News

Blue Light From LEDs Can Rot The Brains Of Fruit Flies, Study Finds

Fruit Fly General Oct. 21, 2019



The blue light that emanates from every smartphone and fluorescent bulb isn’t thought to be great for our health, particularly the health of our eyes. But a new study in fruit flies suggests that blue light can even be harmful to brains and speed up ageing — again, in fruit flies. There’s a very long way to go before we could assume the same is true for people.

Read full story

Water Infrastructure Rebate extended

General Water supply & irrigation Oct. 19, 2019



Permanent plantings will be included in the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate in Qld, NSW, SA, Tasmania, and the ACT, and can be retroactively applied to new bores and dam de-silting installations from 30 June 2019. Eligible farmers can claim 25 per cent of expenses up to $25,000 as part of a $13.2 million injection from the federal government.

Read full story

Customer-centric approach proving successful for growing fresh produce retailer

Mangoes Oct. 18, 2019



As the peak Australian mango season gets closer, a leading produce retailer is looking to build on its growing popularity with consumers. Earlier this year, Harris Farm Markets finished well ahead of the major chains in a supermarket satisfaction survey conducted by CHOICE, finishing only marginally behind South Australian-based Foodland in second place. Harris Farm Markets, produce buyer Carlo Ceravolo told mango industry members that competitiveness between the retailers benefits the whole fresh produce sector.

Read full story

Australian horticulture exports perform strongly

General Oct. 17, 2019



A prosperous 2018/19 season for Australia’s horticulture industry sees an increase in nut, fruit and vegetable exports.

Read full story

Mango industry in race to adapt to climate change

Mangoes General Oct. 16, 2019



The Top End's mango industry is worth $122 million a year but the sector is under threat from climate change, industry figures have warned.

Read full story


Freshcare appoints new CEO

General Oct. 15, 2019



Australia’s industry-owned assurance standard for horticulture, Freshcare, has appointed Benjamin Wash as its new chief executive.

Read full story

Researchers making fruit flies twice as 'sexy'

Disease & weed control Fruit Fly Oct. 14, 2019



Australian researchers have developed a new type of fly food that can help double the number of "sexy" sterile Queensland fruit flies being reared in laboratories.

Read full story

Sting in the tale of bees in ‘crisis’

General Oct. 12, 2019



For the urban hipsters who dressed up as bees in this week’s Extinction Rebellion rallies, it is indeed serious: environmental challenges to honey bees might mean a future shortage of almond milk lattes.

Read full story

Mango season in full swing

General Oct. 11, 2019



The 2019 Australian mango season is well and truly underway. A total 406,000 trays, each with seven kilograms of fruit, were dispatched to market last week.

Read full story

Citrus Australia launches protective screenhouse to prevent HLB

Citrus Disease & weed control Oct. 10, 2019



Auscitrus has strengthened its capacity to protect the nation’s budwood supplies from disease, focusing specifically on any future incursion of HLB, with the completion of its new protective screenhouse.

Read full story


Strong crop size to boost volumes for Australian stone fruit exporter

Stone Fruit Marketing & export Oct. 10, 2019



The introduction of new varieties into production is expected to increase crop size and lead to bigger export volumes in the 2019-20 season for a leading Australian stone fruit exporter.

Read full story

Trellising in avocado orchards is “pushing the boundaries of production"

Avocado Oct. 9, 2019



A major South African avocado producer believes that trellising is the way of the future, especially as new generation cultivars become available for growers.

Read full story

Seven things you should know when exporting to China

Marketing & export Oct. 7, 2019



Export to China of fresh fruit and nuts is a key export opportunity for Australian producers.

Read full story

Wanted: Hairy, motivated flies to pollinate crops

Flowering, thinning & PGRs Oct. 6, 2019



Scientists are on the lookout for energetic flies with plenty of body hair to pollinate crops and help expand Australia’s fruit and nut production.

Read full story

Canadian firm lobs $854m takeover offer for agri group Webster

Almonds Nuts Oct. 5, 2019



Webster Limited is set to be purchased by Canadian interests, with a proposed $854 million takeover by PSP Investments.

Read full story