Autumn fruit flies and warm spring: high risk

Bronwyn Koll expects another high-pressure fruit fly season (2022–2023) given several factors.

Fruit fly control major focus in recent years

Controlling fruit fly has become a major focus on the 500 hectares of citrus orchards of the Nutrano Produce Group in the Sunraysia region at Mildura.

CGA ‘AusCherrySure’ MRL app released

Cherry growers who export, must comply with a different set of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for each country.

New sensor for storage disorders in stone fruit

Agriculture Victoria is collaborating with a Melbourne-based agtech company to assess the accuracy and utility of a prototype fluorescence sensor to detect and predict storage disorders in stone fruit.

Stroby WG fungicide now available from AgNova

AgNova has announced a new distribution agreement with BASF Australia for the popular strobilurin fungicide Stroby WG.

Apple thinning: a returning challenge!

Many of today’s most grown apple varieties need fruit thinning to obtain the right fruit bearing, desired fruit size, and to avoid biennial bearing.

Why peach stones split and what causes gum?

Peaches, like all stone fruit, grow in three stages. Understanding this can help you to understand the factors contributing to stone split and gum to exude from peaches, Bas van den Ende writes.

Highly anticipated NZ apricots set to launch

New Zealand’s summerfruit industry has established NZ Summerfresh Ltd to commercialise the first three new apricot cultivars released by Plant & Food Research after nearly two decades of research and development.

Non-destructive quality measuring in stone fruit

Measuring changes in stone fruit ripeness during fruit growth is an important step to help determine when growers need to harvest and guide them with their postharvest handling and marketing strategy.

New mango comms manager

The Australian Mango Industry Association has welcomed a new communication manager. After the departure of Jessica Mitchell after six years of dedicated work, the AMIA has welcomed Gabby Taylor to take on the comms role.

New owners, same quality

After more than 10 years of ownership, Rural Business and Australian Tree Crop magazines have been sold by the owners of Ag Communication Solutions, John Forrest and Jeff Gilbert. The new owner is McPherson Media Group (MMG), an independent publishing group based in Shepparton, Victoria.

$6.4 million cool-climate hort project

Scientists are giving Aussie horticulture growers in cooler climates the opportunity to participate in a $6.4M research trial program to help industry adapt to climate change.

Haifa’s new SA and NSW agronomist

Haifa Australia has welcomed the appointment of Sheri Robinson to the role of sales agronomist for the South Australia and the Riverina region in New South Wales.

AI trialled for high-risk bug detection

Some of Australia’s brightest minds are collaborating to finalise a portable device that uses artificial intelligence to help biosecurity officers more quickly identify high-risk brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) on the frontline.

Warning over scams aimed at farmers

Farmers and small businesses in rural and regional areas are urged to be cautious, particularly when buying heavy machinery, following a spike in scams targeting the agricultural sector.