what else can do we do about it? Most experts agree that we need a combination of public education, policy change and environmental change if we hope to halt this growing trend. We need people to know what a healthy lifestyle is to keep it top of mind and find more ways to share our fresh, nutritious local produce with everyone.

Use the LiveLighter resources for more ideas and support. Try our healthy recipes full of fruit and veg and share them around with your friends, family and colleagues — you never know what flow on effect this may have if they in turn did the same with every person they came into contact with.

We need everyone to think about the variety of healthy choices we could all make everyday to commit to living lighter and healthier.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit www.livelighter.com.au for inspiring recipes ideas.

68 per cent of adults are eating biscuits and cakes daily compared with 58 per cent who eat fruit.

http://www.livelighter.com.au


YOUR SELF

BY HEIN ROTHROTH ASSOCIATES

Men

tal h

ealt

hCoping with stress issues in the bush


YOUR SELF

Farming communities face stressors that the townies don’t think of twice.

Here are a few that come up frequently:

• The weather not doing what it’s supposed to, resulting in lengthy droughts, or flash floods when they are needed the least

• Having to be on call 24/7 and working long hours

• Having to wear a variety of hats simultaneously, including being the CEO, CFO, COO, HR manager and ER officer

• Ever-changing and unpredictable market prices, and

• Increasing costs within the business.

It doesn’t take much to let issues like these get on top of you and seriously impact you, your family and your staff.

The problem with stress is that it is not the stress in itself that wears us down. Instead, it is our reaction to it.

Another issue is that as farmers, we have to be strong and are afraid to acknowledge that we sometimes need help. As a result, we push-on, not doing anything about it — very often, until it’s too late.

If you or someone you know feels stressed-out or snowed-under, or feels a sense of loss of control, you can protect yourself and others from the onslaught of the stresses of farm life by becoming more aware of the symptoms and being able to take appropriate steps to counteract and manage it.

What is stress?Stress is normal — it is a physiological response to pressures we experience in life as a result of circumstances that cause us to feel upset or threaten life as we know it. Facing these circumstances, or body takes on a ‘fight or flight’ mode — our defences kick into overdrive.

As a result we become more focused, energetic, and alert, which helps us to respond intuitively to a situation — for example, slamming on the brakes to avoid a crash.

Situations requiring a quick reflex are momentary and in most cases, pass rapidly — although we still might feel a little numb afterwards. However, many things that stress us are prolonged and indeed very real: the drought we’ve been facing is real, as are high commodity prices against an ever-changing dollar.

Prolonged stress has the potential to be harmful to our very existence. Faced with prolonged stressful circumstances, we can set our stress levels into motion with unhelpful thoughts, beliefs and attitudes. As a result, we become our own worst enemy in the sense that we help create even more stress for ourselves by overeating, consuming more alcohol than we know is good for our own health, excessive smoking, drinking excessive amounts of coffee and not exercising enough.

The imminent danger of experiencing too much stress over a prolonged period is that it can easily become a downward spiral that it impacts our mood, productivity, relationships, our the quality of life, and physical health.

What are the typical sources of stress on-farm?One of the major causes of stress is the feeling that things are moving beyond our control. In the rural workplace there are a myriad of things that can cause our stress levels to rise:

• Climate and weather conditions negatively impacting the farm operations

• Time pressures, “too much work, too little time”

• Financial pressures and uncertain incomes (for example, paying the mortgage, buying stock, supporting children, managing staff)

• Market fluctuations (for example, rising commodity costs, dollar fluctuation, poor producer prices)

• Rising costs and lack of support due to geographic isolation (for example, schools, health care, transport, communications, social services)

• Relational conflict with the boss, staff, neighbours, and family

• Long hours, shift work, being unclear about work roles and responsibilities

• Complicated tasks, poor training, feeling isolated or undervalued

• Bullying or harassment

• Inability to attract and keep quality staff

• Physical environment (for example, noise, poor equipment, messy workspace, dirt, dangers)

• Conflicts between work roles, job demands, and juggling the balance between work and home life

• Technology — they can be a major help if all goes well. However, they can be a major contributor to daily stress, especially if they don’t work properly (for example, use of computers, printers, mobile phones, electronic farm equipment).M

enta

l hea

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Prolonged stress has the potential to be harmful to our very existence.

unwind


YOUR SELF

What are some of the warning signs of stress?Our own reaction to stress may differ from that of the next person. However, there are a variety of early warning signs that suggest it is time for us to manage our stress levels and consider reaching out for help:

• Losing your spark for life and constant tiredness

• Losing interest in activities you usually enjoy

• Losing interest in family, friends or your work

• Changes in your sleeping patterns (for example, sleeping difficulties despite physical exhaustion, sleeping too much, persistent periods of lying awake and an inability to shut out the worrying thoughts)

• Persistent worrying about many and even the little things

• Indigestion or abdominal upsets, including stomach bugs

• Muscle tension and pains in the lower back, chest, shoulders, joints or other parts of your body

• Skin itches or rashes for no apparent reason

• Frequent colds or bouts of flu

• Shortness of breath or shallow breathing, including a feeling of tightness in the chest

• Memory and/or concentration problems, including finding it hard to make decisions

• Feeling impatient or irritable

• Feelings of sadness despite good things happening, including tearfulness for no apparent reason

• Isolation by withdrawing from people and/or avoiding places and events

• Risk-taking behaviours (for example, excessive drinking of alcohol, smoking, drug use, gambling)

• Losing your appetite or overeating, including drinking of excessive amounts of coffee or fizzy drinks.

unwind


YOUR SELF

What can you do about stress?As humans we will continue to experience stressful events while on this earth. However, there is much we can do to learn to cope differently with stress and our reaction to it. Here are some helpful ways to help you (or someone you know) to reduce and prevent too much stress and tension in your/their lives:

• Learn to talk about your worries: Being stressed is not an indication of weakness – you are human. Spend time with others you trust. Talk to a friend, partner, parents, counsellor, family doctor, or clergy or anybody else you trust. Just talking to someone who truly listens to and understands your situation can do wonders.

• Limit your expectations: Lacking energy, a major issue with stress is that we feel guilty if we cannot keep up with everything we feel we have to do around the farm. This just succeeds in making us feeling even worse. Be selective and use your energy to do the most important and possible tasks. Set realistic goals you can reach. Do not blame yourself if you don’t succeed in reaching all your goals — there’s always tomorrow.

• Eat healthy: Under stress we tend to neglect our eating habits: we lose our appetite and skip meals, overindulge, or tend to eat more unhealthy foods. Follow a well-balanced diet and eat a variety of fresh foods. Some foods actually cause or increase nervous tension, for example, coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, and alcohol. These are foods we tend to crave when overly stressed. Be aware of this and limit your intake of them.

If you or anyone of your family members, staff, or neighbouring farmers that you know of are suffering from the ill effects of prolonged stress, it is your responsibility to do something about it.

Put fun and laughter back in your life!

Relaxation is very important; learn what works for you and practice it regularly.

relax

• Make the most of time: Stress is a time-robber – it causes you to waste time and lose productivity. Make the most of time – exercise at least three times per week by going for a walk, a jog, a swim, or anything physical you enjoy doing. Even if you have lost the enjoyment or lack the energy, simply do it! Exercise decreases the stress hormones such as cortisol and increases endorphins, which are your body’s natural feel-good chemicals boosting your mood naturally. As well as endorphins, exercise also releases adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine — chemicals that work together to make you feel good.

Also give yourself a breather now and then. Get away from the farm for a few hours a day.

Spend time with family and friends or find ways of meeting new friends. Go and visit your neighbour next door; he might need your interest in him and his farming operations more than you think.

• Organise your work habits: The more we stress the more we tend to lose focus, have difficulty to make decisions and find it hard to discern what is more and what is less important. Get out of bed 5 or 10 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush; break larger projects down into bite-sized achievable chunks. Use ‘To Do’ lists and rank your tasks in order of importance and urgency. Focus on the most important, most urgent tasks (i.e. those 20% of tasks that will account for 80% of your success) and don’t get stressed to push out the less important and less urgent tasks to tomorrow if you were unable to get around to them today.


YOUR SELF

Using your ‘To Do’ list, spend 5 to 10 minutes at the end of the day to prepare for the next day. This helps feeling that you are in control of your life.

• Solve problems: Stress negatively impacts our problem-solving and conflict handling capacity. You do not have to provide a prompt answer each and every time. Give yourself time to think calmly about a situation and try to find a solution to conflict. You don’t have to take responsibility for each and every task going on on-farm. Learn to be more assertive by saying NO when staff simply wants to dump what is clearly their responsibility on your shoulders, and don’t feel guilty about it.

• Feel better about yourself: Excessive stress causes us to feel that we are losing control, which in turn, causes our self-esteem to take a knock.

Identify what you do well, and recognise and acknowledge your qualities and characteristics. Practice positive ‘self-talk.’ It helps.

• Get sufficient sleep: Almost one of the first indications of stress is a change in our sleep patterns. For many, stress leads to sleep difficulties. To help you sleep, take a walk in the evening, meditate, or practice relaxation. Drink a glass of warm milk, a warm malt drink, or camomile herbal tea – it will cause you to have a more relaxed sleep. Make your bedroom a sleeping space only; remove the television.

• Practice relaxation: Excessive worry causes our bodies to tense up. Try meditation, a massage, a long hot bath, relaxation exercises (there are some excellent ones available), listen to soft music, etc. Relaxation is very important; learn what works for you and practice it regularly.

• Put fun and laughter back in your life: Stress is robber of fun in our lives: we lose our sense of humour and tend to “enjoy” the ‘gloom and the doom.’ Deliberately seek out fun things to do, watch a comedy with the family, get together with other farmer families in the community and arrange a fun day. Just having fun has been proven to be good for our health and it feels good too.

MORE INFORMATION

If you or someone you know are experiencing high and persistent levels of stress and would like further information or support, your family doctor or health professional is a good start. Make an appointment and talk to them about how you are feeling. They will let you know what options are available.

There are also a number of self-help support groups across the country:

Western Australia

Western Australian Association for Mental Health — Provides information and contact details for mental health services in WA.

GROW WA — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

New South Wales

Serenity NSW — Provides a network of self-help support groups for anxiety disorders and mild depression.

GROW NSW — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

Australian Capital Territory

GROW ACT — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

Carers ACT - Provides details of education and support program for carers. Also has a wide range of social activities, including recreational programs, walking groups and choir.

Northern Territory

Mental Health Carers NT — Support groups that offer courses and workshops relating to mental illness and the carer's role.

GROW Darwin — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

Queensland

Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland Inc. — Assists a variety of self-help and support groups. Also provides telephone support networks for rural and remote areas to reduce isolation.

GROW QLD and GROW Cairns — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

South Australia

GROW SA — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

Mental Illness Fellowship of SA — Provides details of support groups throughout the metropolitan area for people living with mental illness, their carers, or any other interested persons. Also has information about regional support groups in Bordertown, the Riverland (Berri), Goolwa, Whyalla, and Mount Gambier.

Tasmania

ARAFMI — Support programs in Hobart for the carers, relatives and friends of the mentally ill and provides a list of NGO's which may be of assistance for people with mental health needs.

GROW TAS — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

Victoria

Mental Health Foundation of Australia (Victoria) — Runs a Mood Disorders Support Group in Richmond.

GROW VIC — Support groups based on a 12-step self-help program for people suffering anxiety, depression or other mental or emotional distress.

Useful websites

• www.helpguide.org/topics/stress.htm

• www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/FourWaystoDealWithStress/Four-Ways-to-Deal-with-Stress_UCM_307996_Article.jsp

• psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/07/11/10-practical-ways-to-handle-stress/

About the author:

Hein Roth is a registered psychologist with 26 years’ experience in a variety of industrial settings. He has had 10+ years’ experience in the agribusiness industry, where much of his work included farm business and on-farm human resource management, as well as environmental and risk management assessments and change management. He also has an extensive knowledge and experience on rural mental health disorders and their effective management. He is the author and co-author of various scientific articles, some of which have been published in international agricultural journals and which he has presented at international conferences.

For further information, contact Hein at: [email protected] or 0410 043 877.

http://www.helpguide.org/topics/stress.htm

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/FourWaystoDealWithStress/Four-Ways-to-Deal-with-Stress_UCM_307996_Article.jsp





http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/07/11/10-practical-ways-to-handle-stress/



mailto:info%40rothassociates.com.au?subject=

YOUR SELF


When vegetables become your life & your clothing


If you want to express your love for vegetables in more ways than you currently are, why not pop in and see Gorman in Perth or Claremont.

They have a fantastic range of clothing including the Harvest Tee, Harvest Dress and Harvest Pants which when teamed with boots or a great plain knit will be perfect for winter.

The great clothing line features celery, carrots, capsicums, radishes, onions, chilli’s, pumpkin, broccoli, corn, ginger and tomatoes in their original Winter Harvest print.

Why not make a statement this winter by proving your love for vegetables.

MORE INFORMATION

Clothing available at Gorman Claremont, Shop 102/23 St Quentin Ave, Claremont, or Perth, Ennex Shop H 123A, 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth or Harbour Town Shop B32/840 Wellington Street, West Perth or online at www.gormanshop.com.au

http://www.gormanshop.com.au


YOUR BUSINESS

CALCULATING THE DECLINE IN VALUE OF HORTICULTURE PLANTS — VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION

Trong nông nghiệp có nhiều loại cây trồng lâu năm mà nguồn lợi thu hoạch bị giảm dần theo tuổi cây, chẳng hạn như các loại cây ăn trái.

Nông dân trồng rau cải cũng là những người thuộc diện được khai khấu trừ thuế cho chi phí đầu tư vào những loại cây trồng có giá trị bị suy giảm dần theo thời gian. Đây là một số hướng dẫn cần được áp dụng khi khai thuế:• Quí vị là chủ sở hữu cây trồng này• Quí vị trồng loại cây này với mục đích

kinh doanh• Đầu tư chi phí cho cây trồng này sau

ngày 09/05/1995

Xác định thời kỳ kinh doanh của cây trồngThời kỳ kinh doanh của cây trồng có thể xác định theo văn bản hướng dẫn của cơ quan thuế vụ hoặc tự tính toán.

Nếu thời kỳ kinh doanh của cây trồng ngắn hơn 3 năm, nông dân có thể khai khấu trừ chí phí đầu tư ban đầu vào thuế một lần, thường là vào ngay năm dầu tiên khi có thu hoạch thương phẩm.

Thay đổi chủ sở hữuKhi thay đổi chủ sở hữu thì người chủ mới được quyền tiếp tục khai khấu trừ thuế phần còn lại.

Đối với doanh nghiệp nhỏĐối với những nông dân có qui mô doanh nghiệp nhỏ (Theo qui định nghỉa của cơ quan thuế vụ là những hộ nông nân có tổng thu nhập hàng năm dưới 2 triệu đô-la), cách tính toán dựa theo qui định thuế “Uniform capital allowance (UCA) rules” (những qui định liên quan đến cách tính thuế bao gồm một loạt các công thức tính thuế kể cả đối với các giá trị đã hoàn lại cho khoản đầu tư bị thất thoát/thiệt hại và những ưu đải thuế cho những gía trị đầu tư chưa được khai khấu trừ thuế trước đây. Quí vị nên tham khảo với kế toán về vấn đề này).

Nếu quí vị sữ dụng những qui định thuế đối với các giá trị đã được hoàn lại cho khoản đầu tư bị thất thoát/thiệt hại - gọi là “simplified depreciation rules” – thì không dùng công thức theo qui định UCA. Theo qui định thuế đối với các giá trị đã

hoàn lại cho khoản đầu tư bị thất thoát/thiệt hại qui vị có thể khai khấu trừ thuế ngay đối với hầu hết các khoản hoàn lại dưới 1000 đô-la và được quyền cộng gộp nhiều khoản nhỏ lại.

Đối với các khoản chi/thất thoát đã được hoàn lại (Recouped expenditure)Mọi khoản chi/thất thoát đã được hoàn lại đều phải chịu thuế. Đối với các khoản được khấu trừ qua nhiều năm thì có công thức đặc biệtđể tính toán giá trị chịu thuế trong năm được hoàn lại và những năm tiếp theo.

Trường hợp doanh nghiệp hợp tác (Partnerships)Các qui định khấu trừ thuế không được áp dụng cho doanh nghiệp hợp tác. Chi phí đầu tư trong một hợp tác trong thời kỳ xây dựng cơ bản (thời kỳ từ khi bắt đầu trồng cho đến khi có thu hoạch thương phẩm)được phân chia cho từng cá nhân theo tỉ lệ đóng góp làm cơ sở để mỗi các nhân khai khấu trừ thuế.

Quí vị có thể tham khảo thêm thông tin trên với kế toán và qua trang thông tin điện tử: www.ato.gov.au/Business/Primary-producers/In-detail/Valuing-plants-and-animals/Calculating-the-decline-in-value-of-horticultural-plants/

Tính toán khai giảm thuế đối với loại cây trồng giá trị bị suy giảm dần theo thời gian

Nếu thời kỳ kinh doanh của cây trồng dài hơn 3 năm, nông dân có thể khai khấu trừ chí phí đầu tư ban đầu vào thuế qua nhiều năm kể từ khi có thu hoạch thương phẩm:

Thời kỳ kinh doanh của cây trồng Tỉ lệ khấu trừ thuế hàng năm

Số năm khấu trừ thuế

Từ 3 đến dưới 5 năm 40% 2 years 183 daysTừ 5 đến dưới 6 năm 8 tháng 27% 3 years 257 daysTừ 6 năm 8 tháng 6 đến dưới 10 năm 20% 5 yearsTừ 10 đến dưới 13 năm 17% 5 years 323 daysTừ 13 đến dưới 30 năm 13% 7 years 253 daysTrên 30 năm 7% 14 years 105 days







YOUR INDUSTRY

GASCOYNE FOOD BOWL INITIATIVE MOVING AHEAD — VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION

TONY DELLA BOSCA GIÁM ĐỐC ĐIỀU HÀNH DỰ ÁN, CARNARVON

Ngành rau củ quả của Carnarvon góp một quan trọng trong sản xuất rau quả tươi cho thị trường Tây Úc. Ngành này có tiền năng đáng kể để trở thành nơi xuất khẩu chủ lực nhờ vào điều kiện địa lý thuận lợi với thời gian giao hàng nhanh chóng bằng đường biển và đường hàng không đến thị trường nhiều quốc gia ở châu Á và Trung Đông.

Hàng năm sản xuất rau củ quả của khu vực này có giá trị khoảng 100 triệu đô la.

Trong mùa đông khoảng 60% rau củ quả trên thị trường Perth do vùng Carnarvon cung ứng. Mùa đông ấm áp cùng với lượng nước tưới tương đối đảm bảo giúp cho vùng này trở thành nguồn cung cấp chủ lực các loại rau củ quả tươi nghịch mùa khi các vùng trồng phía nam đình trệ vì lạnh.

Sáng kiến vựa lương thực Gascoyne được thiết lập vào năm 2012. Mục tiêu của sang kiến là nhằm tăng cường sàn xuất rau củ quả khu vực Carnarvon thông qua việc mở ra thêm diện tích canh tác và nguồn nước để mở rông tưới tiêu.

Sáng kiến này được chính phủ tiểu bang tài trợ cho vùng với sự chỉ đạo của Bộ Nông Nghiệp và Lương Thực Tây Úc (DAFWA).

Sáng kiến vựa lương thực Gascoyne bao gồm 4 hợp phần được ấn định thời hạn kết thúc vào năn 2016:1. Tìm nguồn và phân phối nguồn nước

tìm thêm phù hợp cho sản xuất rau củ quả (khoảng 4 triệu mét khối) kể cả chiến lược tối ưu hóa việc sử dụng nguồn nước sông.

2. Điện khí hóa khu vực giếng phía Bắc và một khu vực giếng mới.

3. Xác định, thiết lập và phân phối thêm 400 mẩu đất cho ngành trồng rau củ quả.

4. Cải thiện khả năng quản lý tài nguyên đất và nước của nông dân để giúp khu vực Carnarvon xử lý những hệ quả của lụt lội và ngược lại là vấn đề thiếu trong thời kỳ hạn hán.

Đến nay dự án đã tiến triển rất khả quan với nhiều thành tựu then chốt:• Công tác thám sát điện từ bằng máy bay

đã được thực hiện và phân tích kết quả để xác địng được vị trí khoan giếng. Những vị trí này tạo điều kiện tiến hành việc khoan có trọng điểm và hiệu quả hơn về mặt tỉ lệ số giếng khoan thành công.

Sáng kiến vựa lương thực Gascoyne đang tiến triển• Đã giải ngân 300.000 đô la trong tháng

11 năm 203 cho chương trình khoan khẩn cấp. Đã khoan 12 lổ khoan với 1 giếng hoàn chỉnh được thiết lập. Giếng này cho sản lượng nước cao, đang sản xuất được 1,5-1,9 ngàn khối nước/ngày (xấp xỉ gấp đôi sản lượng trung bình của một giếng). 3 vị trí khoan khác củng đã được DAFWA xác định và được Hợp tác xả nước Gascoyne (GEAMCO) triển khai.

• Tổ chức Nước ngầm Hoàn cầu (Global Groundwater) đã được chỉ định giám sát công tác khoan thông qua qui trình tuyển chọn công khai.

• Thiết kế qui hoach chi tiết 400 mẩu đất đã được chuẩn bị và trìng lên Bộ Địa Chính.

Các bước kế tiếp của dự án:• Tiến hành phân bổ đất đai• Điều tra và thẩm định thị trường và vấn

đề đầu tư• Hoàn thành công tác thiết kế hệ thống

cung cấp điện cho các giếng hiện có

Muốn biết thêm thông tin về Sáng kiến vựa lương thực Gascoyne xin vui lòng truy cập qua trang thông tin điện tử www.agric.wa.gov.au hoặc gởi thư điện tử theo địa chỉ [email protected] để nhận ấn bản thông tin mới.

Đáp: Theo bản tin tin tóm tắt thì chương trình này khởi sự từ 01/7/2012 nhằm đóng góp cho sự phát triển kinh tế của 8 đảo quốc Thái bình Dương tham gia chương trình cùng với quốc gia Đông Timor.

Chường trình này củng tạo cơ hội cho người thuê nhân công Úc trong lảnh vực trồng trọt tiếp cận lực lượng nhân công của các nước tham gia chương trình khi họ không tìm đủ nguồn nhân công địa phương để đáp ứng yêu cầu mùa vụ. Nông dân hưởng lợi từ một lực lượng lao động hiệu quả ngày càng đông trong khi người lao động có khả năng tìm được thu nhập cao để giúp đở gia đình và cộng đồng tại quê nhà.

Chương trình này cung cấp cho nông dân toàn nước Úc một lực lượng lao đông nhiệt tình, ổ định trong suốt thời kỳ thu hoạch rộ và có thể quay lại làm việc vào mùa sau.

Bào cáo của chương trình cho thấy rằng ngoài việc cung cấp nguồn lao động ổn

Hỏi: Chương trình lao động thời vụ là gi? Hiện nó hoạt động ra sao? Làm thế nào để tham gia?

định và được quay lại vào mùa sau,Những nhân công tời vụ này làm việv hiệu quả hơn lưu lượng lao động trên đường đi du lịch. Một nghiên cứu của Văn phòng Khoa học nông nghiệp và tài nguyên kinh tế Úc (ABARES) năm 2013 khám phá rằng lực lượng lao động thời vụ này làm việc hiệu quả cao hơn 22% so với dân du lịch lao động (backpackers) và những người này khi quay lại vào mùa sao còn gia tăng hiệu quả làm việc thêm 12% nữa. Đây là thông tin tốt cho những ai đang gặp khó khăn trong vấn đề tìm kiếm nguồn lao động ổn định để đáp ứng nhu cầu về thời gian thu hoạch.

Tham gia chương trình dễ dàngNông dân trồngrau củ quả tham gia chương trìng ngày càng tăng bằng cách hoặc là đăng ký trở thành người đuợc phép thuê mướn lao động trực tiếp trong chương trình hoặc là sử dụng lại nguồn lao động thông qua những người hiện đang được chương trình cấp phép. Những người tham gia trương trình bao gồm nông dân trồng zucchini, dưa leo, cà tím,

khoai lang, cần tây, tất cả đều đã thấy lợi ích của chương trìnhvà cho ý kiến về mức độ hiệu quả và độ tin cậy của lực lượng nhân công thời vụ.

Để biết thêm thông tin xin vui lòng liên hệ: Võ Thế Truyền Nhân viên Khuyền nông Việt Nam Hệp hội Rau Tây Úc Điện thoại (08)9481 0834 hoặc 0457457559 Email: [email protected]

Hoặc truy cập: http://docs.amployment.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/seasonal_worker_program_factsheet.docx

Để tìm danh sách những người đang được phép thuê lao động trực tiếp hay để nộp hồ sơ tham gia chương trình, xin vui lòng truy cập: http://deewr.gov.au/seasonal-workerprogram

Quí vị củng có thể gọi cho Chương trình lao động thời vụ theo số: (02) 6240 5234 hoặc gởi thư điện tử tới: [email protected]





http://docs.amployment.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/seasonal_worker_program_factsheet.docx



http://deewr.gov.au/seasonal‐workerprogram

http://deewr.gov.au/seasonal‐workerprogram

mailto:seasonalworker%40deewr.gov?subject=


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POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT FOR VEGETABLES FACTS ON PREVENTING LOSSES — VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION

Sau thu hoạch là gì?Rau củ quả sau thu hoach thường phải trãi qua xử lý bao gồm các khâu từ làm mát, sắp xếp phân loại, tồn trử, chế biến, đóng gói, vận chuyển và tiếp thị. Quản lý chất lượng rau củ quả sau thu hoạch nhằm để đảm bảo sản phẩm giử được chất lượng tươi nguyên khi đến tay nguời tiêu dùng. Để duy trì được chất lượng sản phẩm tốt đòi hỏi phải có một hệ thống quản lý tốt và thông tin xuyên suốt quá trình cung cấp vì chất lượng ở mỗi công đoạn đều bị ảnh hưởng bởi khâu xử lý trước đó. Quản lý chất lượng rau củ quả sau thu hoạch là một chuổi của nhiều hoạt động độc lập.

Tại sao khâu sau thu hoạch quan trọng?Người ta ước tính rằng khoảng 10–40% sản lượng thực phẩm trồng trọt không đi đến mục tiêu cuối cùng là được tiêu thụ bởi vì hư hỏng, sâu bệnh hoặc không đáp ứng yêu cầu của người tiêu dùng. Tỉ lệ hư hỏng của sản phẩm tươi sống cao hơn sản phẩm chế biến. Sản phẩm củng hư hao nhiều hơn trong điều kiện nóng ẩm như ở vùng Bắc Úc. Điều kiện khí hậu khu vực này gây khó khăn trong công tác phòng trừ sâu bệnh củng như khó duy trì đủ độ mát cho sản phẩm.

Kỷ yỷu:• Luôn chú trọng ọọn vọn ọọ chọt

lọọng xuyên suọt họ thọng cung ọng

• Duy trì sọc sọng: Ngay tọ khi thu hoọch cho ọọn các công ọoọn sau

• Giọ ọọ mát cho sọn phọm: kiọm tra yêu cọu nhiọt ọọ tọi họo

• Duy trì sọ tọọi tọt: Thao tác cọn thọn, nhọ nhàng

• Giọ vọ sinh: Kho tọn trọ, dọng cọ, bọn nọọc vọ sinh, các vọt liọu bao bì, ngọọi làm viọc

• Cho sọn phọm “thọ”: Rai cọi vọn tiọp tọc duy trì sọ sọng sau thu hoọch, ọiọu kiọn thông gió, thoáng khí rọt quan trọng trong các khâu lọu trọ, vọn chuyọn và ọóng gói.

Quản lý chất lượng rau củ quả sau thu hoạch

Những điều kiện tồn trử tối hảo.

Sản phẩm tồn trử càng gần với điều kiện tối hảo xuyên suốt chuổi cung ứng thì thời gian tươi tốt của sản phẩm càng dài. Các điều kiện tồn trử liên quan đến nhiệt độ và thành phần không khí tối hảo (phần tram dưỡng khí, than khí, ẳm độ tương đối) cho từng loại sản phẩm được liệt kê trong bảng dưới đây. Hầu hết các loại rau củ quả trong bảng đều mẩn cảm với ê-ty-len, ví dụ như cà rốt sẻ trở nên đắng nếu tiếp xúc với chất này.

Một nghiên cứu cụ thể: câu chuyên từ nhà đóng gói của một doanh nghiệpKhởi sự một doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu cà rốt sang Nhật là điều rất phấn khích. Có rất nhiều điều để học về trồng giống mới thế nào đáp ứng được những yêu cầu khắc khe về chất lượng, kích cở cho thị trường Nhật. May mắn là lúc ấy mùa mành thuận lợi, thời tiết không quá nóng hay mưa quá nhiều và không gặp vần đề về bệnh trên cây trồng.

Chuẩn bị sẳn sàng

Đội ngũ xây dựng đã làm việc ngày đêm để mọi thứ trong nhà xưởng đóng gói sẳn sàng khi bắt đầu thu hoạch trong 10 ngày sau. Thiết bị làm mát vận hành tốt, thùng chứa đã giao đến, dây chuyền phân loại cũng sẳn sàng, thùng các-tông và chuyên chở cũng đến sớm. Nhà xưởng đóng gói sẳn sang đưa vào hoạt động sang thứ ba, chúng tôi chuẩn bị có 10 tấn sản phẩm. Phòng tiếp thị cũng rất phấn khởi.

Thu hoạch

Đến giửa trưa thứ ba thì chúng tôi đã triển khai toàn bộ đội thu hoạch ngoài đồng. Bể chứa và mày rửa hoạt động như ý. Mọi thứ đều trôi chảy. Những thùng cà rốt rửa sạch được đưa vào phòng làm lạnh sơ khởi để phân loại và đóng gói. Chúng tôi củng đã nhờ người sửa chửa hệ thống r2m trong nhà lạnh để giử hơi lạnh mỗi khi cửa mở. Hệ thống đóng mở cửa tự động chưa hoàn chỉng lắm nên công nhân lái xe nâng sản phẩm ra vào phải lưu ý tự đóng cửa.

Tổn thất sau thu hoạch cũng có nghĩa là phí phạm các nguồn đầu tư trong quá trình trồng trọt trước đó như đất, nước, phân bón, lao động, năng lượng…và cuối cùng là phí phạm nguồn lợi tức của người trồng.

Sản phẩm bị tổn thất như thế nào sau thu hoạch?Việc giảm thiểu phí phạm sau thu hoạch đòi hỏi một sự quan tâm đến chất lượng xuyên suốt quá trình cung ứng.

Rất nhiều kiểu thất thoát xảy ra do hậu quả của khâu quản lý sản xuất. Rau củ quả bị ảnh hưởng do kỹ thuật kém trong các khâu trừ cỏ, trừ sâu bệnh, bón phân, tưới nước thường có chất lượng kém trước khi thu hoạch, hay đôi khi thu hoạch không đúng thời điểm thì không thể làm tăng chất lượng bằng cách các xử lý sau thu hoạch.

Thật ra rau củ quả là những vật thể sống, là các bộ phận hô hấp của cây và chứa từ 65% đến 90% lượng nước trong cơ thể. Sauk hi được thu hoạch thì lượng dinh dưỡng và nuớc trong rau củ quả giảm dần dẫn đến tình trạng hư thối. Bất cứ yếu tố nào là gia tăng tiến trình tiêu hao lượng dinh dưỡng và nước dự trử bên trong sản phẩm cũng sẽ thúc đẩy tiến trình hư thối. Sự tăng nhanh tiến trình hư thối sản phẩm có thể gây ra do nhiệ độ cao, ẩm độ thấp, thành phần không khí không phù hợp và do những tổn thương cơ học.

Tiết giảm tổn thấtĐánh giá và tiếtgiảm tổn thất

Thông thường ít có cơ sở lưu giử những số liệu chính xác của tổn thất qua các khâu trong suốt chuổi cung ứng. Thiếu cách tính toán thống nhất để đánh giá tổn thất và thiếu số liệu về tỉ lệ hư hỏng trong suốt chuổi cung ứng khiến cho các cơ sở không thể thẩm định hiệu quả tiềm năng của sự phối hợp giửa các khâu khác nhau. Vì vậy những hệ thống đảm bảo chất lượng bao trùm tất cả các khâu trong suốt chuổi cung ứng có thể đuợc thiết lập để thu thập dử liệu của từng giai đoạn. Những hệ thống này có thể được sử dụng để giảm thiểu hư hỏng một cách hiệu quả và gia tăng lợi nhuận bằng cách quan tâm đến các khâu có thất thoát cao nhất. Tập huấn cho đội ngủ lao động cũng giúp giảm thiểu tổn thất.


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Bảng liệt kê các nuyên nhân gây tổn thất và biện pháp đề phòngTrở ngại/hư hỏng Nơi/lúc xảy ra Hậu quả Phòng ngừaDị dạng, nứt Ruộng sản xuất Thị truờng từ chối Đất tốt, qui trình phân nước hợp lý,.

Chọn giống phù hợp với điều kiện khí hậu thổ nhưỡng, thu hoạch đúng cách

Không đúng độ chín Thu hoạch Hương vị kém, khó lưu trử. Chất lượng sản phẩm trong thùng không đồng nhất.

Kiểm tra đúng độ chin trước khi thu hoạch, không để lẩn lộn sản phẩm có độ chin khác nhau trong cùng một thùng.

Sản phẩm bị mất nước sau thu hoạch

Trong suốt quá trình cung ứng

Khô héo, mất ký, dể nhiểm bệnh Đảm bảo đủ độ ẩm khi tồn trử, tránh gây tổn thương trong quá trình xử lý, vận chuyển, tránh lưu trử ở nhiệt độ không phù hợp.

Tổn thương cơ học Thu hoạch, phân loại, đóng gói, chất hàng, vận chuyển, thao tác trong sắp xếp trong cửa hàng

Hư, dập, nứt, trầy vỏ…tạo điều kiện cho mầm bệnh xâm nhập gây hư thối, chóng héo úa

Cách thu hoạch hợp lý, cắt hái đúng vị trí, thiết kế dây chuyền phân loại không để sản phẩm rơi quá độ cao cho phép hay chạy qua góc hẹp, nhọn. Tuân thủ hướng dân về cách chồng xếp ba-let và thùng chứa.

Gia tăng cường độ hô hấp trong sản phẩm


Gia tăng sự hao hụt dẩn đến suy kiệt nguồn năng lượng dự trử bên trong làm rau củ quả mau lảo hóa, héo úa. Sốc do tổn thương, bệnh, thay đổi nhiệt độ làm tăng cường độ hô hấp, gia tăng sự hao hụt dẩn đến suy kiệt nguồn năng lượng dự trử và tăng sự mất nước của sản phẩm.

Tuân thủ đúng nhiệt độ khuyến cáo phù hợp cho từng loại rau củ quả

Nhiệt độ kông phù hợp/biến động


Tổn thương sản phẩm do lạnh (hoá nân, úng bầm). Đông lạch từ 0-2 độ C. Tổn thương do lạnh thường dẩn đền hư thối.

Kiểm tra và bảo dưỡng các thiết bị làm lạnh trong kho chứa, phương tiện vận chuyển. Không trử chung các loại sản phẩm không chịu lạnh như đậu, dưa leo, cà, cà tím với các loại chịu lạnh khác trong kho lạnh

Nồng dộ dưỡng khí thấp, than khí cao trong kho bảo quản

Kho bảo quản, công-ten-nơ, bao bì

Trong môi trường thiếu thông gió, tồn trử bằng kỹ thuật thay đổi hay khống chế thành phần không khí làm giam lượng dượng khí và có thể gây ra tích tụ thán khí làm sảm phẩm “ngộp thở”. Điều nầy dẩn đến tình trạng sốc gây gia tăng cường độ hô hấp và mất nước trong sản phẩm. Sản phẩm trong tình trạng sốc gia tăng sản sin khí ê-ty-ten và than khí vào không khí làm thúc đẩy tiến trình lảo hoá sản phẩm.

Thành phần không khí trong kho chứa chính xác theo khuyến cáo nếu áp dụng kỹ thuật bảo quản có kiểm soát thành phần không khí. Thông gió, chừa khe hở trên nóc và giửa các hàng thùng. Áp dụng hợp lý kỹ thuật bảo quản có thay đổi thành phần không khí và bảo dưỡng hệ thống làm mát.

Bệnh Trong suốt quá trình cung ứng

Hư thối và lây nhiểm sanh các sản phẩm chung quanh

Không dùng thùng chứa bẩn, không để nước hợp vệ sinh để rửa. không đóng chung sảm phẩm bệnh, kém chất lượng.

Sản sinh ê-ty-len (chất gây chín) trái cây hoặc khói động cơ

Nhà đóng gói, kho, xe đông lạnh, cửa hàng

Lảo hóa, chín háp, sượng, mất màu, thối. Không tồn trử, vận chuyển rau củ quả mẩn cảm ê-ty-len với các loại quả sản sinh chất này. Không dùng xe nâng chay máy dầu hoặc gas trong khu vực bảo quản, đóng gói.

tiên phải đổ cho ngựa ăn. Chúng tôi củng ngay lập tức đi thuê xe nâng chạy điện.

Điều này khiến tôi suy nghĩ về những trục trặt đã xảy ra trên các bộ phận khác. Các loại rau củ quả khác không chuyển thành vị đắng nhưng nhanh chóng hư hại khi tiếp xục với khí ê-ty-len và chúng tôi đã từng bị thị trường phàn nàn về thời gian bảo quản của sản phẩm. Tôi kiểm tra công ty vận tải và biết rằng họ củng dùng xe nâng chạy bằng ga trong các kho lạnh cở nhỏ tồn trử tất cả các loại rau củ quả tươi thu gom cho các đầu mối. Sản phẩm sà lách của chúng tôi củng chịu chung số phận cùng bị lưu trử và vận chuyển chung với bôm hoặc loại trái cây khác phát sinh ra khí ê-ty-len.

Phân loại và đóng gói

Một khi cà rốt vào đến nhà xưởng làm lạnh sơ khởi thì chúng tôi bắt tay vào việc phân loại và hiệu chỉng mày phân loại theo kích cở. Tuy nhiên trục trặt đã xảy ra với một mô-tơ mà chúng tôi mượn đở từ day chuyền khác nên không thể tiến hành phân loại và đóng gói được. Việc sửa chửa có thể mất cả ngày nhưng không sao vì chúng tôi có thề tiếp tục công việc thu hoạch ngoài đồng, rửa, đưa sản phẩm mới thu vào hệ hống tiền làm lạnh, và chuyển sản phẩm đã làm lạnh vào phía trong.

Trục trặt

Mất hếtmấy ngày để hiệu chỉnh dây chuyền phân loại và đóng gói hoạt động trôi chảy, sau đó thì mọi thứ củng sẳn sàng. Lúc này thì kho lạnh có ẩm độ cao củng đã đầy sản phẩm cà rốt đã rửa sạch. Tôi lấy một củ cà rốt được thu hoạch vào ngày đầu tiên ăn thử, hương vị của nó thật tệ và đắng nghét. Chuyện gì đã xảy ra? Tôi đã thử và chắc rằng lô cà rốt đó rất ngọt. Ngay sau đó tôi củng chợt nhận ra – Chính là vì chúng tôi sử dụng xe nâng chạy bằng ga trong kho 4 ngày qua. Vì hệ thống rèm cửa kín và vì qui định phải luôn đóng cửa khi ra vào làm cho nồng độ khí ê-ty-len tích tụ trong kho cao đến mức biến cà rốt trở nên đắng. Toàn bộ lô thu hoạch đầu


YOUR PRODUCTION

THINKING ABOUT EXPANSION? — VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION

Có nhiều chủ nông trại nhỏ hiện nay có ý hướng muốn sở hửu trang trại to hơn trong khi nhiều người đang thuê hay góp phần làm ăn chia trong trang trại luôn mơ được sở hửu một trang trại của chính mình. Quá trình thực hiện ước mơ đòi hỏi người trong cuộc phải trăn trở, toan tính và đưa ra nhiều quyết định hằng ngày. Những quyết định này chắc chắn sẻ ảnh hưởng đến sự thành bại sau này. Trang thông tin của chương trình phát triển ngành rau củ quả tháng 4/2011 — Suy nghĩ về vấn đề mở rộng doanh nghiệp? — cung cấp một số ý kiến tham khảo then chốt có thể phần nào giúp những người trong cuộc suy nghĩ để đưa ra những quyết định có giá trị hơn.

Trang thông tin này mô tả một trường hợp cu thể của một nông hộ của một gia đình trẻ trồng rau có qui mô nhỏ và một ít nợ vay. Nhều vấn đề được nêu lên kèm theo các lưu ý để kích thích sự cân nhắc nhằm đưa ra được quyết định hợp lý dựa trên một sự kiện là có người rao bán một trang trai nhỏ gần nhà — nếu gia đình này tiếp tục canh tác giống như ở trang trại đã có thì liệu họ có nên mua mảnh đất này?• Chi phí thường xuyên và chi phí lủy tiến

theo qui mô là gì? Chi phí thường xuyên là chi phí phải bỏ ra hàng ngày để vận hành trang trại trong điều kiện bình thường trong khi chi phí lủy tiến là loại chi phí sẽ gia tăng theo qui mô sản suất.

Rỏ ràng là gia đình này có thể lời mà củng có thể lổ với trang trại mua thêm. Vấn đề là họ có nhận thức được các loại chi phí phát sinh. Giả vụ nếu như họ có thể sử dụng máy móc có sẳn để phục vụ luôn cho đất mới thì như vậy họ đã gia tăng được hiệu quả sử dụng máy móc có sẳn làm hạn chế chi phí lủy tiến để gia tăng lợi nhuận trên mổi héc-ta. Lập kế hoạch, tính toán kinh phí, rà soát chi phí thường xuyên và chi phí lủy tiến sẻ giúp đưa ra quyết định hợp lý.

• Quản lý lợi nhuận và dòng tiền ra vào. Miếng đất có thật sự tốt để sinh lợi không? Nếu có thì lợi bao nhiêu? Có cần một phương thức canh tác khác hơn không? Chi phí bao nhiêu? Có trồng được các loại cây mới để chia sẻ rủi ro hoặc trồng thêm vào như trang trại hiện có để tăng cường tối đa lơi nhuận nhờ vào cách tiếp thị mới hay là kéo dài thời gian cung cấp quanh năm cho một bạn hàng không?

• Nợ và rủi ro. Nợ càng nhiều thì rủi ro càng cao. Đặt trường hợp xui rủi nếu thiên tai mất mùa đôi ba năm liên tục; nợ nhiều thì tiền đóng lải càng nhiều – đó chính là rủi ro. Liệu các chiến lược canh tác trên dất mới có khả năng đối phó được khi rủi ro xảy ra không?

Suy nghĩ về vấn đề mở rộng doanh nghiệp?

Giải pháp

Vấn đề này khiến tôi phải thảo luận với tất cả các đối tác lien quan đến sản phẩm của chúng tôi để tìm hiểu xem họ đã tồn trử chúng như thế nào và trong bao lâu. Truy nguyên các khâu vận chuyển, đặc biệt là vận chuyển cho xuất khẩu là điều đáng quan tâm.

Vấn đề cá rốt bị đắng trong trường hợp này dường như là một tổn thất để khởi sự quá trình tìm hiểu, tuy nhiên thổn thất này đã giúp truy tìm sự quan hệ mật thiết trong suốt chuổi cung ứng củng như xác định và cải thiện các quá trình vận hành sản phẩm. Hiện giờ chúng tôi ít khi bị phàn nàn về chất lượng sản phẩm và ít tổn thất hơn — một kết quả thật mỹ mản.

Nhiệt độ và thành phần không khí tối hảo (phần tram dưỡng khí, than khí, ẳm độ tương đối) cho từng loại sản phẩm đối với sản phẩm cắt miếng đóng góiSản phẩm cắt miếng đóng gói

Nhiet độ Thành phần không khí1 Hiệu lực2

%Dưỡng khi (º2) %Thán khí (CO2)Giá đậu 0-2 - - -Củ cải 0-5 5 5 Đạt yêu cầuBông cải 0-5 2-3 6-7 TốtBắp cải thảo 0-5 5-7.5 15 TốtBắp cải 0-5 5 5 Đạt yêu cầuCà rốt 0-5 5 15-20 TốtHành tây 0-5 2-5 5 Đạt yêu cầuCải bẹ vún 0-5 5 5-10 Đạt yêu cầuSà lách 0-5 1-3 5-10 TốtSà lách tây 0-5 0.5-3 10-15 TốtSà lách đỏ 0-5 0.5-3 5-10 TốtSà lách ru ma ni 0-5 0.5-3 5-10 TốtNấm rơm 0-5 0.5-3 10 Không khuyến cáoHành củ 0-5 2-5 10-15 TốtỚt capsicum 0-5 3 5-10 Đạt yêu cầuKhoai tây 0-5 1-3 6-9 TốtBí đỏ 0-5 2 15 Đạt yêu cầuCải rổ 0-5 0.8-3 8-10 Đạt yêu cầuCà 0-5 3 3 Đạt yêu cầuZucchini 5 0.25-1 - Đạt yêu cầu1 Ẩm độ yêu cầu 95%-100%; 2 Hiệu quả của biện pháp tồn trử có điều chỉnh nhiệt độ và thành phần không khí

• Sự phát triển về giá trị. Nếu lợi nhuận trên lô đất mới có khả năng trang trải chi phí tiền lải vay, thuế, hoá đơn, các loại phí khác thì sự phát triển về giá trị chắn chắn xảy ra. Điều này tạo ra cơ hội tốt để nuôi dưỡng giá trị và có thể giúp gia tăng nguồn vốn.

• Mua, mướn, hay làm ăn chia. Nếu có cơ hội thỏa thuận mướn đất hay làm ăn chia ổn định đàng hoàng thì củng có khả năng kiếm được thu nhập tương đối cho gia đình mà rủi ro ít hơn.

Không hẳn lúc nào củng phải làm chủ mới có thể làm ra lợi nhuận.

Ngoài vấn đề nghĩ tới tiền bạc, chi phí, lời lổ thì sự quan tâm đến người thân trong gia đìnhtrong quá trình suy nghĩ và đưa ra quyết định củng là điều rất quan trọng để xem liệu những quyết định đó sẻ ảnh hưởng như thế nào đến gia đình, luợng công việc và những thách thức củng như kỹ năng cần phải có để điều hành một doanh nghiệp lớn hơn.

Qúi vị có thể tìm hiểu thêm thông tin trên trang thông tin điện tử: http://ausveg.com.au/rnd/fact_sheets.htm to find further guidance on making these types of decisions.




YOUR PRODUCTION

CULTIVAR HA MT APPLICANT PHONE FAX GRADE GEN PLANTED HARVESTED

00-15-67 (Bond) 0.01 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14

0.2 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G2 18-DEC-13 01-APR-14

AG 43 0.03 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 29-NOV-13 01-APR-14




AG 67 0.07 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G2 16-DEC-13 01-APR-14


0.63 WESTCOTT, SL & K 08 9841 5474 08 9842 3538 Registered G3 17-DEC-13 01-MAR-14





925 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G1 08-JAN-14 01-MAY-14


0.13 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G2 10-OCT-13 01-FEB-14



AG 88 200 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14





AG 92 0.13 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G2 09-DEC-13 01-APR-14

Ag39 (Mandy) 0.05 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 29-NOV-13 01-APR-14




Almera (Carisma) 500 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14

0.22 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-APR-14

1945 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G1 08-JAN-14 01-MAY-14

0.13 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G2 11-NOV-13 01-APR-14

0.1 BENDOTTI EXPORTERS 08 9771 8956 08 9771 2953 Certified G2 04-DEC-13 01-MAY-14



0.36 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G2 02-JAN-14 01-MAY-14


BENDOTTI EXPORTERS 08 9771 8956 08 9771 2953 Certified G3 04-DEC-13 01-MAY-14






2.48 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G4 05-OCT-13 01-JAN-14

2.25 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G4 15-JAN-14 01-APR-14

2.64 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G4 15-DEC-13 01-MAY-14


1100 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G1 28-DEC-13 01-APR-14

0.076 BARKER, TA & PA 08 9845 2038 08 9845 2038 Registered G1 16-DEC-13 01-APR-14

Seed potato varieties Certification/registration applied for by seed growers for period July 1, 2013 to April 10, 2014


YOUR PRODUCTION


Almera (Carisma) 0.076 BARKER, TA & PA 08 9845 2038 08 9845 2038 Registered G2 17-DEC-13 01-APR-14


0.46 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G3 24-DEC-13 01-APR-14



0.27 BARKER, TA & PA 08 9845 2038 08 9845 2038 Registered G4 28-NOV-13 01-FEB-14



0.64 BARKER, TA & PA 08 9845 2038 08 9845 2038 Registered G4 10-SEP-13 01-JAN-14


3.62 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Registered G4 20-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

0.38 BOALLIA RURAL HOLDINGS

0419 913 181 08 9753 1181 Registered G5 02-JUL-13 01-OCT-13

0.45 SMITH, P, P & B 08 9755 4006 08 9755 4006 Registered G5 15-JUL-13 01-NOV-13


0.4 TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G5 03-SEP-13 01-DEC-13

2.06 TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G5 21-JUL-13 01-DEC-13

TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered 20-JAN-14 01-MAY-14

Amorosa (Virginia Rose) 320 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G1 08-JAN-14 01-MAY-14






0.33 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Registered G3 19-DEC-13 01-APR-14

Apache 400 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Argos 4000 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

0.31 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G2 09-JAN-14 01-APR-14





Atlantic 500 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14


50000 LAKE JASPER CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES

08 9776 1238 08 9776 1238 Certified G1 11-JUN-13 01-SEP-13

0.48 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G1 04-DEC-13 01-MAR-14




HULCUP, B 08 9773 1366 Certified G2 16-DEC-13 01-MAY-14

0.87 LAKE JASPER CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES

08 9776 1238 08 9776 1238 Certified G2 18-JUN-13 01-OCT-13




1.95 BENDOTTI EXPORTERS 08 9771 8956 08 9771 2953 Certified G5 15-NOV-13 01-APR-14

24.51 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 15-JAN-14 01-MAY-14



0.36 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G3 01-DEC-13 01-MAR-14


Seed potato varieties (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION


Atlantic 1.24 FOX, PC 0427 447 295 Registered G5 01-DEC-13 01-MAR-14


08 9776 1238 08 9776 1238 Registered G6 18-JUN-13 01-OCT-13

Cookernup Produce 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified 26-JAN-14 01-MAY-14

FOX, PC 0427 447 295 Certified 26-JAN-14 01-MAY-14


Barcelona PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G1 10-MAR-14 01-MAY-14

Bliss 20000 LAKE JASPER CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES






08 9776 1238 08 9776 1238 Certified G2 18-JUN-13 01-OCT-13

1 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G2 15-DEC-13 01-MAR-14



4.68 FOX, PC 0427 447 295 Certified G5 25-OCT-13 01-FEB-14

PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 15-JAN-14 01-MAY-14

PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 10-DEC-13 01-MAR-14




08 9776 1238 08 9776 1238 Registered G6 18-JUN-13 01-OCT-13



Bounty (Potato) 500 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Bute (166-HVN-05) 500 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14






Caberet 0.01 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14


Casablanca 500 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Chicago 500 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Cremosa 0.07 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14

Crop 55 100 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14

Crop 56 100 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-14 01-APR-14

Delaware 965 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14



FOX, PC 0427 447 295 Certified G2 26-JAN-14 01-MAY-14


1.27 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G2 09-NOV-13 01-MAR-14






YOUR PRODUCTION


Delaware 1.49 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G3 10-DEC-13 01-MAR-14


4.56 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 04-OCT-13 01-FEB-14

5.44 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 08-OCT-13 01-FEB-14

9.42 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 28-OCT-13 01-MAR-14



TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G1 25-JAN-14 01-MAY-14





0.2 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G4 28-OCT-13 01-MAR-14

4.34 FOX, PC 0427 447 295 Registered G5 01-DEC-13 01-MAR-14

PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 10-DEC-13 01-MAR-14


0.21 WESTCOTT, SL & K 08 9841 5474 08 9842 3538 Registered G5 25-OCT-13 01-FEB-14


Desiree 1.28 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G3 06-OCT-13 01-FEB-14


Diament LAKE JASPER CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES


Divaa (CA 99-1) 300 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14







Dutch Cream 325 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G1 28-DEC-13 01-APR-14


TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G5 05-AUG-13 01-DEC-13

0.42 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G6 14-NOV-13 01-APR-14

Emma 0.05 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14


Esmerelda 0.01 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14

Eureka (Potato) 185 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14





Eva 1000 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 21-JAN-14 01-APR-14




2.33 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Registered G5 19-DEC-13 01-APR-14

Excalibur 500 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

FBA 0.07 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14



FL 1867 0.1 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14




YOUR PRODUCTION


FL 1867 2.18 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G2 23-DEC-13 01-APR-14











4.36 BARKER, TA & PA 08 9845 2038 08 9845 2038 Registered G4 05-DEC-13 01-MAR-14

FL 1867A 1.13 TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G5 31-JUL-13 01-DEC-03

















Friar 1000 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14





Granola PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G3 15-JAN-14 01-MAY-14



Harmony 1800 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-13






Innovator 205 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14



Inova 350 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14



Kestrel 2200 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14




YOUR PRODUCTION


Kestrel 3.95 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G4 14-JAN-14 01-APR-14

2.02 WESTCOTT, SL & K 08 9841 5474 08 9842 3538 Registered G4 27-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

King Edward 0.03 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G2 24-DEC-13 01-APR-14

Kipfler 0.04 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 05-DEC-13 01-APR-14


0.11 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G3 04-NOV-13 01-MAR-14


Labella 150 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Lady Christl 100 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14









0.55 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G5 19-OCT-13 01-FEB-14





Lanorma 200 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Laperla 150 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Laura (Potato) 175 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14




MacRusset 220 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14

LAKE JASPER CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES



1.32 BENDOTTI EXPORTERS 08 9771 8956 08 9771 2953 Certified G5 06-DEC-13 01-APR-14


Malin 0.01 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14



Maranca 0.03 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14

0.9 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G2 21-NOV-13 01-MAR-14



Marcelle 400 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14


Maris Piper 0.19 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G4 04-OCT-13 01-JAN-14




Melody 500 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-14 01-APR-14






YOUR PRODUCTION


Mondial 200 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14







PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G4 15-JAN-14 01-MAY-14






Monte-Carlo PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G1 10-MAR-14 01-MAY-14

Montreal PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G1 10-MAR-14 01-MAY-14

Mozart TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G4 19-JUL-13 01-DEC-13

Nadine 7550 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14














1.05 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G5 24-DEC-13 01-MAR-14


1.99 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G5 01-DEC-14 01-APR-14







1 BARKER, TA & PA 08 9845 2038 08 9845 2038 Registered G4 30-DEC-13 01-APR-14



3.14 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Registered G4 02-JAN-14 01-APR-14


WESTCOTT, SL & K 08 9841 5474 08 9842 3538 Registered G4 22-NOV-13 01-MAR-14








0.71 SMITH, P, P & B 08 9755 4006 08 9755 4006 Registered G6 20-AUG-13 01-NOV-13


YOUR PRODUCTION


Nicola 0.3 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G4 13-NOV-13 01-APR-14




Norland 200 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G1 28-DEC-13 01-APR-14



0.12 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G4 28-OCT-13 01-FEB-14

0.04 WESTCOTT, SL & K 08 9841 5474 08 9842 3538 Registered G4 25-OCT-13 01-FEB-14


Orchestra 0.04 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 29-NOV-13 01-APR-14


Purple Delight 150 A PARKER & SONS 08 9777 2410 08 9771 1019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14


0.05 A PARKER & SONS 0897772410 0897711019 Certified G2 11-NOV-13 01-APR-14

0.1 GP AYRES & SONS 08 98451135 08 98451123 Certified G2 03-DEC-13 01-APR-14



300 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 98414286 08 98411987 Registered G1 28-DEC-13 01-APR-14

Ranger Russet 310 A PARKER & SONS 0897772410 0897711019 Certified G1 10-NOV-13 01-APR-14

0.01 PEOS BROTHERS 08 97772222 08 97772222 Certified G1 04-DEC-13 01-MAR-14



0.78 BENDOTTI EXPORTERS 08 97718956 08 97712953 Certified G5 06-DEC-13 01-APR-14

110 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 98414286 08 98411987 Registered G1 28-DEC-13 01-APR-14

0.076 BARKER, TA & PA 08 98452038 08 98452038 Registered G2 17-DEC-13 01-APR-14

0.1 WESTCOTT, SL & K 08 98415474 08 98423538 Registered G2 16-DEC-13 01-MAR-14

0.14 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 98414286 08 98411987 Registered G3 01-DEC-13 01-MAR-14


1.26 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 98414286 08 98411987 Registered G4 13-DEC-13 01-APR-14


Ranger Russet B 0.27 A PARKER & SONS 0897772410 0897711019 Certified G4 13-NOV-13 01-APR-14

Red Rascal 0.05 A PARKER & SONS 0897772410 0897711019 Certified G2 11-NOV-13 01-APR-14


Rodeo 200 GP AYRES & SONS 08 98451135 08 98451123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14


GP AYRES & SONS 08 98451135 08 98451123 Certified G3 22-DEC-13 01-APR-14

JV & E MOLTONI 08 97761693 08 97761696 Certified G3 11-OCT-13 01-FEB-14

JV & E MOLTONI 08 97761693 08 97761696 Certified G3 10-OCT-13 01-FEB-14

0.51 GP AYRES & SONS 08 98451135 08 98451123 Certified G4 04-OCT-13 01-JAN-14

0.84 JV & E MOLTONI 08 97761693 08 97761696 Certified G4 14-OCT-13 01-FEB-14


0419913181 0897531181 Registered G5 02-JUL-13 01-OCT-13


3.16 JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G5 27-DEC-13 01-MAY-14










YOUR PRODUCTION


Rodeo 1.22 ACKLEY, TR & CK 08 9841 4286 08 9841 1987 Registered G4 19-DEC-13 01-APR-14







Royal Blue 0.04 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 29-NOV-13 01-APR-14













2.54 OMODEI, M 08 9776 0471 08 9776 0783 Certified G4 02-DEC-13 01-MAY-14



0.2 TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G5 03-SEP-13 01-DEC-13
















0.77 SMITH, P, P & B 08 9755 4006 08 9755 4006 Registered G5 20-AUG-13 01-NOV-13


Rubesse 500 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Ruby Lou 200 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14



GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G3 22-DEC-13 01-APR-14









YOUR PRODUCTION


Ruby Lou 0.076 BARKER, TA & PA 08 9845 2038 08 9845 2038 Registered G2 17-DEC-13 01-APR-14








0.96 TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G5 02-AUG-13 01-DEC-13

Saprano 0.64 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G3 10-DEC-13 01-APR-14


Sifra 0.03 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14


TANDAR PTY LTD 08 9755 4121 08 9755 4121 Registered G4 20-AUG-13 01-DEC-13




SM 03/83/10R 626 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14

Spunta 0.12 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G1 04-DEC-13 01-MAR-14




9.18 PEOS BROTHERS 08 9777 2222 08 9777 2222 Certified G5 07-SEP-13 01-JAN-14


Virginia Rose (Amorosa) 0.01 GP AYRES & SONS 08 9845 1135 08 9845 1123 Certified G1 30-NOV-13 01-APR-14



White Star 2000 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G1 28-NOV-13 01-MAR-14






JV & E MOLTONI 08 9776 1693 08 9776 1696 Certified G3 10-OCT-13 01-FEB-14














Winston 0.016 ELDRIDGE, LS & JL 08 9844 6269 08 9844 6169 Certified G2 10-JAN-14 01-APR-14



YOUR PRODUCTION

Permits Minor Use Permits can also be searched by specific crop or pest types at www.apvma.gov.au/permits/search.php

Permit No. Chemical Treats Expiry date

Adzuki bean

PER13293 Abamectin Two-spotted mites and onion thrips 30-Apr-15

PER13610 Procymidone Sclerotinia rot 31-Dec-14

PER13607 Spinnaker Herbicide Weeds 30-Sep-18

PER13451 Pirimicarb Cowpea aphid and soyabean aphid 31-Mar-16

PER14586 Altacor Insecticide Lucerne seed web moth & bean pod borer 31-May-14

PER14496 Metolachlor Certain annual grasses & broadleaf weeds 31-Mar-19

AlmondsPER13384 Abamectin Two-spotted mite & brown almond mite 30-Jun-18

PER14415 Altacor (chlorantraniliprole) Carob moth 30-Jun-19

PER14310 Apollo SC Miticide (clofentezine) Two-spotted mite & brown almond mite 30-Sep-18

PER13553 Methoxyfenozide (Prodigy Insecticide) Carob moth 30-Sep-15

PER13199 Phos acid Phytopthora 31-Mar-15

PER13387 Pirimicarb Aphids 31-Mar-17

PER12989 Propiconazole Blossom blight, anthracnose 31-Aug-16

PER13383 Pymetrozine (Chess) Green peach aphid 31-Mar-17

Anise myrtlePER13907 Triadimenol, Azoxystrobin, Propiconazole,

Potassium bicarbonate & Phos acid Myrtle rust 31-Aug-16

ApplesPER12864 Polyram (metiram) Alternaria 30-Jun-16

PER12865 Delan 700 WG Alternaria control 30-Jun-16

ApricotsPER13527 Sumitomo Samurai Systemic Insecticide

(clothianidin) Oriental fruit moth 30-Jun-18

Artichoke — globePER14203 Propyzamide Weeds 30-Nov-16

AvocadoPER13808 Lebaycid Insecticide (Fenthion) Queensland fruit fly 30-Oct-14

PER14597 Methomyl (Lannate L) Ectropis looper 31-Mar-19

PER13624 Phosphorous acid Phytophthora root rot 31-Aug-14

BananaPER14237 Diesel Distillate Removal of unwanted suckers 30-Sep-23

PER14512 Glyphosate Destruction of plants infected with banana freckle 30-Sep-14

PER14516 Tatodust Banana fruit speckle disease 31-Mar-16

PER14235 Rattoff Zinc Phosphine Bait Sachet Roof or black rat and mice 30-Jun-23

PER13599 Glyphosate, imidacloprid & paraffinic oil Plant destruction & banana aphid control 31-Oct-16

PER14240 Chlorpyrifos Sugarcane bud moth, banana scab moth, banana rust thrips, caterpillars, mealy bugs

30-Sep-15

BarleyPER14012 Prosper 500 EC (spiroxamine) Powdery mildew 31-Mar-16

BeansPER13897 Filan Fungicide (boscalid) Sclertonia rot 30-Jun-14

BeesPER14314 Fumagilin - B Feed wintering colonies for export to Japan 12-Nov-15

BeetrootPER14245 Score Foliar Fungicide Leaf spot 31-Aug-18

PER14043 Chlorothalonil Various diseases 30-Nov-18

PER14456 Tebuconazole Sclerotonia rot 30-Jun-19

PER14223 Flint 500 WG Fungicide (trifloxystrobin) Alternaria leaf spot and cercospora leaf spot 31-Dec-14

PER13090 Alpha-cypermethrin Various insect pests 31-May-15

PER14184 Phosphorous (phosphonic) acid Damping off and downy mildew 30-Jun-17

BilberriesPER13290 Dimethoate Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly 5-Oct-14


YOUR PRODUCTION


Bitter melonPER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18

BlackberriesPER14423 Abamectin (Vertimec Miticide) Fruit fly 30-Jun-17

PER13956 Abamectin Two-spotted mites 31-May-18

BlackcurrantPER13956 Abamectin Two-spotted mites 31-May-18

BlueberriesPER14423 Abamectin (Vertimec Miticide) Fruit fly 30-Jun-17

PER14309 Chlorothalonil Various fungal diseases 30-Sep-16

PER14132 Copper Anthracnose 30-Sep-18

PER14741 FUSILADE As per label, grass control within crops 30-Jun-19

PER14739 Glufosinate-Ammonium (Basta) Various weeds 30-Jun-19

PER13955 Infruta Sulphur Dioxide Pads Botrytis cinerea 31-Mar-23

PER14134 Methomyl Red-shouldered leaf beetle, Helicoverpa spp. & plague thrips 30-Jun-23

PER13629 Pristine Fungicide Grey mould, anthracnose, rust 31-Oct-16

PER13532 Suscon Blue Soil Insecticide (chlorpyrifos) Scarab beetles 31-Jul-17

PER14133 Suscon Blue Soil Insecticide Scarab beetles 31-Jul-17

PER13630 Switch Fungicide Grey mould & anthracnose 30-Sep-18

PER14740 Tilt 250 EC (propiconazole) Rust (Pucciniastrum vaccinii) 30-Jun-19

PER13289 Dupont Avatar Insecticide (indoxacarb) Light brown apple moth 30-Jun-17

PER12927 Dow AgroSciences Success Neo (spinetoram) Fruit fly (Suppression only) 31-May-16

PER13290 Dimethoate Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly 5-Oct-14

PER12940 Maldison Fruit fly 31-May-16

PER14448 Bifenthrin Elephant weevil, monolepta beetles and plague thrips 31-May-17

PER13677 Hy Mal Insecticide Fruit fly bait spray 30-Jun-16

Brassica leafy vegetablesPER14045 Mancozeb + Metalaxyl Various fungal diseases 31-Mar-18

PER14433 Alpha-cypermethrin Various insects 30-Jun-17

PER14184 Phosphorous (phosphonic) acid Damping off and downy mildew 30-Jun-17

PER13154 Dual Gold Herbicide Various broadleaf and grass weeds 31-Mar-17

PER14584 Imidacloprid Aphids, whitefly and thrips 31-Mar-19

PER14127 Pendimethalin Weeds 31-Aug-18

PER14292 Secure 360SC (chlorfenapyr) Lepiotera and mites 31-Mar-16

PER13897 Filan Fungicide (boscalid) Sclertonia rot 30-Jun-14

PER14596 Chlorpyrifos Vegetable beetle adults 30-Sep-19

PER13672 Chlorpyrifos Vegetable beetle adults 30-Sep-14


BreadfruitPER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15

Broad beansPER13752 Tebuconazole Cercospora leaf spot & rust 30-Jun-16

BroccoliPER14045 Mancozeb + Metalaxyl Various fungal diseases 31-Mar-18

PER14164 Clethodim Rye grass, winter grass 30-Jun-17

Broccoli seed treatmentPER14352 Metalaxyl-M (Apron XL 350) and Fludioxonil

(Maxim 100) Damping-off and rhizoctonia 31-Mar-19

PER14051 Iprodione Rhizoctinia 31-Mar-18

Brussel sproutsPER14432 Pendimethalin Weeds 30-Jun-19

PER14045 Mancozeb + Metalaxyl Various fungal diseases 31-Mar-18


Canola seed cropPER13447 Various actives Broadleaf weed control 31-Mar-17

Permits (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION


CapsicumPER14077 Eco-Oil (Botanical Oil) Silverleaf whitefly 30-Sep-23

PER14326 Captan Grey mould 30-Nov-16

PER13901 Glyphosate (shielded sprayer) Annual and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Jun-19


PER14454 Ridomil Gold MZ Downy mildew 30-Jun-19

PER13567 Bifenthrin Fruit fly 31-May-16

PER13566 Methomyl Fruit fly 31-May-16

PER14050 Flint 500 WG Fungicide Powdery mildew 30-Jun-23

CarrotPER14184 Phosphorous (phosphonic) acid Damping off and downy mildew 30-Jun-17

PER14816 Azoxystrobin Powdery mildew, sclerotinia rot (white mould), black rot 30-Jun-19

PER13795 Agpro Propazine 500 Nightshade, fat hen & wireweed 31-Mar-18

PER14535 Clethodim Grass weed control 31-Mar-19

PER13305 Glyphosate (shielded sprayer) Certain broadleaf and grass weeds 30-Jun-15

PER13091 Tebuconazole Powdery mildew 31-Mar-16

PER13656 Rovral Aquaflo Fungicide Various diseases 30-Sep-14


CassavaPER14466 Various Actives Various pests 30-Jun-16

CauliflowerPER14045 Mancozeb + Metalaxyl Various fungal diseases 31-Mar-18

PER13147 Lontrel Capeweed and clover 30-Sep-16

PER14037 Alpha-Cypermethrin Staphylinid beetle 31-Mar-23


Cavendish bananasPER14239 Nufarm Amicide Destruction of banana suckers 30-Jun-23

CeleriacPER14043 Chlorothalonil Various diseases 30-Nov-18

PER13114 Prometryn Grass weeds listed on label 31-Mar-17

PER13573 Rovral Aquaflo Fungicide (Iprodione) Sclerotinia rot 30-Jun-14

PER13323 Score Foliar Fungicide (difenoconazole) Cercospora leaf spot & septoria leaf blight 31-Mar-15

PER13367 Linuron Grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Apr-16

PER14353 Rovral Aquaflo Fungicide (iprodione) Sclerotinia rot 31-Mar-17

CeleryPER13673 Ridomil Gold MZ WG Late Blight, septoria leaf blight & downy mildew 30-Sep-16

PER13658 Flint 500 WG (trifloxystrobin) Various diseases 30-Sep-14

PER14494 Trifloxystrobin DM, cercospora & septoria 30-Jun-19

PER14436 Applaud Insecticide (buprofezin) Greenhouse whitefly 30-Jun-19

PER13654 Avatar Insecticide (indoxacarb) Heliothis, lightbrown apple moth, lucerne leaf roller and vegetable weevil 30-Sep-14

PER13496 Linuron Range of weeds 30-Apr-17

PER14049 Permethrin (Ambush ) Helicoverpa and looper 31-Mar-23

PER13627 Score Foliar Fungicide (difenoconazole) Cercospora leaf spot & septoria spots 31-Dec-15

PER13122 Proclaim Insecticide Heliothis, lightbrown apple moth and cluster caterpillar 30-Sep-16

PER13090 Alpha-cypermethrin Various insect pests 31-May-15

ChardPER13691 Gallery 750 Dry Flowable Herbicide Wild radish 30-Nov-15

CherriesPER13131 Regent 200 SC Insecticide European earwig 30-Nov-14

ChestnutPER13640 Sodium Hypochlorite Surface moulds 31-Oct-17

PER13273 Copper present as Cupric hydroxide Chestnut blight 31-Mar-17

PER13375 Scholar Fungicide (fludioxonil) Suppression of surface moulds 31-Oct-17

ChiaPER13391 Betacyfluthrin Heliothis 30-Jun-18

PER13393 Fusilade Forte (fluazifop) Various grasses 30-Jun-16


YOUR PRODUCTION


PER14322 Haloxyfop (Verdict 520) Awnless barnyard grass 30-Jun-17

PER13892 Larvin (thiodicarb) Heliothis 31-Jan-15

PER13392 Methomyl Heliothis 30-Jun-18

ChickpeasPER14348 Metribuzin Various weeds 30-Sep-18

PER14346 Simazine Weeds 30-Nov-18

PER14347 Spinnaker 700WDG Various weeds 30-Sep-18

ChicoryPER14456 Tebuconazole Sclerotonia rot 30-Jun-19


PER14457 Alpha-cypermethrin Redlegged earth mite, onion thrips 30-Jun-19

PER14795 Phenmedipham (Bental) Broadleaf weeds 31-Dec-15



Chilli peppersPER13397 Clethodim (Select Herbicide) Fops annual ryegrass and winter grass 31-Dec-16

PER14144 Pirimor (pirimicarb) Aphids 31-Mar-16


PER13254 Dimethoate Queensland and Mediterranean fruit fly 5-Oct-14

PER13860 Lebaycid (fenthion) Fruit fly 30-Oct-14

PER12823 Trifluralin Various broad leaf and grass weeds 30-Jun-21

PER14454 Ridomil Gold MZ Downy mildew 30-Jun-19


CitrusPER14651 Fipronil Mastotermes darwiniensis 31-Mar-18

PER13059 Abamectin + Clofentezine Citrus red mites 30-Sep-15

CocoaPER13762 Decis Options & Dimethoate 400 Cocoa pod borer 30-Sep-14

CorianderPER13303 Coragen Insecticide Heliothis, cluster caterpillar 31-Mar-15

PER13499 Diazinon Onion maggot 31-Mar-17

PER13396 Methomyl Thrips and western flower thrips 30-Jun-15

CucumberPER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18

PER14077 Eco-Oil (Botanical Oil) Silverleaf whitefly 30-Sep-23




PER12998 Amistar Fungicide Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria cucumerina) 30-Sep-14

PER14050 Flint 500 WG Fungicide Powdery mildew 30-Jun-23

PER14046 Mancozeb Grey mould 31-Mar-18

PER13349 Pyranica Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-15


Culinary herbsPER13790 Mancozeb Specific fungal diseases 30-Jun-18

PER13791 Mono-di potassium phosphite or Pottassium phosphonate

Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-16

PER14158 Metolachlor Weeds 30-Jun-23

PER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15

PER13793 Potassium Bicarbonate Specified fungal diseases 31-Mar-18

PER13794 Imidacloprid Various insect pests 31-Mar-17

CurcubitsPER13304 Paramite Two-spotted mite, red spider mite 30-Jun-18

Custard applePER13952 Cabrio WG Fungicide and Cabrio Fungicide

(pyraclostrobin) Pseudocercospora leaf spot 30-Jun-18

PER14227 Paramite (etoxazole) Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-16

Permits (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION


PER13807 Phosphorous acid Phytophthora 30-Sep-17

PER13951 Sunny Plant Growth Regulator (uniconazole-P) Plant growth regulation 30-Jun-18

PER14491 Various Fipronil products Ants 30-Jun-19

PER14743 Trichlorfon Various insect pests 30-Jun-16

PER13029 Trichlorfon Various insect pests 31-May-14

PER13027 Bulldock 25EC Various insect pests 30-Sep-15

Date palmPER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15

PER13790 Mancozeb Specific fungal diseases 30-Jun-18

PER13831 Acetamiprid Mealy bug, fungus gnat larvae and tea tree psyllid 30-Jun-17

PER13311 Glufosinate-ammonium Various weeds 30-Sep-14

PER13310 Glyphosate Various weeds 30-Sep-14


PER13315 Pendimethalin Various weeds 30-Sep-14

PER13313 Fluazifop-P Various grass weeds 30-Sep-14


PER13703 Bifenthrin Specified insect pests 31-Mar-17

DurianPER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15

PER13799 Phosphorous acid Phytophthora root rot 30-Sep-17

EggplantPER12862 Zineb Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) 31-Jul-14

PER14036 Bupirimate Powdery mildew 31-Mar-18


PER13517 Rovral (iprodione) Grey mould 30-Sep-15

PER14186 Success Neo (spinetoram) Melon thrips 30-Sep-18

PER14484 Fluazifop Grass weeds 31-Mar-18

PER14047 Methidathion Rutherglen bug 30-Jun-18


PER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18

PER13397 Clethodim (Select Herbicide) Fops annual ryegrass and winter grass 31-Dec-16

PER13122 Proclaim Insecticide Heliothis, lightbrown apple moth and cluster caterpillar 30-Sep-16

EndivePER14456 Tebuconazole Sclerotonia rot 30-Jun-19





EucalyptusPER13066 Methabenzthiazuron Annual grasses & broadleaf weeds 31-Mar-17

PER13334 Dimethoate Rutherglen bug and wingless grasshoppers 5-Oct-14

PER13908 Silva Shield Grey box psyllid 31-Aug-16

PER13934 Payback (paclobutrazol) Enhancement of flowering 31-Mar-23

Faba beansPER13752 Tebuconazole Cercospora leaf spot & rust 30-Jun-16

FennelPER13036 Bravo 720 SC Downy mildew, purple blotch 31-Jul-16

PER13698 Phosphorous Downy mildew 30-Sep-17

FiddlewoodPER13706 Imidacloprid Aconophora compressa walker 31-Mar-18

FigsPER13472 Methomyl Green peach aphid 30-Jun-15

PER13471 Torque Miticide (fenbutatin oxide) Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-15

GarlicPER14484 Fluazifop Grass weeds 31-Mar-18

PER14606 Bromoxynil Broadleaf weeds 30-Jun-15


YOUR PRODUCTION


PER14607 Chlorothalonil (Rover & Bravo) Downy mildew 30-Jun-15

PER14610 Clethodim Winter grass 30-Jun-15

PER14612 Imidacloprid Aphids 30-Jun-15

PER14604 Lambda-cyhalothrin Selected insect pests 31-Mar-17

PER14008 Mancozeb + Metalaxyl Downy mildew & purple blotch 31-Mar-23

PER14609 Methabenzthiazuron Annual grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Jun-15

PER13970 Methabenzthiazuron Annual grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Jun-14

PER14608 Pirimicarb Bulb aphid and other aphid species 30-Jun-15

PER14270 Royal MH-30XTRA plant growth regulator Inhibit sprouting of bulbs 28-Feb-15

PER14605 Tebuconazole Orange rust 30-Jun-15

PER14611 Iprodione Damping off diseases 30-Jun-15

GingerPER13794 Imidacloprid Various insect pests 31-Mar-17

PER13792 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) kurstaki Various insect pests 31-Mar-18

PER13871 Bifenthrin Symphylids 30-Jun-16

PER13811 Fipronil Symphylids 30-Jun-16

PER14761 Oryzalin (Surflan) & Simazine Broadleaf and grass weeds 31-May-15

Grape vinesPER13944 Ammonium Nitrate and Calcium Nitrate Chemical cordon bunch removal 31-Mar-18

PER13565 Hy-Mal Insecticide Fruit fly 30-Sep-14

PER13674 Lebaycid (fenthion) Queensland fruit fly 30-Oct-14

Green beanPER13626 Metolachlor Various broadleaf and grass weeds. 30-Jun-17

Green teaPER13312 Paraquat + Diquat Various weeds 30-Sep-14

PER13313 Fluazifop-P Various grass weeds 30-Sep-14

PER13311 Glufosinate-ammonium Various weeds 30-Sep-14


Guar beansPER13295 Glyphosate Pre-harvest dessication and weed control 30-Jun-17

PER13294 Haloxyfop Annual grass weed control 31-May-15

HazelnutsPER13021 Paraquat, Diquat & Simazine Weed and sucker control 31-Mar-17



PER13162 Cupric hydroxide Hazelnut blight 31-Mar-17

PER13619 D-C-Tron Plus Plum scale 31-Oct-17

PER13830 Pirimicarb Hazelnut aphid 31-May-16




HempPER13703 Bifenthrin Specified insect pests 31-Mar-17

HerbsPER13832 Metalaxyl & Metalaxyl-M Pythium root rot & phytophthora root rot 31-Oct-16

PER13319 Trifluralin Various weeds 30-Sep-14

PER13038 Phosphorous acid Phytophthora 31-Oct-14

HopsPER13265 Acramite Two-spotted mite 31-Jan-18

PER14814 Gibberellic acid To control growth habit 30-Jun-19

PER13385 Glufosinate-ammonium Various grass and broad leaf weeds 31-Oct-15

PER13543 Imidacloprid African black beetle, greenhouse whitefly and thrips 31-Oct-15

PER13260 Paraquat + Diquat, Pendimethalin, Amitrole, Isoxaben & Clopyralid

Various weeds 31-May-17

Industrial hempPER13790 Mancozeb Specific fungal diseases 30-Jun-18


Permits (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION



JackfruitPER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15

KiwifruitPER14801 Spirotetramat (Movento 240 SC) Scale insect pests 31-Mar-19

LeeksPER14457 Alpha-cypermethrin Redlegged earth mite, onion thrips 30-Jun-19

PER13466 Various Actives Specified grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Sep-15

PER13367 Linuron Grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Apr-16

PER14473 Dimethomorph & Mancozeb Downy Mildew, purple blotch & botrytis rots 30-Jun-18

PER13653 Maldison Onion thrips 31-Oct-18

PER14742 Methabenzthiazuron (Tribunil Herbicide) Various broadleaf and grass weeds 30-Jun-16

PER13584 Tribunil Herbicide Various broadleaf and grass weeds 30-Jun-14


PER13257 Select Herbicide (clethodim) Grass weeds as per label including winter grass 31-Mar-17

Lemon myrtlePER13907 Triadimenol, Azoxystrobin, Propiconazole,


Lentil varieties — PBA Herald XT & Hurricane XT onlyPER14369 Imazethapyr Various weeds 31-Aug-17

PER14348 Metribuzin Various weeds 30-Sep-18

LettucePER14326 Captan Grey mould 30-Nov-16


PER14210 Acramite Miticide Two-spotted (red spider) mite 30-Sep-18

PER13301 Alpha-cypermethrin Redlegged earth mite & vegetable weevil 31-May-15

PER14430 Azoxystrobin (Amistar 250 SC) Bottom rot 30-Jun-17

PER14257 BALAN (benfluralin) Grass and broadleaf weed control 31-Mar-18

PER14351 DC-Tron Plus Various bugs 31-Mar-17

PER14318 Metalaxyl-M Damping off 30-Sep-18

PER14431 Rizolex Liquid Bottom rot 30-Jun-17

PER12846 Abamectin Two-spotted mite 30-Sep-17

PER13698 Phosphorous Downy mildew 30-Sep-17

PER13332 BALAN (benfluralin) Grass and broadleaf weed control 31-Mar-22

PER14336 Prodigy Cluster caterpillar, looper and light brown apple moth 30-Sep-17


PER14696 Abamectin Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-19

PER14077 Eco-Oil (Botanical Oil) Silverleaf whitefly 30-Sep-23

LeucaenaPER14517 Trifluralin Prevent root intrusion in subterranean dripper systems 31-Mar-19

LongansPER14165 Sulphur Dioxide Post-harvest rots 30-Jun-23

LycheePER14743 Trichlorfon Various insect pests 30-Jun-16



PER13030 Cabrio & Cabrio 200 WG Anthracnose or pepper spot 30-Nov-14

PER13028 Octave WP Fungicide Anthracnose or pepper spot 30-Nov-14

PER14507 Petroleum Oil Green shield scale, soft green & soft scales 31-Mar-17

PER14508 Sulfur Lychee erinose mite & white louse scale 31-Mar-17

PER13660 Copper hydroxide & cuprous oxide Lychee pepper spot 30-Sep-17

PER13659 Mancozeb Pepper spot 30-Sep-17

PER14099 Methidathion Mango planthopper 30-Jun-18

MacadamiaPER14276 Diazinon Macadamia lace bug 30-Nov-15

PER13689 Trichlorfon Fruit-spotting bug bananna bug, green vegetable bug 30-Sep-16

PER13879 Phosphorus acid Phytophthora trunk canker 30-Sep-17


YOUR PRODUCTION


Maize (seed crops only)PER13403 Movento 240 SC Insecticide Green peach aphid & maize thrip 30-Jun-15

PER13368 Clothianidin Export 31-Mar-17

MandarinsPER14444 Rovral Aquaflo (iprodione) Emperor brown spot 30-Sep-15

MangoPER14743 Trichlorfon Various insect pests 30-Jun-16



PER13484 Carbaryl Mango leafhoppers 30-Jun-16

PER13996 Fipronil Giant termite 31-Mar-18

PER14286 Actara Insecticide (thiamethoxam) Mango seed weevil 30-Sep-15

PER14147 Scholar (fludioxonil) Anthracnose, stem end rot & dendritic spot 30-Jun-15

PER13808 Lebaycid Insecticide (Fenthion) Queensland fruit fly 30-Oct-14

MangosteenPER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15

MelonsPER13170 Dimethoate Various fruit fly species 5-Oct-14

Mung beanPER13293 Abamectin Two-spotted mites and onion thrips 30-Apr-15


PER13604 Cabrio Fungicide (pyraclostrobin) Powdery mildew 30-Jun-15

PER13687 Indoxacarb Bean pod borer 31-May-14

PER13606 Methomyl Bean pod borer 31-Mar-15

PER13609 Carbendazim Powdery mildew 30-Nov-14

PER13605 Sulphur Powdery mildew 30-Sep-15

PER13979 Tebuconazole Powdery mildew 30-Jun-17

PER14496 Metolachlor Certain annual grasses & broadleaf weeds 31-Mar-19

PER14592 Chlorantraniliprole (Altacor) Lucerne seed web moth and bean pod borer 31-May-14

MushroomsPER12848 Carbendazim Dry bubble, wet bubble & green mould 30-Sep-14

PER12965 Imazalil Green mould 31-Jul-17

PER14350 VectoBac WG Biological Larvicide Fungus gnats and sciarids 31-May-19

PER12847 Abamectin Mushroom mites and nematodes 30-Jun-17

Native foodsPER13311 Glufosinate-ammonium Various weeds 30-Sep-14


Navy bean

PER13293 Abamectin Two-spotted mites and onion thrips 30-Apr-15

PER13626 Metolachlor Various broadleaf and grass weeds 30-Jun-17

Nursery stockPER13459 Aero Fungicide Various 31-May-15

PER13942 Suscon Maxi Insecticide Various insects 31-May-15

PER14768 Acrobat + Mancozeb Downy mildew, alternaria, anthracnose & phytophthora 30-Sep-19

PER12982 Alpha-cypermethrin Thrips, grasshoppers, locusts, aphids, cutworms and Rutherglen bug 31-May-15

PER14769 Applaud Insecticide (buprofezin) Mealybug, leafhoppers, scale and whitefly 30-Sep-19

PER13959 Brigade Red imported fire ant 31-Mar-18

PER13328 Copper Hydroxide Specified diseases 31-May-15

PER13382 Durivo Insecticide Diamond back moth, cabbage white butterfly, heliothis, loopers, leafhoppers and aphids

31-May-15

PER12983 Fipronil Range of pests 31-Oct-17

PER13330 Ecocarb Fungicide Powdery mildew 31-May-15

PER13329 Petroleum oil Thrips, mites, scale, aphids and leafhoppers 31-May-16

Oilseed poppiesPER13652 Crusader Herbicide (pyroxsulam) Range of weeds 31-Oct-17

PER14011 Haloxyfop Rope twitch, summer grass and storksbill 30-Sep-23

Permits (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION


PER13211 Methomyl Cutworm 31-Mar-15

PER14009 Propyzamide Ryegrass 30-Jun-18

PER12946 Regent 200 SC Insecticide (fipronil) Whitefringed weevil 30-Nov-17

PER13213 Dominex Duo (alpha-cypermethrin) Cutworm 31-Mar-15

PER14005 Intervix Herbicide Wide range of weeds 30-Jun-18

OlivesPER14791 Alpha-cypermethrin Various insect pests 30-Nov-15

PER14564 Avatar (indoxacarb) Apple weevil 13-Mar-16

PER14550 Azoxystrobin (Amistar) Anthracnose 31-Mar-15

PER14580 Azoxystrobin Anthracnose 31-Aug-19

PER14575 Chlorpyrifos Various insect pests 31-Mar-19

PER13999 Dimethoate Various insect pests 5-Oct-14

PER14460 Ethephon Fruit loosening 30-Jun-17

PER13868 Fenthion Olive lace bug & Rutherglen bug 30-Oct-14

PER14785 Insegar 250 W Insect Growth Regulator (fenoxycarb)

Black olive scale 31-Aug-15

PER14414 Natrasoap insecticidal soap spray Lace bug 30-Sep-23

PER13703 Bifenthrin Specified insect pests 31-Mar-17

PER13832 Metalaxyl & Metalaxyl-M Pythium root rot & phytophthora root rot 31-Oct-16

OnionsPER13574 Filan (boscalid), Rovral (iprodione) & Bravo

(chlorothalonil) Neck rot 30-Jun-14

PER14773 Basagran (bentazone-sodium) Broadleaf weeds 30-Jun-16

PER13119 Diazinon Onion thrips 31-Mar-17

PapawPER13076 Propamocarb Damping off 31-Mar-17

PapayaPER14417 Copper (cupric) hydroxide Phytophthora fruit rot 31-Mar-19

PER14096 Acramite (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 30-Sep-18

PER13671 Bulldock 25 EC Fruit-spotting bug and the banana-spotting bug 31-Oct-17

PER14098 Paramite Selective Miticide (etoxazole) Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-18

PER14097 Abamectin & Fenbutatin oxide Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-18

PER14490 Metalaxyl-M (Ridomil Gold 25G), Metalaxyl (Zee-mil 50G) + Phosphorous acid

Phytophthora root rot & pythium 31-Mar-19

PER13076 Propamocarb Damping off 31-Mar-17

PaprikaPER14454 Ridomil Gold MZ Downy mildew 30-Jun-19




ParsleyPER13303 Coragen Insecticide Heliothis, cluster caterpillar 31-Mar-15

PER14032 Chlorthal-dimethyl Various broadleaf weeds and grasses 31-Mar-23

PER13121 Ridomil Gold 25G (metalaxyl-M) Pythium & phytophthora 30-Nov-16

PER13499 Diazinon Onion maggot 31-Mar-17

PER13396 Methomyl Thrips and western flower thrips 30-Jun-15

ParsnipPER14184 Phosphorous (phosphonic) acid Damping off and downy mildew 30-Jun-17

PER14581 Pendimethalin Grasses and broadleaf Weeds 31-Mar-15

PER14695 Ridomil Gold 25G (metalaxyl-M) Pythium spp. and Phytophthora spp. 30-Jun-19

PER13696 Trifluralin Wintergrass 31-Mar-18




PassionfruitPER14421 Glyphosate Grass & broadleaf Weeds 30-Sep-18

PER14552 Phosphorous acid Phytophthora 30-Jun-19


YOUR PRODUCTION


PER13641 Sacoa Biopest (paraffinic oil) Red scale, hemispherical scale & passionvine mealybug 30-Sep-14

PER13565 Hy-Mal Insecticide Fruit fly 30-Sep-14

PER13038 Phosphorous acid Phytophthora 31-Oct-14

PawpawPER14097 Abamectin & Fenbutatin oxide Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-18

PER14490 Metalaxyl-M (Ridomil Gold 25G), Metalaxyl (Zee-mil 50G) + Phosphorous acid

Phytophthora root rot & pythium 31-Mar-19

PeanutsPER14715 Abamectin Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-14

PER14069 Amistar (azoxystrobin) Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia solani 31-Mar-18

PER14248 Dynasty PD Fungicide Aspergillus crown rot 30-Sep-15

PER14735 Imidacloprid Cane grubs, white grubs 31-Mar-16

PER14681 Optimerge Pre-emergence root rot and seedling blight 14-Apr-15

PeasPER14035 Diflufenican Broadleaf weeds 31-Mar-23


PeppersPER14353 Rovral Aquaflo Fungicide (iprodione) Sclerotinia rot 31-Mar-17

PER14047 Methidathion Rutherglen bug 30-Jun-18

PER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18

PersimmonPER14743 Trichlorfon Various insect pests 30-Jun-16



PER13445 Chlorothalonil Cercospora leaf spot 30-Sep-15

PER13815 Maldison Queensland and Mediterranean fruit fly 31-May-16

PER13932 Chlorpyrifos Cluster grub 31-Mar-18

PER13694 Methidathion Various insect pests 30-Sep-17

PER13933 Petroleum oil Scale insects 30-Nov-17

PER13176 Shin Etsu MD Carmenta Pheromone Clearwing persimmon borer 30-Sep-15

PER14252 Samurai Systemic Insecticide (clothianidin) Fruit flies 30-Jun-15

Pine treesPER13334 Dimethoate Rutherglen bug and wingless grasshoppers 5-Oct-14

PER13066 Methabenzthiazuron Annual grasses & broadleaf weeds 31-Mar-17

PER14526 Dicamba (Kamba) Stress trees to invite attack by sirex wasps 30-Sep-18

PER14439 2,4-D (300g/L) Specified weeds 30-Jun-19

PER14365 Copper Oxychloride Dothistroma needle blight 30-Sep-14

PER14591 Metsulfuron-Methyl & Glyphosate Blackberry 30-Jun-19

PineapplePER14658 Regent 200SC & Talstar 100EC & 250EC Symphylids 31-Mar-17

PistachioPER13243 Iprodione Botrytis rot & alternaria leaf spot 30-Jun-15

PER14219 Mancozeb Antracnose & panicle and shoot blight 31-Dec-14

PER14217 Pristine Fungicide Anthracnose, panicle and shoot blight 31-Dec-14

PER14308 Success Neo or Delegate Carob moth 30-Jun-15

PER14218 Switch Fungicide Anthracnose & panicle and shoot blight 31-Dec-14

PER13954 Copper salts Suppression of botryosphaeria, alternaria alternata and bacterial dieback. 31-Mar-22

PER14627 Petroleum oil Soft scales (black scale & soft brown scale) 31-Mar-19

Pome fruitPER14562 Calypso Insecticide Mediterranean fruit fly 30-Nov-18

PER14252 Samurai Systemic Insecticide (clothianidin) Fruit flies 30-Jun-15

PoppiesPER14644 Balance 750WG Herbicide (isoxaflutole) Wild radish 31-Mar-19

PER13501 Clethodim Annual ryegrass 31-Mar-17

PER13347 Glyphosate Rope twitch 31-Mar-18

PER13679 Clopyralid Thistles 30-Jun-18

Permits (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION


RadicchioPER14045 Mancozeb + Metalaxyl Various fungal diseases 31-Mar-18


RadishPER14456 Tebuconazole Sclerotonia rot 30-Jun-19


PER13035 Clethodim Control of grasses 30-Sep-16

PER13444 Propiconazole Cercospora 31-Mar-17

PER13303 Coragen Insecticide Heliothis, cluster caterpillar 31-Mar-15

PER14048 Pendimethalin Various broadleaf and grass weeds 31-Mar-23

RaspberryPER14423 Abamectin (Vertimec Miticide) Fruit fly 30-Jun-17

PER13956 Abamectin Two-spotted mites 31-May-18

Red algaePER13194 Sumi-Alpha Flex Insecticide Artemia brine shrimp 31-Mar-17

RedbeetPER13691 Gallery 750 Dry Flowable Herbicide Wild radish 30-Nov-15

Rhodes grassPER14517 Trifluralin Prevent root intrusion in subterranean dripper systems 31-Mar-19

RhubarbPER13441 Ambush Emulsifiable Concentrate Insecticide Green peach aphid, green looper, light brown apple moth and budworms 31-Mar-17

PER13300 Abamectin Broad mite 31-Dec-16

PER14744 Clethodim Grass weeds listed on label 30-Jun-19

PER14212 Imidacloprid Aphids 30-Jun-18

PER13152 MCPA 250 Selective Herbicide Broadleaf weeds 30-Sep-16

PER14493 Phos acid Downy mildew 31-Jan-19

PER13586 Phos acid Downy mildew 30-Jun-14

RiberriesPER13907 Triadimenol, Azoxystrobin, Propiconazole,


PER13957 Petroleum Oil (incl. paraffinic and mineral oil) Two-spotted mite and scale insects 31-Mar-18

PER14233 Carfentrazone Sucker control 31-Mar-16



RicePER14716 Azoxystrobin Rice blast 31-Mar-15

Rice grassPER12889 Fluazifop-P (Fusilade) Estuaries 30-Jun-16

RocketPER14127 Pendimethalin Weeds 31-Aug-18

PER14292 Secure 360SC (chlorfenapyr) Lepiotera and mites 31-Mar-16



PER13068 Fosetyl-Al (Aliette WG) Downy mildew 30-Jun-16

RubusPER13957 Petroleum Oil (incl. paraffinic and mineral oil) Two-spotted mite and scale insects 31-Mar-18

PER14238 Ridomil Gold MZ Downy mildew 30-Sep-16

PER14425 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite & European red spider mite 30-Sep-18

PER13087 Pristine Fungicide Various diseases 30-Sep-17

PER14422 Switch Fungicide (cyprodinil + fludioxonil) Grey mould 30-Sep-18

PER13006 Switch Fungicide (cyprodinil + fludioxonil) Grey mould 31-Mar-15

PER14424 Teldor 500SC Fungicide (fenhexamid) Grey mould 30-Sep-18

PER14233 Carfentrazone Sucker control 31-Mar-16



PER14234 Eco-Oil Two-spotted mite 31-Aug-18

PER14509 Azoxystrobin Anthracnose, botrytis & cladosporium 31-Mar-17


YOUR PRODUCTION


PER14449 Chlorothalonil Various fungal diseases 31-May-17

PER14138 Chlorothalonil Various fungal diseases 30-Sep-14

PER14238 Ridomil Gold MZ Downy mildew 30-Sep-16

PER14425 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite & European red spider mite 30-Sep-18

PER13087 Pristine Fungicide Various diseases 30-Sep-17

PER14422 Switch Fungicide (cyprodinil + fludioxonil) Grey mould 30-Sep-18

PER13006 Switch Fungicide (cyprodinil + fludioxonil) Grey mould 31-Mar-15

PER14424 Teldor 500SC Fungicide (fenhexamid) Grey mould 30-Sep-18

PER13150 NoGall (Agrobacterium radiobacter) Crown gall 31-Oct-17

PER14443 Cooper Hydroxide Rust & leaf spot 31-Mar-19

PER13289 Dupont Avatar Insecticide (indoxacarb) Light brown apple moth 30-Jun-17

PER12927 Dow AgroSciences Success Neo (spinetoram) Fruit fly (suppression only) 31-May-16



SandalwoodPER13334 Dimethoate Rutherglen bug and wingless grasshoppers 5-Oct-14

ShallotsPER14457 Alpha-cypermethrin Redlegged earth mite, onion thrips 30-Jun-19

PER14073 Diazinon Thrips (excluding WFT) and onion seedling maggot 30-Jun-18

PER14080 Lannate L (methomyl) Western flower thrips 30-Sep-14

PER13205 Secure 360 SC (chlorfenapyr) Western flower thrips 30-Jun-17



PER13626 Metolachlor Various broadleaf and grass weeds. 30-Jun-17


PER14142 Ioxynil Broad leaf and grass weeds 31-Mar-16

PER14473 Dimethomorph & Mancozeb Downy mildew, purple blotch & botrytis rots 30-Jun-18




SilverbeetPER14433 Alpha-cypermethrin Various insects 30-Jun-17

PER13673 Ridomil Gold MZ WG Late blight, septoria leaf blight & downy mildew 30-Sep-16



PER14081 Tramat 500 SC Selective Herbicide (ethofumesate) Various weeds 31-Jul-14

PER12862 Zineb Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) 31-Jul-14




Sin quaPER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18

Snake beanPER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18

Snow peasPER13901 Glyphosate (shielded sprayer) Annual and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Jun-19


PER13899 Etoxazole Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-15

PER14470 Mancozeb & Dimethomorph Downy mildew 30-Apr-17

PER14211 Fenhexamid Grey mould and chocolate spot 30-Sep-16

PER14044 Acramite Miticide Mites 30-Nov-15

PER14185 Chess Insecticide Aphids 30-Jun-15

PER14033 Lambda-cyhalothrin Pasture webworm, cutworm, Rutherglen bug and thrips 31-May-18

PER13633 Pyrimethanil Botrytis 30-Jun-14

PER14505 Pyrimethanil Grey mould (botrytis) 30-Jun-19

SorghumPER13403 Movento 240 SC Insecticide Green peach aphid & maize thrip 30-Jun-15

Permits (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION


PER14279 Actara Insecticide Syngenta Cotton aphid 30-Sep-15

Sorghum (export only)PER13777 Vitavax 200FF Quarantine treatment 30-Sep-15

SoursopPER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15

Southern pinesPER13547 Haloxyfop Grass weeds 30-Sep-15

Soy beansPER13849 Petroleum oil Silverleaf whitefly 30-Jun-15

PER13850 Spirotetramat Silverleaf whitefly 30-Jun-15

PER14592 Chlorantraniliprole (Altacor) Lucerne seed web moth and bean pod borer 31-May-14


PER14413 Tebuconazole Soybean rust 30-Jun-16

PER14288 Abamectin Soybean moth 30-Jun-17

PER14288 Abamectin Soybean moth 30-Jun-17

SpinachPER12862 Zineb Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) 31-Jul-14




PER13673 Ridomil Gold MZ WG Late Blight, septoria leaf blight & downy mildew 30-Sep-16



PER13068 Fosetyl-Al (Aliette WG) Downy mildew 30-Jun-16



PER14081 Tramat 500 SC Selective Herbicide (ethofumesate) Various weeds 31-Jul-14

Spring onionsPER13626 Metolachlor Various broadleaf and grass weeds. 30-Jun-17

PER14073 Diazinon Thrips (excluding WFT) and onion seedling maggot 30-Jun-18

PER14080 Lannate L (methomyl) Western flower thrips 30-Sep-14

PER13205 Secure 360 SC (chlorfenapyr) Western flower thrips 30-Jun-17


PER14142 Ioxynil Broad leaf and grass weeds 31-Mar-16


PER14457 Alpha-cypermethrin Redlegged earth mite, onion thrips 30-Jun-19


PER14473 Dimethomorph & Mancozeb Downy mildew, purple blotch & botrytis rots 30-Jun-18




Stone fruitPER14252 Samurai Systemic Insecticide (clothianidin) Fruit flies 30-Jun-15

PER14124 Aliette WG Phytophthora 31-Dec-16


PER14562 Calypso Insecticide Mediterranean fruit fly 30-Nov-18

StrawberriesPER13038 Phosphorous acid Phytophthora 31-Oct-14


PER13331 Admiral Insect Growth Regulator (pyriproxyfen) Greenhouse & silverleaf whitefly 31-Oct-15

PER14192 Avatar Insecticide White fringed weevil and garden weevil 30-Sep-18

PER14724 Bifenazate Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-17

PER13941 Bifenazate Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-14

PER14453 Coragen Insecticide Heliothis 31-May-17

PER13542 Maldison Rutherglen bug 30-Jun-17


PER13377 Proclaim Insecticide (emamectin) Cluster caterpillar, heliothis, lightbrown apple moth & looper 30-Sep-15


YOUR PRODUCTION



Strawberry runnersPER13120 Bitertanol (Baycor) Powdery mildew, blight, scorch 30-Nov-16


PER14307 Zinc phosphide Mice 31-Jan-17

PER14577 Legend Powdery mildew 30-Sep-19

PER14598 Fenamiphos (Nemacur) Leaf and bud nematode 31-Mar-19

PER13697 Ridomil Gold 480EC and Phos acid Root & crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum) 30-Sep-17

PER14483 Cabrio Fungicide Colletotrichum gloeosporioides 30-Sep-18

Sugar canePER14648 Glyphosate Various weeds 30-Jun-24

PER14445 Presto 001 Granular Ant Bait Electric ant 30-Sep-14

Sugar snap peasPER13901 Glyphosate (shielded sprayer) Annual and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds 30-Jun-19


PER13899 Etoxazole Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-15

PER14211 Fenhexamid Grey mould and chocolate spot 30-Sep-16

PER14044 Acramite Miticide Mites 30-Nov-15

PER14185 Chess Insecticide Aphids 30-Jun-15

PER14033 Lambda-cyhalothrin Pasture webworm, cutworm, Rutherglen bug and thrips 31-May-18

PER13633 Pyrimethanil Botrytis 30-Jun-14

PER14505 Pyrimethanil Grey mould (botrytis) 30-Jun-19

Summer fallowPER13460 Quizalofop-ethyl Windmill grass 31-Mar-17

PER12941 Verdict 520 (haloxyfop) Feathertop Rhodes grass 31-Aug-16

SwedePER13303 Coragen Insecticide Heliothis, cluster caterpillar 31-Mar-15

PER14337 Trifluralin Weeds 30-Jun-20

Sweet cornPER13116 Propiconazole Northern corn leaf blight 31-Mar-16

Sweet potatoPER13151 Mouseoff and Rattoff Zinc Phosphide Baits House mouse and introduced rats 31-Dec-16

PER14582 Oxamyl (Dupont Vydate L) Nematodes 30-Sep-15

PER13153 Regent 200 SC White fringed weevil & wireworm 31-Dec-16

PER13902 Phorate Aphids, thrips, jassids and organophosphate susceptible two-spotted mite and wireworm

31-Mar-18


Table grapesPER14492 Acramite Miticide Two-spotted mites 31-Oct-15

PER13253 Maldison Queensland and Mediterranean fruit fly 31-May-16

PER13424 Sulphur Dioxide & Carbon Dioxide Redback spiders 31-Mar-17

PER13378 Torque Miticide (fenbutatin-oxide) Rust mite & two-spotted mite 30-Sep-17

TamarilloPER13968 Buprofezin Greenhouse whitefly 30-Jun-16

PER13967 Imidacloprid Greenhouse whitefly 30-Jun-16

PER13348 Methomyl Green peach aphid 30-Jun-15

PER13969 Paraffinic oil Greenhouse whitefly 30-Jun-16

PER13765 Fenthion Mediterranean fruit fly (post harvest) 1-Nov-14

TangelosPER14444 Rovral Aquaflo (iprodione) Emperor brown spot 30-Sep-15

TaroPER13446 Lorsban African black beetle 31-Mar-22

TeaPER13794 Imidacloprid Various insect pests 31-Mar-17


PER13702 Copper Specified fungal diseases 30-Jun-15


Permits (cont.)


YOUR PRODUCTION


Tea treePER13792 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) kurstaki Various insect pests 31-Mar-18

PER13613 Gesaprim (atrazine) Purple top verbena 31-Mar-16

PER14114 Various actives Various pests and diseases 31-Mar-16

PER13554 Linuron Colombian waxweed 31-Mar-16

PER14031 Methomyl Pyrgo beetle 30-Mar-16

PER13555 Simazine and Metolachlor Annual weeds 31-Mar-16

PER13831 Acetamiprid Mealy bug, fungus gnat larvae and tea tree psyllid 30-Jun-17

PER13790 Mancozeb Specific fungal diseases 30-Jun-18





TomatoesPER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18

PER13675 Maldison Queensland, Mediterranean and lesser Queensland fruit fly and cucumber fly

31-May-18

PER13567 Bifenthrin Fruit fly 31-May-16

PER13566 Methomyl Fruit fly 31-May-16

PER13721 Switch Grey mould (botrytis) 31-May-16

PER13716 Abrade Abrasive Barrier Insecticide Various insect pests 31-Jan-16

PER13717 Amistar Top (azoxystrobin + difenoconazole) Powdery mildew 31-May-16

PER13530 Apollo Miticide (clofentezine) Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-14

PER13723 Avatar Heliothis (corn earworm), looper, cluster caterpillar, leafhoppers, green mirid

31-May-16

PER14100 Buprofezin Greenhouse whitefly 31-Mar-16

PER13725 Chess Greenhouse whitefly, silverleaf whitefly, green peach aphid 31-May-16

PER13724 Previcur Root rot 31-May-16

PER13720 Pristine Powdery mildew 31-May-16

PER13722 Teldor 500SC Fungicide Grey mould (botrytis) 31-May-16

PER13529 Torque Insecticide (fenbutatin oxide) Two-spotted mite 30-Jun-14

PER13726 Trifloxystrobin Powdery mildew 31-May-16

Tree nutsPER13642 Chlorpyrifos & Maldison Australian plague locust 31-Aug-17

Tree seedPER13861 Raxil T Dry Seed Dressing Smut, weevils, borers and beetles 31-Mar-18

TurnipPER13303 Coragen Insecticide Heliothis, cluster caterpillar 31-Mar-15

PER14337 Trifluralin Weeds 30-Jun-20

WalnutPER14383 Retain Plant Growth Regulator Pistillate flower abortion 31-Oct-14

PER14455 Botanical & Petroleum Oils Frosted scale 31-Mar-19

PER13939 Diquat, Paraquat & Simazine Weed control 31-Mar-22

PER14390 Ethephon Aid harvesting 30-Jun-19

PER13214 Mancozeb & Copper Bacterial blight 31-Mar-22

PER13937 Phosphonic acid Phytopthora root rot 30-Sep-17

Welsh onionsPER14142 Loxynil Broad leaf and grass weeds 31-Mar-16

ZucchiniPER12906 Acramite Miticide (bifenazate) Two-spotted mite 31-Mar-18


WA GrowerADVERTISING SPECIFICATIONS

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vegetablesWAHorticultural House 103 Outram Street, West Perth 6005

t: (08) 9481 0834 f: (08) 9481 0024 e: [email protected]

WA Grower advertiser contactsName Website/Email Address Contact name Contact number

A&R Engineering (p49) www.areng.com.au 19 Ramsey Tce, Donnybrook, WA 6239 Albert Vinci (08) 9731 1400

Commonwealth Bank (p53) [email protected] Level 1, 150 St Georges Tce, Perth, WA 6000 Tim Svehlak 0477 724 462

Crop Care (p41) www.cropcare.com.au Unit 15, 16 Metroplex Ave, Murarrie, QLD 4172 Customer Care 1800 111 454

C-Wise (p21) www.cwise.com.au Nambeelup Rd, Nambeelup, WA 6207 David Howey (08) 9581 9582

Delta Water Solution (p51) wwwdeltawater.com.au PO Box 507, HRMC, NSW 2310 Dianne Panov 1800 283 600

Dobmac Ag Machinery (pOBC) www.dobmac.com.au 36-38 Industrial Dve, Ulverstone, TAS 7315 Mark Dobson (03) 6425 5533

G & S Seedling Nursery (p46) www.gsseedlings.com.au 1 Dunstan Rd, Nowergup, WA 6032 Glenn McKay (08) 9407 5400

Peacock Bros Pty Ltd (p73) www.peacocks.com.au Unit 8, 28 Belmont Ave, Rivervale, WA 6103 Daryl Collins (08) 9475 3700

Perth Energy (p9) www.perthenergy.com.au Level 4, 165 Adelaide Tce, East Perth, WA 6004 (08) 9420 0300

Regional Labour Hire (p55) www.rlh.com.au 3550 Brand Hwy, Gingin, WA 6503 David Moffat 0427 575 221

Rijk Zwaan Australia Pty. Ltd (p66) www.rijkzwaan.com.au PO Box 3, Toronto, NSW 2283 Kylee Mayfield (02) 4959 4855

Solar Gain (p7) www.solargain.com.au 10 Milly Ct, Malaga, WA 6090 Keith Lynch 0458 600 566

United Crate (p2) www.unicrate.com.au 1 Zanni St, Canning Vale, WA 6155 (08) 9455 1540

WA Crates (pIBC) [email protected] Crate Yard, Market City, 280 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale, WA 6155

(08) 9456 4092

http://www.areng.com.au

mailto:tim.svehlak%40cba.com.au?subject=

http://www.cropcare.com.au

http://www.cwise.com.au

http://wwwdeltawater.com.au

http://www.dobmac.com.au

http://www.gsseedlings.com.au

http://www.peacocks.com.au

http://www.perthenergy.com.au

http://www.rlh.com.au

http://www.rijkzwaan.com.au

http://www.solargain.com.au

http://www.unicrate.com.au

mailto:service%40wacrates.com.au?subject=

WA cratesThe professional packaging service

for WA’s finest fresh fruit and vegetables

0 email: [email protected]

WAGROWER_0909.indd 18 15/9/09 3:52:00 PM

Dobmac Potato PlanterFEATURES:• Heavy duty construction• Unique adjustable clamp mechanism• Hydraulic drive control system• In cab control of seed and fertilizer• Positive seed placement in all soil types• Direct drop planter mechanism• Industry leading seed and fertilizer placement• Stainless steel high capacity seed and fertilizer hoppers• Large wheels for ease of pulling and added stability• Modular design for ease of maintenance• Spring release ridger bodies• On planter wheel track removal• Streamlined design keeps planter close to tractor• Large range of ground tools available

SPECIFICATIONS:• Heavy 3 point linkage hitch (Cat 2 or 3)• 900kg fertilizer hopper complete with sieve (s/steel)• Twin band fertilizer placement• 1250kg potato seed hopper (s/steel)• Row spacings between 28” – 40”• 9.5 x 24” Wheels & Tires

Precision Planting Mechanism

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:• Disc openers• Disc coverers• Box moulder• Coil tine track eradicators• Ripper style track eradicators• Camera Systems• Amistar applicator jets & complete applicators• Seed box extensions• Ridomill granular applicators• Automatic greasing systems

TONG PEAL - For all your filling needsSave time and $$$ now with the UK’s no.1 filling solutions

DUAL BIN FILLERS‘Easy- Fill’ twin box fillers have made Tong Peal the number one in box handling machinery. Our unique Doorstop belt offers the gentlest handling of crop, with rubber fingers that gently hold crop without the need for conventional curtain hoods. One reversible crop conveyor with lowering ends makes box filling ‘easy’, fast and gentle, with minimum drop. All Tong Peal box fillers are now manufactured with linear actuators controlling lowerators to reduce maintenance & improve efficiency, as well as new easy-to-use pictorial controls. Options: Frequency drive, feed elevators, integrated scales.

BIG BAG FILLERSThe Tong Peal Uni-Fill offers conveniently universal filling of boxes and big bags for those who require the facility to do both on a regular basis. The filler operates with one reversible conveyor, which feeds the crop to vertical elevators that are lowered into the box or bag. Once one elevator has filled the box or bag the crop conveyor is automatically reversed and the elevator on the other side begins.

Options: Feed elevator, weigh platforms, fixed top model (Big bags only)

Contact us for an extensive catalogue of handling and packing equipment

Good potato yields start at planting, choose a planter you can count on for accuracy!

Gentlerobust

efficeient

reliable

NewFull in-cab

controls

36-38 Industrial Drive (PO Box 93) Ulverstone TASMANIA. 7315 AUSTRALIAPhone: (03) 6425 5533 Fax: (03) 6425 5847

A leader in the design, manufacture & supply of specialised agricultural machinery

Email: [email protected] Website: www.dobmac.com.au

wa grower winter 14

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