News

Put the Spotlight on suckers

Citrus Olives Jan. 16, 2019



Orchardists looking for an efficient means of sucker control in tree crops can look to Spotlight Plus for a faster and significantly less expensive alternative than manual desuckering.

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Going nuts: Plans for $14 million almond processing plant

Almonds Jan. 15, 2019



PLANS for a $14 million almond processing plant near Hattah have been lodged with Mildura Rural City Council.

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Growing juice company squeezes more from premium market

Pome fruit Jan. 14, 2019



A juice company that began a decade ago with fruit, dreams and no customers has become a national premium beverage brand and is eyeing export markets. The recent success at Ashton Valley Fresh is being driven by siblings Joyce and Joseph Ceravolo, the fourth generation of Ceravolos to be involved in the fresh fruit industry in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills.

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Lemon shortage and high demand for fresh fruit sends prices skyrocketing

Citrus Jan. 11, 2019



Summertime means seafood and cocktails with fresh lemon for many across Australia, but prices for the fruit have skyrocketed. A shortage of Australian-grown lemons has caused supplies to fall and prices to spike.

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Report reveals fruit and nuts as star performers of Queensland’s agriculture industry

General Jan. 11, 2019



New report reveals that the fruit and nuts sector in Queensland was a star performer during 2017-18.

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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.

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Orange Juice Vending Machines Have Landed in Sydney

Citrus Jan. 10, 2019



Did you know that almost half of all fruits and vegetables grown in Australia don’t make it off the farm because their skin is blemished or they’re of “imperfect” size? That’s a lot of produce going to waste – produce that could be turned into, say, fresh juice.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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