Australian Berry Journal - AUTUMN 2020 - Edition 2

AUSTRALIAN

AUTUMN 2020

B E RRY

EDITION 2

JOURNAL

C L I M AT E E X T R E M E S

TAC K L I N G WAST E

R AS P B E R RY C R U M B L E

THE NEW NORMAL

Drought, fire & floods

Fruit to energy

No custard here

Quality is King

13

22

49

72

AUSTRALIAN

AUTUMN 2020

B E RRY

EDITION 2

JOURNAL

PACKAGING INNOVATION HITS THE SHELVES

THINK YOU KNOW THE DAM RULES?

30

83

I N D U S T R Y

R U B U S

S T R A W B E R R I E S

B L U E B E R R I E S

What’s happening in your Industry

New project supercharging plant diagnostics

Trade update: Strawberries from Japan

Getting to know Botryosphaeria stem

02 – 07

44

55

70

A round up from the IDO Team

Boosting berry shelf life

Understanding VSICA

Is 2020 the ‘new’ normal?

45

57

72

Growing Leaders

Seasonal propagator outlook

Managing water in drought

06 – 15 Laughter makes great medicine

19 Waste not, want not

22 Biosecurity – Top 5 tips

32

47 What makes a raspberry crumble?

52

Causes of blueberry rejections

A perennial problem: powdery mildew

49 Raspberry rescue

76

61

80

65 Climate impact on yield

66

Spotted Wing Drosophila: Australia gets ready

What to do in a crisis

Outside Back Cover

36 E D I TO R Jane Richter C O N T R I B U TO R S Rachel Mackenzie Peter McPherson Simon Dornauf

Jonathan Shaw Richard McGruddy Melinda Simpson Angela Atkinson Bron Ford Claire McCrory Katie Dunne

Michele Buntain Christopher Menzel Ebony Faichney Cort Brazelton Thomas Hertel Jenny Whip Jessica Lye

Doris Blaesing Dr. Roberto Barrero David Hanlon Dr Jenny Ekman Anna MacKintosh

DESIGN Kern & Kraft Design | www.kernandkraftdesign.com.au A DV E R T I S I N G For all Advertising & Partnership Enquiries Jen Rowling | 0448 322 389 | jenrowling@berries.net.au All advertising and advertorial material is subject to review and approval prior to publication.

DISCLAIMER: Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this journal, the information contained is necessarily of a general nature and should not be relied upon as a substitute for specific advice. The advice and opinions in the articles published in Australian Berry Journal are essentially those of contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Berries Australia or the Editor. The advice is at the reader’s own risk, and no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of the material presented. Inclusion of an advertisement in this publication does not necessarily imply endorsement of the product, company or service by Berries Australia or the Editor. Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (Hort Innovation) makes no representations and expressly disclaims all warranties (to the extent permitted by law) about the accuracy, completeness, or currency of information in Australian Berry Journal. Reliance on any information provided by Hort Innovation is entirely at your own risk. Hort Innovation is not responsible for, and will not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim, expense, cost (including legal costs) or other liability arising in any way, including from any Hort Innovation or other person’s negligence or otherwise from your use or non-use of Australian Berry Journal or from reliance on information contained in the material or that Hort Innovation provides to you by any other means. Copyright © Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited 2019 Copyright subsists in Australian Berry Journal. Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (Hort Innovation) owns the copyright, other than as permitted under the Copyright ACT 1968 (Cth). Australian Berry Journal (in part or as a whole) cannot be reproduced, published, communicated or adapted without the prior written consent of Hort Innovation. Any request or enquiry to use the Australian Berry Journal should be addressed to: Communications Manager, Hort Innovation, Level 7 | 141 Walker Street, North Sydney 2060, Australia | E: communications@horticulture.com.au | P: 02 8295 2300

Wherever you see this logo, the initiative is part of the Hort Innovation Blueberry, Strawberry and Raspberry and Blackberry Fund. Like this publication itself, it has been funded by Hort Innovation using the Blueberry, Strawberry and Raspberry and Blackberry R&D levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Some projects also involve funding from additional sources.

I N D U S T R Y

Executive Director's Report Rachel Mackenzie | 0408 796 199 | rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au

Welcome to our first edition of the Australian Berry Journal for 2020.

Berries Australia has successfully navigated its first year of operations and in another milestone, I have now been in the role for 12 months.

Labour cost and the complexity of administering the new Award came up as the number one issue for all growers. The new award has (as predicted) resulted in increased costs for growers and few benefits for workers, particularly those who want to work more hours. The complexity and cost of administering the overtime requirements has resulted in many workers being moved onto piece rates and growers choosing to use labour hire companies instead of employing directly.

While I came into the position with a strong understanding of horticulture in general it has been fantastic to learn more about the specific issues facing the berry industry. Amongst other things I now know my rabbit-eye from my Eureka, the history of the Victorian strawberry runner industry and that raspberry crumble is not just a delicious dessert.

Over the last 12 months I have been trying to engage with a range of berry growers across the country.

I have visited growers and attended meetings in the Yarra Valley, Launceston region, Coffs Coast, NSW Northern Rivers and the Sunshine Coast and hope to head to the west coast in the next few months.

On top of the award issues, we have issues around access to good workers at the right time of year.

My clear message to government is that we need to create a system whereby good growers can access good workers, and everyone is paid fairly, including the grower.

Interestingly, there have been some consistent themes across all berry categories and across all regions and this will guide the team’s efforts over the next year.

Obviously, profitability is a key concern but what does that actually mean? For most growers it means that the margin between the cost of production and what they get paid is shrinking. It is almost impossible as an industry association for us to influence price in a pricetaking market, but what we can do is look at input costs or alternative markets.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

To assist in achieving these objectives, Berries Australia made the recent decision to continue their membership of the NFF Horticulture Council which enables us to add our voice to the rest of the horticulture industry facing the same problems. I won’t lie and say the solution is easy or just around the corner, but rest assured we are doing our best to push this at the highest levels of government.

B E RRY 2

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

The other stand-out issue relates to the increasing cost and time associated with complying with retailer requirements such as HARPS and SEDEX. As an industry we must be able to demonstrate that we provide safe food and that we treat our workers fairly, but at the same time the compliance process should be risk-based and not overly onerous.

At Berries Australia we are doing everything we can to progress with export access across the board and while it is a long slow road, the rewards are great. It also must be noted that market access is an area that has to be done through the peak industry body working with government and cannot be formally progressed by individual companies.

Growers across Australia have told me that their biggest frustration is that the bar for them gets lifted ever higher, but if supply is short, then all these requirements go out the window and product is purchased from the wholesale market floor. I will continue to raise this issue with retailers. In the meantime, I encourage you to have a look at the Fair Farms Initiative which is an Australian industry-based standard that is a practical alternative to SEDEX and designed for smaller growers. SEE PAGE 16.

Other issues that are consistently raised with me include access to new agricultural chemicals, biosecurity and getting value for the levy through Hort Innovation.

Interestingly, these issues are closely aligned as the levy spend does cover access to new chemistry and projects relating to pest and disease management.

Obviously, research and development investment has no real value if growers don’t know about it which is why we have been so keen to establish the Industry Development and Communications project, of which this journal is a part. The other major area of levy spend relates to export market access, but we are always keen to hear how you would like to see your levies spent.

Gaining access to export markets is the other key area of interest. This has a direct relationship to profitability as if we can develop viable export markets then growers are not so dependent on the domestic market and have more bargaining power.

Fundamentally at Berries Australia we work for you, the berry growers of Australia. The best way to influence our priorities is to ensure your membership is up-to-date with your PIB and participate in the events we hold around the country through the IDO project.

For those of you who attended the dinner at the AGMs, Jeff Scott CEO of the Australian Table Grapes Association told a powerful story of how the grape industry improved its profitability as a result of gaining market access to China. He also said that it took them 11 years of intensive effort and more than $5 million in research and development to achieve that outcome.

You are also always welcome to email me at rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au if you have a specific question or issue.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW WEBSITE

All the berry industries in one single place.

www.berries.net.au 3

I N D U S T R Y

Chairman’s Report Peter McPherson | 0418 666 651 | peter.mcpherson@costagroup.com.au conference registration and there will be some field visits that encompass berry producers.

Berries Australia has successfully been in operation for more than a year and our Executive Director Rachel Mackenzie has also been with us for most of that time. As such, I think it is important that we reflect on the key achievements, the ongoing challenges and the opportunities we have as a united berry industry.

It is a massive conference and I urge anyone who has not previously attended to give it some consideration as the trade show alone provides many learning and networking opportunities.

I am pleased to say that Berries Australia enjoys high recognition in government circles and our Executive Director represents the industry in a number of important forums including Fair Work, Biosecurity, Export and Food Safety.

Our biggest achievement in 2019 was to successfully bid for the berry industry development project and start rolling it out to really increase growers’ value from their levy investment. We now have an IDO servicing all berry growing states including a new IDO in Western Australia. This journal and the monthly e-newsletter are key outputs of the project and whilst we have received a lot of positive feedback, we are always open to ideas to continually improve.

The big challenge facing Berries Australia is long term financial viability as we do not want to have to tap into PIB funds to prop it up. To achieve this viability, we must be able to bid successfully for more projects to effectively utilise your levy funds for the betterment of industry. We are also aware that we need to make sure we communicate the value of Berries Australia effectively to you - the grower member of the PIBs.

We have recently launched our new Berries Australia Facebook page where we will be putting up articles of interest as they emerge. If Facebook is your thing like us at https://www.facebook.com/berriesaus. We are also pleased to announce the launch of our new combined Berry industry website www.berries.net.au

We understand that profitability is the main challenge across the sector, but please remember that the best way for us as an industry to increase consumer demand and maintain industry profitability is through our individual actions on each farm. The actions of one grower can have devastating consequences. This year, please continue to maintain our excellent record by continuing to supply only the best quality berries, implement post-harvest best practices and maintain our social licence and good industry reputation by being responsible in your farm work practices, in particular health and safety, fair work (wages) and being environmentally responsible.

As previously mentioned, BerryQuest is scheduled for mid-2021 on the Sunshine Coast and it is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever before. Sponsors are already showing interest so please direct any enquiries to the team at Berries Australia.

Berries Australia has also signed up to be a co-host of Hort Connections to be held in Brisbane in June of this year. This entitles PIB members to discounted

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 4

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

I N D U S T R Y

SAI Chairman's Report Simon Dornauf | 0408 681 206 | simon@hillwoodberries.com.au The Strawberry Recovery and Resilience project has been going well. Jen Rowling has been doing a mountain of work behind the scenes and some of the results of this work to do with export opportunities and industry resilience will be released in the coming months.

In the last three months Australia has seen some of the most dramatic weather events resulting in the worst bushfires ever seen in Australia.

This was then followed by much needed rain to some of our driest regions. It highlights what a tough country we live in and producing food in Australia will always be a challenge.

Some of the workshops initially held at the Gold Coast conference in October 2019 will be run in both Tasmania and Victoria through March, providing opportunities for growers in those regions to develop themselves or people in their businesses who were unable to attend the conference on the Gold Coast.

This is why as an industry it is so important that we continue to innovate and develop our growing systems, as well as our management practices to ensure that our businesses are here to prosper through whatever this great country of ours has to throw at us.

The IDO and communication project is well underway and in the coming months some of the first workshops and field days will be held. I would encourage all Strawberry growers to get behind these events and support the work that their local IDO’s are doing.

We have long wanted to have input into the IDO project so now that we do, through Berries Australia, it is important that we all support the events and attend any that are applicable to your business.

Since my last column there have been a few changes of leadership within the strawberry industries. The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association has a new President - Adrian Schultz - who is also the SAI treasurer. I would like to thank Luigi Coco for all the time he has devoted to the Queensland strawberry industry. He has been a giant of that strawberry region of recent times. Strawberries Australia also welcomes a new member in Nathan Baronio from Queensland who replaces Ray Daniels. I would like to thank the outgoing members for their service to the Australian industry especially in helping to reignite the SAI board and uniting our industry in the wake of the tampering crisis.

I wish them all the best in their own businesses.

Finally, as the southern summer season begins to wind down, I would like to wish the northern region a successful winter season as they begin planting. It is great to be a part of the Australian strawberry industry that is fully supportive of all the growing regions.

We all want the same one thing and that is to produce the best tasting Strawberry possible to be safely enjoyed by all consumers.

5

I N D U S T R Y

ABGA President's Report Jonathan Shaw | 0418 758 268 | president@abga.com.au any haste to negotiate with the Australian government.

We are also progressing our efforts to establish market access to other countries such as Vietnam.

The 2020 season is upon us and despite an increase this year in the number of uncertainties confronting growers, I feel optimistic about the season and our industry for the year ahead.

As I mentioned in my last President’s page, the downturn in profitability in the industry and the need to maximise the number of growers willing to pay the voluntary levy has resulted in the Committee moving to further reduce the levy to 5c/kg, down from the 10c/kg we had proposed for FY20 (which was already a reduction on the 20c/kg which applied in FY19). For growers who have been paying at 10c/kg, we will either refund the overpayment or provide a credit. Please contact Rachel for assistance with this. As a consequence of the reduced levy income, the $500,000 investment in marketing will not occur in FY 21, although we will ensure that we maintain a first-class digital presence.

For some time now, people with a good understanding of the blueberry industry have been saying that a “new normal” has been approaching where blueberry growers would be faced with the same economic factors which affect all horticultural producers rather than occupying a special position. The new normal has arrived. We now have a market where supply will exceed demand for some periods of production and growers will need to work smarter and harder to tailor the timing of their supply to meet market demand, search for new avenues to market or identify a ‘unique selling proposition’ for their berries.

At its last meeting, the Committee resolved to stick with the voluntary levy and maximise the opportunities to undertake projects with Hort Innovation where the Australian Government makes a matching contribution.

This will ensure key activities like market access, communications (including this publication) and R&D continue.

At an industry body level, there are limited levers for us to pull to increase industry profitability, but your committee continues to strive to achieve this goal.

We are doing all we can to develop export markets and the stories from the cherry, grape and citrus industries where overseas markets have become more profitable than the domestic market are well known. Your committee has placed its priority on opening up new markets and I can confidently say, despite no outward signs to members that there has been progress, that the Committee and staff are doing absolutely everything that can be done. Ultimately, opening new markets takes time (in the case of the leading success story for exports, table grapes - 15 years and at least a $5 million investment) and depends on the cooperation of the export country. In the case of Japan, there are some signs that negotiations will occur in the next few months, but unfortunately, China is not moving with

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

On reflection, 5c/kg is a very small component of the overall costs of production. At this low rate, I cannot accept that payment of the levy is a financial burden and an excuse for non-payment. For those not paying, I urge you to consider the fairness of having others pay for you. Greater participation in the voluntary levy will enable us to re-activate the marketing program and increase consumer demand and therefore every grower’s profitability.

I wish you all the best for a successful 2020 season.

B E RRY 6

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

I N D U S T R Y

RABA President's Report Richard McGruddy | 0408 763 804 | richard@redhillberries.com.au travelling through Tasmania with Claire and Rachel in early March and it will be great to meet some of you face-to-face. I would really like all of you to think of how best we can invest your levy to increase profitability and reduce risk over the next few years so please share your ideas with me and the team.

As we head into March, it is good to report that southern growers have been experiencing consistent production whilst northern growers have been setting up strong production for the winter months. It is also pleasing to note that many growing regions have received much needed rainfall.

On the subject of reducing risk, some of you may know that some time ago the RABA committee signed the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) which is a bit like an insurance policy if we are unlucky enough to have a biosecurity incursion. Unfortunately, at the time, the committee did not proceed with setting up the funding mechanism to meet our obligations under the Deed, so we will need to engage with you to divert some of the existing levy funds to Plant Health Australia for this purpose. There will be no additional cost to you, it is more a question of how to divide up the funds and there may be the possibility to fund additional biosecurity activities directly through that mechanism.

Over the next few months we will be engaging with you more on this issue.

In my role as President of RABA, I am acutely aware that one of our key challenges is to work with Hort Innovation to deliver value back to growers for their levy investment. For reference, at the end of the 2019 financial year, more than $2 million (including the matched funding from the Australian Government) was contained in the Rubus fund within Hort Innovation.

If you haven’t before, I urge you to review the raspberry and blackberry fund information page https://www. horticulture.com.au/growers/raspberry-blackberryfund/fund-management to get a real handle on where your levy is being invested and perhaps start thinking about other investment options.

Finally, I just wanted to share my excitement about the next BerryQuest which will be held in mid-2021 on the Sunshine Coast. Again, this is your conference so please share your ideas for what you would like included with me or the Berries Australia team.

I do need to remind you all that the levy money does not come to RABA – it is invested by Hort Innovation on our behalf and can only be used for the delivery of specific R&D projects. Through Berries Australia we have been able to invest some of these funds into the whole of berry industry development project and for the first time in a long time we have our own Rubusfocused IDO – Claire McCrory as well as berry IDOs located in each major growing area.

I wish you all a successful autumn.

Claire, Rachel and the IDO team will endeavour to engage with as many of you as possible over the next few months and I know Rachel had a very successful recent grower visit to the Yarra Valley. I will also be

7

I N D U S T R Y

Tasmania: Weather delays harvests Berry Industry Development Officer, Rubus & Tasmania Claire McCrory | 0434 974 653 | claire@fruitgrowerstas.org.au Complementing these discussions, Michael will share his thoughts and observations on production systems, berry pest and disease trends and how mainland growers are adjusting their businesses to deal with drought and increasingly tough water restrictions.

During the last three months I have found my feet and visited growers in the north-east, midlands and south of the state to develop an understanding of the issues which create challenges for their enterprises.

Immediately following the workshop will be a Berry Discussion forum. Open to berry growers across Tasmania, the forum is an open forum for growers to get together and start an industry-wide conversation around the issues and challenges faced by Tasmanian berry producers. Discussions raised at the forum will help guide the berry industry development priorities and activities moving forward into 2020.

This year’s berry season in Tasmania has been a late starting, yet longer window of production due to the cool dry conditions during spring. These conditions continued throughout the early summer months, interrupted by brief warm days from highs streaming down from mainland Australia. The conditions delayed strawberry harvest dates by up to 3 weeks and slowed the raspberry harvest season by up to 10 days. The blueberry harvest season has also been slowed, extending the season by up to 3 weeks in some regions.

Despite these surprises, growers across the state are reporting a relatively seamless season with good quality and volumes of strawberries, Rubus and blueberries, and local farm gate sales remain strong.

On Thursday 19 March Berries Australia are hosting a Running Brilliant Meetings personal development workshop at the Tramsheds Function Centre in Inveresk.

The all-day workshop is an ideal personal development day for emerging leaders in the berry industry who sit on industry and community boards and committees.

Berries Australia have a limited number of reserved places available; please feel free to contact me for more information or to reserve your place in the workshop. The final event coming up will be Fruit Growers Tasmania’s 2020 annual conference. Held at Launceston’s Tailrace Centre on 28-29 May, the event will bring together leading researchers, and industry experts to update growers on the latest research findings, production trends and consumer information. I hope to see many of our Tasmanian berry growers at these events.

With the harvest season starting to slow down, Tasmania’s berry growers have a number of industry events to look forward to in the next quarter. The first event is a Berry Industry Information Day, which is being held at Launceston’s Tailrace Centre on Tuesday, 10 March.

The event will include leading European agronomist and consultant Klaas Plas (Berry Konsult), as well as EE Muir’s national berry agronomist leader, Michael Gangi (EE Muir & Sons) as guest speakers. Klaas will be discussing the European perspective on IPM, pest management options for producers and organic strawberry production. Klaas will also share European growers’ lessons and stories about the struggles against SWD. AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 8

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

I N D U S T R Y

Victoria & SA: A highly unseasonal season so far Berry Industry Development Officer, Strawberries – Victoria & SA Angela Atkinson | 0408 414 538 | ido@vicstrawberry.com.au program BS1700). Growers had the opportunity to taste fruit and observe the plants in the field to give feedback on promising varieties.

The new berry Industry Development and Communication program officially began in October 2019, with the appointment of industry development officers in each state as outlined in the Summer 2019 edition of this journal.

With the new project my role has changed from supporting strawberry growers in the temperate regions of Australia, to all berry growers in Victoria and South Australia. I also have a focus on biosecurity for the berry industry.

Over the coming months many events are planned for growers in both regions, both berry specific and all of industry. I’m also looking forward to getting out and about and meeting Rubus and blueberry growers in Victoria and South Australia over the coming weeks.

During March I will be in South Australia, and hope to catch up with strawberry growers, and meet other berry growers in that state. If there are any topics you would particularly like to see covered in a workshop or field day, please contact me.

This summer has been challenging for growers all over Australia with drought, flood, fire and unseasonal weather. In South Australia fire impacted two of our strawberry growers, damaging infrastructure such as hail nets, but thankfully sparing their shedding and equipment. The major growing areas of Victoria have not been impacted by fire at the time of writing this, although we still have some weeks of summer to go.

In April (date to be confirmed) a workshop focusing on native bees as pollinators is being organised in the Yarra Valley. There is increasing interest in alternative pollinators in many crops, particularly with the loss of honey bee hives through drought and fire this summer.

This workshop will present work being done specifically in berry pollination.

A Field Day will be held in the Yarra Valley for all berry growers in June, after the season has finished. Details of the event will be advertised in future editions of The Burst e-newsletter.

Events A workshop and farm walk were held for strawberry growers at the Wandin Research Station in December 2019, featuring updates on Charcoal Rot management by Dr Dylan McFarlane from VSICA (Improved management of Charcoal Rot of strawberry BS15005) and the temperate strawberry breeding program by Dr Jodi Neal from QDAF (National strawberry varietal improvement

If you haven’t been receiving the newsletter each month you can subscribe by going to our new website www.berries.net.au and follow the link 'SUBSCRIBE to The Burst' in the top right hand corner of the site.

9

Photo credit: Angela Atkinson

A number of Rubus and strawberry growers in the Yarra Valley have been participating in a trial this season to develop a Systems Approach protocol to demonstrate Queensland fruit fly property freedom, led by Agriculture Victoria and CSIRO. This is part of a larger national project to develop Systems Approach protocols for market access.

Finally, save the date for the Victorian Strawberry Growers’ Association Annual Strawberry Ball & Awards, which will be held on Friday May 29th 2020 at the Vogue Ballroom in Burwood East.

Fruit fly update Hot dry weather in northern Victoria has resulted in reduced numbers of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) this season. A trial release of SIT flies (Sterile Insect Technology) to suppress fruit fly numbers in the Cobram region is showing promising results.

In South Australia, a Mediterranean Fruit Fly outbreak was declared at Blair Athol on the 16th December 2019, with quarantine areas in place until at least 4th May 2020.

The quarantine restrictions for the Queensland Fruit Fly outbreak at Lindsay Point were lifted on 20th January 2020.

Further south, the Yarra Valley has managed to secure the use of a LAMP machine from AgriBio again this season to verify detections of Qfly larvae. Luckily there have been no detections of Qfly within the Yarra Valley Area Wide Management grid at this point in the season, although it has been detected in nearby Greensborough.

With increasingly warm and humid weather, growers are encouraged to remain vigilant and continue monitoring and baiting programs.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

For more information go to https://pir.sa.gov.au/ biosecurity/fruit_fly/outbreaks_detections

B E RRY 10

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

I N D U S T R Y

WA: There’s a new face in town Berry Industry Development Officer, Strawberries & WA Katie Dunne | WAberryIDO@berries.net.au During her time with the Australian Wine Research Institute, she developed an appreciation of the importance of biosecurity and collaborated with Agriculture Victoria on key issues as required including organising workshops. Katie has extensive experience in research and extension focused project management funded by industry. Her experience in collaborating with researchers both in Australia and overseas, and with industry partners means she appreciates the importance of ensuring that the connection between researchers and industry is maintained. In 2019, she was asked to be on the Australian Society for Viticulture and Oenology’s selection committee as a judge for best viticulture paper for 2019. She also won the award in 2014 for a paper that she co-authored with her supervisors and colleagues based in the United States.

The berry industry in Western Australia has a new full-time development officer. Initially for three years, the position is jointly funded by Hort Innovation, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and the Strawberry Committee of the Agricultural Produce Commission in Western Australia.

Katie Dunne will assist with the delivery of the new national project ‘Facilitating the development of the Australian berry industries ( MT18020)’ for 60% of her time with the balance focused on Western Australian related strawberry activities. She will be located on the DPIRD site at South Perth together with other horticulture staff (citrus, pome fruit) funded by the Agriculture Produce Commission. This central location will enable easy access to other DPIRD staff and facilities.

Katie will be mentored for her first strawberry season by Aileen Reid, the current part-time Industry Development Officer who is hoping to hand over the reins at the end of 2020. Katie’s strong background in plant pathology and her experience with molecular techniques will no doubt be put to good use and her already extensive background in extension will enable her to slot easily into the berry industry.

There are some major differences between the wine and berry fruit industries in terms of structure and maturity, but this should provide perspectives that will generate some good lateral thinking and hopefully the application of new ideas for berry growers.

Katie Dunne has a PhD from the University of Tasmania on the Management of Botrytis bunch rot in wine grapes and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Viticulture) (Hons) from Charles Sturt University. She developed an interest in plant pathology during her undergraduate studies. Her experience in a vintage field officer role assessing fruit prior to harvest led to her completing a PhD on botrytis bunch rot. Much of her career has focussed on extension activities for the wine industry in both Tasmania and Victoria. She has worked in industry in technical roles with growers across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales for the largest corporate winemakers in Australia.

Katie is looking forward to learning about strawberry production and applying her skills to help ensure growers have the resources they need to make informed decisions for their businesses.

She has developed expertise in Precision Agriculture, formal disease assessments for contract specifications and fruit quality analysis with experience in colour analysis.

Please welcome Katie to the berry industry.

11

I N D U S T R Y

QLD: At last there is rain, glorious rain Berry Industry Development Officer, Strawberries & Queensland Bron Ford | 0438 752 177 | office@qldstrawberries.com.au

Workshops and activities

With Jen Rowling moving into a different role with Berries Australia in early 2019, the IDO position was vacant for a few months until the new Hort Innovation combined berries project was formalised in October 2019.

An “Understanding Red Leaf” workshop was held in November 2019 to discuss current investigative activities conducted by Qld Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the University of Queensland.

Further updates on activities will be provided in future editions of the Australian Berry Journal and at the 2020 Qld Strawberry Industry Field Day which is likely to be held in July 2020.

My tenure started in mid-October with a chortle at the Lunch n’ Laughs event attended by more than 55 strawberry growers. This was an excellent and relaxing way for everyone to learn about managing stress and mental health and a great opportunity to reflect on the season (SEE PAGE 19). Once again, it seems harsh weather events including significant hail ended the season prematurely for some strawberry growers.

A “next-generation” bus trip was held on Tuesday 18th February which focused on a variety of businesses involved in the fresh berry supply chain including Brisbane Markets, domestic and export fresh produce agents, air cargo agents (to discuss export regulations and requirements) as well as machinery innovations and technology. This event was held at the Brisbane Markets.

Production then commenced on the Granite Belt for Rubus and strawberries, albeit at a much-reduced capacity due to ongoing and significant drought in the region. To add insult to injury, a number of producers were impacted by hail in November and December.

Other events that are in the planning phases to be held later in year include farm walks at Bundaberg, Atherton Tablelands as well as in and around Caboolture.

The Christmas and mid-January period brought good rain to most of Queensland which has been welcomed by all berry growers as the rain builds good soil moisture profiles, fills dams and importantly boosts everyone’s spirits.

Finally, lock in the date for the Queensland Strawberry Industry Dinner & Awards which will be held on Friday 17th April at the Novotel Twin Waters Sunshine Coast Resort. Further information is available at www.qldstrawberries.com.au. Tickets can be purchased online via the website and I hope to see many of you there to celebrate the start of a new winter strawberry season.

Many farmers have opened up their gates and welcomed a visit over the last few months including three of the major plant propagators and many strawberry, Rubus and blueberry producers particularly around southern Queensland.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 12

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

I N D U S T R Y

NSW: Fires, drought and now floods Berry Industry Development Officer, Blueberries & NSW Melinda Simpson | 0447 081 765 | Melinda.simpson@dpi.nsw.gov.au

As I sit down to write this article, it continues to rain heavily; we have just received 450mm in the last four days on the NSW North Coast with more to come and flood warnings in place.

And I think to myself ‌ what an unpredictable and destructive three months we have just experienced in NSW.

_ ^

GRAFTON

Take it back three months and most of NSW was in severe drought. The north coast, which normally is lush, green and beautiful was brown, dry and smoky.

With very limited rainfall in the previous ten months, dams were getting low and fires were burning everywhere.

On Tuesday 12th November 2019, a state emergency was declared, and the fire prediction map showed most of the current blueberry growing areas on the mid-north coast were likely to be affected (Figure 1).

Fortunately, the weather changed, and the fire did not spread as predicted, however, many people were still affected, and my thoughts go out to them.

COFFS HARBOUR

_ ^

Throughout this time horticulture growers, including many berry growers, began to run out of water for irrigation. Many growers had to hard prune their plants to conserve water and turn off their irrigation to certain blocks to conserve water. Further to this those who had to switch to alternative water sources such as bores had other issues including high salinity.

Š Department of Finance, Services & Innovation 2018

Figure 1. Fire prediction map for mid north coast Nov 2019 Source: Rural Fire Service

13

I hoped that 2020 would start off better than 2019 had left us, but unfortunately for the berry growers in the southern parts of NSW this was not the case.

Numerous fires ripped through the areas surrounding Tumbarumba and Batlow affecting many horticultural producers and a large proportion of the forestry industry.

I had the privilege of going down to talk with some of the growers affected in the area and I would like to personally thank Nico Mulder from Costa, Molly Crozier from Jolly Berries and Brad Weintraub from Laurel Hill Blueberries for taking the time to talk with me and show me around through such a hard time.

I was shocked by the devastation caused by the fire and surprised by the flow-on effects that a fire can have on producers even if they are not directly affected, such as lack of power to irrigate and no pickers due to evacuation of the area. I encourage anyone that has been affected by the fires to look into accessing the $75,000 grants provided by the Australian Government.

Below are some photos of producers affected in the Tumbarumba area.

On a more positive note, there are lots of exciting things happening for berry growers in NSW. There will be a number of workshops & field days coming up in the next few months and I’m always open to suggestions on what topics you would like these to cover. Other highlights include a number of meetings with chemical reps to discuss potential biological control agents for berries and a meeting with the policy people who negotiate ICA 31.

The outcomes from this meeting include removing prescribed water volumes to be used for copper and PristineÂŽ and also looking at simplifying the list of fungicides to refer to the APVMA which will allow the use of new chemistry.

I look forward to a less disaster stricken 2020 and working with industry to achieve great outcomes.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR YOUNG BERRY GROWERS Register for a Tuesday Day Pass for just $200 with the code: BERRY2020 AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

hortconnections.com.au/registration

Blueberry bushes scorched by fires at Tumbarumba.

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Blueberry crown burnt by fire, in most cases irrigation line was destroyed and needs to be completely replaced.

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Spot fires caused a number of plants to be affected throughout a number of blocks. Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Packing shed destroyed by fire.

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Spot fires caused a number of plants to be affected throughout a number of blocks.

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

15

I N D U S T R Y

Australia’s horticulture sector backs Fair Farms Thomas Hertel, Fair Farms Program Manager | 0484 588 242 | thertel@growcom.com.au Fair Farms is working closely with key stakeholders from across the supply chain including growers, wholesalers, participating retailers, trade unions, and industry-bodies AUSVEG and the National Farmers’ Federation to ensure the successful roll-out.

Since its launch in June 2019, more than 100 growers and other horticulture businesses from across Australia have joined the industrydeveloped Fair Farms Training and Certification Program demonstrating industry’s commitment to stamping out workplace non-compliance and worker exploitation.

“We thank Woolworths and ALDI for getting behind this industry-led initiative and are hoping to see other Australian retailers and the larger wholesalers join us soon.” Mr Hertel added.

Fair Farms Program Manager, Thomas Hertel said Growcom was rolling out Fair Farms on behalf of industry in a bid to show who is doing the right thing and use market forces to drive out unethical and unlawful employment practices.

Keep your skills fine-tuned with Fair Farms Fair Farms is regularly publishing technical articles around key elements of the Fair Farms Standard that underpins the Fair Farms Training and Certification program.

Articles have covered topics such as:

“We’re excited about the strong take-up so far and congratulate our participating growers and other supply chain members for showing industry leadership on this important issue,” Mr Hertel said.

• Providing accommodation to workers • Managing worker fatigue • Developing emergency procedures, and

“Of the businesses registered to date, over 60% have already completed the self-assessment against the Fair Farms Standard to identify areas for improvement.

• Effective inductions These and many more can be found in the ‘News & Resources’ section of the Fair Farms website: www.fairfarms.com.au/news-resources

“Fair Farms aims to have a critical mass of ethical suppliers certified against the Fair Farms Standard, so wholesalers and retailers can make the switch and start sourcing their fresh produce only from verified ethical businesses.

To find out more about how to get Fair Farms certified visit www.fairfarms.com.au or email us at fairfarms@growcom.com.au

“Australian grown, Fair Farms certified, all the way to the grower level, is what we’re working towards. When retailers and the consumer buy into that and reward ethical compliance, we expect to see real positive impact on the treatment of workers on farms.”

Fair Farms is developed and delivered by Growcom with support from the Fair Work Ombudsman, The Federal Department of Agriculture and AUSVEG.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 16

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

I N D U S T R Y

Event Report: Moving from soil to substrate Berry Industry Development Officer, Blueberries & NSW Melinda Simpson | 0447 081 765 | Melinda.simpson@dpi.nsw.gov.au Tony Bundock from Genesis Horticultural Solutions Pty Ltd. ran the morning session and covered a range of topics such as the components of a basic hydroponic system, dosing/fertigation equipment, irrigation management, recycling drain water and weigh scales.

On the 19th of February a ‘Moving from soil to substrate’ workshop was held at Woolgoolga.

It was very well attended by 50 berry growers and agronomists.

All photo credit: Melinda Simpson

The afternoon session included a trip to Aman’s farm where he talked about his experience growing in substrate and the do’s and don’ts he has learnt along the way. My sincere thanks go out to Aman for allowing us to visit his farm and a huge thankyou to all the people who came along and attended.

17

O

U

D

C

UE

NDING VA STA L UT STOEMR-OWNE

2019

N

S

I UP NVESTMENT IO ERA NNUAT

I N D U S T R Y

Laughter is the best medicine for Queensland strawberry growers Bron Ford, Berry Industry Development Officer

Queensland strawberry growers have been forced to deal with a great deal in recent years; the storms at planting time, the tampering crisis that brought the industry to its knees and the severe drought on the Granite Belt have all tested the personal resilience of growers.

To help alleviate some of the feelings of isolation often felt by people when they are stressed, the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association (QSGA) hosted an endof-season celebration with a “Lunch ‘n Laughs” event at the Beerwah Hideaway.

Lunch ‘n Laughs was a great opportunity to get off the farm, enjoy a relaxed meal with farming friends and learn some simple actions about managing stress…oh and Mark was an absolute hoot!

More than 55 people enjoyed a relaxing meal with fellow growers and friends, discussed the season and enjoyed some informative relief from special guest Mark McConville.

Mark is a professional comedian often seen on cruise boats around the Pacific Ocean or at Brisbane’s SitDown Comedy Club. Interestingly, Mark also holds a Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention Studies, a Masters in Suicidology and is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention at Griffith University.

Laura Wells from TSL Family Farms at Bellmere commented.

The event was made possible by the #berryloved fund, established with all the generous donations from the community following the 2018 tampering crisis, and it is hoped that a similar spirit-lifting activity can be run on an annual basis.

Mark’s unique act of intertwining comedy with mental health themes is a winning formula for reducing stress, lifting depression and preventing suicide and was a big hit with Queensland strawberry growers.

When things do become overwhelming it is well known that support from other people can really help. It might be difficult to ask for help or you might not even realise that you need help but getting help when you need it doesn’t have to be difficult. Don’t be afraid to try different types of support until you find what works best for you.

Mark’s highly interactive presentation and comedy act highlighted the benefits of sharing laughter with family and friends, and that the impact of laughter can significantly help people overcome stress, depression and anxiety.

19

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 20

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Mark McConville and Lifeline recommend the following:

Where to go for help

1. Recognise when things are getting too much Sometimes we’re so busy we don’t even realise we need a break. Look out for any changes in your behaviour, thoughts or physical health that might indicate you need some help.

• Your GP • Call Lifeline (13 11 14) or use the online crisis support chat service • Contact www.beyondblue.org.au • www.conversationsmatter.com.au

Listen to the concerns of your friends and family and talk to them, rather than brushing them off.

If you have thoughts about suicide or harming yourself, call Lifeline immediately on 13 11 14.

• Visit your local Community Centre for referrals to other services in your local area

2. Visit your doctor - Your GP can help you understand your situation and point you in the right direction to find more support. If you don’t feel comfortable going to the doctor alone why not take a family member or friend with you? Be honest about all the symptoms you are experiencing, including how you’ve been feeling and understand that seeking help when you need it is truly a sign of strength, not weakness.

Another great opportunity for Strawberry growers and industry partners to get together is the upcoming Annual Industry Dinner & Awards Night. This years' event is being held on Friday 17th April at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast.

The evening is a chance for growers to catch up socially with their industry friends and is an important opportunity for growers to build connections with each other. And it is this connectivity that can really help when times get tough.

3. Look online - There are a range of resources, information and support available online to anyone who does not have access to services close by. Try seeking out resources that have been referred by a website or service you trust.

4. Talk about it - It can be hard to talk about your problems but having the support of family and friends can really help you cope with difficult situations. If you don’t want to talk to family or friends, you can try a counsellor, health professional, community worker, minister or call a helpline like Lifeline.

QUEENSLAND STRA WBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION

Q S G A 2 02 0

5. Be positive and proactive - It can be helpful to focus on what you can do, rather than what’s out of your control. A good way to get started is to write down your issues, brainstorm possible solutions and identify small steps on how to achieve them.

FRIDAY 17 APR IL 6PM TILL LA TE NOVOTEL SUNS HINE COAST RE SORT 270 OCEAN DR IVE, TWIN WAT ERS THE QUEENSLAND STRAWBERRY GROW ERS ASSOCIATION CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO AT TEND THE 2020 AN NUAL DINNER & AW ARDS NIGHT FOR THE QUEENSL AND STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY

You can also make a list of where to go for different types of help and advice (e.g. emotional support, financial advice) and keep it in a handy place. This makes it easier to seek help when you need it.

Tickets are just $90 per person and can be purchased online at www.qldstrawberries.com.au

6. Get professional help if you need it - Your GP can refer you to a counsellor or psychologist.

If you would like to be a sponsor or supporter of the dinner, please contact Bron Ford | 0438 752 177

21

dinner

I N D U S T R Y

Waste not, want not The origin of that saying is really not clear, unlike its meaning; if one is not wasteful then one will not be in need. Why is there suddenly such a focus on the waste we generate and what we choose to do with it?

Biorefinery for berry waste valorisation

We like big things in this country and the scale of waste we generate is quite simply staggering. Based on the latest available audited Australian data from 2016/17, we create 67 million tonnes of waste each year. On a per capita basis, that’s the equivalent in weight of six grand pianos! Each.

Energy, nutrients, valuable products This project is being carried out by the Solid Waste Management Group at the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland (UQ). Our aim is to evaluate different technologies to allow the valorisation of organic waste generated in the berry sector, including rejected fruit, post-harvested plants and waste coir.

There is no doubt that tackling waste is one of the great challenges for this century, and even our political system is finally catching up. The Australian Government has appointed a Minister for Waste (and Environmental Management) so for the first time in the 200 years since colonial settlement we now have a Minister with “waste” in their title.

The research follows the philosophy of the circular bioeconomy, where these biomasses are considered resources to be valorised instead of waste to be dealt with. The research group is currently developing two different projects in this field; one project looks to translate waste into an energy source and the second to release valuable compounds with multiple applications.

As individuals and as businesses, we each have a responsibility to play our part in being champions of the solution, and across the future editions of the Australian Berry Journal, we will be bringing you the latest waste focused projects that have direct relevance for the berry industry.

In this edition, we hear about exciting developments being explored at the University of Queensland, recognising that fruit and plant waste has value; value that can be tapped in different and interesting ways.

Our second feature provides an overview of a recently completed project funded by Hort Innovation using the Strawberry Fund and the Raspberry and Blackberry Fund and funds from the Australian Government. Dr Doris Blaesing from RMCG explored the reuse potential of waste coir (MT17016) and she shares a summary of the project findings and its main recommendations.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 22

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

An integrated approach for the sustainable closed loop management of agricultural residues

Accumulation of bioactive compounds from wasted strawberries through anaerobic fermentation under controlled acidic conditions

This project is being carried out by Arinze Ezieke as part of his PhD Thesis. The objective of the project is to investigate the feasibility of sustainably closing the energy and nutrient cycle through the integration of anaerobic digestion and self-sustaining smouldering processes for the management of agricultural waste. Anaerobic digestion is a bioprocess where microorganisms, in absence of oxygen, are able to transform organic mass into biogas, a renewable energy source. Smouldering is a flameless combustion technology that is able to burn substrates with a very high moisture content without extra energy requirements.

This project aims to develop a novel technique for obtaining bioactive compounds from rejected strawberries that are currently sent to landfill.

The project aims to create a cost-effective technology to suppress one of the main limiting steps for obtaining bioactive compounds: the solubilisation process.

The proposed technique is based on adjusting operational parameters of an anaerobic digestion process to provide the optimal conditions to the microorganisms to solubilise strawberry waste.

This project is funded thanks to a University of Queensland Early Career Researcher Grant 2019 (project UQECR1945969).

The combination of both technologies is proposed to produce energy in the form of biogas from the easily biodegradable substrates, i.e. waste fruit and plants, whereas smouldering can reduce the coir and the final effluent from the anaerobic digestion process to a small volume of ash. Therefore, integrating both technologies could help to solve the challenges of waste management at berry farms by producing energy and reducing the waste volume (and its transport cost) to a small volume of inert ashes.

Through the technology developed by our group, we have been able to triplicate the amount of soluble bioactive compounds in our reactors. Concretely, high concentrations of the phenol p-coumaric acid and the anthocyanin pelargonidin 3-glucoside were obtained.

Recovery of these compounds from strawberry waste represents a market opportunity, with multiple applications in pharmacy, cosmetics and the food industry. The next steps will focus on the assessment of this technology in continuous operation for its potential industrial implementation.

The present project will seek to determine optimal operational conditions to combine both technologies, assess its practicality and sustainability in terms of energy, environmental and economic context, and establish a framework for its successful implementation/deployment.

We would like to thank our industry partners; LuvaBerryÂŽ , SunnyRidgeÂŽ and PinataÂŽ farms for their support by providing berry samples and necessary information to go ahead with the investigations.

To date, laboratory results support the suitability of anaerobic digestion for energy production from waste fruit and plants, whereas the integration with smouldering seems to be highly energy efficient.

As an example, laboratory results show that one tonne of waste berries are enough to generate around 120 kWh, which could be enough to provide electricity to up to 4 houses per day.

23

I N D U S T R Y

Don’t waste coir from hydroponics Dr Doris Blaesing, Associate, RMCG

This article is summarised from the final report for this project presented in June 2019: Coir waste management for hydroponic berries (MT17016).

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the Strawberry and Raspberry & Blackberry research and development levies, and funds from the Australian Government. The full final report can be found online at horticulture.com.au.

What did we find?

Over the past 25 years, the use of coir as a hydroponic substrate has increased internationally. In Australia, coir has been used for vegetable and flower crops for some time.

Coir use is growing in berry production We estimated that the berry industry produces at least 2,500 to 3,500 tonnes of coir waste nationally each year.

Berry producers expect this to increase.

Since 2010, its use in the berry industry is increasing rapidly. Coir is becoming a preferred substrate because it produces good results and it is considered the most environmentally sustainable option.

Coir reuse requires local solutions Some of the reuse options require enough scale to be economically viable. There are opportunities for growers in each region to come together to develop commercially viable reuse options, for example composting, supply to a composter or an activated carbon or biochar plant.

Still, the management of spent coir has become a challenge for many producers. RMCG looked into opportunities for the beneficial reuse of spent coir and then we provided recommendations for its reuse.

We used consultation and desk top reviews to collect information on the opportunities and challenges of reusing spent coir. Our aim was to provide information to berry growers on how to reduce: • on-farm coir related waste and associated costs • c oir waste related risks and costs associated with pest and disease management

Strawberries growing in coir substrate Photo credit: Glenda Riley

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 24

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

In Table 1, we present some of the opportunities for spent coir reuse

Spent Coir Reuse Option

Local End User?

Composting on farm

x

Add to commercial compost

x

Free of Pathogens?

Free of Foreign Matter?

x

x

Potting mix additive Mulch or soil amendment

x

x

Substrate for mushroom cultivation

x

Material for animal husbandry

x

Convert to activated carbon / biochar

x

Shredded?

x

x

x

x

Briquetted or pelleted fuel Biogas production

x

What are the opportunities for the berry industry?

Coir recycling would not ‘qualify’ for a regulated scheme but would be well suited to a voluntary stewardship scheme (like mobileMUSTER, drumMUSTER, Farm Waste Recovery [for plastic waste]).

Working with the nursery industry The nursery industry is complex and encompasses a broad range of businesses. Many crops are produced in substrates. Opportunities may exist to engage with the sector to combine waste streams or provide substrates made from or with spent coir.

The berry industry may want to explore a cross industry stewardship program for coir reuse involving: • the coir supply chain, • the vegetable and nursery industries, • key organic recycling organisations and

Growing media suppliers supply directly to businesses involved in:

• potentially biochar and biogas producers.

A major requirement for developing and maintaining a stewardship scheme is the need for an organisation or person driving such a ‘closing the loop’ approach.

This organisation or person would drive communication between suppliers, growers and organic recyclers as well as others interested in using the spent coir ‘products’.

• greenlife production • primary industry • all levels of government, and government bodies • landscapers and commercial land developers • retail sale to the public • exports

Peak industry bodies could play a major role in setting up a stewardship scheme and explore funding opportunities to get a scheme started.

• o ther businesses who value add and then on-sell to any of the above.

Stewardship Programs Product stewardship is a regulation and code of practice introduced under the Product Stewardship Act 2011.

The Act provides a framework to manage the environmental and community impact of a product over its life cycle. Anyone who is involved with the production, sale, use or disposal of a product has a responsibility to manage and limit the impact the product has on the environment and human health.

www.mobilemuster.com.au product stewardship program of the mobile phone industry and is accredited by the federal government www.drummuster.org.au provides a recycling pathway for eligible empty agvet chemical containers

25

What are the challenges for the berry industry?

1. F orm links with local businesses that can use recycled organics

The following challenges have been identified:

Berry producers should link up with organic recyclers in their region to determine the most suitable, cost efficient way of collection and recycling.

• T ime required to deal with a solution and associated costs

Berry producers should explore opportunities in the vicinity of their berry operation e.g. with landscape companies, chicken producers, orchardists. Prior to deciding to reuse on farm or engaging with local businesses, profiling of the used coir would be required.

• The need to separate coir from plastic for many reuse options, and the technology and cost of doing this • The need to sterilise the spent coir for many reuses and the technology and cost of doing this

Composting on farm is an option for those who can use or sell the compost. Co-composting materials with high nitrogen content e.g. manure may be required. Reuse on farms as a soil amendment without composting is suitable. Composting eliminates the need to sterilise used coir.

• The costs of handling and transport of used coir if the berry producer has to pay for it all • N o reliable data on the ‘make up’ of spent coir from different production systems (i.e. typical chemical and biological properties) and therefore it’s value

Linking in with the recycled organics sector has been identified as the currently best option to deal with used coir in the most cost-effective way. Small scale trials should be used to confirm the best method for direct reuse in a production system.

• R egulations are not uniform in each state; regulations from different organisations may apply (e.g. in charge of Environment, Biosecurity, Food safety) • L ack of applied research e.g. ‘profiling’ spent coir, value of coir for different reuses such as recycled organic products (i.e. soil amendments, composts, mulches, potting mix), bioenergy, biochar

2. Create linkages with other industries Our review highlighted that the protected fruit, vegetable and flower industries have a similar waste management problem to the berry industry. Solutions should be addressed holistically and cooperatively.

• Apparent lack of communication between those who want to dispose of the ‘waste’ and those who can put it to good use • L ack of communication and cooperation with other industries with similar waste challenges.

A voluntary stewardship program should be explored, involving the entire supply chain. A useful starting point could involve the following plzz ayers:

• E ven if relevant research has been conducted and reported, e.g. by the vegetable industry on plastic waste or the nursery industry on general waste, implementation of recommendations does not seem to happen. A person or organisation(s) needs to drive implementation.

• the three major coir importers • Berries Australia • Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) • Greenlife Industry Australia (Formerly known as NGIA) • Australian Organic Recycling Association (AORA)

There are two key recommendations for action that can be actioned straight away. A third recommendation highlighted the potential to utilise resources already produced by the Nursery & Garden Industry Association (now known as Greenlife Industry Australia).

The peak industry bodies could explore how to deal with other common waste issues in their respective industries.

RMCG is an environmental and agricultural consultancy who provide advice to government agencies, water authorities, institutions and private sector clients in the fields of environment, water, agriculture, economics and communities.

Links to these resources will be available shortly on the new website www.berries.net.au

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 26

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Bacstim1005 ℓ ®

HighPerformance Performance Biology High Biology Bacstim™ 100 works with the crop’s

® to increase nutrient uptake, root system Bacstim 100 is a microbial based product leading to higher biomass production containing 5 different spore forming above and below the ground.

Bacillus strains.

Read label before use.

Keep out of reach of children.

WARNING: Causes skin irritation.

Causes eye irritation.

Wash face and hands thoroughly after handling.

Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, face protection.

IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes.

Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.

If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.

If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.

Refer to the Safety Data Sheet before use.

Storage: Store in cool and dry conditions, preferably below 30 °C.

Conditions of Sale: Every care is taken during the manufacture of his product. However, as environmental conditions can vary considerably, no responsibility can be taken by the manufacturer, importer or his agents for any injury,damage, loss or other results following the use or misuse of this product.

Application rates

Contains 5 strains of Bacillus spp.

• State of the art soil applied microbiology.

Crop Dosage Total concentration of 2 x 109 CFU/ml (2 billion cfu/ml) 2 strains® of Bacillus licheniformis 2 strains of Brevibacillus laterosporus 1 strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Broadacre 1ℓ/ha

Timing

Place

At planting

In fur close possi

• Bacstim 100 is a way to introduce highly Vegetables 1ℓ/ha At planting beneficial Bacillus species into the root2 xzone.

In fur One month to se trans later Via fe syste shallo to tar root z

Application Guidelines: • The microbes in Bacstim®100 have the ability Agitate content well before use as natural settling of spores may occur. to form spores when conditions are poor, Bacstim™ 100 may be applied directly in and then regrow furrow or with irrigation water.again once conditions improve.

Tree crops 3 x 1ℓ/ha At first Do not exceed the recommended application rates. ® Avoid heavy irrigation for 2-3 days after application to allow time for root colonization.

Bacstim™ 100 is compatible with most fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, but once mixed with other products, it should be applied within 4 to 6 hours.

Can be mixed with tap water.

Where possible, apply Bacstim™ 100 separately.

When mixing with other chemicals for the first time, first dissolve Bacstim™ 100 at the desired dilution before adding other chemicals.

Test compatibility by checking final solution for signs of a chemical reaction.

• Bacstim 100 is produced to Omnia’s strict specifications to ensure consistent product Vine crops 3 x 1ℓ/ha quality and performance.

Via fe root flush shallo Mid spring to tar Late spring root z Budburst 20 cm shoot growth Flowering

Manufactured on: Exp:

ange of products designed to help you increase Omnia has a range of products designed to help you increase nd crop yield including: Group 3 Fertilizer Omnia Fertilizer, a division of Omnia Group (2006/013996/07 13 Sloane Street, Bryanston 2021, South Africa plant growth and crop yield including: Group III : M 39 +27 11 709 8888 www.fertilizer.co.za

Rhizovator

Lot#:OB80L-JB25 OB80L-JB25 Lot#: TM

Rhizovator™ promotes

Mega-Kel-P allows you to manipulate

The most concentrated liquid humate

ranulated, continuous Mega-Kel-P allows you to manipulate crop growth biological diversity, soil in the world. Better root growth and a crop growth to your advantage by e application for up to two to your advantage scientifically managing plant health and nutrient availability. more balanced plant nutrition. Improves scientificallyby managing plant physiology, lant available boron. improving andwith quality Improving biological diversity makes physiology, soil moisture and nutrient retention while improving yields yields and quality betterwith better the soil environment more resistant nutrition and reducing nutrient lockup in the soil. Helps nutrition fruit set. Apply Mega-Kel-P fruitand set.

Apply Mega-Kel-P as a foliar to diseases. development for better soil structure. as a foliar spray to new foliage for vital spray to new foliage for vital root growth. root growth.

Brendan Lauman 0438 776 480 brendan.lauman@omnia.net.au Omnia Specialities Australia Pty Ltd

Brendan Lauman 0438 776 480 www.omnia.com.au a.net.au blauman@omnia.net.au (ACN 102 717 019)

Tramway Road, Morwell 3840, Victoria, Australia +61 3 5133 9118

N U T R I O L O G Y *

*the science of growing

03 5133 9118

www.omnia.com.au

Via fe shallo to tar root z

I N D U S T R Y

Tough times on the farm?

Are you entitled to Farm Household Allowance?

Bron Ford, Berry Industry Development Officer and Jenny Whip CEO, Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland

The Farm Household Allowance (FHA) is a fortnightly income support payment for eligible farming families in financial hardship.

The Fine Print

To be eligible you must be a commercial farmer (or a farmer’s partner), satisfy income and assets tests, meet Australian residency requirements (Australian citizen or on a permanent visa) and be willing to engage in activities that are aimed at helping your businesses financial situation.

• Net farm assets must not exceed $5 million • Non-farm asset limits are: – Single - $263,250 (homeowner) or $473,750 (non-homeowner) – Couples combined $394,500 (homeowners) or $605,000 (non-homeowners)

How much can you get?

Up to $26,244.40 per annum for a couple or $15,722.20 per annum for singles are available to eligible farming families for up to four years (in every ten year period),

• Be aged 16 years or older • *Income test: fortnightly “cut-off points” including both farm and off-farm income are:

Other benefits to FHA recipients include an “activity supplement” of up to $4000 to undertake approved activities established in the Financial Improvement Agreement and a Health Care Card.

– Single $1075.34 – Couples (combined) $1966.68 *Recipients can offset up to $100,000 of income that is not related to the farm enterprise, dependent on the amount of the farm loss.

There is also a lump sum of $13,000 (couple) or $7,500 (single) for those that have exhausted their four years of FHA payment between July 2019 and June 2020.

FHA Website: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ centrelink/farm-household-allowance

Check the Map opposite to identify your region or for Rural Financial Counsellor full locations

Other Drought and Rural Assistance information: www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/ drought/assistance

VISIT https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/ assistance/rural-financial-counselling-service

farmhub.org.au

TELEPHONE

FarmHub is an Australian Government initiative, administered by the National Farmers’ Federation.

1800 686 175

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 28

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

RURAL FINANCIAL COUNSELLING SERVICE 2016-20 PROGRAM ervice rovider

oundaries

RFCS By State Northern -

07 4845 4849

New South Wales Northern -

Victoria

1300 045 747

South Australia & Northern Territory SA NT 1800 836 211

Western Australia Western Australia -

Tasmania Tasmania 1300 883 276

(NOTE: AREAS ARE INDICATIVE ONLY)

0

125 250

500

750

1,000 Kilometres

Produced by Agricultural Risks Management ABARES, May 2016.

Dutch greenhouse expertise Tailored for Australian berry growers By a wholly Australian owned family business

Australia-wide Sales & Service NSW - VIC - QLD - TAS - SA - WA - NT Ph 1300 763 141 www.aisgreenworks.com.au

This map was compiled using data from the following sources: Department of Agriculture, Rural Financial Counselling Service 2008 applications; Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (Edition 2007) Cat. no. 1259.030.001; State of Queensland (Department of Natural Resources and Water) 2008.

ng

I N D U S T R Y

Move over plastic, it’s time to go green Moondarra Blueberries is owned and operated by the Deveson family who planted their first blueberry block in 1979.

Over 40 years a reputation has developed around Moondarra’s ability to produce blueberries of the finest quality.

The Moondarra brand is well known and held in high regard within the Australian industry as a benchmark for quality and integrity. Based at Moondarra in Gippsland, Victoria, in the beautiful foothills of the Great Dividing Range, the local conditions allow the business to grow many varieties of blueberry.

As a business, and personally, they are committed to the principles of environmentally friendly agriculture by fully utilising organic growing methods. Farming processes include increasing levels of organic matter in the soil so therefore sequestering carbon and improving micro flora and fauna as well as minimising energy usage and waste. They are continually looking at ways to improve their production systems to protect and improve biodiversity and ensure farm sustainability.

Since fruit production began, Moondarra has sold their fruit all over the world, including Harrods Food Hall in London, but to remain competitive and reduce food miles they decided it was important to focus locally, grow organic and produce the highest quality fruit possible.

About 15 years ago, their fruit was removed from the wholesale markets in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide and they developed their own direct delivery route to stockists around Melbourne. In this way, direct feedback was obtainable from the people who were purchasing their fruit, which in turn helped to develop their business, review objectives and adapt processes as necessary depending on the feedback being received.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 30

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Sustainable Packaging Journey

Moondarra have also included an inhouse process for printing a barcode and information panel directly to the base of each fibre punnet before they are graded and weighed, which reduces the need to apply a label to the base which would affect the compostability and it once again reduces the use of non-renewable resources.

Everyone has been impacted by the recycling issues within Victoria in recent times and Moondarra Blueberries recognised that they too are a contributor to petroleum based plastic use and this concerning issue across of their fruit retail packaging.

This year’s harvest they are producing their 125 g fresh punnets in the new sustainable packaging and in 2021 they are aiming to output their 375 g fresh tubs in a larger size of the same style punnet. Due to the permeability of the fibre base and subsequent moisture loss, research is being completed on a fibre tub style that is suitable for the freezer so that their 450 g freezer tub can be also packaged in sustainable packaging.

A move to compostable packaging, made from plantbased renewable resources and bioplastics, provides a sustainable and sensible proposition in-line with their organic certification and the broader community expectations. Should someone place the compostable packaging in their land fill rubbish, it will still breakdown into water and humus, though ideally people would dispose of the packaging in their own home or building compost systems.

Throughout the year-long research and development process, many stockists and end consumers have given overwhelming support for the concept, with many offering to perform secondary compost research and report back or promoting the product within their own circles. Their stockists are also willing to help with the cost of the sustainable packaging and paying more wholesale than in previous years.

Wanting to base the new packaging on a circular economy, the packaging is 100% home compostable and endorsed with the home compostable logo. Using this logo means it is certified to Australian Standard AS5810-2010 and verified by the Australasian Bioplastics Association. The packaging decomposes under specific composting conditions back into water, carbon dioxide and biomass within 26 weeks at ambient temperature (20°C – 30°C) and is non-toxic to the environment, including the inks used.

Moondarra felt it was important to steer away from any European Standard EU13432 for industrial or commercial composting that is often used for packaging as many Australian councils are not yet in the position to offer this to their householders.

The risks of transitioning to unfamiliar packaging has been considered and weighed up throughout the whole adaptation process. Customers will need to become accustomed to not being able to turn the punnet over and see the fruit in the bottom of the punnet.

Customers can also not reseal the punnet once opened.

Neither of these concerns have turned out to be a major issue with our customers preferring the ecofriendly packaging over those small inconveniences.

The complete packaging item includes a punnet base made from sugar cane and a heat-sealed film that is made from eucalyptus. The heat seal process helps with extending shelf life and also deals with the issue of product tampering by limiting access to the fruit.

The current annual plastic use within a single harvest season is 1,710 kg across all of their fruit packaging.

Their hope in their transition to sustainable packaging is that it encourages the broader berry industry to also adopt this form of packaging.

FACEBOOK-SQUARE

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/berriesaus

Break the mould

WITH FLEXIBLE BIOLOGICAL BOTRYTIS CONTROL Find out more at crop-solutions.basf.com.au or speak to your local BASF representative ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.© Copyright BASF 2020 ® Registered trademark of BASF. W241441 02.2020

31

I N D U S T R Y

If it can move, it can carry pests, diseases and weeds!

On-farm biosecurity– Top 5 Tips Angela Atkinson, Berry Industry Development Officer, Victoria & South Australia

There are many pathways through which diseases, pests and weed seeds can enter your property, or move from one part of a farm to another. Some of these are difficult to control, like birds and animals spreading weed seeds, but many risks can be managed and controlled by implementing a few simple processes. It’s all about reducing risk.

1. Signage

Biosecurity signs like the one pictured to the left and printed on corflute are available from https://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/shop/

Anyone entering your property can unintentionally and unknowingly carry pests, diseases or weed seeds on their clothing, shoes or vehicles.

or you can download the template and get your local printer to print one from https://www. farmbiosecurity.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2019/03/Farm-Biosecurity-sign-900x600-V2.pdf

Putting up a biosecurity sign at your gate, with a contact phone number, is a great way to let visitors know that biosecurity is important to you and that they must report to you before they enter your property.

2. Limit access to your property Limiting where visitors can go on your property can greatly reduce the risk of introducing pests, diseases and weeds. Ideally there should be only one entry point for visitors to access the property, although this is not always possible. If there is more than one access point, signage as described above should be placed at each point, if possible.

Having a designated visitor parking area with clear signage, that is separate from the production areas, is a great way to reduce the risk of vehicles introducing pests, diseases or weed seeds. If the parking area has a gravel surface even better, as that will decrease the risk of movement of contaminated soil.

Figure 1.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 32

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

If your business has a tourism component, like pick your own berries, you need to clearly state entry requirements - where to park and where customers can and cannot go - and be extra vigilant in checking for new pests and diseases.

Make sure visitors to your property are aware that their vehicles, clothing and shoes should be clean before entering your property. You could consider having a foot bath for visitors to use prior to entering production areas, or supply them with disposable boot covers.

If possible, get visitors who need to access the production areas, such as agronomists or pest scouts, to use your farm vehicles rather than their own vehicles which may have been on other properties.

A foot bath can be as simple as a plastic tray filled with disinfectant (several options are available, talk to your chemical reseller) that visitors step in after washing off excessive dirt in your wash down area. Disposable boot covers are available on-line or from safety wear retailers.

3. Know who has been on your property

5. L imit the spread of pests, diseases and weeds within your property

Having a visitor register for visitors to sign is a good way to ensure you know who has been on your property and when. It also shows visitors that you are serious about your farm biosecurity.

If you have areas of disease within your property, like a soil borne disease such as Charcoal Rot, or a rust, it is important to limit spread from infected areas to ‘clean’ areas.

Knowing who has entered your property allows possible sources of diseases, pests and weeds to be tracked. An example is shown below.

Fungal spores, bacteria, weed seeds and even insects can be introduced into a crop by people, machinery, tools, picking carriers - basically anything that moves!

While it is hard to control everything, you can reduce the risk of spreading pests and diseases by ensuring that, wherever possible, workers, equipment and machinery move from areas of low pest or disease incidence to areas of high pest or disease incidence.

This can help to limit the transfer of pests and diseases within the property. When this is not possible, machinery, tools, and clothing should be thoroughly cleaned in between.

These simple tips can help to avoid entry and spread of pests, diseases and weeds on your farm. Implementing any of these measures will help to reduce biosecurity risks on your property.

Figure 2.

This can be downloaded as a template from https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/wp-content/ uploads/2019/03/Visitor-register-cotton-grainsfruit-and-nuts.pdf or you can make your own.

Putting procedures in place to reduce biosecurity risks is cumulative - every step you take will build on the previous steps, and decrease the risk of new pests, diseases and weeds entering your farm.

4. Hygiene Practising good hygiene on-farm will go a long way towards limiting the entry and spread of pests and diseases.

If you would like more information on biosecurity planning go to farmbiosecurity.com.au which is a joint initiative of Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia.

A biosecurity planner can be downloaded from the website to help you implement an on-farm biosecurity plan.

Establish a designated wash down area away from production areas. Ensure any borrowed machinery, machinery purchased second-hand or machinery belonging to contractors who operate across multiple farms is thoroughly cleaned before being used on your property.

Check regularly for new weeds or pests around the wash down area and treat accordingly.

33

PRINT-PP Priva Half Page Berry Ad.pdf

1

12/2/20

3:22 pm

I N D U S T R Y

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 34

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

I N D U S T R Y

Harvest insights to help you understand your consumer Jane Richter

What are the key drivers of sales?

Hort Innovation has partnered with market data research organisation Nielsen to produce an online data insight platform called “Harvest to Home”. This multi-industry investment is tasked with providing regular consumer behaviour data and insight reporting to a range of industries, through the Harvest to Home platform.

Simplistically, there are only two main drivers of sales; either you sell to new customers or sell more to existing customers. In the dashboards available at Harvest to Home, the sales drivers are broken down into the proportion of Australian households that have purchased a product within a given time period (Household Penetration – expressed as a percentage) and the average amount of that product purchased by each household in the given time period (also known as Average Weight of Purchase or AWOP).

The platform uses data captured by the Nielsen Homescan® service and presents the information in a series of dashboards that allow the insights to be easily gleaned from the data.

Nielsen Homescan® is a continuous panel of 10,000 households who record all take-home packed and fresh grocery from all retail outlets. The sample is demographically and geographically representative of the Australian household population.

The average purchase amount is then broken down further into a measure of how many buying occasions there were for a given household and how much they spent on each occasion. See Figure 1.

How is this information useful?

DOLLAR SALES

Total bought by all Australian households during the period

The insights provided by the Harvest to Home service are the foundation for developing a marketing strategy and activity plan for a product. The measures allow you to confirm sales volume and value and growth rates by product groups, retail channel and demographics, and state location. This information is critical to help understand market growth and share for berries. It can be used by growers when engaging with retailers and for understanding how to align their own marketing approaches with the broader market.

PERCENTAGE OF BUYING HOUSEHOLDS

The % of Australian households who bought the fruit during the period of time specified

SPEND PER BUYING OCCASION

Data is currently available for both Strawberries and the Rubus berries with up to two years’ worth of information on show at any one time. The data is updated to a published schedule which allows you to track the changes in key drivers over time.

Average amount (in $ or kg) bought by each Australian household per shopping trip

AVERAGE AMOUNT PURCHASED

The average amount (in $ or kg) bought by each Australia household during the period

BUYING OCCASIONS

The average number of shopping trips to purchase the fruit by each Australian household during the period of time specified

Figure 1. Homescan® shows the drivers of consumer sales Credit: Nielsen www.harvesttohome.net.au In the next journal edition, we’ll look at household penetration in more detail for Strawberries and Rubus berries. In the meantime, we encourage you to jump onto www.harvesttohome.net.au and start exploring the dashboard!

Who can access the information?

The data is publicly available online at www.harvesttohome.net.au using your web browser or mobile device. The information can be used for understanding and diagnosing market performance and shopper behaviour.

35

I N D U S T R Y

Spotted Wing Drosophila: what is being done to prepare?

Jessica Lye, cesar

This update provides information from the following projects that are funded

by Hort Innovation using the Strawberry and Raspberry & Blackberry R&D levies and contributions from the Australian Government.

MT17005 ‘Improving the biosecurity preparedness of Australian horticulture for the exotic Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii)’ & MT18010 which has two components both exploring IPM controls for spotted winged drosophila in berry crops Researcher Dr Kelly Hamby from the University of Maryland has previously described the incursion of Spotted wing drosophila (SWD: Drosophila suzukii) in the United States: “When SWD first invaded, growers and researchers scrambled to find quick solutions, which necessitated using insecticides…Outbreaks of pests that historically were not problematic have occurred in response to SWD management.” (‘Growing Produce’ Nov 2018).

Through a collaborative Australia-New Zealand research and extension approach, for the past 18 months we have been investigating how SWD travels long distances, how quickly it would spread after an incursion, and the best methods to detect this exotic pest, which is currently not found in Australia or New-Zealand.

Why has this project been launched?

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD: Drosophila suzukii) is steadily becoming a pest of concern for primary industries around the world and has caused quite a few headaches overseas. This exotic fly is cryptic (it looks very similar to Drosophila melanogaster, the vinegar fly), it can pierce and lay eggs in unripe fruits still on the vine, and overseas research has found this fly to be persistent in both warm and very cold environments.

Larvae stay protected from chemical controls as they feed within the fruit, and adult flies can quickly build up in large numbers, particularly if fruit waste is left to rot in paddocks. Grape, summerfruit, rubus, cherries, and strawberries are all at risk.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

A number of factors will influence how SWD management and response decisions are made in an Australian context. Crop phenology varies markedly between the northern hemisphere and Australia and will impact the flexibility of harvest schedules – a key management tool used in minimising SWD abundance.

Within Australia, the wide climatic zones spanned by berry, cherry, grape, and summerfruit growing regions will require some unique management recommendations.

B E RRY 36

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Female SWD (top) and male SWD (bottom). Note that only the male has wing spots.

The female has a serrated ovipositor that enables her to pierce and lay eggs into unripe fruit.

Photo credit: Dr Elia Pirtle, cesar SWD establishment potential. Photo credit: Dr James Maino, cesar

Project activities so far

At this event we will share and discuss our project findings to ensure that key personnel who are likely to be involved in an incursion response are comfortable and confident about their knowledge of the pest and the decision-aid tools available to them.

Throughout this project we have investigated a range of topics to increase our understanding of how SWD could be eradicated, contained or monitored if there were an incursion in Australia or New Zealand.

Education packs to be supplied to extension professionals in cherries, stonefruit, berries, and grapes will ensure that the findings from this project have a legacy and education on SWD will continue following the project conclusion in June 2020.

Our areas of focus have included: • M odelling the most likely spread rates and establishment patterns • H ow SWD was first detected overseas and best options for detection

Finally, a smaller program of works has been funded

by Hort Innovation to investigate the management side of SWD. Working with collaborators in Europe, IPM Technologies are currently investigating options of cultural control of SWD (MT18010 Exploring IPM compatible methods for spotted wing drosophila in berry crops- IPM Technologies).

• P redicting financial impacts on affected industries and key regions over time • Identifying risk pathways into Australia • U ndertaking educational activities, such as workshops, development of information videos, and project articles

cesar is reviewing options for beneficial-based control of SWD in an Australian context, as well as delving further into the effects of seasonality and micro-climates on how active SWD may be on an Australian farm (MT18010 Exploring IPM compatible methods for spotted wing drosophila in berry crops-cesar). This work on management of SWD will continue throughout 2020, so stay tuned for more updates from these projects.

In late 2018 the project team organised a SWD preparedness workshop in Melbourne. We invited biosecurity personnel, researchers, industry development officers, and growers. During this workshop a number of 'gaps' were identified around our understanding of SWD and our preparedness for detecting, responding to, or managing this pest.

In March of 2020 we will be holding a second preparedness workshop.

37

The topic for today In our latest update we draw on a literature review

by Plant and Food Research - Australia and share how early overseas detections were made. We also recommend some simple preparedness actions that will ensure your farm and local industry is set up and ready to act if this fly were to be found in your region.

In our previous project update we highlighted the modelling work that has been carried out so far, which predicts that spotted wing drosophila would spread down the eastern seaboard of Australia, as well as Tasmania, and the south west of Western Australia within approximately six years in the absence of control measures.

This project is a collaboration between Plant Health Australia, Plant & Food Research Australia, and cesar. This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the strawberry, raspberry and blackberry, cherry and summerfruit research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

The project team would like to thank the steering committee for their guidance and input into project activities.

A D V E R T O R I A L

C O N T E N T

Time is running out for members with balances of less than $6,000 to make a choice about their insurance With the 1 April 2020 commencement date for the government’s Putting Members’ Interests First (PMIF) legislation changes to insurance fast approaching, it’s vital for members with low balances to make a choice about whether to they would like to retain their insurance before their cover is cancelled.

How can members keep their insurance cover?

Who is impacted by the changes?

Members at risk of having their insurance cancelled should have received communications from their super fund.

• Members at risk of losing their cover should notify their super fund in writing if they would like to keep their insurance cover.

• New members excluded from automatic cover can opt-in to insurance cover when they join their super fund or open a new account.

What else can members do?

The PMIF legislation aims to protect members’ retirement savings when they are “young” (under age 25) or have a “low balance” (less than $6,000).

What does this mean for members with a super account balance of less than $6,000?

We encourage these members to review these communications and consider whether their current insurance arrangements meet their needs. If members with low balances would like to keep their insurance cover, it’s important they contact their super fund as soon as possible.

As at 1 April, any members with a super account that has a balance of less than $6,000 will have their insurance cover cancelled (effective 31 March), unless they make an active choice to keep their cover.

For more information about the PMIF legislation, refer to our Sunsuper guide for members at sunsuper.com.au/insurance/putting-membersinterests-first-pmif-legislation.

B E RRY

Disclaimer: This article has been prepared and issued by Sunsuper Pty Ltd, the trustee and issuer of the Sunsuper Superannuation Fund. Sunsuper Pty Ltd ABN 88 AUTUMN 2020 EDITION 2 A U issuer S T R AofL the I A Sunsuper N J O U98 R N503 A L 137 921, 010 720 840, AFSL No. 228975, is the Trustee and Superannuation Fund ABN USI 98 503 137 921 001. Visit sunsuper. com.au or call 13 11 84 for a copy of the PDS.

38

I N D U S T R Y

Next Gen supply chain tour hits the mark Bron Ford, Berry Industry Development Officer Twenty-one growers and other industry representatives recently participated in a NextGen Supply Chain Field Trip delivered in Queensland by the Berries Australia Industry Development and Communications Project funded by Hort Innovation.

The tour began with an early start to enable all participants to meet and greet over a coffee prior to a tour of the Brisbane Markets. Paul Alroe from Don Alroe and Sons gave everyone insights from a wholesaler and agent’s perspective. Mark (Robbo) Robinson from Lindsay Fresh Logistics provided an in-depth tour of their facility and highlighted the strict security arrangements in place with their “Regulated Air Cargo Agent” status including their $600,000 x-ray instrument.

The tour then headed to All Class Machinery head office to view presentations about Kubota machinery including an overview of what the near future looks like with autonomous machinery. The group then was given the opportunity to walk around the showroom, touch and feel small and large machinery including tractors, excavators, spray and precision farming equipment.

The final stop on the tour was the Coles Distribution Centre at Parkinson in south Brisbane. This was a whirl of activity watching “pickers” manoeuvre around the facility on forklifts packing each stores’ requirements from their individual shopping lists. The highlight for many of the participants was the discussion and demonstration about the quality control process at the Distribution Centre.

Overall, 65% of participants indicated they would take action as a result of participating in the trip including following up on machinery options, investigating export opportunities and exploring other ways of doing things including marketing and logistics.

(Top to bottom) Full group at All Class Machinery; Emily and Ashlee from Harrisons Harvest checking out the x-ray machine at Lindsay Fresh Logistics; Group participants outside Lindsay Fresh Logistics; Paul Alroe from Don Alroe and Sons presenting to the group at the Brisbane Markets.

It was such an insightful day. From the start to finish it was so well organised.

I definitely got a lot out of it.

39

I N D U S T R Y

Spotted wing drosophila: the overseas experience & tips to stay a step ahead Project update for ‘Improving the biosecurity preparedness of Australian horticulture for the exotic Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii)’ MT17005 Jessica Lye, cesar

In a review headed by Plant and Food Research – Australia, the project has now investigated circumstances surrounding first detections of SWD in over 30 countries spanning North America, South America, and Europe.

Thumbs down for this hitchhiker

When it comes to more modest expansion of the fly range within a region or country, the rate of spread observed overseas suggests that vehicles play a role, rather than flight-based spread (remember - this is a very small fly!).

Fast spread throughout regions and between countries has been supported by this fly’s ability to survive in warm and cool climates (Figure 1). Only one year after a confirmed 2008 detection of SWD in California the fly had been found in 20 counties across the state, as well as the cooler climate states of Oregon and Washington, and the decidedly warm climate state of Florida.

How did it travel so quickly? SWD larvae make a home out of developing or ripe fruit until pupation. With the larvae hidden away, long range transmission is supported by movement of produce. In reviewing the academic literature, it was noted that South American researchers were able to rear SWD out of imported blueberries purchased at a Sao Paulo grocery store blueberries that had been grown in an entirely different Brazilian state.

Several first detections of SWD overseas have occurred near fruit transit hubs. Examples of this include near a grocery store in Sweden, by a selling point for imported fruit in the Netherlands, and in a tourist area in Croatia.

The first detection in Hungary was at a highway rest stop. Detections near major seaports have also been common, which may indicate a higher risk of entry and establishment near seaports.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

SWD adults and larvae in raspberry Photo credit: Hannah Burrack, Bugwood.org

B E RRY 40

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Figure 1. SWD global incursion timeline (1980-2017)

What can we say about likely incursion sites?

What we can say is:

The majority of early detections overseas have occurred in horticultural regions, although this may be a product of proactive trapping and grower vigilance, rather than the fly preferentially establishing in production zones.

• O ur berry, grape and stone fruit production zones would be, on the whole, suitable for establishment; • First detections of SWD commonly occur on the coast;

Indeed, past surveys have shown higher SWD trap counts in wilderness (woodland) areas compared to cropping areas, and we cannot ignore those detections made at sites of fruit transit.

• B ased on how SWD moves long distance (in imported fruit) urban areas are likely incursion sites; • I mported fruit move through ports and airports, which have been common detection sites overseas;

The location of proactive trapping efforts or regions where awareness is high is likely to play a big role in where this fly is detected first if it does travel to Australia or New Zealand.

• W holesaler and retailer sites are important to consider - unsold imported fruit left in waste piles can present a risk;

We can only speculate on likely incursion sites in Australia and New Zealand at this stage. Early detections made in Europe, South America and the United States in recent years were not necessarily at the site of the initial incursion.

• D etection of SWD all year round may be possible in temperate areas of Australia and New Zealand.

41

Establishment obstacles ­– it all needs to go the right way for SWD

Many overseas detections were made as a result of specific SWD monitoring efforts after neighbouring countries or regions had detected the fly. A number of countries (Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Spain) were running dedicated SWD trapping programs prior to the fly being detected. Early detection programmes were generally run with cost effective, basic apple cider vinegar or red wine traps that are attractive to Drosophila species. Since SWD has become a global pest a variety of lures and traps have been developed to improve sensitivity and selectivity. The best colours for attracting SWD have also been tested. Unsurprisingly, red is a very attractive colour for this berry addict. As part of an awareness and education campaign, this project has developed an instructional video for identification of SWD. One handy trick described in the video that will test for fruit infestation is the ‘sugar test’. Host fruit is collected and squashed in dissolved sugar (or salt) and any larvae quickly squirm their way out of the fruit.

Long range movement of imported fruit is the standout risk for bringing SWD into Australia or New Zealand. If SWD were to arrive via long range movement of fruit and subsequently establish, it would need to run a gauntlet first. These steps are shown in Figure 2.

Catching an incursion early – what can you do?

Picking up an exotic pest before it takes a foothold in the environment is pretty important when it comes to eradicating it from an area. So, is there anything industries can do to increase the chance of an early report? Early detection of SWD overseas was a result of detection through trapping or reporting of infested produce. Therefore, the two best options are: raising awareness about SWD identification, symptoms and the reporting process, and early detection trapping programs that could be run at a farm, regional, state, or industry level.

Exotic pest incursions can be pretty stressful and disruptive. If SWD were to be detected in a production zone, understanding how your farm can work with biosecurity authorities and minimise disruption of fruit sales from your farm or region is very important.

For growers in high risk industries, such as Rubus, strawberry and stonefruit, we have suggested some ways that you can plan and prepare in Table 1.

Hopefully your planning is never needed!

In the United Kingdom an industry working group was formed to troubleshoot the problem before the fly was found in the country. This working group raised awareness of the fly among United Kingdom industries and educated growers on monitoring techniques. It eventually oversaw a SWD research project when the fly was detected in the United Kingdom.

Figure 2. SWD needs to run the gauntlet to establish

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 42

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Table 1. Farm and local preparedness for SWD - action checklist

Preparedness activity

Supporting actions For SWD resources visit cesaraustralia.com and planthealthaustralia.com.au

Staff understand how to identify SWD adults or infestation

– Circulate SWD identification video – Circulate Plant Health Australia SWD fact sheet

A farm operating procedure for reporting a suspect SWD infestation is in place

– Source pre-emptive advice from your state Biosecurity Authority – T rain staff in internal procedure for logging details of an infested site, containing the site, taking a fruit sample and making a report

Trapping protocol developed and ready for execution

– I dentify best trapping locations (heavily wooded areas, wild blackberry stands, fruit waste sites) – Develop data collection method with Biosecurity Authority

Farm biosecurity plan is up to date

– Identify pest pathway risks – U se your Industry Biosecurity Plan to decide on actions to minimise pathway risks (available from your industry body or Plant Health Australia) – Ensure farm staff have read and follow the plan

Local industry understands the risk

– Add SWD as an agenda item for discussion at your next local grower group meeting – I nvite somebody from your Biosecurity Authority or Plant Health Australia to present on emergency response procedures to your local industry – Take Plant Health Australia’s online biosecurity training

Local industry has agreed on emergency actions

– Agree on local level actions if a detection is made – S et up a local emergency response working group that can be ‘activated’ to act as an information source and trusted communicator (consider members from local government, agronomy groups, and influential community groups)

References: Asplen MK et al. (2015) Invasion biology of spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii): a global perspective and future priorities J Pest Sci 88:469-494 https://doi.org/10.1007/ s10340-015-0681-z

Kiss B, Kis A, Kakai A (2016) The rapid invasion of spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), in Hungary Phytoparasitica 44:429-433 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-016-0520-7

Bellamy DE et al. (2013) Quantifying host potentials: Indexing postharvest fresh fruits for spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii PLoS ONE 8 https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0061227

Lee JC et al. (2011) The susceptibility of small fruits and cherries to the spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Pest Manage Sci 67:1358-1367 https://doi.org/10.1002/ ps.2225

Burrack HJ et al. (2013) Variation in selection and utilization of host crops in the field and laboratory by Drosophila suzukii Matsumara (Diptera: Drosophilidae), an invasive frugivore Pest Manage Sci 69:1173-1180 https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.3489

Lengyel GD et al. (2015) New records and present status of the invasive spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera) in Hungary https://doi. org/10.17109/AZH.61.1.73.2015

This project is a collaboration between Plant Health Australia, Plant & Food Research Australia, and cesar. This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the strawberry, raspberry and blackberry, cherry and summerfruit research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

The project team would like to thank the steering committee for their guidance and input into project activities.

43

R U B U S

Improving plant industry access to new genetics through faster and more accurate diagnostics using next generation sequencing (MT18005) Associate Professor Dr. Roberto Barrero, Queensland University of Technology 0499 771 588 | roberto.barrero@qut.edu.au Although the project is looking to compare new and pre-existing techniques, it is also an opportunity to identify different ways to utilise new technologies across the plant diagnostic space and develop methods that combine existing and new quality control points.

This includes:

A new project, funded by Hort Innovation using the Raspberry and Blackberry R&D levy and contributions from the Australian Government, seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of virus detection in plant genetic material in post-entry quarantine facilities, through the adoption of next generation sequencing.

• How genetic information is collected • L everaging from the plant immune response to viruses and how it enables diagnosis at the border

In 2018, the Australian horticultural sector exported an estimated $2.4 billion – highlighting the importance of investment in the detection of exotic plant pests at the border, for both improved biosecurity and gaining access to valuable markets.

• I mplement reproducible end-to-end data analysis tools and resources incorporating best practices and harmonised international standards for the detection of exotic plant pests The project aims to screen up to 200 imported plants using the next generation sequencing technology for viruses and viroids (small infectious particles), and half of those plants are also expected to be screened for key exotic bacteria.

Run by The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in collaboration with Agriculture Victoria, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (NZ MPI), this project aims to develop a useful tool for plant pathologists, enabling users to conduct shorter, more efficient and accurate plant pest screenings.

The project has recently kicked off with the first faceto-face meeting in Melbourne; establishing strategies and logistics to deliver across each project milestone and providing an opportunity to engage with the broader community including diagnosticians, industry and regulator groups in Australia and New Zealand.

The meeting brought together project members from QUT, collaborators from Agriculture Victoria, and various key stakeholders from the government and industry.

Utilisation of this sequencing technology will improve current methods and techniques to allow for quicker access to new genetic stocks. As a more cost-effective option, the technology has the potential to increase business resilience by allowing the import of a larger panel of genetic stocks to adapt to local environmental conditions. Past research has found utilising next generation sequencing has great promise; strongly correlating with methods currently used at post entry quarantine (PEQ) facilities. The project will perform large-scale side by side comparisons of next generation sequencing methods and techniques with existing PEQ protocols, enhancing confidence surrounding the better detection of exotic viruses and bacteria among regulators and industry stakeholders.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

The project team is partnering with policy regulators from the program offset and aims to ensure all industries are represented throughout the duration of the project. To share project findings and insights, the QUT team will organise an annual open workshop.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for more updates as the project progresses!

B E RRY 44

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

R U B U S

Recent advances in shelf-life extension for the rubus and blueberry growers Nha Huynh’s PhD study at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture is supported by the Australian Research Council’s Industrial Transformation Training Centres scheme under Grant IC140100024

Implementing appropriate postharvest practices can improve product quality and consistency to the customer, reduce product losses, and ultimately save growers money. preserved to maintain quality market acceptability. In contrast, raspberries, blackberries and other members of the Rubus genus have complex structures and soft skins, making them highly susceptible to impact damage, compression damage, and dehydration.

Current supply chains focus heavily on cool chain management to preserve fruit quality. Before investing time and money in expensive post-harvest systems and solutions, growers are encouraged to undertake a simple cold chain audit to check the health of their temperature management systems and pathways.

This can be done by placing temperature, time and GPS trackers inside punnets at picking so the air temperature the fruit is being exposed to can be traced by time and location from the field to arrival at retail.

With the physical limitations of each fruit species in mind, Nha documents the different physicochemical treatments available to the food industry to preserve berry quality and reduce the incidence of fruit decay.

These include heat treatments, sanitisation, different types of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and the application of thin edible coatings.

Once growers have sorted out the cold chain pathway, growers can look to incorporate more advanced technologies to further improve storage and shelflife. The use of postharvest preservation technologies has been well studied in strawberries, but to date little research has been conducted on how these technologies can be applied to higher value berry fruit like raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

The review noted that the most promising new technologies to preserve shelf life of raspberries and blackberries are gaseous sulphur dioxide and chlorine dioxide, which are still in the early research stage.

These compounds are antimicrobial agents and their gaseous form provides good coverage around and inside drupelets. Whilst not yet registered for commercial use on raspberries and blackberries, this tool is used by some blueberry growers and can be readily adopted by industry through Sulphur dioxide releasing pads. More complex technological options were unsuited for use by industry as fruit is increasingly directly picked and sorted into punnets.

Nha Huynh, PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania, has recently reviewed advances in berry shelf-life technologies, and is investigating how they can be used to improve the shelf life of raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and other complex berries.

In her review, Nha documents the drivers of quality loss in these complex fruits, including physical structure, cuticle structure, acid content and internal chemistry.

In particular, blueberries have a simple spherical structure and thick cuticle that make them resilient against minor impact damage and reduce dehydration but have a waxy bloom on the epicuticle that must be

SEE PAGE 52 for the article Raspberry Rescue – Increasing storage life with SO2 sheets by Dr Jenny Ekman, Research Scientist, Applied Horticultural Research

45

An example of this is the use of MAP pallet liners, which prolong the efficacy of ethylene control and gaseous substrates more effectively. This approach would reduce weight loss, retain sensorial quality and prevent fungal decay.

For blueberry growers, UV-B (medium wave) irradiation was identified as a potentially suitable antimicrobial technology. Able to be applied directly to the fruit in the packhouse as they travel and rotate across a grading line, UV-B irradiation can be used for microbial sterilisation without requiring additional handling, chemical application or causing fruit damage.

By understanding what each technology aims to achieve and combining them appropriately, growers are able to have a cumulative impact that is greater than each individual technology or approach.

Whichever treatment or technology or combination a grower chooses to implement, the review notes that consideration should be given to coupling physicochemical treatments with advanced packaging materials like modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) liners and active packaging to further extend berry shelf life.

These materials can be used to prevent the build-up or loss of key gas substrates, minimising excessive moisture loss, and slowing sugar and acid respiration, slowing internal respiration and degradation processes and extending berry quality.

Nha Huynh in the laboratory at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 46

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

R U B U S

Growing Leaders David Hanlon, The Right Mind | 0411 601 949 | dhanlon@therightmind.com.au

Applications are now open for a cross-industry program that will build leadership skills among young people in Australian horticulture.

The Growing Leaders Program (MT18016) will be delivered by The Right Mind and will focus on a range of tools that are required to grow leadership style.

One lucky Rubus grower has the opportunity to participate in a horticulture-wide program to help them become sound leaders and learn how to inspire others in their workplaces and industry.

Participants leave with an urge to tackle things (either personally, organisationally or within their industry) that they have not done prior to taking on the program. For us, this is deeply rewarding.

The Growing Leaders Program is a multi-industry levy-funded program where participants have the opportunity to meet, mix with and learn from leaders across a range of horticultural industries.

Delivered by David Hanlon and Jill Rigney from The Right Mind (TRM), the program seeks to challenge participants to reflect on what is expected of a modern leader, and to equip them with the tools they need to prosper. It was widely acclaimed in the adaptation for the nursery and turf industries and now is offered to a wider range of industries.

“It is a program based on our Rural Leader’s Bootcamp, but there are modules containing real life industry examples that will ensure analytical skills are tailored to the participants’ own industry,” David explained.

The TRM program comes with a wealth of fresh and innovative training materials (evaluated by external peers) that have been customised by highly experienced facilitators to meet the specific needs of the industries involved.

This comprehensive leadership-oriented curriculum is characterised by high-quality teaching materials, complemented by small and whole group theoretical and experiential learning.

47

The program involves a number of elements, including two face-to-face workshop sessions, which David describes as a ‘boot camp’.

For the organisations participating, there is a greater knowledge around the ‘hidden drivers’ of performance and how to bring them to the fore.

"It is definitely full-on, and participants love that.

It facilitates a more rapid understanding of their own leadership style and provides the latest tools to grow it,” he said.

As an industry-funded program, TRM strongly encourages participants to step up and take on higher leadership positions within their industry body.

Interested growers can visit therightmind.com.au for more details and to access the application form or contact the team directly | 07 3869 3044 | info@therightmind.com.au

The program includes learning about, understanding and identifying your own and others’ communication styles; how to manage conflict; how to set and meet priorities for yourself and your business; how to manage risk; and understanding your customers’ needs among others.

Applications close, Friday 27 March 2020

2020 Workshop Dates

“We have found that the participants’ businesses love it. They are actively encouraged to provide feedback during the program, sit in on the webinars, and provide us with feedback at the end of the program,” Jill said.

The first Growing Leaders workshop will be held in Brisbane from 11-14 May, and a second workshop will take place in Melbourne from 10-11 August. There is no cost to participate in the program, however travel costs to the workshop destinations and accommodation are at participants’ expense.

Outcomes from the program include a significantly deeper understanding of self and one’s own potential.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 48

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

R U B U S

What makes a raspberry crumble?

Michele Buntain, Horticulturist, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

Measuring the effect of temperature on different stages of flower development

This raspberry crumble is not your grandma’s favourite dessert, but a disorder that has baffled raspberry growers and researchers for many years.

In the poly tunnel experiment Olivia tracked the progress of ‘Maravilla’ raspberry flowers from closed buds through to fruit. She tagged flowers at three stages of development: pre-anthesis, anthesis and postanthesis, on five dates with quite different maximum temperatures in the preceding 24 hours. Olivia also collected flowers at each development stage to assess the individual flower parts and flowering processes that lead to fruit formation. Flowers were tagged and collected from both the tunnel entrance and the middle of the tunnel to get a better picture of the tunnel environment and how variable it is.

Crumbly fruit is a significant disorder of raspberries that occurs worldwide with losses ranging from 5 to 30%. Normally, the delicate structure of a raspberry fruit is held together by interlocking ultrafine hairs on the surface of each segment or drupelet. When too few drupelets form, the hairs are too far apart to mesh, and the fruit crumbles when picked. Many causes have been proposed including virus infection, genetics, propagation method, pollination and environmental factors, without a definitive answer.

In Tasmania, Costa Berries Raspberry Horticulturist Emma Nightingale noticed what looked like a pattern emerging as to when crumbly fruit was appearing in the raspberry crops.

“Growing raspberries in poly tunnels has fantastic benefits for fruit quality but occasionally, even in Tasmania, conditions can get a little extreme. The crumbly issue has been on-going for many years, but from what we could observe in the crop it could often be traced back to uncharacteristically extreme days of high temperature and low relative humidity,” Ms Nightingale said.

With support from Costa Berries, University of Tasmania Agricultural Science honours student, Olivia Cripps set out to determine if high temperatures and low humidity resulted in more crumbly raspberries.

Olivia’s primary research was about understanding how high temperatures and low humidity affect flowering structures such as pollen, pollen tubes and the stigma as well as the processes that lead to fruit formation.

She also took the opportunity to see if misting or shading the tunnel environment could alleviate these high temperature / low humidity events, or from a plants perspective a high vapour pressure deficit (VPD).

Flower stages Photo credit: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

49

How hot did it get and for how long?

Pumping up the heat

Although the extreme temperatures of the 2017/18 season were not reached, a peak maximum temperature of 29°C was recorded for the 24 hours prior to tagging flowers. The middle of the tunnel had consistently higher maximum temperatures than the entrance, with daily peaks up to 6°C warmer. The duration of these peaks was quite short lasting for only around one hour. On average, the temperature in the mid tunnel was 1°C above that at the tunnel entrance during the study.

During winter, Olivia set up a similar study under the controlled conditions of a phytotron and greenhouse using ‘Diamond Jubilee’ raspberries. Selected plants from the greenhouse were moved to the phytotron for 48 hours where they were exposed to 26 hours at 32°C with a vapour pressure deficit of 3.8.

There was no clear difference in the levels of crumble compared to the greenhouse control plants. Pollen germination and pollen viability were both at high levels after exposure to 32°C. However, the later processes of pollen tube growth and stigma receptivity were reduced by the extended exposure to the high temperature and low humidity conditions in the phytotron.

How did increasing temperature affect flower health and flowering processes?

Increasing air temperature in tunnels from 15 to 29°C had either no effect or a positive effect on flower health indicators such as pollen viability, number of pollen grains attached to the stigma, pollen germination, number of pollen tubes entering the style, pollen tube growth, pollen tube penetration of the ovary and fruit quality.

Tunnel location and bees The hotter environment of the mid tunnel compared to the door presented a good opportunity to compare crumble between those locations. The hotter mid location had a greater proportion of severely crumbly fruit (26%) compared to the door (10%), although the average level of crumble was very similar.

If temperature is not considered to be the major driver of raspberry crumble, another proposal is that lower bee activity in the middle of the tunnel could be responsible for this difference. This is supported by a recent Queensland study by Hall (2019).

This varied slightly depending on the stage of flowering experiencing these temperatures. Increasing the temperature from 15 to 29°C corresponded with: • I ncreased pollen viability for flowers tagged at anthesis • A greater number of pollen tubes growing down the style for flowers tagged at post anthesis • F ewer crumbly fruit for flowers tagged at post anthesis

Pollen tube growing down upper style Photo credit: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

Pollen tube exiting style Photo credit: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

B E RRY 50

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Can the tunnel environment be modified with mist or shade?

• H igh temperatures and low humidity in the tunnel environment can be modified using misters or shade cloth, but the practicalities and economics would need to be determined.

Overhead misting (Netafim - Coolnet™ Pro Superfine misters) alone or in combination with ground irrigation reduced tunnel air temperature and humidity, effectively reducing the vapour pressure deficit. When the duration of misting was increased from 10 minutes to 20 and 30 minutes, the duration of this effect also extended. Covering the tunnel with 50% shade cloth was a very effective but more permanent way of reducing high temperatures. Over a 25-day period, the shaded tunnel experienced only 5.4 hours over 30°C whilst the unshaded tunnel experienced over 20 hours.

Project support: Olivia was the recipient of the $10,000 Costa Honours Scholarship in Agricultural Science and her honours research was also supported by Costa Berries. Olivia’s research supervisors at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture were Associate Professor Alistair Gracie, Dr Jo Jones and Michele Buntain.

Sincere thanks to the team at Costa Berries and Emma Nightingale for their invaluable support and collaboration and Berryworld Australia for the supply of plants.

Key findings Overall there was no clear direct effect of exposure to high temperatures for either a short or extended period on raspberry fruit crumble.

• T he research suggests that the later fertilisation processes and flower structures such as ovary function could be more sensitive to high temperatures and low humidity, leading to crumble.

This is an area for further research.

• A genetic factor is implicated in crumbly fruit disorder as crumbly fruit occurred over a range of different environmental conditions for both ‘Maravilla’ and ‘Diamond Jubilee’ raspberries.

• R educed bee activity in the mid tunnel location is a potential contributor to fruit crumble.

Olivia Cripps Photo credit: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

51

R U B U S

Raspberry rescue – increasing storage life with SO2 sheets Dr Jenny Ekman, Research Scientist, Applied Horticultural Research

The raspberry storage challenge

Trial 1 – Sheets added at the farm

Fresh raspberries are surely one of the most perishable of all fruit. Before new varieties became available and turnover increased, major supermarkets would report losses of up to 80% of raspberries in store. While waste has been greatly reduced and turnover increased, postharvest loss remains a major issue for these delicate, soft fruits.

Method The sheets were added as the field packed trays arrived at the packhouse. The trays were then forced air cooled, stacked and cling wrapped. This was designed to replicate a wrapped pallet; wrapping treated pallets is an effective way to both reduce water loss and softening and improve SO2 treatment effectiveness during extended storage.

Moreover, storing fruit for longer periods could help extend the season for raspberries, stabilising supply and capacity to meet demand. This could be particularly useful at Christmas, as surely no pavlova is complete without raspberries on top.

Punnets were assessed after removal from “commercial” conditions (13 or 19 days), then again once the sheets were removed and punnets stored for a few extra days in a domestic fridge – as consumers would keep them after purchase. Assessments were destructive, with all berries removed and closely examined for mould. Percentage rots was then simply calculated from the weight of mouldy fruit.

Raspberry storage life is often ended by disease, the primary culprit being Botrytis cinerea (grey mould).

Although infection often occurs at flowering, it is only once the ripe, harvested fruit lose their ability to defend themselves that the fungus strikes. Grey mould is particularly difficult to manage as continues to grow at temperatures as low as 0°C and is encouraged by the high humidity conditions needed during storage.

Results Not only were these raspberries very good quality to start with, the cold chain was maintained throughout – maximising storage life. After nearly two weeks at 2–4oC half of the punnets were removed for assessment. All of the punnets were still in excellent condition, with minimal rots regardless of treatment. However, after five days in the fridge differences started to emerge, with noticeable rots in the untreated controls.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) release sheets are commonly used to control grey mould on stored table grapes.

They are also already registered for blueberries, having been demonstrated to increase storage life. But, can they provide an answer for raspberries?

Our trials

The remaining punnets had been left in the cool room for an extra 6 days before they too were unwrapped, assessed and moved to a normal fridge. Rots now accelerated. Not only did the untreated controls have more rots on removal, after two days in the fridge up to 50% were inedible. In contrast, both of the SO2 treatments were almost rot free on removal, the raspberries remaining largely firm and fuzz-free after two days in the fridge.

We have conducted preliminary trials examining the effect of a brand of SO2 sheets on storage and shelf life of packed raspberries. Sheets were added to the top layer of punnets or both the top and bottom layers. In trial 1 the sheets were added immediately after harvest at the farm, while in trial 2 berries were simply sourced from wholesale for treatment.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 52

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

45

CONTROL

40

1 SHEET

Rotten fruit (%)

35

2 SHEETS

30 25 20

TRANSFERRED FROM 2°C TO 5°C

15 10 50 0

0

5

10

15

20

25

Days afer harvest Figure 1. Percentage of rotten berries in punnets that were left untreated (control) or had one or two sheets added to each tray. Solid lines indicate cold storage (2oC), dotted lines show changes after removal of the sheets and transfer to a domestic fridge (5oC). Bars indicate the standard error of each mean value.

CONTROL

1 SHEET

2 SHEETS

19 D A Y S 19 + 2 D A Y S

Figure 2. Condition of raspberries that were untreated (left) or had 1 (centre) or 2 (right) SO2 sheets added at harvest.

Raspberries were stored for 19 days at 2oC (top row) followed by 2 days in a domestic fridge (bottom row).

53

100

CONTROL

90

1 SHEET UPPER LAYER

Mouldy fruit (%)

80

1 SHEET LOWER LAYER

70

2 SHEETS

60 50 40 30 20 10 0

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Days of storage at 5°C (+1d @ 22°C) Figure 3. Percentage of rotten berries in punnets that were left untreated (control) or had one or two sheets added to each tray (results from upper and lower layers presented separately for the single sheet treatment). Punnets were stored at 5oC for 6 or 13 days. The sheets were then removed, and punnets assessed after 24 hours at 22oC. Bars indicate the standard error of each mean value.

Trial 2 – Sheets added at wholesale

Conclusions

Method

These trials suggest that raspberries respond well to storage with SO2 sheets. The “bleaching” that can occur with blueberries was not observed for raspberries, and limited “taste testing” (by our lab staff) could not detect any flavour effects. A single sheet on top of each tray is likely to be enough to provide a good result if the pallet is wrapped. However, sheets may need to be added to each layer of punnets if the trays are not wrapped. This not only adds cost, it also adds difficulty, as the sheets must be removed before the trays go onto retail display. One really interesting result was that the benefits of the SO2 sheet continued even after the sheet was removed. We envisage that this is what would happen commercially when trays are transferred to retail display. This suggests that SO2 sheets could not only reduce waste in the supply chain, but also improve customer satisfaction with raspberries overall. It should be noted that SO2 release sheets are not yet registered for use on raspberries and these trials were limited in scope. However, these promising results suggest that SO2 could definitely be a useful device in the future postharvest toolbox.

Not only were these raspberries already a few days old by the time they were purchased, but the cold chain was not optimally maintained. The fruit deteriorated relatively quickly as a result.

In this case the trays were not cling wrapped, but simply stored at 5oC for 5 or 12 days. The sheets were then removed, and punnets assessed after a further 24 hours at 22oC, simulating a retail store.

Results Despite this poor handling, the SO2 sheets still provided some benefit, particularly when two sheets were used.

While a single sheet provided good control of rots in the upper layer of the tray, punnets on the lower layer were no different to the untreated controls. This is likely due to SO2 diffusing into the storage room air rather than the lower layer of punnets, limiting its effectiveness.

By the second assessment, virtually none of the untreated raspberries were edible. However, rots were approximately halved when the punnets were directly overlaid with a SO2 sheet.

Dr Jenny Ekman Research Scientist BHortSci (Hons), PhD in postharvest physiology

PLEASE NOTE: This research was funded by Tessara Pty Ltd Jenny is a postharvest physiologist and communicator who works to maximise produce freshaness and value while minimising supply chain losses. She is passionate about applying science to improve commercial and consumer outcomes.

jenny@ahr.com.au | 0407 384 285

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 54

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

S T R A W B E R R I E S

An update on fresh Strawberry imports from Japan Rachel Mackenzie | 0408 796 199 | rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au Where possible, Australia must develop import conditions that are scientifically justified and that do not unnecessarily restrict trade. Where the risk of the imports cannot be reduced to an acceptable level, the Government will not permit them. Our trading partners use the same principles when assessing Australia’s market access requests.

Australia is one of 164 members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) who deals with the global rules of trade between nations.

Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments.

On 1 November 2017, the Government announced the start of a risk analysis process. A draft report from that risk analysis was published online on 6 June 2019 and a 60-day consultation period followed. Berries Australia and Strawberries Australia were consulted during this period. The final report was released on 7 February 2020 and is available at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/strawberries-from-japan

Through these agreements, WTO members operate a non- discriminatory trading system that spells out their rights and their obligations. Each member receives guarantees that its exports will be treated fairly and consistently in other members’ markets. Each member promises to do the same for imports into its own market.

The final report concludes that the importation of strawberries to Australia from all commercial production areas of Japan be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements which includes seasonal area freedom and very stringent screening for pests.

There are two further stages that occur in a trading negotiation between two countries; an agreement on the terms of trade and the definition of rules governing market access for products which could present a risk to the biosecurity of the importing country.

The final report recommends risk management measures, combined with operational systems, to ensure biosecurity standards are met. The recommended risk management measures will reduce the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. Berries Australia provided significant input into the proposed risk management measures.

Australian and Japan have a long history as trading nations, in fact Japan is our second largest export market and fourth largest source of foreign investment.

The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA), which entered into force on 15 January 2015, gives Australian exporters significantly improved market access in goods and services and substantially improves investment protections. Japan has a heavily protected agriculture market. Australia is the first significant agricultural producer to have a meaningful trade agreement with Japan, providing Australian exporters with a competitive advantage.

This report is purely an assessment of the biosecurity risk of the strawberry imports and has nothing to do with the commercial viability of the proposed import or even the potential impact on local growers.

It must be emphasised that this is only the first step in a long process and many commodities which are approved from an import risk assessment perspective are never actually imported into Australia due to commercial or operational reasons.

At the heart of the trading philosophy is the concept of reciprocity. For Australia to make gains in its trading relationship with another country it also has to allow access to its market for exports from the trading partner.

It is unlikely that Japanese strawberries will come into Australia in the near future, however we will continue to engage with the Department of Agriculture and will inform growers if Japan takes further steps in this direction.

Japan made a formal request to the Australian Government for access into Australia of fresh Japanese grown strawberries. Under the terms of the WTO agreements, Australia is legally obliged to respond to that request.

55

S T R A W B E R R I E S

your blend for life “They don’t just deliver reliable substrate, they add value too.”

I have no problems when it comes to cultivating outdoors. With the strong and reliable substrate specifically developed for me by Legro, I get optimal performance from my crop. For me, it is of high importance to work with a company you can trust. So if that’s what you’re looking for, I’d say contact Legro.

Leon Driessen, Driesvenplant B.V., customer Legro

T +61 (0)3 9555 5267 | info.aus@legrogroup.com AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

www.legrogroup.com

S T R A W B E R R I E S

The Victorian Strawberry Industry Certification Authority: The story of healthy runners Have you ever wondered what the Certification label on your box of strawberry runners really means? It is an important label that certifies you are receiving the healthiest runners possible.

The Victorian Strawberry Industry Certification Authority Inc. (VSICA) is an independent body that inspects runners and ensures nursery growers produce them using the best protocols and practices available.

VSICA only issues labels for runners if they meet rigorous standards of plant health. The Certification label also symbolises a long and successful history of delivery of healthy runners to fruit growers (Figure 1).

History of healthy runners Back in the 1950’s, strawberry runners were infected with viruses and spread diseases to the fruit sector.

The diseases dramatically reduced yields of strawberry crops and threatened the establishment and viability of the industry as you can see from the stunted crops in Figure 2.

Figure 1. The Certification label on a box of strawberry runners

The Victorian Department of Agriculture responded by initiating the Victorian Strawberry Runner Certification Scheme (the Certification Scheme) in the early 1960’s to provide healthy runners to strawberry fruit growers across Australia. Scientists at the Department developed the production practices within the Certification Scheme based on extensive research. Their analysis showed that Toolangi is the ideal location in Victoria to grow strawberry runners because it has the correct elevation and temperatures to ‘chill’ runners and condition them for berry production in the fruit sector. The area is also surrounded by state forest, which reduces flights of airborne pests like aphids that can carry viruses.

Figure 2. Strawberry runner crops suffering from diseases caused by viruses (stunted patch) prior to the introduction of the Victorian Strawberry Runner Certification Scheme in the 1960’s

57

Owing to its unique environment, the Victorian government declared Toolangi a ‘Plant Protection District’ for growing nursery crops. This strict measure prohibits the unauthorised entry of strawberry and other horticultural plants into the district and maintains a very high level of biosecurity in the area (Figure 3).

The adoption of the Certification Scheme resulted in the immediate decline of diseases in runners caused by viruses, fungi and bacteria, and tripled strawberry yields in the fruit sector. It was a key factor in allowing the strawberry industry to establish and flourish in Australia.

Lionel Stubbs (L) and Karel Kroon (R) were the leading scientists at the Victorian Department of Agriculture who established the Victorian Runner Certification Scheme in the 1960’s

The Victorian Strawberry Industry Certification Authority In 1995, the Department entrusted the management and development of the Certification Scheme to the Victorian Strawberry Industry Certification Authority (VSICA). VSICA is an independent, not-forprofit organisation set up to serve the strawberry fruit and runner sectors. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprising of two fruit growers, two runner growers and an independent chairperson.

VSICA is located at Toolangi in Victoria, but serves the national strawberry industry by overseeing the health of runners produced in the Certification Scheme. The runners are purchased by fruit growers from all states of Australia.

Figure 3. Growers at Toolangi produce Certified runners within a ‘Plant Protection District’, which assists in maintaining very high levels of biosecurity

VSICA has built a strong research and development capability to continually improve the science underpinning the Certification Scheme. More recently, scientists from VSICA have collaborated in research to improve control of diseases such as charcoal rot in the strawberry fruit sector.

Summary of the Scheme The Certification Scheme involves the multiplication of runners over four generations (Figure 4), with specific procedures, practices and standards for each stage of production.

Nucleus plants (Generation 1) enter the Certification Scheme from national or overseas breeding programs following extensive testing for exotic and endemic pathogens that cause disease. VSICA maintains Nucleus plants for a range of clients in a high-security glasshouse. Each year government scientists from AgriBio independently test all Nucleus plants for viruses, fungi and bacteria.

Healthy runners growing at Toolangi

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 58

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Under the rules of the Certification Scheme, nursery growers must produce runners in soil treated with the fumigant methyl bromide. This is because research shows that methyl bromide is currently the only registered fumigant that can disinfest soil at Toolangi to the levels required in the Certification Scheme.

VSICA multiplies the Nucleus plants to produce daughter plants (Generation 1) and uses these to produce Foundation stock (Generation 2) as plug plants using a hydroponic system in an insect-proof screenhouse. Runner growers in the ‘Toolangi Plant Protection District’ multiply the Foundation stock to produce Mother stock (Generation 3) and then Certified stock (Generation 4).

Figure 4. Flowchart of the Victorian Strawberry Runner Certification Scheme

VICTORIAN STRAWBERRY RUNNER CERTIFICATION SCHEME Strawberry Fruit Crops C E R T I F I E D R U N N E R S (Generation 4)

Runner growers at Toolangi produce these crops and VSICA inspects them for diseases, weeds and pests at least three times through the season.

M O T H E R S T O C K (Generation 3)

Runner growers at Toolangi produce these crops and VSICA inspects them for diseases, weeds and pests at least three times through the season.

F O U N D A T I O N S T O C K (Generation 2)

VSICA produces these plants in a hydroponic system in an insect-proof screenhouse.

D A U G H T E R N U C L E U S S T O C K (Generation 1)

VSICA produces these plants in a disinfested, soil-less substrate in a glasshouse.

NUCLEUS PLANTS

VSICA maintains strawberry varieties for a range of clients in an insect-proof glasshouse and tests them for pathogens annually.

QUARANTINE OVERSEAS

AUSTRALIA

Strawberry Breeding Programs

59

Nucleus glasshouse where VSICA maintains pathogen-tested plants of different varieties of strawberry and produces daughter nucleus stock - Generation 1

VSICA Tissue Culture Laboratory

Foundation stock - Generation 2 – produced by VSICA in a hydroponic system

Field inspections of Generation 3 & Generation 4 runners

Foundation stock screenhouse AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

VSICA only issues a Certification label if runners meet all the conditions of the Certification Scheme through all four generations of multiplication.

This means that when fruit growers receive runners with a Certification label they can be confident they have purchased the healthiest plants possible.

For further information please contact Corina Horstra, Manager VSICA corina.horstra@vsica.org.au 60

S T R A W B E R R I E S

Strawberry seasonal plant outlook and propagator summary Bron Ford, Berry Industry Development Officer

The supply of strawberry plants, both bare root runners and seedling plugs, for winter fruit production was challenging for some commercial propagators during 2019 – particularly those located on the Granite Belt in Queensland. of the companies have gone to in order to spread the risk associated with climate impacts, and the various strategies being implemented to ensure priority plant orders for commercial fruit growers have the highest likelihood of being met.

This report summarises the current status of production at the five accredited strawberry propagators supplying commercial quantities of plants for the 2020 fruit production season. The summary highlights the variety of production systems being used and the lengths some

Strawberry runner production at JCLM Farming Photo credit: Jack Beattie

61

Toolangi Certified Strawberry Runner Growers Co-operative – George Weda

Perry Certified Strawberry Runners Growers – Shane Perry

The Toolangi Certified Strawberry Runner Growers Co-operative (TCSRGC) was originally formed in 1960 and is the longest serving runner producer in Australia.

Today the TCSRGC is comprised of eight grower families dedicated to supplying healthy plants that deliver high profits for fruit growers.

Perry Certified Strawberry Runner Growers Pty Ltd is owned by Shane and Kerri Perry who are independent runner growers accredited under VSICA. Shane grew up on a commercial strawberry runner farm and made the transition to producing his own certified runners 30 years ago.

The TCSRGC is located in the Great Dividing Range at Toolangi, Victoria, in a state-declared ‘Plant Protection District’. This means that many plants and plant materials (including strawberry fruit) are prohibited from entering the district, and this helps protect against the entry of strawberry pests and pathogens.

The high elevation at Toolangi ensures that strawberry plants receive optimum ‘chill’ for high fruit production.

The area is surrounded by state forest, which also acts as a barrier against air-borne pests.

They farm 16 acres in Toolangi using a combination of hydroponics under protective igloos and in-soil production following fumigation with methyl bromide.

Planting occurs between August and October avoiding the wet winter period and harvest between March and July each year. Most plants are distributed following harvest; however, a number are frozen and distributed between July and January.

Plants are distributed throughout Australia to homegardeners, commercial nurseries and commercial fruit growers – the largest being Driscolls.

Toolangi was not affected at all by the horrendous fires that gripped the far-eastern parts of Victoria in January 2020. The area has received good levels of rainfall throughout the 2019/20 season. Cooler than average temperatures initially slowed plant development, but reliable rainfall has resulted in good establishment of runners and TCSRGC are looking forward to mild conditions in February to accelerate plant growth.

For a detailed explanation of the VSICA Certification Scheme, please SEE PAGE 57

JCLM Farming Pty Ltd - Jack Beattie ASPAA High Health Accredited Producer Based near the small town of Ouse, 95km north west of Hobart, the farm sits at an elevation of 85m with irrigation direct from the Derwent River. The property has an average summer high temperate of 24˚C and an average summer low temperate of 9˚C and a monthly average rainfall over summer of just under 30mm.

Runners at TCSRGC are independently certified by the Victorian Strawberry Industry Certification Authority (VSICA). This means that runner production by the TCSRGC must follow VSICA’s certification protocols and standards, including planting and rotation practices and pre-plant fumigation with mixtures of methyl bromide and chloropicrin. These protocols are based on best management practices established through extensive scientific research. Highly-trained scientists and staff at VSICA inspect all runner crops grown by the TCSRGC at least three times through the season. VSICA reported that all strawberry crops in the TCSRGC are meeting certification standards in the 2019/20 season. VSICA only issues a Certification label to crops that meet all the standards of the scheme.

The Certification label indicates that fruit growers are receiving the healthiest runners possible with the best technologies currently available. For more about the VSICA scheme SEE PAGE 57.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

JCLM Farming has established its own mother stock production system over the last three years and can now provide commercial quantities of plants to meet priority orders. The main varieties grown on the 80ha site are: Red Rhapsody, Scarlet Rose, Aussie Gem, Sundrench, Sunglow and Parisienne Kiss for the Australian winter season and Summersong and Scarlet Silk for summer fruit production.

In a point of difference from other propagators, the bare-rooted runners will be supplied in “leaf off” form for two key reasons: • Lower plant mortality at establishment • Cost efficiencies with logistics

B E RRY 62

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Sweet’s Strawberry Runners – Wally Sweet

Red Jewel – Ian Mungall Following a difficult 2019 runner season on the Granite Belt which saw prolonged drought conditions resulting in reduced plant numbers and significant water cartage costs to finish the season, Red Jewel made the decision to relocate a large portion of their business away from the Granite Belt until such time as sufficient water becomes available at our bareroot runner operation at Ballandean.

ASPAA High Health Accredited Producer It has been widely acknowledged that the Granite Belt has been in the grip of a severe drought with only 25% of the average annual rainfall in 2019. Additionally, 12 of the last 15 months have been in the top 10% of hottest months on record and numerous storms incorporating hail have added to the challenges.

Red Jewel made the decision to expand their plug plant operation and established a new specialised plug plant operation near Armidale on the NSW New England tablelands. The site was chosen because of its temperate climate and abundant supply of good quality irrigation water from Commissioner’s Waters which is a tributary of the Gara River. Being located at over 1000m of altitude provides cool nights in conjunction with a high solar exposure which ensures that plants have an optimum growing environment prior to being dispatched to growers for early fruit production.

To mitigate these challenges Sweet’s Strawberry Runners have implemented a runner and plug growing program across four separate sites to ensure customer requirements can be met in terms of meeting plant priority orders.

1. A n audit at the end of the 2019 season of water availability at Yarrabee (south-west of Stanthorpe), indicated that there was a suitable amount of irrigation water for approximately 15% of production for the 2019/20 season. This site is part of the main farm and therefore located closest to the processing infrastructure and business administrative centre which has made management at this site the simplest.

The greenfield site was transformed with the installation of a number of screen houses and two climate controlled Cravo greenhouses and associated processing facilities for the production of strawberry plug plants. With automated ventilation of roof and side walls and an investment in a state-of-the-art irrigation facility, the Cravo greenhouses ensure the climate within the greenhouses is maintained at an ideal growing environment to ensure optimum growth of mother-stock and plug plants.

2. A leased property at Texas on the NSW-QLD border has plentiful and good quality irrigation water supplied from the Dumaresq River.

3. A leased property on the Acacia Plateau (approximately 40km south-east of Warwick) on the NSW-QLD border has been transformed from a grazing paddock into strawberry runner production.

The location of the farm was specifically chosen due to its mild summer temperatures and adequate irrigation water supplies.

Along with the plug plants mother-stock, Red Jewel now produces all of its foundation (F1) and foundation increase (F2) plant stock in substrate systems resulting in only the final year's production of bareroot runners being produced in the soil minimising the potential for soil borne disease to infect the plants and ensuring the highest quality of plants are supplied to growers.

4. S trawberry plug (seedling) production has continued in 2020 at Spring Creek Seedlings, located just west of Stanthorpe. Two reverse osmosis units and strict biosecurity have ensured the healthy establishment of runners from mother plants. The plugs will be produced from these runners in readiness for winter planting by fruit producers in March.

2020 will see the first commercial quantities of plug plants produced from the site with plant tip’s being set in February in readiness for distribution to fruit growers in March /April. Only limited quantities of bare-rooted runner plants will be produced at the Armidale site this year and Red Jewel anticipates bareroot runner production returning in full to their Ballandean site in the spring of 2021 with good rains received in the past weeks.

Despite extremely difficult climatic conditions, Sweet’s Strawberry Runners remain confident around delivery of priority orders for the 2020 season.

The production of plug plants in a protected cropping system not only produces a more uniform plant but also significantly reduces the risks associated with the variable climate effects on both bareroot runner production and subsequent planting in fruiting fields.

63

AUSTRALIAN STRAWBERRY PROPAGATORS ACCREDITATION AUTHORITY (ASPAA) John Chapman ASPAA commenced formally operating in 2016 as a Limited Liability Company with the aim of providing strawberry growers with disease free planting material of good agronomic quality.

If a major issue cannot be fixed then a portion of or all plants produced may not be certified for that season.

A fruit grower client must be informed of this and agree to accept the plants that are out of standard.

Members of the company are Propagators and the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association (QSGA). The company is currently run by a Board comprising two Propagators, two Members of the QSGA Executive and an independent Chair.

The major change for ASPAA in 2019 has been the increasing interest in Plug Plant production that required a rewrite of the Accreditation Scheme document plus an update of the company constitution. A greater than usual number of enquiries have been received regarding becoming a member of ASPAA and achieving accreditation.

Propagator members are guided by the Australian Strawberry Propagators Accreditation Scheme Document that lays down operational guidelines for the production of strawberry plants for distribution to fruit growers.

These guidelines provide the basis for an annual audit of each Propagator at the start of the Queensland planting season that ensures maintenance of the original accreditation and provides certification of plants for the coming season.

ASPAA also has taken responsibility for organising minor use permits for pesticides (particularly fungicides) with the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) assisted by Hort Innovation.

An accreditation certificate is issued after the initial audit and a certification certificate is issued annually following a successful audit. The audit may reveal issues that need fixing and this is subject to a Corrective Action Report (CAR) that gives the propagator time to fix the problem.

For further information contact ASPAA Board Chair Prof. John Chapman 0408 986 751 | johnchapman51@icloud.com

Runner plants at Red Jewel Photo credit: Roger Broadley

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 64

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

S T R A W B E R R I E S

A perennial problem: powdery mildew Claire McCrory, Berry Industry Development Officer

Anna Mackintosh, an agriculture honours student at the University of Tasmania, is currently evaluating strategies for powdery mildew suppression in tunnel grown strawberries.

For our project we are lucky enough to work with a major berry grower. We wanted to ensure the project was applicable and relevant, so we went to them and asked for industry questions that needed to be addressed.

The 21-year-old from Hobart is in her final year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree. Keen to invest in a project that would directly benefit industry, Anna approached farms asking where their production challenges occur.

Anna’s research is based at the Costa strawberry farm in East Devonport. The aim of her research project is to investigate the epidemics of powdery mildew and quantify the effect of different commercial spray programs involving protective fungicides on powdery mildew development.

Anna’s strawberry trial will focus on the Amesti strawberry variety in a design which will test the efficacy of three alternative spray regimes against Costa’s commercial standard. There will also be one tunnel left completely un-sprayed to allow for the study of powdery mildew occurrence, development and spread.

“One of the most significant things industry talked about was the impact of powdery mildew disease on strawberries. It infects all aerial tissue and leads to a loss of quality and quantity of up to 70%.”

Following the harvest period, Anna is planning to undertake pot trials during the year to test strategies to combat powdery mildew, including spray misting and silicon fertigation.

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease favouring dry leaf surfaces and cool to warm air temperatures with high relative humidity; conditions which are typical in a tunnel environment. Furthermore, the reduced UV light and dripper irrigation used in substrate production hinder effective disease management.

Good luck, Anna! We look forward to hearing the outcomes of your project at the end of the year.

65

S T R A W B E R R I E S

Yield is strongly related to leaf area expansion in strawberries – implications for cropping under climate change Christopher Menzel, Principal Horticulturist, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

This article examines the relationship between productivity and leaf area expansion in strawberry plants growing on the Sunshine Coast. In some crops, increasing leaf area under climate change (higher concentrations of CO2 and temperatures) are associated with lower yields. Higher yields are found with decreasing, rather than increasing leaf areas. Plant breeding can produce new heat-tolerant cultivars with lower leaf areas and higher yields to mitigate some of the negative impacts of climate change.

Relationship between yield and leaf area in strawberries in south-east Queensland

Higher concentrations of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and temperatures under climate change are likely to change the relationship between productivity and leaf area expansion in strawberries. Plant breeders can develop new heat-tolerant cultivars with a better balance between leaf and fruit growth.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the relationship between yield and leaf area expansion in strawberries in south-east Queensland. Leaf area expansion was assessed by measuring leaf area per plant and leaf area index (LAI).

Cultivars with excessive leaf areas will have lower yields than those with lower leaf areas under climate change.

When there is too many leaves produced by a plant, the leaves at the top of the canopy shade the leaves and the bottom of the canopy. This reduces the amount of photosynthesis by the canopy. The extra leaves also compete with the fruit for the plant’s resources.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

Leaf area index is the one-sided area of the photosynthetic tissue or green leaf area per unit of ground surface area. It can be estimated manually by measuring the area of all the leaves on a plant and dividing this value by the area of the ground covered by the plant. A plant with a leaf area of 2.0 has a leaf area that can cover a given ground surface area two times.

B E RRY 66

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

What we found

For many crops, maximum light interception and yields occur with LAIs of 3.0 to 4.0, with lower light interception and yields with lower or high LAIs.

The marketable yields of the defoliated plants were 28% lower (256 ± 9 g per plant) than the yields of the control plants (357 ± 12 g per plant). All aspects of leaf production and dry matter accumulation were also lower in the defoliated plants (Table 1).

High LAIs are associated with dense canopies and low light levels at the base of the plants. Leaves at the top of the canopy have higher rates of photosynthesis than leaves at the bottom of the canopy.

There was a moderate linear relationship between cumulative yield and leaf area per plant over the growing season (R2 = 0.50, P < 0.001) (Figure 1).

Yield increased with increasing leaf area per plant.

Optimum LAIs are available for several important crops, and range from 1.5 to 5.0 for soybean, tomato, apple and mango and up to 7.0 to 11.0 for peach and orange. In soybean and maize (corn), average yields were best with a LAI of 4.0 and 10% lower with a LAI of 5.0 or greater.

There is usually a closer relationship between yield and LAI than between yield and leaf area per plant. There is little information on the relationship between dry matter production or yield and LAI in strawberries.

In contrast, there was a weak linear relationship between cumulative yield and LAI (R2 = 0.09, P < 0.001) (Figure 1). Yield increased with increasing LAI, but the data were highly variable. This was possibly due to variations in the shape of the canopy in the different plants contributing to variations in LAI.

What we did Transplants of ‘Festival’ and ‘Fortuna’ strawberries were grown in the field at Nambour. One group of plants had half of their leaves removed in June (defoliated treatment), while the other group of plants was left intact (control treatment).

Data were collected on the changes in leaf area expansion, plant dry weight and marketable yield over the growing season. Fruit smaller than 12 g or misshaped, or affected by rain, disease or other defects were rejected as non-marketable.

Figure 1. The Certification label on a box of strawberry runners

Table 1. Effect of defoliation on average seasonal plant growth in 'Festival' and ‘Fortuna’ strawberries.

The plants had zero or half of the mature leaves removed in mid-June. Data are the means of four replicates per treatment, pooled over six harvests.

LAI is leaf area index.

NO. OF LEAVES per plant

LEAF AREA (cm2 per plant)

LAI

Control

16.9

1,745

Moderate defoliation

12.6

Control Moderate defoliation

TREATMENT

DRY WEIGHT (g per plant) Leaves

Crowns

Roots

3.1

13.1

3.1

1.5

1,161

2.6

8.6

2.3

1.2

19.0

1,475

3.0

10.0

2.4

0.9

14.6

1,000

2.5

6.9

1.9

0.7

FESTIVAL

FORTUNA

67

Cumulative yield (g per plant)

400 350

LEAF AREA

LEAF AREA INDEX

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 500

1000

1500

2000

2500 1.6

2.0

Leaf areas (cm2 per plant)

2.4

2.8

3.2

3.6

Leaf area index

Figure 1. Relationship between cumulative marketable yield and leaf production in ‘Festival’ and ‘Fortuna’ strawberries in Nambour. The plants had zero or half of the mature leaves removed in mid-June. Data are the means of four replicates per treatment. Yield was more closely related to leaf area per plant than to LAI (leaf area index).

Implications for commercial strawberry producers

Plant breeders producing new cultivars should ensure that excessive leaf growth does not come at the expense of flower and fruit development. Overall, there was a closer relationship between yield and leaf area per plant than between yield and leaf area index (LAI).

LAI was highly variable within a treatment.

The results of this experiment indicate that yield was related to leaf area production. Yield continued to increase with increasing leaf area expansion.

There was no evidence of excessive leaf production for cropping. This may change in the long-term, with higher concentrations of CO2 and temperatures expected to increase leaf production in strawberries.

Dr Christopher Menzel is a Principal Horticulturist for DAF and has conducted research for the strawberry industry in Australia for the past 15 years. He has more than 35 years of experience in tropical horticulture, including strawberries.

In the short-term, the main effect of climate change will be to decrease flower production and fruit size.

Both these responses will result in lower yields in the absence of heat-tolerant cultivars or other mitigating strategies.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

The Queensland government has funded the research through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Many thanks to the Florida Strawberry Growers’ Association (FSGA) for financial support.

B E RRY 68

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

/toroaus

/toroaus

/toroaus

/toroaustralia

B L U E B E R R I E S

Getting to know Botryosphaeria stem blight Melinda Simpson, Berry Industry Development officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries

Symptoms

Fungi associated with stem blight in Australia include Neofusicoccum parvum, N. australe, N. oculatum, N. macroclavatum, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, L. pseudotheobromae and Botryosphaeria dothidea.

Infection usually begins in the branches. Symptoms include reddening leaves (Figure 1), necrosis of one or more branches, and a characteristic ‘flagging’ appearance of a dead branch with leaves still attached.

A pale brown–grey discolouration can be seen inside infected branches (Figure 2). In severe cases, the infection progresses into the base of the plant, resulting in systemic branch dieback over a period of weeks or months, eventually killing the plant (Figures 3 and 4).

Raised black fruiting bodies can occur on infected stems.

Disease cycle and cause

Management

The fungi enter the host plant through wounds and can also enter through natural openings such as growth cracks, leaf scars, lenticels (stem pores) and root-to-root contact.

No one product or practice can prevent stem blight from causing damage. It can be difficult to manage and requires an approach that integrates good horticultural inputs with effective insect and disease management.

These fungi can survive in infected wood and leaves of blueberry and other woody hosts where they produce spores that are dispersed by air or water-splash and that can infect new shoots, stems, branches and buds.

• S ource clean, disease-free planting material when establishing a new block or orchard • A void any activities which might stress or injure the plants

However, the fungi often remain latent, on and in healthy plant tissue without causing any disease symptoms until the plant becomes stressed. Certain environmental conditions or plant stresses can help these fungi to become pathogens that initiate disease.

• Ensure good irrigation and nutrition practices • Practice strict orchard hygiene measures • T he best control is achieved by pruning out infected plant parts and removing them from the orchard • P rune at least 15–20 cm beyond diseased (discoloured) wood to prevent the infection spreading

Biotic or abiotic stresses from a variety of sources such as water stress, over-fruiting, nutrient deficiency, herbicide damage, hail or wind damage and even insect damage can make plants more susceptible to stem blight, which can develop into severe symptoms including cane dieback and plant death.

• Prune during dry periods to reduce spread • D isinfect tools between plants, especially if cutting through a diseased branch • C utting at an angle when pruning can promote water run-off

Stem blight is favoured by high relative humidity (>85%), rainfall and a wide range of temperatures (5–35 °C) as well as plant stress and injury, e.g. drought or storms.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

Application of fungicides to protect pruning wounds may reduce infection. However, wounds can be susceptible to infection for up to 2 months, so repeated application is necessary. Currently permitted fungicides can be found on the APVMA website.

B E RRY 70

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Figure 1. Reddening leaves caused by stem blight Photo Credit: Rosalie Daniel

Figure 2. Discolouration seen inside infected branches with stem blight Photo Credit: Melinda Simpson

Figure 3. Plant dieback due to stem blight Photo Credit: Rosalie Daniel

Figure 4. Internal vascular discolouration of stem blight disease in the crown Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

71

B L U E B E R R I E S

Blueberries from 2019–2020 – the inflection point Cort Brazelton, Co-CEO Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc, Oregon, USA Cort is an International Blueberry Organization founder and Co-CEO of Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc. based in Oregon. The business is an international blueberry breeding and nursery company supplying commercial growers worldwide for more than 40 years.

Photo Credit: © Cort Brazelton 2018 all rights reserved While the transition away from this reality has been forecast for many years by me and many others, it’s been surprising how long it's taken for the reality to start setting in. 2019 was the year when it started to be felt. In 2020, the shift from a supply-driven industry to a quality-driven industry will be ever more real.

2019 will be looked back upon as the year that the global blueberry industry began a new trajectory. 2020 will be the year that the change starts to become the ‘new normal’.

In 2019, developments in the fresh blueberry supply curve began to deliver on a new level of consistency.

As a result, the increased consistency and availability of blueberries are commensurately facilitating heightened expectations of the product delivered.

Why did it take so long to get here?

Market Growth: Part of this ‘prolonged adolescence’ in the supply-to-quality-transition in blueberries is market-driven, and part of the delay is due to genetics and horticulture. On the market side, those of us fortunate enough to be in the industry over recent decades have enjoyed gravity-defying market dynamics.

In fact, it was not uncommon for volumes and pricing to increase in tandem, or at least for volume to increase as category value grew faster.

Since the blueberry consumption boom began with the unleashing of the health messages in the late ‘90s, the industry’s growth and the opportunities in the business have been fundamentally supply-driven.

Recognising substantial efforts over the last 20 years by many public and private entities to make a marked improvement in the quality of the product delivered to consumers, the fact is that the majority of the blueberries that consumers buy today do not exceed their desires and expectations.

There have certainly been bumps in the fresh and processed blueberry markets since the 2000s. Those of us who've been around for a while remember them all too well: various processed market crashes in North America and globally; the lobesia botrana crisis in Chile; and the Spanish supply shock of 2017 are all examples.

Simply put, when we look back, the biggest driver of opportunity in the industry has been simple perishable produce fundamentals in supply and demand - having product, and the greatest returns have been realised by having blueberries when there are fewer of them.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

But on the whole, blueberry production has continued to grow in most supply windows and in most markets, while market demand has grown at a similar pace and in some cases, faster--particularly in Europe and Asia.

B E RRY 72

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Please note, these are generalisations about aggregate trends that ignore many specifics.

Compared to other produce items, it has been a pretty steady ride for blueberries.

PLANTS PLANTSAVAILABLE AVAILABLENOW! NOW! Excess Excessstock stockininsome somecommercial commercial varieties varietiesready readytotoplant plantout. out.

Supply Side Limitations: On the horticulture and genetics side, while not as much a factor in the processed business, the grossly undersupplied windows of the fresh blueberry market remained comparatively undersupplied as the market continued to grow. This was due to the simple limitation of the horticultural techniques of the time and physiological and genetic limitations of the species. This too has changed.

Over the last 10 years in particular, the advent of new genetics in low and no-chill categories combined with new horticultural techniques and growing systems (e.g., structure growing, substrate, nutrition and pruning techniques, etc.) have changed the game, opening new growing regions, new sources of supply, and new means of production in existing regions which has empowered the accelerated closing of these windows of opportunity.

Contact ContactJoel Joelatatplants@moonblue.com.au plants@moonblue.com.au ororonon0427 0427578 578813 813totodiscuss discuss your yourrequirements. requirements.

Download Downloadananorder orderform formfrom fromour our website websiteforforquick quickand andeasy easyordering. ordering.

Even with the growth in regions such as Peru, Mexico, Morocco, and southwestern China, supply in those “shoulder periods” is still markedly lower than the peak supply periods. That said, the availability today in all global markets in September and October, or March and April, is far more dynamic and less scarce than it was even three years ago. It often doesn’t take so long for the supply side to adapt to meet market demands.

Our Ourwebsite websitehas hasfull fullvariety varietydescriptions descriptions

moonblue.com.au moonblue.com.au having having supplied supplied the the industry industry with with blueberry blueberry plants plants for for over over thirty thirty years, years, wewe can can offer offer a large a large number number

So, where is the industry headed now?

ofof varieties varieties both both new new and and old old including including Southern Southern

Produce industry veterans have seen these dynamics before in many crops, and though we in Blueberry Land love to believe we are special (I certainly believe blueberries are special!), there is a great deal we can learn from the cycles and stories of other high value produce crops. I believe we are still many years away from a year-round fresh supply curve, free of notable peaks and troughs. However, in the coming years, the peaks will eventually look more like hills than mountains, and the troughs will start to look more like ditches than valleys.

and and Northern NorthernHighbush Highbushand and Rabbiteye Rabbiteyetypes. types.

All these efforts are focused on the same outcome.

The opportunity is to give the consumer what they want. Even in the U.S., the largest market in the world, penetration is only slightly over 50%, with a tiny portion of those consumers buying and consuming the majority of the fruit.

Moondarra MoondarraBlueberries Blueberries– –Victoria, Victoria,Australia Australia

(03) (03)5165 51653498 3498 plants@moonblue.com.au plants@moonblue.com.au

73

While the dynamics of a supply-driven market will still be felt at times over the next five to 10 years, 2019 marks the year that our industry’s transition from a supply-driven to a quality-driven industry began.

2020 is the first year that we as an industry must own this reality and recognise its inevitability.

This is surprising considering the market penetration and level of consumption in a category such as strawberries, which has much higher market penetration and per capita consumption.

There are other crops and other products that would love to take the coveted space that blueberries have earned among their loyal consumers. We as an industry must both protect and respect the loyal consumers we have by continuously investing to deliver the product they want and deserve while also increasing “share of stomach” with consumers who have yet to fall in love with our products and are still waiting for us to give them what they want.

This is imperative for the competitiveness, relevance, and credibility of our product and our industry. This change will penetrate the business of every company and associated organisation involved in blueberries – it’s time to truly turn the focus to the consumer experience in blueberries.

There is no one road to this outcome; there are many.

No one company controls the route. However, if we're in the blueberry business, we’re all in the same truck.

At the risk of mixing metaphors, the opportunity to grow the pie is far greater than the opportunity of stealing pieces from others. I care deeply about the blueberry industry. I’m concerned about some of the challenges we face. I worry about the level of change required for many in the industry to remain competitive and I worry about the speed of establishment and potential “errors at scale” that can be committed in some of the actively growing regions.

For anyone who’s read Marshall Goldsmith’s What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, and anyone who hasn’t, this might be a good time to pick it up.

Our industry is undergoing a paradigm shift.

Business model norms that have worked for years-even decades--will be challenged by this new paradigm.

Some will play defence and others will look for ways o reflect, adapt, and play a strong offense.

Recent developments in Chile offer an example for a mature industry. The Chilean industry which--after the U.S.--is the most established and mature blueberry industry in the world, has an industry-wide effort underway to play both offense and defence.

But I am also encouraged by the amount of innovation and new ideas moving around the world and within blueberry locales that are resulting in greater efficiencies and ultimately higher quality. I’m excited about the number of new consumers discovering blueberries in the growth markets of Asia and Europe, the remaining room for increased growth in North America, and in general the fact that improvements are being made in product quality that will help increase consumption among existing blueberry consumers as well as creating new blueberry fans.

Industry leaders in Chile recognise the challenges of their distance to market and seek to leverage their experience as a growing and export region by pushing a new level of voluntary quality standards. They are striving to enhance and improve the quality delivered by growers through recommended processes, approved and delisted varieties, and many other approaches worth attention.

No one is standing still. New industries in places such as Morocco, Mexico, Peru and southern Africa are still in the midst of establishment phases and have an opportunity to make appropriate investments in the systems, varieties, infrastructure and technology not of yesterday, but of tomorrow.

2019 was a year of substantial change: great for some, challenging for others. One of my New Year’s resolutions in my day-to-day blueberry life is to make 2020 the year of quality and excellence—better quality in everything we do and supporting everyone in blueberries to focus and achieve the same.

Meanwhile, industry leaders and incumbents in established regions in Europe, Chile, Argentina, and North America are actively renovating and expanding their facilities, replacing old varieties, planting new varieties, investing in new technology in their fields and packhouses with an enhanced focus on the demands of the future.

On that note, best wishes in 2020, cheers to improved quality, and eat your blueberries!

While this change will take more than five and less than 10 years, there is another great change afoot. There is a substantial shift underway in consumer (B2C) and final handler and retailer (B2B) expectations vis a vis the quality on offer and the quality demanded.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 74

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

CURO2 CURO2

CURO8 CURO8

Now featuring CURO2 and CURO8 Now featuring CURO2 and CURO8 BBC Technologies’ punnet filling solution CURO, now with 2, 8, 12 or 16 packing BBC punnet filling CURO, now packing with 2, 8, 12 filling or 16 packing headsTechnologies’ allows any size of farm to besolution automated.

CURO and machines heads allows any size of farm to be automated.

CURO packing and filling machines can be easily integrated with the rest of our turnkey line. can be easily integrated with the rest of our turnkey line.

BBC Technologies is Australia’s preferred supplier of turnkey blueberry lines.

BBC Technologies is Australia’s preferred supplier of turnkey blueberry lines.

Learn more about BBC Technologies locally supported solutions Learn more about BBC Technologies locally supported solutions by contacting Joshua Miers-Jones: by contacting Joshua Miers-Jones:

+64 210 221 7088 +64 210 221 7088

joshua.miersjones@tomra.com joshua.miersjones@tomra.com 75

www.bbctechnologies.com www.bbctechnologies.com

B L U E B E R R I E S

Water management during drought Melinda Simpson, Berry Industry Development Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries

During drought, producers should implement all possible management strategies that maximise water use efficiency and minimise the negative effects of reduced water to the plants. This article provides some strategies that growers can consider implementing to help mitigate the effects of drought.

Water Management Strategies

There have been instances where plants at the lower end of the blocks were receiving four times more water than the intended amount because of drainage issues (Figure 1).

Pre-season planning & irrigation system checks A pre-season water management plan might include estimating the water requirements per block, expected irrigation periods, scheduling, frequency, run times and prioritising blocks if water becomes limited.

Planning ahead for blocks that will be placed on plant survival irrigation, if necessary, will be easier before the season rather than during the season. System checking involves a test run before the irrigation season to assess system output and identify any problems such as breakages, blockages or off-target water losses.

If sub mains are on steep slopes, a check valve at the start of each dripper line can reduce the drainage from mains into the lowest drippers (Figure 2).

For blueberries grown on slopes, checking your distribution uniformity and focusing on your drain percentage is very important.

Figure 2. Check valves can reduce the drainage from mains to the lowest drippers. Photo credit: Rob Hoogers According to Irrigation Officer at NSW DPI Rob Hoogers, operating pressure is another common issue that greatly reduces the distribution uniformity.

Check that you have at least 120Kpa, it is better to have 200Kpa at the highest or furthest point in every block.

This will ensure the PC dripper can do their job and meter out the same volume to every plant during your irrigation.

Where sub-mains are not pressure compensated and are on steep slopes, excess water will be distributed unevenly to the lower drip lines until they finish draining.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 76

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

T Y P I CA L A R E AS W H E R E E XC E SS I R R I GAT I O N W I L L O CC U R AS A R E S U LT O F S U B - MA I N D RA I N AG E

Figure 1. A property example showing areas where sub-main drainage could be a problem.

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Prioritising blocks

Soil/substrate moisture monitoring

Newer blocks are often the most valuable because they contain high-value varieties and represent the future of the plantation. Water stress on young developing plants can result in stunted growth and poor block establishment. When developing your irrigation plan, prioritise young blocks above older blocks and those which do not perform well. Look at historical production and income from each of the blocks, as this will also assist in deciding priorities.

Using irrigation water efficiently during water shortages is paramount. Monitoring the fate of water applied to the soil is the only way to properly understand if the water being applied is sufficient and targeting the root zone.

In extreme circumstances, you may need to walk away from some blocks and focus on those with the highest known value and returns. Drought can also be a strong motivator to remove those old blocks/varieties that have been under-performing.

By using monitoring, water use can be reduced by 40% without affecting yield.

77

be required to track soil moisture at various depths.

Table 1 compares the different types of soil moisture monitoring systems.

There are two main types of soil moisture probes; those measuring soil water tension (i.e. tensiometers or gypsum blocks) and those measuring volumetric soil moisture (i.e. capacitance probes). Tensiometers measure how hard a plant must work to extract the available moisture at a given time, whilst capacitance probes measure total water in the soil and indicate how this changes. Typically, tensiometer probes have a single sensor, meaning that multiple probes will

If you do not want to use a monitoring system, an alternative is to use a soil auger (or equivalent device) that you can push down and take a sample at the root level. This will provide a rough estimate of whether you are over or under watering.

Table 1. Comparison of main soil moisture monitoring systems

System

Advantages

Disadvantages

Tensiometers

Relatively inexpensive Easy to install Can be read by growers

Labour-intensive to collect data Require regular maintenance Inaccurate at high tensions Can be inaccurate in sandy soils

Gypsum block

Relatively inexpensive Easy to install Can be read by growers

Inaccurate at low tensions Have limited life as gypsum dissolves

Capacitance probe

Continuously logged Very sensitive and responsive to soil moisture

Costly Can require skill and training in interpretation Removal and re-installation can be considered difficult if re-developing mounds every few years

Water wisely

A ground cover will reduce evaporation from the topsoil as well as provide protection for erosion during heavy rain. Mulches prevent crusting and sealing of the soil surface, thus allowing better water infiltration.

Mulches will also modify soil surface temperature.

Mulches can provide the added benefit of suppressing weeds, provided the depth of the mulch is sufficient to block out light and prevent seed germination and growth (Figure 3).

Blueberry plants have a relatively shallow root system, with most roots in the top 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;30 cm of the soil. This means that irrigation should be short in duration and frequent in application (i.e. pulse irrigation) so that the water and nutrients stay within the root zone and therefore are available to the plant. Knowing your soil and understanding root zone depth will help you determine how much water can be held in the root zone. In general, sandy soils are free draining and tend to hold less moisture and therefore need to be irrigated more frequently and for a shorter time frame than loams or clays.

Reducing moisture loss Ensuring good weed control, particularly near the effective root zone, will minimise moisture losses due to competition. Weed control can be physical or chemical. Applying organic mulches where practical will reduce drainage loss by improving field capacity and will also reduce the loss of important nutrients through leaching.

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

Figure 3. Mulch will reduce evaporation from the topsoil as well as provide protection for erosion when it does start to rain again Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

B E RRY 78

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Table 2. Water quality parameters when irrigating blueberries

Test

Fine

Be careful

Problem

Electrical Conductivity (salinity)

0.8 dS/m

0.9–2.3 dS/m

>2.3 dS/m

pH

5.5–6.5

6.6–8.5

>8.5

Chloride

<350 mg/L

350–450 mg/L

>450 mg/L

Iron

–

0.1–1.0 mg/L

>1.0 mg/L

Test water quality Water quality is highly variable and is dependent on the water source (e.g. rainwater, farm dams, river, bore, town reservoir). Water quality can also vary throughout the year and after periods of high rainfall or drought.

Water quality should be tested, particularly when water sources are getting low. There can be significant differences in water quality between a full dam and an almost empty dam. This is important because iron and iron-loving bacteria can cause blockages in drippers and blueberries are sensitive to high salinity.

If using an underground water source (e.g. bore water), obtain a full laboratory test annually and not more than two years apart. If extending the interval between tests to two years, use test strips to check water quality in between. If a significant change in pH or hardness is noticed on the test strips, the water should be re-tested by a laboratory.

Table 2 provides a summary of the ranges for specific water quality parameters and the levels of salt, chloride, iron and pH that are applicable when irrigating blueberries.

The images in Figures 4 and 5 demonstrate the effects that high salt and chloride levels in irrigation water will have on blueberries. It has been observed that certain varieties such as Snowchaser and Rabbiteye are highly susceptible to damage from high salt levels.

Figure 4 and 5. Effects on blueberries due to high salinity irrigation water. Photo credits: Melinda Simpson

79

B L U E B E R R I E S

The causes of blueberry fruit rejections Ebony Faichney, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Effective disease management plays a crucial role for growers and supply chain partners in producing high-quality fruit. Blueberries are at heightened risk of disease development along the supply chain if disease conducive weather conditions are experienced at flowering, fruit set and development, or harvest.

WHAT IS BOTRYTIS? Spores of the Botrytis spp. fungus are produced during cool, wet conditions and are spread by wind and water splash. Flowers are very vulnerable to infection and the disease can result in blossom blight and abortion. Prunings can harbour Botrytis and are a source of disease in following seasons.

It is rare for fruit to rot on the bush due to Botrytis infection, however post-harvest breakdown of fruit will occur along the supply chain.

Botrytis spp. (grey mould) and Cladosporium spp. were the most common moulds found on fruit postharvest. These fungi were observed on fruit direct from farms and southern markets. It can be difficult to identify moulds visually and quality inspectors often misidentify them. Traceability back to the individual farm level was low, making it difficult to inform growers when their disease management strategies needed reviewing. To avoid this, some growers now use a fruit traceability system (barcoding) on every punnet.

To support the expanding north Queensland industry, staff from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) at Mareeba; Peter Trevorrow, Kathy Grice and Ebony Faichney, initiated a study of the prevalence of blueberry diseases on local farms and at the Brisbane markets. Diseased fruit from across Australia were returned to the Mareeba laboratory for identification.

The main disease issues found were post-harvest related, although some branch dieback and leaf spot issues were identified on-farm.

WHAT IS CLADOSPORIUM? Cladosporium spp. is a fungus present across all growing regions. It is unsightly, opportunistic and sometimes grows in association with sugary insect secretions (e.g. mealybug and scale) and dead or dying plant tissue. The spores are spread by wind.

In this project, Cladosporium was identified on flower remnants (in-field) and berries (post-harvest), however their effect on fruit in the supply chain is still unknown.

Post-harvest kits were supplied to supply chain partners at Brisbane markets for fruit to be returned to the Mareeba lab for identification

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 80

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Learning to manage disease on your farm yearround is very important. Naturally, there will always be a low level of disease present in a paddock at any given time.

Overuse of chemicals can promote resistance, so it is important to use them with care. Always follow label rates and application recommendations.

Protectant fungicides will have limited effect on reducing disease incidence if pressure is already high.

Therefore, forward planning with a proactive strategy to managing disease year-round is crucial.

What can I do to protect my blueberries from post-harvest disease?

Fruit damage as a result of infection by Botrytis spp.

The fruit may become soft and leaky.

Photo credit: Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

• E nsure accurate timing of fungicide application and always apply at label rates • P lan ahead with a targeted spray program.

Protectant products will have limited effect when disease is already established • Control pests that may promote disease spread • R egularly clean pruning equipment to prevent disease spread • R emove pruning clippings from paddocks— these are potential sources of disease inoculum • M inimise picking damage— small tears in skin can host infection • P rotected cropping systems provide shelter from weather conditions that may favour disease development • E nsure good cool chain management to prevent disease development • A lways maintain good orchard biosecurity practices.

Blighted flowers caused by Botrytis cinerea Photo credit: Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

• Come clean, go clean!!

The Berry Plant Protection Guide provides good information on the cause, symptoms and management of several diseases of blueberry, raspberry and blackberry.

Download it for free from https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ agriculture/horticulture/berries

This work is funded by Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. For more information contact the Mareeba DAF Office on (07) 4017 0700.

DAF staff inspected storage facilities during their tour of Brisbane markets Photo credit: Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

81

B L U E B E R R I E S

12 International ISHS Vaccinium Symposium th

28 August – 3 September 2020 at Halifax & Charlottetown, Canada The symposium will consist of a preconference tour to the Annapolis Valley, a three-day scientific program, and a one-day tour of wild blueberry, cranberry and strawberry growing, processing/packing, and shipping facilities.

Conference Venues:

The event will be open to all involved in the Vaccinium research, teaching, and extension community, as well as producers and marketers involved in the industry.

Marion McCain Building, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

SUNDAY 30 AUGUST 2020 Lord Nelson Hotel, Halifax, Nova Scotia – Registration and Reception

MONDAY 31 AUGUST 2020

TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2020 Field excursion – Relocate to Halifax, Nova Scotia to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

The goal is to promote international cooperation and dissemination of the latest information regarding Vaccinium species.

WEDNESDAY 2 – THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2020 Prince Edward Island Convention Centre, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

More information can be found at dal.ca/ivs

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 82

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

B L U E B E R R I E S

Think you know the dam rules?

A dummies guide to dam size and harvestable rights in NSW Do you know the rules regarding dams and how big they can be?

NRAR proactively monitors dam size. If your dam’s capacity is larger than your maximum harvestable right, and it is not licensed, you will be required to reduce it and you will risk enforcement action being taken such as fines or directions.

The NSW state independent water regulator has found that in the Coffs area, most of the significant non-compliance with the rules is regarding dam size, licensing and use.

But don’t wait for an NRAR inspection to find out – get your dams measured by a professional surveyor to be certain your dams are below the limit.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) is using new and more accurate technology to check dam size such as satellite imagery, surveying equipment and ultra-sonar devices. To make sure your dam is compliant, here’s where to start.

There are two main types of dams – those that need a licence and those that don’t.

You don’t need a licence for your dam if it is built on a minor stream and you only capture 10 per cent or less of the average regional rainfall run-off in your area.

To calculate this, go to the WaterNSW maximum harvestable right calculator at: https://tinyurl.com/yx3a2ujd The total capacity allowed of all dams on your property is called your ‘maximum harvestable right dam capacity’. If you require a dam that is larger than your maximum harvestable right capacity, then you need to do two things: • Y ou need to obtain a water supply work approval for the dam structure • Y ou need a water access licence for the use of the water in the dam Both of these are issued by WaterNSW. Some exemptions apply – find out more from the WaterNSW fact sheet ‘Do I need a licence?’ at: https://tinyurl.com/qnsafmz

The Natural Resources Access Regulator is responsible for monitoring compliance with NSW dam laws.

83

ABGA Voluntary Levies Support Your Industry to Support You!

The ABGA runs a voluntary levy program, vital to the development of the industry.

Why should I pay the voluntary levy?

How do I pay the levy?

T he voluntary levies fund all of the essential activities that contribute to the growth of our blueberry industry.

Activities include, but are not limited to:

Follow the steps below: 1. Prepare a statement with the following information

• P rotecting the industry via the development and implementation of the Code of Conduct

– Grower Name – Quarter and dates (e.g. Q2 1st Oct - 31st Dec 2019) – Number of kg fruit sold in that quarter – Amount of levy being paid – Indicate if your agent deducts your levies (if so, include name of agent)

• A chieving export protocol into Japan – expected in 2020

2. Email the statement to

• P rogressing applications for market access to China and other countries

The Membership Officer who will send you an invoice for payment: vicszabo@berries.net.au

• G rowing the domestic market through marketing campaigns and promotions • R esearch and development into registered chemicals and Integrated Pest Management as well as Integrated Disease Management programs

• Funding our Industry Development Officer

3. Pay your levy to the ABGA account

• Funding our Executive Director and Project Officer • C ommunication and engagement with members – industry journal, e-news, website, conference

Account name: Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association Bank: Westpac BSB: 033 107 | Account: 181 471 Reference: GROWER NAME and Financial Quarter (e.g. “Joe Bloggs Q2 levy”)

• P romoting positive industry stories and addressing negative media • P roviding our contribution to Hort Innovation under the Collective Industry Fund which is matched with equal funding used for various industry projects as determined by the Blueberry Strategic Industry Advisory Panel

y agent deducts levies — M what do I need to do?

How much levy do I have to pay?

Send the Membership Officer a statement as per step 1 above. She will then check that the agent has paid the levy. Email the statement to vicszabo@berries.net.au.

Levies are paid at a rate of $0.05/kg fruit sold.

When do I pay the voluntary levy?

What about confidentiality of the information provided?

L evies are payable once every financial quarter, see table below for applicable dates:

Any information provided will be kept confidential.

Quarter

Period Covered

Payable by

Q1

1 Jul – 30 Sep

31 Oct

I need help, who do I contact?

Q2

1 Oct – 31 Dec

31 Jan

Q3

1 Jan – 31 Mar

30 Apr

Q4

1 Apr – 30 Jun

31 July

Contact: The Membership Officer Email: vicszabo@berries.net.au Phone: 0490 092 273

AUTUMN 2020

AUSTRALIAN

B E RRY 84

JOURNAL

EDITION 2

Farm Health Assessments We partner with growers to maximise production, profitability and sustainability.

We conduct farm inspections to target improvements in plant health, irrigation, nutrition, pest and disease.

We report solutions for future gains in yield and fruit quality.

Get a Farm Health Assessment done today and start:

www.agrihort.com.au SHANE SINGH (B Rur Sc)

M: 0428 674 655 E: shane@agrihort.com.au

Reduce cost by taking control over your harvest!

Oxbo 7440 and 8140 harvesters have proven to deliver fresh market quality fruit all over the world. For more information contact Brian Foote or visit us online.

1-360-961-4163 email: bfoote@oxbocorp.com

www.oxbocorp.com

BERRY INDUSTRY CRISIS MANAGEMENT

HOW TO PROCEED IN A CRISIS Safeguarding our future

1.

2.

3.

PHONE 1300 201 713

SAY NOTHING!

FOLLOW THE LEADER

• If you suspect a possible crisis

• Refer all enquiries to Berries Australia

• Wait for Berries Australia to issue you with the ‘one message’

•If you are experiencing difficulties that may become a wider crisis •If you aren’t coping with a crisis

•Refer all media to Berries Australia

PROTECTING THE ASSETS & WELLBEING OF THE AUSTRALIAN BERRY INDUSTRY