Tree Crop News

Flowering, thinning & PGRs - Insect & mite control

Varroa mites detected again at Townsville Port

Varroa mites have been detected on an Asian honey bee nest that was recently found and destroyed at the Port of Townsville.

Macadamias - Disease & weed control - Insect & mite control

New guide to protect macadamia production

The latest edition of the ‘Macadamia Plant Protection Guide’ has been released.

Mangoes

Strong demand for early season Northern Territory green mangoes

While there is still a few months to wait before juicy Kensington Pride mangoes start hitting supermarket shelves again — markets and restaurants are already being supplied with green mangoes from the Northern Territory.

Packaging & labelling

Compostable branding for fresh produce

High-speed, automated fresh produce labelling has taken a significant step forward.

Almonds

Corporate: Almonds have made Select Harvests a $20 million HY profit

Select Harvests (ASX: SHV) announced its six-month results (for 1 October to 31 March) this morning and it seems almonds are money-makers. The company announced earnings pre-tax of $38.5 million and a net profit after tax of $20.0 million.

Mangoes

Central Queensland producer wins Honey Gold Grower of the Year

Groves Grown Tropical Fruit has been named Piñata Farms' Honey Gold Grower of the Year.

Macadamias

World's largest macadamia processor switches to solar power, boosting return for growers

The world's largest macadamia processor has turned to solar power in a bid to lower energy costs, lift profitability, and reduce its environmental footprint.

Citrus

Costa Group share price on watch after downgrading its profit guidance

The Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC) share price could come under pressure on Thursday following the release of its annual general meeting presentation which included updated guidance for calendar year 2019.

Pome fruit - Technology in agriculture

Robot apple pickers getting closer

Labor shortages in agriculture could eventually be overcome by robots.

Fruit Fly

Funding for development of new fruit fly control technology

Macquarie University has recently been awarded $4.7 million funding from Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd to identify the genetic code that enables elimination of females in overseas fruit flies so that these characteristics can be reproduced in Australia’s Queensland fruit fly.

Citrus

Citrus Australia does not agree with calls for moratorium on new water-use licences

Citrus Australia does not agree with calls for a moratorium on issuing new water-use licences.

Fruit Fly

Fruit fly outbreak declared at Lindsay Point, Victoria

An outbreak of Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) was declared on Tuesday 21 May at Lindsay Point in Victoria, after a detection of a gravid female.

Citrus

First time for Tango mandarin

Yambellup Estate citrus producer Richard Eckersley will pluck this season’s latest seedless mandarin, the Tango, for the first time this harvest.

Packaging & labelling

New robot set to reduce the potential for workplace injuries

A new collaborative robot system that can operate 24 hours a day and reduce workplace injuries, is being showcased at the Australian Banana Industry Congress on the Gold Coast.

Almonds - Water supply & irrigation

No more water licences: Almond Board calls for moratorium

A moratorium should prevent the issue of any new water licences for new developments in the southern Murray Darling Basin states until a review has been completed into the river system's ability to meet current demands, the peak body for Australia's fast-growing almond industry says.