News

Seedless mandarins to hit supermarket shelves

Citrus Jan. 10, 2019



SEEDLESS mandarins could hit supermarket shelves in the next two years. One of Australia’s biggest fresh produce companies, Freshmax, has planted 20ha of Tangold Seedless mandarins at its Swan Hill property, with a further 20ha planned in the next 18 months.

Read full story

Fruit fly restrictions lifted in Tasmania but markets yet to recognise status

Stone Fruit Fruit Fly Jan. 9, 2019



Tasmania has officially clocked over into fruit fly-free status but Australia's trading partners will not automatically recognise the change.

Read full story

New fruit fly crackdown means a $375 fine for anyone bringing fruit into South Australia

Fruit Fly Jan. 5, 2019



Motorists caught bringing fruit into SA will no longer receive a caution, but will instead be slapped with a $375 fine. It’s part of a zero tolerance approach by the State Government to keep the state fruit-fly free.

Read full story

Smashing success for avocados

Avocado Insect & mite control Jan. 3, 2019



The WA avocado season ends in February and the region’s growers have indicated this season fared well compared to previous years. Growers put the success down to the mild weather conditions which allowed a higher volume of produce to grow.

Read full story

Summer management for quality

Pome fruit Jan. 2, 2019



As the temperatures in the orchard start to rise, AgFirst’s John Wilton looks at how to minimise sunburn, avoid nutrition-related problems and improve colour towards lifting quality and packouts at harvest.

Read full story


Tariff cuts and better access for Aussie farmers on Jan 1

Marketing & export Jan. 2, 2019



Tariff cuts and better overseas access for Australian farmers from Jan 1, giving farmers choice when they want to sell their produce.

Read full story

Biobest and Australian company Bugs for Bugs team up through equity deal

Insect & mite control Dec. 29, 2018



Biobest Group NV and Bugs for Bugs Pty Ltd have announced on 20 Dec 2018 the finalisation of an equity transaction whereby Biobest Group NV acquires a stake in Bugs For Bugs Pty Ltd. Bugs for Bugs is a leading player in the Australian market for beneficial insects and other biocontrol products.

Read full story

Aussie avocados now exported to Japan

Avocado Marketing & export Dec. 29, 2018



AUSTRALIAN avocados are to be exported to Japan, cementing new trade relations and market opportunities for horticultural products. The “Aussie Avo” was ceremoniously launched at a high-profile event at the Australian embassy in Tokyo recently.

Read full story

Pecan nut industry expects phenomenal growth in years ahead

Nuts Dec. 28, 2018



Consumer demand for all nuts continues to grow, in part due to Asia's appetite for them, but the pecan variety in particular is set to experience strong growth in coming years. The pecan industry's peak body, the Australian Pecan Growers' Association (APGA), estimates the number of trees in the ground to increase by 500 per cent over the next five years.

Read full story

Why is Mistletoe killing our Macadamia trees?

Macadamias Dec. 26, 2018



Mistletoe, has become famous in the Australian macadamia industry but for all the wrong reasons.

Read full story


Fees to be waived for citrus fruit inspections

Citrus Dec. 24, 2018



Quarantine inspection fees will be waived for the Northern Territory’s commercial citrus fruit growers sending their fruit to interstate markets, ensuring their fruit remains competitively-priced and available interstate.

Read full story

High density – lower costs

Olives Dec. 22, 2018



Super high-density orchards could be the solution to rising labour and water costs making life tough for Australian growers working the land. Difficulties in finding suitable labour and budgeting for those labour costs are major problems in all rural areas.

Read full story

States and territories in deadlock over fruit fly management agreement

Fruit Fly Dec. 21, 2018



Despite several states experiencing millions of dollars in expenses as a result of fruit fly this year, state and territory governments are yet commit to a federal management strategy for the pest.

Read full story

Fruit fly detected on Flinders Island off north-east Tasmanian coast

Fruit Fly Dec. 18, 2018



Biosecurity authorities in Tasmania are ramping up fruit fly control measures after the discovery of another adult fly on Flinders Island.

Read full story

Almond yields hitting new highs with careful disease management

Almonds Disease & weed control Dec. 17, 2018



Careful management of its biggest cropping issues is helping Century Orchards achieve some of the highest yields in the industry at its high input almond enterprise near Loxton in South Australia.

Read full story