Australian Berry Journal – SPRING 2025 - Edition 24

Rubus

Thank You to Our New Berry Industry Partners

Berries Australia extends a warm welcome and sincere thanks to all our new Berry Industry Partners for 2025–26

Your support plays a vital role in strengthening the Australian berry industry and helping us continue to deliver value to more than 700 growers nationwide. By joining the BIP program, you’re contributing to a more connected, innovative, and resilient future for the sector.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER IN THE YEAR AHEAD

Providers of specialised crop protection and production solutions for horticulture agnova.com.au

Suppliers of high-quality polytunnels and crop protection systems elitetunnels.com

The leading global provider of end-to-end smart irrigation solutions netafim.com.au

Suppliers of high-quality coir substrates for sustainable crop growth atlantiscoco.com

Industrial automation design, build and installation services for customers around Australia automationtechniques.co.nz

Distributor of high-quality growing media for berry cultivation globalaxis.com.au

Innovative steel ECO Trellis® systems designed for long-lasting horticultural crop support nztubemills.co.nz

Expert irrigation and greenhouse solutions, offering end-to-end design, supply, and installation services irribiz.com.au

Experts in greenhouse technology and horticultural automation solutions powerplants.com.au

Leaders in spraying equipment and crop protection technology croplands.com

Offer Tasmanian farmers, growers, and contractors a wide range of high-quality technological solutions with comprehensive after-sales support marshallmachinery.com.au

Australian provider of specialty fertiliser and crop protection inputs, including micronutrients and copper fungicides tanuki.com.au

CONTRIBUTORS

Jane Richter

Rachel Mackenzie

Anthony Poiner

Brett Fifield

Jen Rowling

Dr Angela Atkinson

Ella Roper

Helen Newman

Wendy Morris

Gaius Leong

Sandy Shaw

Melinda Simpson

Rebecca Sloan

Greg Calvert

Tracey Steinrucken

Hazel Parry

Scott Wallace

Dr Lynne Forster Dr

CEO's Report

Rachel Mackenzie | 0408 796 199 | rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au

Welcome to the Spring edition of our industry journal. In terms of overall berry production, this is our busiest time of year, with winter strawberry production peaking in August and blueberries peaking in October. Both strawberries and blueberries had a delayed start to the season as a consequence of ongoing wet weather in northern NSW and Queensland, but the quality and value will be hard to beat in the next few months. There is an irony that Victoria and South Australia are currently in drought conditions, and we hope that these will ease in time for the southern season.

The variation in climate across the country highlights that there are regional differences across the sector. I was pleased to recently catch up with the executive of the Victorian Strawberry Growers’ Association recently, but it did remind me that we have an issue with getting southern growers onto our decisionmaking panels. For example, we have been looking for a Victorian member for our strawberry research and development prioritisation panel for over a year now. This panel makes the decision on how strawberry levy funds are spent, and it is disappointing that the second largest production region is not represented in these conversations. I appreciate that everyone is busy, but this is a commitment of six hours per year, and we can arrange a small payment for your time. I will be putting out another call in the next few weeks. We would love a younger grower to take up this opportunity so you can shape not only your future, but the future of the industry.

We do recognise that sometimes younger growers (and in horticulture 40 is considered young!) can feel intimidated at the thought of being on committees. For that reason, we are working with Hort Innovation to develop a ‘leadership ladder’ across horticulture to get people started on their leadership journey. We are very interested in your ideas so please chat to your IDO about what could inspire you to start climbing the leadership ladder.

Whilst it is easy to feel unappreciated for the work you do, there is growing recognition of the vital role of food security. The National Food Security Strategy discussion paper seeks to gather suggestions to help shape a comprehensive strategy for Australia's food security. Collaboration with farmers, industry, and the broader community is key to improving the productivity, resilience, and stability of the nation's food system.

The strategy outlines priority areas such as strengthening supply chains, boosting innovation and productivity, and supporting economic growth. It stresses the importance of preparing for threats like pests, diseases, and climate disruptions. Sustainable agricultural practices and new technologies in farming are highlighted as ways to increase efficiency and ensure future food supply.

Another focus is on having a robust regulatory framework to support safe and sustainable food production and trade. The strategy also values cooperation across the food system, encouraging partnerships between industry, communities, researchers, and investors.

Berries Australia will be contributing to the review, and we welcome any comments from our members. Finally, it is AGM time again in October and all the details of the Association meetings can be found online at the Events calendar bit.ly/BA-Event-List. Please register to attend the meetings of interest to you.

Chairman's Report

Anthony Poiner

| 0412 010 843 | anthony@smartberries.com.au

Unlocking a Billion-Dollar Future for Australian Berries

A recent landmark report from Hort Innovation has sent a clear and exciting message to the Australian horticulture sector: there is an immediate $1 billion opportunity to boost our collective productive output. For an industry currently valued at $8 billion, this represents a significant leap forward. This potential for growth is particularly crucial for the Australian berry industry, which is currently navigating a challenging economic landscape defined by shrinking margins and soaring operational costs.

Berry growers are on the front lines, facing a battle against negative productivity. While the goal is always to produce more with less, many are finding the opposite to be true. The primary driver of this trend is the relentless increase in input costs, especially labour. Recent changes to labour laws have directly impacted growers, leading to a situation where labour costs are rising by 5-8% year on year. This isn't just a number on a spreadsheet; it's a painful reality that makes it harder to manage operations and maintain profitability. In this climate, the Hort Innovation report's findings are not just an opportunity but a necessary lifeline, a pathway to turn these pressing challenges into catalysts for sustainable growth.

So, how do we capture this billion-dollar prize? The key lies in redefining productivity. We can achieve this by increasing the quantity or value of our outputs, reducing waste, or becoming more efficient with our inputs like water, fertiliser, and labour. Simply producing at a faster rate can also have a massive impact.

Recognising this, Berries Australia is in discussions to establish a pivotal new project with potential funding support from Hort Innovation. The proposed project’s mission would be to explore how the berry industry can strategically harness technology to elevate both productivity and profitability. The world of ag tech is vast and evolving at a breakneck pace, offering countless potential solutions. The challenge, however, is to cut through the noise and identify which tools are genuinely effective and economically viable. The goal of such a project would be to ensure technology serves as a sound investment, not a costly experiment.

The proposed project would take a practical, hands-on approach. It would begin by carefully assessing a wide range of technologies and mapping them against the key factors that drive productivity on a berry farm.

Crucially, the plan is for the project to then move from theory in to practical application. A core component of the proposal involves Berries Australia actively engaging with growers across the country's diverse regions to test and discuss the most promising technologies. This collaborative process would ensure that any solutions identified are not only workable but are tailored to the real-world conditions and specific needs of the growers who will use them.

By focusing on practical application and shared learning, the industry can collectively turn the tide on rising costs and step into a more profitable, efficient, and sustainable future. Stay tuned for more updates as these discussions progress.

Brett Fifield, Hort Innovation, Chief Executive Officer

Why productivity in horticulture can’t wait

Productivity is a hot topic across Australian agriculture and when it comes to horticulture, the conversation is often missing critical data. Despite being the fastest-growing agriculture sector (with berries leading the charge), horticulture remains difficult to benchmark for productivity.

At Hort Innovation we have stepped in to help. We’ve also taken the first steps in identifying what will drive productivity further in our new report, created in partnership with the Centre for International Economics –Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity. While it is difficult to assess all of horticulture, it is not impossible, and indeed very possible to understand the drivers of horticulture and use these to inform actions and innovations needed to grow productivity.

In FY24, the horticulture industry’s gross value production (GVP) was valued at $17 billion, producing 6.9 million tonnes of fruit, vegetables, and nuts. It’s now the thirdlargest agricultural industry by value, behind grains and red meat. But to maintain this momentum, productivity must be front and centre, not just in terms of how much we grow, but how we grow it.

Productivity isn’t just about scale - it’s about strategy. That’s why we’ve invested more than $220 million in productivity-focused projects as part of our $760 million R&D portfolio. From cutting-edge automation and AI to food safety and disease risk research, we’re helping growers farm even smarter.

The Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity report finds that adoption of productivity enhancing innovation in the horticulture industry could generate up to an additional $1 billion annually in value add, reaching $22 billion in 2040.

Some of the other key findings revealed include:

• Over the past 30 years, the annual productivity growth of the horticulture industry has been 0.5% to 1.5%, while the broader agricultural sector's growth has been 0.88%

• Accelerating productivity growth requires targeted action in four key areas: building capability in production cost analysis, automating data collection, harnessing AI-insights, and embracing mechanisation and automation

• A high-adoption scenario, representing a 1.3% annual productivity growth rate, would nearly triple the horticulture industry's annual value added from $8 billion today to $22 billion by 2040

Sustained productivity growth is essential for lifting profitability and ensuring competitiveness within the Australian horticulture sector.

The report starts to look at what can change on farms to support our whole industry with the productivity shift. From starting with simple things such as data collection, to bringing more automation on farms, there is opportunity for every grower, no matter the size of their business.

To read more about how you can add further productivity solutions to your farm SEE PAGE 17, and check out the Hort Innovation and CIE ‘Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity Report’ available now on the Berries Australia Resource Library at bit.ly/BA-RL by searching ‘HA24004’, or contact Hort Innovation Head of Industry Insights Lucy Noble, lucy.noble@horticulture.com.au

R&D and Biosecurity Manager

Dr Angela Atkinson | 0499 645 836 | angelaatkinson@berries.net.au

Research & Development

Since the last edition of the Australian Berry Journal the projects endorsed through the first round of the new advisory mechanism have been contracted; MT24009 - Improving management of leafrollers and chilli thrips in Rubus and blueberry. Levy payers will be updated on these projects through the journal and other communications as they get underway.

The major projects endorsed by the prioritisation panels this year focus on access to chemistry, with a project to complete residue trials for the renewal of 15 minor use permits and another to undertake trials for new chemistry for mite control in Rubus and strawberry. These proposals will now go out to tender through Hort Innovation’s processes.

The panels also endorsed ongoing support for the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program. With the establishment of Varroa mite in Australia it is important that surveillance continues for exotic mites which are not here yet, and viruses of honeybees that are vectored by Varroa mite, as well as ongoing support for pollination dependent industries.

In this edition, we have an update from the team at the University of Melbourne working on best practice pollinator management for the Rubus industry (SEE PAGE 102). This project aims to provide growers with a better understanding of the diversity of Rubus pollinators and how best to manage and encourage pollinators on farm. The project began with a review of what is known about Rubus pollination in Australia and now is building on that knowledge through field surveys. You can read this initial review report in the Resource Library at bit.ly/BA-RL by searching ‘RB23002’.

Biosecurity

As many of you are aware, RABA and SAI are signatories to the Plant Health Australia Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) and were involved in the response to the incursion of Varroa mite which was the largest emergency plant pest response that industries have faced. As part of that response, RABA and SAI also contributed to the cost of the response, along with about 13 other plant industries. These commitments are underwritten by the Commonwealth and can be repaid over 10 years. Part of the levies growers pay goes towards biosecurity including membership of Plant Health Australia (PHA) and contributions to emergency responses.

In 2023 RABA put in place a PHA levy which could be used for these purposes, although industry was unsure at the time of the Varroa response if it would cover RABA’s share of the response cost. Now that this levy has been in place for over a year, we know it will cover the cost of the industry’s contribution to the Varroa response so will not need to be increased.

With SAI’s commitment to the response, it was initially thought the overall levy paid by growers would need to be increased to cover the industry’s contribution. Currently of the $8/runners purchased, $7.87 is for R&D and 13c is for biosecurity, which would not cover the cost. After feedback from industry, and discussions with the Commonwealth and Hort Innovation, we have been able to redistribute the levy within that total, which involves increasing the biosecurity component by 19c and dropping the R&D component by 19c. This small change won’t affect any currently funded R&D projects, nor materially affect any future projects, and the overall levy of $8/1000 runners will not need to change.

If you have any questions, ideas about research needs or just want more information, please get in touch.

Victoria & South Australia

Sandy Shaw, Berry Industry Development Officer 0408 416 538 | vicberryido@berries.net.au

It’s quiet down here in Victoria and South Australia. Strawberries have been planted, Rubus and blueberries have been pruned, and many growers have taken a well-deserved break over the winter or are busy making improvements to help set them up for success as we barrel into spring and the new growing season.

Although we have been blessed with some winter storms, Victorian and South Australian conditions remain drier and warmer than average, with both state governments rolling out additional drought-support funding for farmers across the states. Normal rainfall over winter was a relief to many although falling far short of what is needed to pull us out of drought conditions.

For more information on drought support for South Australia, go to the PIRSA website (pir.sa.gov.au/emergencies_and_ recovery/drought) and look at more information on programs including mental health and resilience support, financial counselling support, the drought infrastructure rebate, and more.

For more information on drought support for Victoria, go to the AgVic website (agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/ drought-support) and look at more information on programs including farm management and drought support planning, news on the latest drought extension events, the drought support grants, and more.

Victorian Strawberry Industry Development Committee

VSICA Research planting an on-farm trial in May

Photo credit: Sandy Shaw

Both states are currently running drought support rebate programs which are geared towards defraying the cost of putting in drought support infrastructure. This can be particularly useful to growers who are looking to make their farms drought-ready before conditions worsen.

In early June the IDO team kicked off our new strawberry varietals webinar series with California Berry Cultivars, who provided an overview of their breeding program and the varieties they have here in Australia. A second one was run in early August with UC Davis. We plan to host more strawberry variety webinars featuring breeding programs with cultivars currently available in Australia. If you would like to hear from a particular breeding program, please get in touch and let us know.

If you would like to watch either webinar visit the Resource Library at bit.ly/BA-RL and search ‘strawberry variety’.

In June the IDO team joined me here in the wintery depths of Victoria (our Queensland crew members frigid but resilient) for our annual IDO planning workshop.

We have a lot of exciting things planned for the next year, including the continuation of the national webinar series and the continued expansion of resources available to growers on the Berries Australia website and in the Berries Australia Resource Library.

While the team was down in Melbourne, I was happy to show them around the tracks. The team at Driscoll’s Pakenham nursery gave us an informative, comprehensive overview of their propagation facility and high-health nursery. The Melbourne Markets Authority arranged a tour of the wholesale markets and meet-ups with major berry distributors, as well as a wonderful chat with the FreshTest® crew to give us a deeper understanding of the details of post-harvest testing. Lastly, the team at Steritech gave us an overview of the irradiation facility which processes inter-state and international shipments out of Melbourne, helping keep Australian berries moving and free of dangers like Queensland Fruit Fly. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the businesses we visited for allowing us to come and pick your brains.

The IDO team hears from the Costa’s Melbourne Market team during their tour of the Melbourne Markets in June Photo credit: Sandy Shaw

Several of the IDO team also met up at the Protected Cropping Australia Conference in Adelaide in late July. The Protected Cropping team gave us a chance to showcase the berry industry in their dedicated Berries Forum, and it was wonderful to catch up with our growers and industry partners who attended. Thanks to the PCA team for all their hard work!

In late July, the Fair Work Ombudsman released the Horticulture Compliance Report summarising learnings from enforcement operations over the past three years. Victoria and South Australia had some of the highest rates of non-compliance in the nation, with the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula topping the list. 91% of all infringement notices were issued to labour hire providers, providing solid data to support grower feedback I’ve been hearing on-farm. The FWO and

Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority have indicated zthat they will return to the least-compliant regions in a new focused campaign over the next two years. Growers and businesses can protect themselves by reading up on their obligations, attending FWO and Labour Hire Authority events to keep up to date with the latest developments, and updating their business processes and protocols before the start of the season. See PAGE 22 for a breakdown of the FWO report and key takeaways for growers.

September and October will be bringing with them an exciting slate of extension activities for growers to take advantage of. I’ll be reaching out to growers to set up farm visits before we pitch fully into season, and if you don’t hear from me and you’d like to, please reach out! My door is always open.

The IDO team (L-R: Sandy Shaw, Melinda Simpson, Helen Newman and Wendy Morris) get together for the PCA conference in late July Photo credit: Daniel Robinson

Climate and crop

Western Australia

Helen Newman,

Berry

Industry Development Officer

0428 335 724 | Helen.Newman@dpird.wa.gov.au

Drier and warmer than average conditions during May provided a good environment for the establishment of newly planted strawberry crops in the Perth region. These conditions, however, were also favourable to mites, which were an issue in some berry crops, and chilli thrips, which continue to be problematic in the greater Perth region across all berry categories, particularly blueberries and Rubus. In the southern growing region, cooler albeit warmer than average temperatures saw the continued flow of excellent quality strawberries during May and June. June was also warmer than average in the Perth region and June rainfall totals were average to above average, throughout all growing regions. July also saw average to above average rainfall, but temperatures were generally average to slightly below average.

Chilli thrips management remains a priority for berry growers in the greater Perth region. On-farm experimentation will soon be supported by research being undertaken in blueberries and Rubus by Murdoch University. SEE PAGE 44 for more details about this project.

Spray optimisation and careful consideration of disease management programs is also a priority, with recent sampling and trials revealing high levels of fungicide resistance. Resistance to multiple modes of action (chemical groups) has been found in botrytis samples collected from strawberries and blueberries. Many other non-berry crops, including some broad-acre crops, host Botrytis cinerea, so it is possible that resistant spores are persistent in the environment between seasons and between crops, even with good on-farm hygiene practices.

Industry news

Strawberry disease management roadshow

Strawberry pathologist and consultant Apollo Gomez visited WA in July to give local growers an update on the latest options available for managing strawberry diseases such as grey mould (Botrytis cinerea), powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis), Gnomonia (Gnomoniopsis fructicola), and black spot (Colletotrichum acutatum)

We travelled from Albany up to Bullsbrook, meeting with growers in the summer growing region in the south and the winter growing region in Perth.

Due to the high levels of fungicide resistance detected in Western Australia, Apollo’s key messages were:

• Maximise the use of multi-site (protectant) fungicides throughout the season (e.g. Captan™, thiram, sulphur, potassium bicarbonate formulations, and biological products)

• Use single-site fungicides strategically, only applying them when the environment favours disease development and risk of disease pressure is high

• Rotate different fungicide groups, being mindful of groups in co-formulated products

• Have a clear break between crops where no disease host material is present on or near the site for a period before new season plants arrive. Disease spores from discarded plants and second years can quickly move into the new crop, transferring any resistance that developed in the previous year

• Optimise equipment and practices to ensure appropriate coverage is achieved to maximise the efficacy of fungicides

• Incorporate non-chemical options into your disease management program (e.g. crop hygiene and silicon applied through fertigation)

Multi-site fungicides

Contact/Protectants

Shields the leaf and fruit surfaces

Affect multiple target sites

Risk of resistance is low

Single-site fungicides

Systemics/Curatives

Able to be absorbed and moved

Targets one specific site

Risk of resistance is high

Limited number of sprays to help manage the risk

Neil Handasyde (Albany) and Apollo Gomez

Apollo presenting to the team at Marvelus Berries in Northcliffe

Apollo with the Berry Sweet Pemberton team

NEW fungicide resistance work in strawberries

Dr Joel Haywood, at the Curtin University Centre for Crop Disease and Management, is looking for growers to participate in a 12-month project on ‘In-field diagnostic tests for fungicide resistance in strawberry’. The project will provide on-the-spot diagnostics of fungicide resistance levels for botrytis and powdery mildew. The aim is to familiarise growers and the broader industry with the benefits of early detection of fungicide resistance. The impact of early detection and subsequent changes to management on disease control, resistance development and yield will be measured at participating sites.

Please contact Dr Haywood if you are interested in participating joel.haywood@curtin.edu.au

Participants at the Perth Strawberry Disease Management workshop creating a crop protection program focused on multi-site fungicides with strategic use of single-site fungicides when disease risk is high. Participants were given time to create a program using disease resistance management best practice guidelines for fungicides registered for strawberries.

All photos credit: Helen Newman

(L) Workshop participants were introduced to fungal pathogens at a microscopic level, such as Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium sp. and Alternaria sp. (R) Lincoln Harper, Curtin University Centre for Crop Disease and Management, demonstrating how to collect botrytis samples on a swab for fungicide resistance testing

New South Wales

Gaius Leong, Berry Industry Development Officer 0484 055 748 | gaius.leong@dpi.nsw.gov.au

With unprecedented wet weather events becoming more common over the past few seasons in NSW, it has taken a significant toll on the state’s berry industry.

Physical water damage to plants and infrastructure has been substantial. Prolonged inundation deprives plants of oxygen, harming their overall health and reducing their lifespan. Recent wet weather events have also commonly caused soil erosion, washouts, water ponding, and landslides.

(L) Blueberry plants under water due to the recent heavy rainfall over winter, (R) Water pooling in the inter-rows due to heavy rainfall and substrate drainage

(L) Grey mould on blackberries, (R) Rust on raspberry leaf

Reduced fruit quality due to increased pest and disease incidence are also associated with these prolonged wet weather events.

These ongoing and repeated wet weather events have significantly reshaped both the physical landscape of NSW’s berry-growing regions and the way the industry operates. While the changes have helped growers adapt to the new challenges posed by wet conditions, they have also unintentionally created new difficulties of their own. The following are some changes that industry has adopted (adapted from ‘Managing berries in extreme wet weather’ by Melinda Simpson):

• Site selection with elevated and gentle slopes preferred

• Reduced plantings in low lying areas

• Selecting north-facing slopes to ensure better light and air exposure

• Soil sampling before planting to understand potential physical and chemical constraints

• Setting up ‘all weather’ access roads to farm

• Mounding of berries to further increase drainage

• Installation of sub-surface drains

• Establishing and maintaining ground cover in the inter-row and waterways

• Varietal selection of less disease susceptible varieties

• The use of plastic protected cropping structures (poly tunnels) and substrate media

The extreme weather has increased the adoption of protected cropping systems in NSW. By shielding crops from extreme weather, pests and diseases, these systems enable growers to extend growing seasons, improve fruit quality, and meet the demands of premium domestic and export markets. As the industry adapts to climate variability and labour challenges, protected cropping systems are emerging as a key pathway to future-proof berry production and therefore contribute to Australia’s food security.

High tunnels and polyhouses represent a significant advancement in protected cropping, offering greater protection and climate management capabilities for berry crops. These structures are particularly well suited to blueberries and Rubus species, allowing growers to control airflow, humidity, and temperature. By creating more consistent growing conditions, high poly tunnels help achieve uniform fruit quality and enable higher planting densities, supporting premium market supply and export opportunities.

That said, polytunnels are not without their drawbacks and need to be managed appropriately to ensure that growers do not inadvertently create additional issues. This is an area of research for the industry, and we will continue to work with growers to ensure they have the best system for their specific set of circumstances.

All photos credit: NSW DPIRD

Raspberry and Blueberry growing in polytunnels

Queensland

Wendy Morris, Berry Industry Development Officer 0484 272 963 | qldberryido@berries.net.au

It’s been a slow, slow start for the winter strawberry crop, with many growers noting they are down up to fifty percent on volume year-on-year at the time of writing. This is due to the weather, which has been at times freezing, rainy, windy and – frequently – overcast. As we enter late July, there are plenty of flowers and young fruit on Sundrench and other early varieties, and signs that later varieties will flush heavily in late August to mid-September.

Overall, farms are looking significantly healthier than in 2024, when disease ran rampant. There have been incidents of Neopestalotiopsis leaf, fruit, and crown rot, particularly in plug plants, as well as black spot and lethal yellow.

It’s been great to see so many farms leading the way with good hygiene practices. Making farm hygiene simple and convenient is one of the best ways to ensure it becomes a habit. Things like a well-maintained and clean footbath at the field entrance and handy buckets for removing diseased plants help keep good practices top of mind and easy to follow.

Fruit firmness has been a challenge for many growers this season. While different calcium formulations have been trialled, unfortunately, what works well on one farm doesn’t always deliver the same results on another. That said, it’s encouraging to see excellent fruit quality across a range of varieties and farms.

Raspberry volumes have eased off through July and are expected to stay low during August, with a boost in supply likely from September. The reduced availability has led to some price increases. Blackberry volumes are also set to rise in September and October. Meanwhile, blueberry prices have been strong, with Queensland growers benefiting from lower production levels in New South Wales.

Off the farm, growers have had the chance to connect with propagators, with JCLM, Sunray, and Red Jewel all visiting local properties. Sunray also hosted a field walk at Ray Kim’s farm on Burys Road in Beerwah, where visitors were invited to view his runners and ask any questions.

Stunning blueberries ready for harvest

Black spot disease showing on a strawberry in SEQ

The Queensland Strawberry Field Day was held on 16 July at the DPI Nambour site. A huge thank-you to our sponsors, AgBiTech Australia who sponsored our Biggest Strawberry Competition, to DPI Nambour staff for hosting and providing practical assistance, and to Adrian Schultz from the QSGA who assisted with hosting duties. For more information on the day and to find a link to the video version of the Field Day, SEE PAGE 88

Our latest Webinar ‘Drones – Current Australian Legislation & Industry Issues’ held on 5 August featured a practical look at what growers need to know before taking flight presented by Mark Lewis, who is a Senior Inspector at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

All photos credit: Wendy Morris

The recording of this webinar, along with past webinars and a huge array of other berry resources can be found in the Berries Australia Resource Library at bit.ly/BA-RL.

One question I’ve been asked recently by a number of growers and industry groups is ‘can my staff member attend in my place?’. If you are a grower, please feel free to send as many of your staff along to events as you wish. It doesn’t matter if it’s your new agronomist or the backpacker who’s showing promise, send them along!

And as always, if you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Having buckets handy around the farm to contain removed diseased plant material is a simple hygiene hack on this farm at Elimbah

Adrian Schultz (QSGA) using the foot bath at Ashbern Farms

Windy conditions have been experienced this season in QLD

Tasmania

Ella Roper, Berry Industry Development Officer

0400 100 593 | berryido@fruitgrowerstas.org.au

Winter in Tasmania has been largely warm and dry with below average rainfall and above average temperatures throughout May, June and July. Growers have been busy with winter replanting and renewal activities to set crops up for the coming season. Rubus longcane crops have been pruned and the early releases planted to target the early market in November. The majority of strawberry crops have been replanted, and blueberry plants have had their annual prune to promote fruit quality and yield for the season.

A major activity and highlight of the Fruit Growers Tasmania calendar is complete, with the team holding their 33rd conference in June at Wrest Point in Hobart. The conference brought together berry, pome and stone fruit growers and industry members from across the state for two days of networking and learning. The conference saw approximately 220 attendees over the two days and consisted of presentations on a wide range of topics, including pollination, pest and disease, coir reuse, irrigation, labour updates, export trends, and domestic and international market updates. Read more about the conference on PAGE 33. The Industry Awards Dinner was held on the first evening, and Costa Blackberry Farm Manager Uchitha (Bhashi) Godahenage was awarded the Young Grower of the Year for her efforts in leading the blackberry team. Read more about Bhashi and her award on PAGE 106.

The Berries Australia Industry Development Officers (IDOs) also caught up in June in Melbourne for the annual workshop and project review. As part of the trip, we visited Driscoll’s nursery in Pakenham, where we toured the impressive propagation facility and were able to better understand how tissue culture and

nursery plants are managed through the propagation process. Early on the second morning we toured the Melbourne Wholesale Market at Epping, where we visited several permanent berry grower stalls on the busy buyers walk to view the fruit quality and understand recent pricing challenges. Finally, we visited Steritech, where fresh fruit and other produce is sterilised through phytosanitary irradiation to meet state biosecurity requirements and prevent pests such as Queensland Fruit Fly from surviving entry into sensitive regions such as Tasmania.

In terms of upcoming events, the Berry IDO team has a series of national webinars on a range of topics for berry growers around Australia. The first was held in May on the future of digital integration in berries and the second held in early August on drone legislation and their use in agriculture. Keep your eyes out for further information on upcoming webinars through The Burst e-Newsletter, Berries Australia website or through social media communications. If you missed a webinar, search the Resource Library to find a link to the recording.

As many of you will be aware, this is also my last report as berry IDO for Tasmania as I head back out into industry. I would like to extend a huge thank you to all the wonderful growers around the state who have opened their doors or picked up the phone and been willing to have a chat over the past year. It’s been a pleasure working with you all to better understand your challenges and priorities and I wish you all the best for the coming season and future. I would also like to say a huge thank you to the incredible Berries Australia team who do so much valuable work for growers in representing the industries, running events and providing opportunities for growers. Finally, a big thank you to the Fruit Growers Tasmania team for having me over the past year and the value you provide for Tasmanian berry growers, it’s been a pleasure.

Thank you all again and I hope to cross paths again at some point in the future.

Navigating Productivity Opportunities in Australian Horticulture

Hort Innovation

In the face of rising input costs, labour shortages, and increasing global competition, the Australian horticulture industry is at a crossroads. The recently released Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity report, commissioned by Hort Innovation and developed by the Centre for International Economics (CIE), presents a compelling case for embracing innovation to unlock up to $1 billion annually in additional value added, reaching $22 billion in 2040.

This forward-looking economic framework offers growers and industry leaders a practical lens through which to understand the key drivers of productivity and the tangible benefits of adopting new technologies. More than just a theoretical exercise, the report also provides actionable insights and a modelling tool that can help growers start to analyse where they can achieve more with less, today.

The productivity imperative

Sustained productivity growth is the cornerstone of profitability and competitiveness in horticulture. With domestic and international pressures mounting, growers must find more productive ways to operate.

Productivity is the engine that drives profitability. In other words, increasing profitability cannot be achieved in the long run without improving productivity. By producing more with the same number of resources or producing the same amount with fewer resourceswhether through better data, smarter labour practices, or more efficient use of inputs - growers can maintain margins even in challenging market conditions.

The report identifies four key innovation areas that, if adopted strategically, can significantly boost productivity across the sector:

Production Cost Analysis

Automated Farm Data Collection

Mechanisation & Automation

Machine Learning (ML) & Artificial Intelligence (AI)

These innovations are not just buzzwords—they represent real opportunities to streamline operations, reduce waste, make better decisions and boost profitability.

What’s at stake?

The modelling framework developed by CIE for the report allows the industry to simulate different innovation adoption scenarios, analysing the potential ‘value added’ by adopting certain practices.

Value added is a measure representing the value retained by the industry after external costs - such as fuel, fertiliser, etc - are paid. It includes business profits, wages, and returns to capital. By focusing on value added, we gain a clearer picture of the actual value of productivity benefits for growers. It reflects what stays within the industry and directly contributes to its sustainability and growth.

In 2025, the horticulture industry’s value added is estimated at $8 billion. Under a High Adoption scenario, where growers rapidly embrace the four innovation areas, productivity growth averages 1.3% per year, pushing industry value added to $22 billion by 2040a 78% increase compared to a baseline scenario.

In contrast, a Low Adoption scenario sees slower uptake, with productivity growth averaging 0.7% per year and industry value added reaching only $17 billion - a 30% increase over baseline.

Even modest improvements - like a 10% increase in adoption rates and a two-year acceleration - could deliver an additional $10 billion in value.

The message is clear: the pace and scale of innovation adoption matter

The modelling tool that accompanies the report provides a practical resource for growers to explore productivity solutions tailored to their own operations and assess the right adoption scenario for them.

Productivity in action:

An example of how others are achieving productivity boosts

While the numbers are compelling, the real power of this report lies in its practical application. Across Australia, growers are already demonstrating how small, strategic changes can lead to significant productivity gains.

According to Simon Dornauf at Hillwood Berries, “The most crucial path to productivity is to identify improvements and courses forward through the use of on farm data.”

“As the industry continues to change, to remain viable, we must be looking for ways to streamline and remove input costs. The capability to do this lies in being able to assess where the money is going and where there are opportunities to reduce or remove costs entirely.”

“We’ve found through building our own app, we’ve been able to change our practices on farm to get more output for less. We hope to continue to do this more in the coming years and build our database so that every challenge we come up against we can try and find a viable solution.”

From capturing harvest picking insights to monitoring the cost of production, Simon believes using data will help create longevity in the business. But he knows that data analysis takes a particular skillset, so to further his productivity he has hired a Productivity Analyst with a background in economic analytics, to help identify opportunities across the business and help build an app and dashboards that display the data recorded in real time allowing his managers to make clearer, data driven decisions.

Further practical applications

Understand costs: As outlined by the report, all growers can work to understand their costs to improve productivity. This starts with understanding where your money goes. By gaining clearer insights into input costs - such as labour, fertiliser, and packaging - growers can identify inefficiencies and avoid overspending. Practical ways to build this knowledge include participating in benchmarking projects, attending field days, and sharing insights within grower networks. A more informed industry is a more productive one.

Stay engaged with your local industry development officer: Via the Hort Innovation project Facilitating the development of the Australian berry industry (MT22010) - which is funded by the berry R&D levies and contributions from the Australian Government –Berries Australia is working to enhance the adoption of innovation and technology in the Australian berry industry through sharing R&D information with the Australian berry industry across priority areas. By continuing to keep abreast of the information shared by Berries Australia, more information on productivity solutions will continue to become available as R&D project outcomes are reached.

The Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity report is more than a roadmap - it’s a call to action. With up to $1 billion annually in additional value added on the table, the stakes are high. But the path forward is clear: embrace innovation, invest in capability, and make data-driven decisions.

Whether you're a strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry grower, the tools and strategies outlined in this report are relevant and actionable. By taking small steps today, growers can position themselvesand the industry - for a more productive, profitable, and sustainable future.

Next Generation Weed Management

Jane Richter, Communications Manager, Berries Australia

Australian berry growers are set to benefit from a groundbreaking national initiative tackling one of horticulture’s toughest challenges: weeds. The Next Generation Weed Management (BY23002) project is Hort Innovation’s largest-ever investment in weed control and aims to deliver innovative, eco-friendly, and commercially viable solutions to reduce chemical use and improve productivity across horticultural crops.

As Ella outlined in her article in the Autumn 2025 edition of this journal ‘Strategies for weed management in berry crops’, weeds are an almost inevitable part of growing crops, but weeds can reduce crop yields by up to 50% and are becoming harder to manage due to increasing herbicide resistance and fewer chemical control options. This five-year project, running from March 2025 to April 2030, brings together leading researchers from La Trobe University, Nufarm Australia and Applied Horticultural Research (AHR), with support from Croplands, Kilter and grower groups in Queensland and Victoria.

The program spans three key research streams:

1. Grower-led adoption of AI and robotics:

AHR is working directly with growers to accelerate the use of AI-powered robotic systems for weeding, planting, and spraying. The goal is to reduce input costs, labour needs, and environmental impact through real-world demonstrations, economic modelling, and tailored support to help farms transition to these advanced technologies.

2. Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD):

Led by La Trobe University, this project explores a chemical-free method of weed and pathogen control using natural materials like sugarcane molasses and chicken manure. By creating low-oxygen conditions in the soil, ASD can eliminate weed seeds and soilborne pests while improving soil health. It has shown strong results overseas and will now be trialled across Australian crops including strawberries, capsicums, and melons in Victoria and the Northern Territory.

3. Robotic precision spraying:

In partnership with Nufarm, Croplands and Kilter, this project is developing an autonomous robot that uses machine learning and green-on-green weed detection to apply herbicide microdroplets directly onto weeds. The system can reduce herbicide use by up to 95%, while improving yield and cutting labour costs.

Together, these initiatives will provide berry growers and other horticultural producers with cutting-edge tools to manage weeds sustainably, reduce chemical dependency, and future-proof their operations in an evolving farming landscape.

For berry growers, this means not only better crop protection but also opportunities to repurpose farm waste, lower input costs, and improve environmental outcomes. With trials and demonstrations set to roll out nationally, the project promises practical, scalable solutions for farms of all sizes. Watch this space for more updates as the project progresses.

Next-generation weed management (BY23002) is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from Applied Horticultural Research, La Trobe University, Nufarm Australia and contributions from the Australian Government.

Berries Australia Board Member: Rob King

Jane Richter, Communications Manager, Berries Australia

From the early mornings of his family’s wholesale produce business to the helm of one of Australia’s largest berry operations, Rob King’s journey in horticulture is defined by passion, innovation, and practical leadership. Now General Manager of Costa Berries, Rob oversees the company’s extensive national berry portfolio with a focus on sustainability, strategic growth, and year-round supply.

Rob’s love for the produce industry started young, helping out in his family’s wholesale business. That early exposure sparked a career-long interest in the fresh food supply chain, which led him to join the Costa Group in 2013. He began as Regional Manager for Far North Queensland, charged with establishing Costa’s tropical blueberry operations in the Atherton Tableland near Tolga.

This move was critical, not only for Costa’s long-term supply strategy but for reshaping how the Australian berry industry approached seasonal production. The development of tropical production helped extend the blueberry season, paving the way for year-round availability across domestic and export markets.

From FNQ, Rob moved into larger roles across the business, including Regional Manager at Costa’s flagship Corindi site in northern New South Wales featuring Australia’s largest berry farm. Under his stewardship, Corindi expanded production and implemented innovative growing systems that reduced waste, improved water use efficiency, and prioritised biodiversity.

His leadership was recognised in 2018 with the prestigious Frank Costa Award, which honours excellence in business management across the Costa Group. Rob later served as National Operations Manager before being appointed General Manager, Berries, in 2024.

Rob King

In his current role, Rob coordinates Costa’s berry operations across Australia, covering blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. He’s tasked with aligning strategy, research and development, and operational performance across all growing regions from the cool temperate climates of Tasmania to the tropical north of Queensland.

Rob is a strong advocate for sustainable farming, having driven initiatives that saw Costa win the 2021 Excellence in Sustainability Award. Projects under his leadership have included on-farm recycling programs, integrated pest management, and collaborations on horticultural plastics stewardship. These efforts reflect Rob’s belief that long-term success depends on balancing productivity with environmental responsibility.

Beyond Costa, Rob contributes to the broader berry industry through his involvement in Berries Australia. He sits on the board, and he brings to the table practical insights from managing large-scale operations, and a firm commitment to helping the Australian berry sector thrive through innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Rob King’s story is one of steady progression, built on hard work, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in berry farming. Whether it’s developing year-round supply systems or championing sustainable farming practices, his leadership continues to shape the future of berry production in Australia.

About Costa Group

Costa Group is a global leading grower, packer, and marketer of premium fresh produce, with a proud history spanning over 120 years. The company’s berry division is a cornerstone of its operations, providing high-quality blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries to markets across Australia and internationally. Costa has played a pivotal role in advancing Australia’s berry industry. Through its renowned breeding program, Costa develops superior berry varieties with improved flavour, size, and shelf life. The company’s export success has elevated the reputation of Australian berries on a global scale. It also has berry operations in China, Morocco and Laos.

Costa is committed to sustainability, employing cuttingedge water and nutrient management systems, integrated pest control, and recyclable packaging solutions. Its innovative substrate farming techniques further reduce environmental impact while improving yields. Costa has a long-standing marketing partnership with Driscoll’s for blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries in Australia. The joint venture between Costa Group and Driscoll’s in Australia was established in 2010. This partnership combines Costa’s large-scale berry growing operations with Driscoll’s global marketing expertise, allowing for the year-round supply and distribution of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries under the Driscoll’s brand across Australia. The venture has played a key role in expanding berry consumption and improving category performance domestically.

All photos credit: Costa Group

Costa’s Northdown site in northern Tasmania

What the Latest Fair Work Report Means for Berry Growers

Rachel Mackenzie, CEO, Berries Australia

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has just released a landmark report examining compliance in the horticulture industry, based on 360 site inspections and over 500 investigations across 15 high-risk regions. While many growers are making genuine efforts to comply with workplace laws, the findings reveal systemic issues, particularly around labour hire practices and record keeping, that pose serious risks not just to workers, but to the integrity and reputation of the entire berry sector.

Berries Australia has welcomed the Fair Work Ombudsman’s report and its ongoing commitment to monitor and enforce workplace laws across the horticulture sector. We strongly support continued and increased government investment in the FWO’s monitoring and enforcement capabilities.

Importantly, the report does not reflect the state of the entire horticulture industry. As clearly stated, the investigations targeted employers already suspected of non-compliance in regions historically known for poor practices. These findings should not be interpreted as representative of the broader industry, where many employers are doing the right thing.

The report reaffirms a long-held industry concern that labour hire providers are responsible for the vast majority of non-compliance. In fact, 91% of all infringement notices issued by the FWO were directed at labour hire companies, highlighting the urgent need for reform in this space.

Berries Australia continues to advocate for the introduction of a national labour hire licensing regime, noting that Queensland - where such a regime is already in place - had the highest levels of compliance. The report also acknowledged the significant role Berries Australia has played in educating growers and supporting compliance efforts.

As an industry, there is a firm commitment to identifying and removing unscrupulous operators. Berries Australia looks forward to continued collaboration with the FWO to drive improvements and promote greater adherence to workplace laws across the sector.

This article summarises the key findings that matter most to berry growers and outlines the practical steps you can take to ensure your business is on the right side of the law.

1. Labour Hire is a Major Compliance Risk

Across all inspected regions, 91% of infringement notices were issued to labour hire providers. In regions with extreme or very high non-compliance rates such as Coffs Harbour and Grafton (61%) and the Mornington Peninsula/Yarra Valley (83%) labour hire arrangements were the common denominator.

Under section 550 of the Fair Work Act, growers can be held liable for contraventions committed by their labour hire providers if they’re “involved” in the breach (e.g. knowingly turning a blind eye). "I didn’t know" is not a valid defence.

What you need to do:

• Only engage labour hire providers that are licensed (in states with licensing laws)

• Keep a record of who you're contracting and verify that their business details are current and legitimate

• Ask for sample pay slips, employment agreements and evidence of tax and super payments

• Include clear clauses in contracts about compliance with Fair Work laws and follow up to ensure these are being met

2. Record Keeping and Pay Slips Are the Most Common Breaches

Over 60% of all breaches related to basic obligations such as failing to:

• Keep proper employee records

• Issue pay slips

• Use correct pay slip formats

These are non-negotiable legal requirements. Without them, workers can’t verify who employs them or what they're being paid and Fair Work can’t confirm whether entitlements are being met.

What you need to do:

• Maintain clear records for each worker with hours worked, rates paid, and deductions made

• Issue compliant pay slips every payday. Include ABN, hours worked, gross/net pay, tax withheld, super details, and pay rate

• Avoid cash payments. If cash is unavoidable, ensure you keep a paper trail (with signatures) and disclose this in your bookkeeping

3. Piece Rates Are Still Being Misused

Both growers and labour hire providers were found to be paying pieceworkers without:

• Disclosing the piece rate in writing

• Paying at least the minimum hourly rate

• Keeping records of hours worked

In some cases, workers earned as little as $10/hour which is far below the legal minimum.

What you need to do:

• If using piece rates, ensure workers are paid at least the hourly floor rate as per the Horticulture Award

• Provide each pieceworker a written agreement that outlines the rate and their minimum entitlements

• Record hours worked daily as this is now a legal requirement

4. Some Growers Still Operate Under ‘Zombie’ Agreements

A small number of growers were still using pre-2010 collective agreements that avoided key entitlements like overtime. These expired automatically on 7 December 2023 unless formally extended.

What you need to do:

• If you previously operated under a pre-2010 agreement, ensure you're now using the Horticulture Award or a registered agreement

• Seek advice if you're unsure whether your agreement remains valid

5. Good Governance Sets Compliant Growers Apart

Regions with higher compliance like Wide Bay and Moreton Bay in Queensland shared common features:

• Direct employment of workers

• Ongoing collaboration with Fair Work

• Use of electronic systems to track hours and productivity

• Participation in programs like Fair Farms

What you need to do:

• Invest in reliable systems to track hours and ensure minimum rates are paid

• Conduct spot audits of your own records and labour hire providers

• Use the Fair Farms certification or similar programs to build confidence with buyers and regulators

• Educate your supervisors and team leaders on compliance responsibilities

What to Expect Next

The FWO has flagged more coordinated action, including:

• Targeting growers who use suspect labour hire providers

• Sharing information with the ATO, ASIC, ABF and state labour hire regulators

• Working with supermarkets and supply chain stakeholders to weed out non-compliance

From January 2025, intentional wage theft became a criminal offence under the Fair Work Act. While this won’t apply to honest mistakes, it puts further pressure on employers to get it right.

These new laws introduced under the Closing Loopholes Act mean intentional underpayment of wages is now a criminal offence. Penalties may include:

• Fines of up to $7.8 million for companies

• Fines of up to $1.56 million for individuals

• Potential jail time (up to 10 years for individuals in the most serious cases)

These apply only to deliberate underpayments— not honest mistakes.

Resources available to assist growers

This isn’t just about avoiding fines, though the penalties for non-compliance are now more serious than ever. It’s about doing right by your workers, protecting your business from legal and reputational damage, and contributing to the long-term success and sustainability of the Australian berry industry.

The era of “handshake deals,” unlicensed labour hire, and not knowing who’s actually working in your fields is over. With the Fair Work Ombudsman now actively targeting non-compliance, and new criminal penalties in effect from 2025, growers can no longer afford to be complacent or unaware.

If you’re already following the rules, this report is a strong validation of your practices. It shows that legitimate, ethical businesses can and do operate successfully in horticulture. But if you're unsure—if you don’t know exactly who your workers are, how much they’re being paid, or whether the labour hire provider you use is properly licensed—then now is the time to take action. By taking proactive steps now, you’re helping to create a more transparent, fair, and sustainable berry industry. One that attracts and retains skilled workers, reassures customers and supply chain partners, and stands up to scrutiny from regulators and the public. Let’s make sure the berries we grow are something we can all be proud of all the way from paddock to pay slip.

There are a wide range of free resources available directly to growers to help you make sure you are doing the right thing with your workers: Resource

Horticulture Showcase horticulture.fairwork.gov.au

Small Business Showcase smallbusiness.fairwork.gov.au

Where you’ll find…

Pay Slip and other Templates, Information Sheets, Self-Audit Checklist, Online Learning, Videos, Labour Hire Guides, Translated Resources, Record-keeping Guidelines

Help for Small Business Hub, Self-Audit Checklist, Guidance on deductions, overpayments, tax and super obligations, Templates and guidance for job ads, telephone screening, and reference checking, 25-minute online training for hiring staff, Best practice guide on performance management and warning letters with an online training session, Employer Advisory Service (EAS) which offers one-on-one specialist support for small businesses, Library & Best Practice Guides

Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) calculate.fairwork.gov.au

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) It provides an interactive calculator to help employers and employees work out Pay Rates, Overtime rates, Leave Entitlements, Notice & Redundancy and Shift Work Calculations

New calcium fertiliser unlocks future crop potential

A NEW calcium fertiliser being launched to Australian fruit and vegetable growers is set to deliver a solution to one of the key limitations to optimum plant production and, in turn,

Calcium is an essential nutrient for plant health, strength and resilience, however, the most common source, calcium nitrate, delivers calcium alongside nitrate nitrogen and this has presented challenges for growers because the nitrogen component can negatively impact crop production. In sensitive crops or during key fruiting stages, excess nitrogen can disrupt nutrient balance, reduce fruit quality and shorten shelf life.

Haifa Cal Absolute, from specialty fertiliser supplier, Haifa Group, is an alternative, high calcium fertiliser based on calcium formate and is nitrogen-free. Compared with other calcium nitrate products, it contains nearly twice the amount of calcium and it can be blended with a wide range of nutrients.

Haifa Cal Absolute is fully water soluble and contains nearly 31 per cent calcium, while it also is virtually free of sodium and chloride. Typical calcium nitrate fertilisers supply around 17pc calcium.

Haifa Australia Northern Sales Agronomist Malcolm Otto said the arrival of Haifa Cal Absolute meant growers now had new freedom in how they managed calcium nutrition, without having to consider unwanted elements or impurities.

“Until now, growers have had to compromise. If they wanted calcium, they often had to take the nitrate with it — even when it wasn’t ideal for the crop or timing,” Malcolm said.

from soft fruit and bitter end rot to lost shelf life and breakdown in transit.

“When fruiting, too much nitrate can accelerate tissue softening. A product like Haifa Cal Absolute gives g

stronger skin and better marketable yields.”

Malcolm said there was a clear trend in horticulture toward more balanced crop nutrition and reduced nitrogen use, and calcium formate suited this shift perfectly

Haifa Group evaluated more than 20 calcium sources before identifying a formulation that delivered a reliable, concentrated

Haifa Cal Absolute represents a larger upfront investment than typical calcium nitrate fertilisers, however, Malcolm said the value proposition was clear – more calcium per application, fewer compatibility issues and potential for higher returns through reduced losses and improved fruit quality.

Haifa Cal Absolute has already been successfully launched in Europe and will be available to Australian growers in coming months from Lindsay Rural and Nutrien Ag Solutions outlets.

Haifa Australia (03) 9583 4691

australia@haifa-group.com ww w.haifa-group.com

Talking Tough Times: What 700 Aussie Farmers Want You to Hear

Jane Richter, Communications Manager, Berries Australia

Rural Aid’s second Pulse of the Paddock survey offers an in-depth look at the emotional, social, and business wellbeing of Australian farmers. Nearly 700 primary producers, including fruit and vegetable growers, responded to this survey in October 2024. Their insights shed light on widespread challenges, especially mental health, service access, and sustainability, all issues highly relevant to berry farmers.

The 2025 Pulse of the Paddock survey combined multiple-choice and open-ended questions, collecting feedback from 687 farmers registered with Rural Aid. The majority of respondents were primary producers across various farm sizes: 40% farmed 101–1000 acres, and 39% managed 1001–10,000 acres. Production types included cattle, sheep, and broadacre farming, as well as fruit, vegetable, dairy, poultry, and aquaculture operations. This breadth makes the report’s findings broadly applicable across the horticulture industry, including berry production.

One of the most urgent themes is farmer mental health. A concerning 58% of surveyed farmers described their mental health as “average or below,” and 21% reported a decline in their mental wellbeing over the past 12 months. The facts are confronting: Australian farmers take their own lives at a rate 59% higher than the national average. Yet 36% of those struggling didn’t seek help, with many expressing discomfort around asking for support.

However, signs of progress are emerging. One-third of respondents indicated a positive shift in their attitude toward accessing mental health services, reflecting a gradual cultural change. Notably, 61% of farmers said they would now reach out for counselling support for themselves, and 75% would do so for their families.

For berry growers who face season-dependent income, physically demanding work, and the constant risk of climate extremes, these findings reinforce the need to normalise help-seeking and to stay connected with support services.

Community connection was another major theme. A vast 94% of farmers said their local community was essential to accessing services such as health care, childcare, and postal services. Despite this, 38% reported facing significant barriers to accessing these services.

These barriers included:

• Isolation: Long travel times, poor roads, and high fuel costs

• Service shortages: Lack of healthcare professionals, poor phone and internet coverage

• Financial pressure: Low, irregular or uncertain income and limited eligibility for government support

• Time constraints: The all-consuming 24/7 nature of farming made scheduling appointments or training difficult

Yet, 85% of respondents still felt a strong connection to their community, citing sporting groups, shows, and other local events as crucial for mental wellbeing and

practical support. For berry farmers who often rely on seasonal labour and may work in remote or semi-urban fringe areas investing in community ties can create vital buffers against stress and isolation.

Encouragingly, the report highlights a strong appetite among farmers to learn and adapt. Of the respondents who participated in sustainability education programs 83% made changes based on what they learned and an even higher 86% observed positive outcomes on their farms as a result.

Reported benefits included:

• Healthier ecosystems: Improved pasture, better water retention, and healthier soils

• Efficiency gains: Lower costs and inputs through reduced chemical use and tech-driven time savings

• Resilience to climate events: Such as droughtproofing and carbon capture

The barriers to uptake were consistent; a lack of time and financial resources to attend courses or trial new methods. But there’s a clear willingness to adopt sustainable practices when the support is practical, accessible, and tailored.

This is particularly relevant to berry growers who are managing perennial or semi-perennial crops where soil health, water efficiency, and biodiversity all contribute to pest management, yield and marketability.

The overall mood among farmers was cautiously optimistic. While more than half of the respondents believed they could achieve their goals this year, 69% felt unprepared to manage looming threats like financial pressure, drought, and volatile market conditions.

This sense of unease highlights a few clear takeaways for industry stakeholders and government bodies:

1. Normalise and fund mental health support

Farmers are increasingly open to mental health conversations. Continued investment in local, culturally appropriate counselling services will accelerate this trend and prevent burnout and poor decision-making on-farm.

2. Support local communities

Enhancing transport, communication infrastructure, and access to rural services will address major pain points. For berry producers reliant on seasonal workforces, improving local amenity and services can also assist in worker retention.

3. Scale up sustainability training

Flexible, accessible sustainability education (e.g., online courses, on-farm demos, peer learning groups) would empower more growers to improve productivity and resilience. Even small grants or time-saving tools could remove current barriers.

4. Long-term support and advocacy

As uncertainty becomes a norm, from climate events to global price fluctuations, farmers need consistent, long-term support. This includes farm advocacy groups lobbying for better connectivity, freight subsidies, affordable insurance, and transitional funding for adopting regenerative systems.

The Pulse of the Paddock report paints a complex yet hopeful picture. Australian farmers - including berry growers - are facing real pressure but are also showing strength, adaptability, and a growing openness to change. By investing in mental health, community resilience, and sustainable farming education, the industry can safeguard its future through good seasons and bad.

Berry growers are encouraged to stay engaged in local networks, seek out training when possible, and use services like Rural Aid to support themselves, their families, and their businesses through the ups and downs of farming life.

Freshcare certified businesses, their staff and immediate family members can also access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing confidential counselling, coaching, and wellbeing services provided by TELUS Health - free of charge.

Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, supporting farmers and communities with vital services like mental health care, hay, and water. Since 2015, it’s been a lifeline in tough times. Now celebrating 10 years, Rural Aid remains committed to helping rural Australia recover, grow, and thrive.

Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au

AWARD WINNER: RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR

DAMIEN CLOTHIER MOUNTAIN BLUE

NSW-based R&D Researcher and Agronomist

Damien Clothier from Mountain Blue was the recipient of the inaugural Researcher of the Year Award at BerryQuest International 2025.

“Mountain Blue gives me the freedom to focus on the research, while backing it with the resources and long-term thinking needed to make real progress. Having the support of the business and knowing they’re invested in the longevity of the program is critical in my role. It allows me to focus on delivering what I need to, without second-guessing the direction. They’ve created an environment where innovation is encouraged, and good work is genuinely valued.”

Damien was nominated for the award by Josh McGuiness, CEO at The Berry Collective, the marketing, supply chain, procurement and sales function that is a joint venture between Mountain Blue and the OzGroup.

“I’ve worked with Damien for years, but it wasn’t until speaking with his mentor, Dr John Clark, that I truly understood his impact. Dr Clark - one of the world’s top Rubus breeders - said Damien’s knowledge, passion, and progress rank among the best he’s seen in over 40 years. That kind of praise is rare and says a lot.”

Damien first joined Mountain Blue as a third-party agronomist working on blueberries. Not long after, Managing Director Andrew Bell launched a new project with a bold vision: to build on their blueberry success by expanding into other berries, starting with Damien leading the first blackberry trials. As those trials expanded and started taking up more of his time, it became clear he’d need to choose between R&D and agronomy. The blackberry breeding work had really sparked his interest, so Damien made the call to jump into R&D full-time and leave agronomy behind. And the new blackberry variety ‘Nebula’ is the result of that leap.

Blackberries are still a newer berry for Aussie shoppers, but that’s changing. Once bought only occasionally by a few households, their popularity has grown thanks to better year-round supply and more investment in marketing and education.

“What excites me most about ‘Nebula’ is its consistent flavour and impressive, uniform size. It performs well even in low chill climates, making it a win for both growers and consumers.”

Damien says the person who’s influenced him the most is his late grandfather, with the time spent on his farm in the Southern Highlands of NSW sparking his love for agriculture. Even though he started out as a mechanical engineer, it was that early connection to farming that eventually led him back to study agriculture and pursue a career in the industry.

“I often think and laugh about what he would think of me breeding and growing blackberries because he was always trying to kill them, a noxious weed, on his farm!”

Damien also credits Dr John Clark as an important mentor. Damien feels incredibly fortunate to have had someone so highly respected help guide him through his blackberry breeding journey. Dr Clark’s deep knowledge and philosophy around blackberries have encouraged Damien not just to learn, but to keep asking questions and seeking answers.

AWARD WINNER: GROWER OF THE YEAR

ANTHONY

YEWERS BERRY SWEET

Anthony was thrust into berry growing at a young age when his mother became ill and was no longer able to manage the farm. Anthony originally aspired to be a vet and had a strong desire to study business management, but this was put on the back burner when he needed to take on the farm.

“My biggest regret was not doing more study.”

Anthony credits his success in farming to the lessons he learned in motocross racing.

“Racing is like farming. You are continually training, there are ups and downs, and you single-mindedly go for what you believe. You get knocked down, but you keep stepping up. It’s a cycle. If you put the same effort into any business that you do when training for motocross, you will succeed.”

When asked what is exciting and interesting about growing berries, Anthony has plenty of answers. Here are just two...

“Testing new varieties and working out if they will fit into our production system and market windows is exciting. And you can’t just trust what you see at first. We loved ‘Camarosa’, but in the first year of field testing, we thought it was a dud. Two years later, it was all we were growing. Some interesting varieties are coming through again now.”

WA berry grower Anthony Yewers, owner of Berry Sweet, received the Grower of the Year Award at BerryQuest International 2025.

“I love growing strawberries, getting out in the field and watching the plants grow. I particularly love looking at the first flush. It means my job is done because the plant is up and going.”

Anthony grows all three berry categories, but strawberries are his clear favourite.

In his 41st year of growing, Berry Sweet is now one of the biggest berry operations in WA. From a modest 5-acre plot managed by his mother, Anthony has built a resilient business focused on integrity and being at the forefront of technology and IPM.

“There is an exciting future ahead with AI and robotics. Some of the stuff we are testing now is incredible, and there is more to come.”

Anthony sees his biggest achievement as his early transition to protected cropping under high tunnels on tabletops for strawberries.

“I thank Gerry Verheyen for encouraging me to try high tunnels. I’ve known Gerry since I was a kid and really admire him. After trying the tunnels, I added tabletops. I could see labour was going to be a problem in the future, and tabletops were a way to improve labour efficiency and create a nicer working environment.”

Anthony says he has a lot to be thankful for.

“My son Kyle and daughter Sienna are keen to stay in the business, which is a proud moment. I have awesome staff who have really stepped up over the last 10 months, and I am fortunate to have a good customer in Coles, who has been supportive of my operation for over 30 years.” Anthony is looking forward to stepping back to enjoy more time boating and fishing, but says retirement isn’t on the cards.

JAPAN

LAND AREA

377,975 km2

CAPITAL CITY TOKYO

LANGUAGES JAPANESE

CURRENCY YEN (JPY)

• Japan plays a significant role in international trade

URBAN RESIDENTS

113,712,000

RURAL RESIDENTS

9,888,000

• The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) is a key agreement facilitating trade and investment between the two countries

• Japan is a major trading partner for Australia, with highly complementary economies

• JAEPA aims to eliminate or reduce barriers to trade in goods and services between Australia and Japan, providing preferential access for Australian exporters and supporting growth in two-way investment

• JAEPA is one of Australia’s most utilised trade agreements

• Market access for Australian berries to Japan is currently from Tasmania only

ECONOMY

• Japan's economy has seen positive nominal GDP growth in the past couple of years, more than doubling the growth rate from the previous decade

• Headline inflation has been at or above 2% for over two years, exceeding the Bank of Japan's target for an extended period, driven by rising energy and food prices

• Wage growth has reached a 30-year high, which is a positive sign for consumer spending and economic activity

• Japan faces a shrinking and ageing population, leading to labour shortages and putting strain on social security systems

POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

• Japan is a democratic, constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government

• Japan's parliament is known as the Diet and comprises a House of Representatives (Lower House) and a House of Councillors (Upper House)

• Executive power is vested in the Cabinet, which comprises the Prime Minister and other members known as Ministers of State

• Japan’s governmental structure has three tiers: national, prefectural and local, there are 47 prefectures and 1,741 local municipalities and each tier is governed by elected assemblies

TOTAL POPULATION 123.6 m

POPULATION DENSITY RANKED

CONNECTIVITY

• Japan has one of the most advanced and efficient trade infrastructures in the world, designed to support its position as a major global trading nation

• Trade infrastructure and technology is highly modernised

• Japan maintains a comprehensive and reliable cold chain for food imports, critical for fresh produce

• Major airports like Narita (Tokyo) and Kansai (Osaka) offer temperature-controlled cargo handling and daily international freight routes

New Year (Shōgatsu): January 1–3

Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival): March 3

Cherry Blossom Season (Hanami): Late March to Early April

Golden Week: April 29 to May 5

Tanabata (Star Festival): July 7 (varies by region)

Obon: Mid-August (Aug 13–15 or mid-July in some regions)

Tsukimi (Moon Viewing Festival): September (varies by lunar calendar)

Respect for the Aged Day (Keirō no Hi): Third Monday of September

Autumn Festivals (Aki Matsuri): September to November

Christmas: December 24 - 25

THE JAPANESE CONSUMER

Japanese consumers value high-quality, well-designed products, prefer trusted brands, and are drawn to goods that offer attention to detail, reliability, and cultural harmony

KEY INSIGHTS

URBAN AND AGEING: Japan is one of the oldest and urbanised populations globally, with a median age of ~49 years

SHRINKING HOUSEHOLDS: An increase in singles, couples without children, and elderly living alone is changing purchasing habits

QUALITY-CENTRIC: Japanese consumers prioritise high quality, food safety, and reliability over low price

BRAND TRUST: They prefer trusted brands and are willing to pay a premium for assured quality

DETAIL MATTERS: Packaging, presentation and customer service are crucial; meticulous attention to detail is expected

ECO-AWARE: Interest in eco-friendly products, minimal packaging, and sustainable sourcing is increasing

HEALTH-CONSCIOUS: Strong trend toward health, wellness, and organic or natural products

TRADITIONAL FOOD SHOPPERS: Despite digital growth, many Japanese still prefer shopping in-store for fresh foods, especially produce, seafood, and prepared meals

BERRY TRADE 2024

• Japan is the world's sixth-largest importer of fresh fruit, with one-third of its domestic supply reliant on imports

• It’s key trading partners in the fresh food category are the USA (driven by scale, reliability, safety standards), China (driven by cost competitiveness & proximity) and Canada (driven by quality & trusted export systems)

• Bananas are Japan’s most heavily imported fruit, comprising about 65.1% of all fresh fruit imports by value

MARKET ACCESS FOR AUSTRALIAN BERRIES TO JAPAN IS CURRENTLY FROM TASMANIA ONLY

BERRY TRADE 2024

2,840 tonnes

HS081010

1,895 tonnes

HS081040

438 tonnes

HS081020

MAINSTREAM RETAIL

Konbini (convenience stores) are arguably the essence of Japanese mainstream retail and there are over 55,700 stores as of end-2024 accounting for ~18 % of total food & beverage retail sales

The 'Big Three' - 7‑ELEVEN (21,743 stores), FAMILYMART (16,310 stores), LAWSON (14,671 stores)control ~90 % of this sector in Japan

Leading supermarket groups like AEON, ITO YOKADO, LIFE and the Walmart-owned SEIYU dominate mid-size food retail and hypermarkets

AEON GROUP owns supermarket chains such as Aeon, MaxValu, Maruetsu, My Basket, and others, across a massive 20,008 retail outlets

OPPORTUNITIES

• Japan’s domestic berry season peaks in winter to early spring (Dec–March), allowing Australian exporters to fill market gaps during Japan’s low-production months

• Japan has a large premium retail segment and affluent consumers who are willing to pay a higher price for quality imports, especially in department store food halls, high-end supermarkets and gift markets

• Rising interest in health & wellness, functional foods and low-calorie snacks and desserts make berries a perfect fit for these dietary trends, especially among urban, female, and younger consumers

CHALLENGES

• Japanese consumers often favour locally grown fruits and vegetables, making it challenging for imported products to compete

• Stringent biosecurity and phytosanitary requirements mean that import permits, pre-clearance protocols and approved treatment methods are usually required

• Japanese consumers and buyers alike are exceptionally qualityconscious, and aesthetic presentation is critical with packaging tailored to Japanese preferences. Even minor quality issues can lead to the rejection of entire shipments

• The distance between countries can affect shelf life, and airfreight is costly so to compete with well-established suppliers of premium products such as USA and NZ, Australian exporters must offer a compelling value proposition i.e. superior quality, seasonal advantage or niche differentiation

FOOD SERVICES

• The food service market size is estimated at 289.2 billion USD in 2025, and is expected to reach 473.4 billion USD by 2030

• Tokyo’s food service industry blends tradition and innovation, boasting over 200 Michelin-starred restaurants and holding its place as a global culinary capital

• Japan’s food industry is one of the country’s largest, driven by both its young and elderly populations. It is highly competitive, with local and foreign travelers demanding innovative, high-quality products

• Dining out is an important part of Japanese culture. Consumers prefer to conduct both social and business meetings in restaurants due to the time-pressed schedules and increasing frequency of dining

E COMMERCE

• Online grocery shopping in Japan is growing, driven by urban convenience, an ageing population’s need for home delivery, and a tech-integrated lifestyle

• Growth of online grocery platforms is limited by language barriers for foreigners, delivery area restrictions, and consumers’ enduring preference to hand-pick fresh produce and seafood

MAJOR CHAIN ONLINE PLATFORMS

• Rakuten Seiyu NetSuper: A collaboration between Rakuten and Walmartowned Seiyu, it stands out as one of Japan’s leading online grocery retailers

• Amazon Fresh (Japan): Entered the online grocery sector in Japan with Amazon Fresh in 2016, and continues to be a major presence in the online grocery space

• Aeon Online: Launched its online grocery platform around 2018

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Prioritise quality and consistency by ensuring superior freshness, perfect appearance and consistency of all consignments

The Japanese are very relationship-oriented in business and you need to build trust through longterm engagement, and being early shows respect and reliability

Ensure strict compliance with biosecurity, labelling and documentation protocols

Check that your product has market access and meets all quarantine requirements

Use Australia’s clean image and food safety record to your advantage and share the origin, farming methods, and sustainability credentials to appeal to Japan’s premium market segments

Respect the etiquette of the Japanese; relationshipbuilding can take months or years before deals are struck and definitely avoid hard selling

33rd Fruit Growers Tasmania Industry Conference 2025

Ella Roper, Berry Industry Development Officer, Fruit Growers Tasmania

The 33rd Fruit Growers Tasmania industry conference was recently held on 12-13 June 2025 in Hobart, and brought together berry, pome and stone fruit growers and industry representatives from around the state.

The key theme of the conference was ‘Tasmanian grown quality’ and consisted of two days packed with presentations and discussions, including grower perspectives, emerging research, innovations in growing practices and market updates. The berry industry played a key role in the event, which included technical speakers and grower presentations throughout the conference.

Michael Simonetta from Perfection Fresh was a keynote speaker on the first day and presented on how the pursuit of perfection has shaped the company from its humble beginnings as a market stall to a leading player in the fresh produce industry. He explained how Perfection Fresh has focused on key growing regions, varieties and branding to create customer recognition and to set themselves apart. Michael used a case study for raspberries to highlight where they were able to identify a market opportunity to provide premium fruit, develop a brand story and move towards a three-tiered approach for premium berry marketing. He emphasised the importance for companies to continue to evolve to remain successful, particularly in the increasingly competitive berry market.

Dr Jonathan Finch from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture presented a Hort Frontiers-funded project that is investigating the impact of bumblebees on both Tasmanian ecosystems and horticultural production. The project aims to generate new data on the benefits and risks associated with bumblebees in Tasmania, including an economic analysis on the contribution of bumblebees to apple, cherry and berry crops, with trials to be run on three berry farms across Tasmania.

The research work will look at risks including the role bumblebees may play in the spread of invasive weeds such as foxgloves and will also investigate the contribution bumblebees play in berry crop pollination and how populations may be promoted in agricultural areas to improve pollination.

Jake Gaudion from RMCG gave a presentation on the Coir Reuse and Recycle project in substrate-grown strawberries. The project, led by Fruit Growers Tasmania, is now in its final year. The project was initially driven by industry in response to high coir shipping costs and lengthy delivery times after the pandemic, and is investigating ways to extend the lifespan of coir to reduce both costs and annual reliance on fresh supply. While coir costs have since returned to pre-COVID levels, a continued focus for growers has been on reusing or replacing coir with alternative substrates to either maintain or improve profitability. The project, in partnership with three Tasmanian berry growers, has run trials over the past two years investigating the effect of reused coir and alternative substrates on strawberry production, substrate drainage characteristics, plant yield and pathogen levels. Alternate substrates such as composted pink bark showed promising results in terms of improving porosity and drainage when mixed with reused coir. Troughs have also been trialled to reduce annual plastic waste when compared with coir bags, with some farms looking to convert more production to troughs to reduce plastic waste. The project will wrap up towards the end of 2025 and the outcomes will be reported in this journal.

Industry award winners L-R: Howard Hansen with Carl Hansen (Hansen Orchards), Andrew Smith (R&R Smith), Uchitha (Bhashi) Godagenage with Cameron Folder (Costa Group) and Nic Hansen (Cherries Australia), President of Fruit Growers Tasmania

Tristan Kitchener (Kitchener Partners) presenting on quality as a growth strategy

monitoring the crop and controlling weeds that may harbour the beetle are important early management strategies especially under tunnel systems where the beetle may thrive in the warmer microclimate. You can find out more about this pest in the Pest Spotlight on PAGE 46.

Irrigation can play a major role in berry quality, and Stephen Welsh from Agri-Tech Pacific presented on irrigation strategies to improve fruit quality in berry crops. He highlighted that berry fruit quality and size is influenced by precise rootzone moisture control and nutrient management, and how irrigation can be used to steer berry crops through the vegetative and generative cycles. Stephen emphasised that using the

material to fruit quality at harvest, having good cool chain management and reporting capabilities. Kate also highlighted the importance of social licence in supporting and building a reputation in the community.

The international and export markets were also a focus for the conference. Joanne Chen, CEO of Citistore and Unicorn Stores in Hong Kong presented a retailer’s perspective on the fresh produce market, highlighting consumers’ evolving focus towards health and wellbeing, premiumisation and demand for luxury gifting during festivities. Joanne explained that there is a high demand in Hong Kong for premium imported fresh berries from countries such as Australia, which is associated with clean, safe and high-end produce.

Wayne Prowse from Fresh Intelligence also gave an overview of the changing landscape of global fresh fruit trade, showing the steady increase in blueberry imports and exports over the past decade.

Other conference topics included an update on labour and workforce from Claire McClelland, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance, and a highlight on profitability through performance management from Sarah McArley from AgFirst. There was also a variety of presentations on pome and stone fruit management including a talk from Jake Newnham of Lowdina Orchard, who spoke about optimising post-harvest quality in cherries, a topic he investigated as part of his recent Nuffield Scholarship.

A high percentage of Australia cherries go to the export market and compete with high volumes of cheaper fruit particularly from Chile. Jake highlighted that because Tasmanian growers cannot compete on price with Chilean fruit, the focus should be on promoting a quality brand recognition and demand for premium fruit.

The Industry Awards Dinner was held on the evening of the first conference day, highlighting the outstanding contributions of growers who help shape the fruit industry in Tasmania. Uchitha (Bhashi) Godahenage was awarded the Young Grower of the Year for her efforts as Farm Manager of the Costa Tasmanian Blackberry Farm. You can find out more about her on PAGE 106. Andrew Smith of R&R Smith was awarded the Award for Excellence, and Carl Hansen of Hansen Orchards was awarded the prestigious Roll of Honour Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nearly 220 growers, researchers and industry members attended the conference, networking drinks and Gala Dinner over the two days.

Fruit Growers Tasmania would like to thank all the industry sponsors who helped to make the 33rd Conference a resounding success.

Fruit Growers Tasmania Conference attendees networking at the Trade Show

Final Update from the National Varroa T2M Pollination Coordinator

Rebecca Sloan, National Pollination Industry Coordinator, National Varroa Mite Management Program

Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) is the most serious pest of European honeybees. It was detected for the first time in Australia at the Port of Newcastle (NSW) in June 2022. An emergency response was initiated but was ultimately unsuccessful in eradicating Varroa mite, and in February 2024 a 24-month Transition to Management (T2M) plan was approved.

Although the primary focus of the T2M plan has been on training beekeepers and providing them with the skills they need to manage Varroa mite, the plan also acknowledged the impact that Varroa mite will have on pollination dependent industries, like berries. As such, my position as National Pollination Industry Coordinator was created to help connect industries to the information and resources they need to function with Varroa mite as the new reality in Australia.

With the Pollination Coordinator’s position wrapped up last month, it seemed timely to report on what has occurred during the twelve months of my position as part of the T2M plan.

The national varroa mite management webpage currently stores all the varroa fact sheets produced through the project and a general pollination guide which can be downloaded or printed to be used in your pollination business. Find out more at www.varroa.org.au.

The berry industry has its own pollination guide, which can be found in the Berries Australia Resource Library by searching ‘pollination guide’. Alongside the pollination guide there are two quick reference guides, which are designed to be go-to documents that can be used on farms without having to go through the whole pollination guide. Both of these can be found in the Resource Library by searching ‘NVMMP’ alongside a wide range of fact sheets including:

• On farm reference guide for Honeybee management

• Quick reference spray application guide

• European Honeybees and how our actions impact successful pollination

• Beekeeping tips for best pollination outcomes

• Pollination and Pollinator Friendly Plantings

All this information will be available on the National Varroa Mite Management webpage until December 2026 and is also available at the Berries Australia Resource Library.

To ensure you always have access to them I would highly recommend that you start creating your own pollination library with articles and any other documents that might be helpful in creating a successful pollination season.

How varroa will impact pollination in Australia is still not fully understood, but preparation is the best tool we have now. How pollination will occur on your property needs to be considered and will vary widely within farming operations. Each option below has its own advantages and disadvantages and should be carefully considered when planning your pollination strategy.

Alternate pollinators

Tropical regions may have greater success with this approach, as more managed pollination options are available. In contrast, temperate zones face more challenges, as alternative pollinators in those areas are often solitary or may not be naturally attracted to the crop.

Some regions, such as Tasmania, are seeing great success with hoverflies and are finding they could become a viable alternative or complementary option for pollination in the future. There is also growing evidence that these alternative pollinators produce excellent results, leading to larger, higher-quality fruit that is hardier, easier to pick, and has a longer shelf life.

Right now, European honeybees remain Australia’s main source of pollination. However, with feral and wild hives disappearing from our farming landscapes, alternative pollinators will be needed to help fill the gap.

Mechanical pollination

Mechanical pollination is generally not practical on a large scale but may be better suited to high value, protected cropping systems. As this area has the potential to grow into a significant tech sector, it's worth keeping an eye on emerging developments.

Owning your own hives

This option involves additional responsibilities, such as managing pests and diseases, finding a place to keep the bees during the off-season, and hiring or training staff to maintain and manage the hives if no one on your team has those skills. However, the upside is that you’ll always have bees available when pollination is needed, and the hives could even generate extra income if used to pollinate other crops beyond your own.

Things to think about when deciding which direction to take will encompass things like the timing of your pollination. Do your pollination needs coincide with other major pollination events such as almonds, which are 100% reliant on managed pollination? This may limit the availability of commercial hives in your region during almond pollination.

There is however the potential to develop a relationship with a small local commercial or recreational beekeeper who may have enough hives to complete your pollination. My advice would be to seek out and contact local beekeeping associations.

As part of the T2M plan over 8,000 beekeepers have participated in the training programs and discussions with the Varroa Development Officers and so will be fully equipped to undertake pollination when needed.

We are all in this together and need to work together to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Acknowledgements

The National Varroa Mite Management Program (NVMMP) is overseen by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) and the National Management Group (NMG). The NMG is made up of representatives from the Australian Government, every state and territory government, relevant peak industry bodies and Plant Health Australia.

Varroa mite Photo credit: GillesSM

Berry Basket 2.0: Growing Demand, Growing Opportunity

Jane Richter, Communications Manager, Berries Australia

Australian berries have long held pride of place in the shopping baskets of consumers, and the Berry Basket Marketing Campaign for 2025–27 will ensure they remain front of mind. Led by Berries Australia in collaboration with Wavemaker and Project Studio, the campaign will build on the strong foundations laid in previous years, using a unified and coordinated approach to promote strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries under a single, compelling message.

The next iteration, multi-channel campaign is designed to increase household penetration, strengthen emotional connections with consumers, and remind Australians to choose fresh, locally grown berries at every opportunity. By pooling resources from across the berry categories, the Berry Basket Campaign stretches levy funds further, maximising impact and ensuring each berry type benefits from the collective promotion of the category. The 2025–27 campaign will continue this collaborative model, with strawberries and blueberries contributing 40% each and Rubus berries 20% to the marketing budget. This combined investment allows for consistent presence across key channels, innovative content production, and strong retail engagement.

Campaign Objectives

The overarching goal is to grow the berry category by encouraging more frequent purchases and attracting more households to buy berries. Specific objectives include:

• Raising awareness of berry availability at peak supply times

• Building emotional connection between consumers and the story of Australian berry farmers

• Positioning berries as everyday essentials for snacks, recipes, and healthy lifestyles

• Triggering purchase intent when consumers are shopping

The campaign is underpinned by a principle of consistency: maintaining visibility year-round, with additional bursts of activity around seasonal peaks.

Out-of-Home Advertising

Out-of-home (OOH) media proved to be the most cost-effective element of earlier campaigns, and Wavemaker will once again lead this activity. The focus is on reaching Australia’s main grocery buyers aged 18+ who do the household shopping and are increasingly seeking fresh, chilled food options.

Key components include:

• High-impact digital billboards in metro and regional centres, with a planned reach of up to 2.2 million Australians per campaign period

• A staggered flighting approach across multiple months, ensuring consistent exposure and flexibility to respond to supply fluctuations

• Partnerships with leading OOH providers such as Cartology, Val Morgan, and oOh! media, securing the best rates and coverage

OOH activity will run for a minimum of two weeks each month, with the schedule reviewed bi-monthly by the Marketing Subcommittee to align with supply trends.

Social Media and PR with Project Studio

Recognising the need for more agile, engaging digital content, Project Studio joins the partnership for 2025–27. Their role will be to lift Berries Australia’s social media presence, drive engagement, and deliver a stronger Public Relations (PR) profile.

Social Media Strategy

Project Studio will deliver:

• Instagram highlights and stories that showcase farmer stories, recipes, and user-generated content (UGC)

• Quarterly content shoots providing fresh photography and video, tailored to seasonal berry supply

• Content pillars including Farm-to-Plate storytelling, lifestyle and UGC, health education, and community engagement

• Influencer partnerships with food bloggers, nutritionists, and family lifestyle creators to broaden reach

Public Relations

PR will play a key role in positioning berries as a staple of Australian life. Media outreach will focus on:

• Health and nutrition benefits of berries, tapping into consumer wellness trends

• Seasonal updates, ensuring Berries Australia is seen as the authoritative source on berry availability

• Newsjacking opportunities, linking berries with cultural moments and national conversations—similar to how Lamb Australia tied lamb to Australia Day

• Farmer-led storytelling, highlighting the people and families behind the produce

A Responsive, Data-Led Approach

Given the natural variability of farming, flexibility is built into the campaign. Both Wavemaker and Project Studio will provide ongoing analytics, with campaign adjustments made quickly - sometimes within 48 hoursto reflect supply realities.

Consumer behaviour will be tracked using Nielsen data, digital analytics, and media reporting, with KPIs covering reach, impressions, engagement, and sentiment. Lessons learned from earlier campaigns are guiding investment decisions to maximise the return on investment.

Timeline and Seasonality

The Berry Basket campaign will run continuously across 2025–27, with activities ramping up in line with seasonal peaks. For example:

• Winter–Spring: Strong focus on strawberries from Queensland and blueberries from northern regions

• Spring–Summer: Raspberries and blackberries come to the fore, supported by social content and PR

• Year-round coverage: Out-of-home ensures berries stay top of mind, while social media provides ongoing inspiration for usage in recipes, snacks, and celebrations

Quarterly photo and video shoots will align with these seasonal peaks, ensuring fresh, relevant content is always available.

Industry Collaboration

Central to the campaign’s success is the Marketing Subcommittee, chaired by strawberry grower and Berries Australia Board Member Nathan Baronio.

The subcommittee brings together representatives from across berry categories and major marketing companies, ensuring the campaign reflects industry priorities and resonates with levy payers.

Meetings will occur bi-monthly, with a smaller working group convening fortnightly to liaise with Wavemaker and Project Studio. This structure ensures close oversight, responsiveness, and strong grower input.

Expected Outcomes

The campaign’s performance criteria are clear:

• Increased purchase frequency: encouraging consumers to buy berries more often

• Broader household penetration: reaching new consumers and growing the proportion of households buying berries

• Higher emotional engagement: forging stronger consumer connections with Australian berry farmers and their stories

• Category growth: lifting the entire berry sector rather than individual brands, ensuring long-term sustainability for growers

Previous campaigns already demonstrated positive results, including increases in purchase occasions and household spend. With refinements and stronger social and PR integration, the 2025–27 campaign is expected to deliver even greater returns.

The Berry Basket Marketing Campaign represents the next stage in building a strong, resilient, and growing berry category in Australia. By uniting the industry under a single, consistent message, leveraging proven channels like OOH, and enhancing digital engagement through fresh content and PR, the campaign is set to deliver lasting impact.

For growers, the campaign means better visibility and demand for their fruit. For consumers, it means fresh inspiration, trusted information, and a deeper connection with the farmers who grow their berries. And for the industry as a whole, it ensures that berries remain a staple in Australian shopping baskets for years to come.

How Prepared are You for Pest and Disease Management?

Tracey Steinrucken, CSIRO, Innovation Facilitator; Hazel Parry, CSIRO, Project Leader; Scott Wallace, Growcom, HortESG Manager

Take the new IPM module in Hort360 to find out! Managing pests and pathogens effectively across whole regions works best when growers, advisors, and industries work together. Sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) starts with informed decisions – using chemicals strategically and exploring other non-chemical options.

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has teamed up with Growcom’s Hort360 team on the Pest READI™ project to build a practical tool for growers and advisors. It helps assess how prepared they are for pest and disease issues on-farm, how well they’re using areawide IPM strategies, and where their biggest risks lie.

What is Pest READI?

The Pest READITM project is a $12 million, five-year collaboration working to transform how pests are managed at both farm and regional levels. Pest READITM aims to bring together knowledge from landholders, advisors, Traditional Owners, and scientists to co-develop a digital platform to support healthier, more abundant landscapes

Right now, the team is working with growers in the Northern Rivers of NSW across a diverse mix of horticultural industries – including macadamia, avocado, berries, banana, coffee, and custard apple –to build tools that make pest management decisions easier and more effective. Many of these crops face the same challenges (like Fruit spotting bug, or Phytophthora) and coordinated, area-wide IPM delivers stronger results when industries work together.

Helping growers plan for the future

Chemical use in Australian agriculture has more than doubled since 1992, now costing growers around $3 billion each year. With growing pressure from resistance, regulation, human health and environmental impacts, there’s never been a more important time to support strategic chemical use and provide practical information on other IPM options.

Fruit spotting bug, an important pest in the Northern rivers on Mock Orange leaves

Photo credit: CSIRO

Example output from the Hort360 module that gives you feedback about your risks and actions to take when it comes to IPM, and links you to verified information resources to find ways to improve Photo credit: Growcom

The Hort360 IPM Benchmarking Tool for Growers

As a grower, you can access the IPM module as part of Hort360’s suite of benchmarking tools. Based on your answers to a set of questions, the tool enables you to spot any gaps in your pest and disease management, build on what’s already working, and create a simple action plan to support your farm’s long-term sustainability.

Access to and use of the Hort360 suite of tools is free for all Australian growers. Find out more at www.growcom.com.au/hort360

The outputs will show:

• which areas of IPM can be improved, and what you’re doing well

• how you compare with others who have used the IPM tool

• customised advice on risk, actions you can take to improve, and verified links to free online resources

Acknowledgements

Interested in testing the tool out?

We’re looking for growers and advisors to get involved with the project and give their input on the tools we’re developing. We’re actively taking feedback and would love to hear what you think! Get in touch with the team via email: pestreadi@csiro.au, or scan the QR code to visit our webpage: www.research.csiro.au/pestreadi

Pest READITM: ‘Regionally Enabled Agroecological Decision Intelligence (BY22003)’ is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from CSIRO’s ‘Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity’ initiative, Macquarie University, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Growcom, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation and contributions from the Australian Government.

New Research to Improve the Management of Chilli Thrips in Blueberry and Rubus

Helen Newman, WA Berry Industry Development Officer, Agricultural Produce Commission

Murdoch University in Western Australia will deliver the recently announced Hort Innovation levy-funded project (MT24009) aimed at improving the management of chilli thrips in blueberry and Rubus.

Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis), first reported in Western Australia around 20 years ago, are now considered a serious pest in blueberries, Rubus, strawberries and other horticultural crops. These tiny, difficult-to-detect insects can rapidly increase their populations under favourable conditions, making effective management a challenge for growers.

The Murdoch research team, led by entomologists Dr Wei Xu and Dr Shovon Sarkar, will investigate the lifecycle and ecology of chilli thrips in blueberry and Rubus crops and analyse the genetics of chilli thrip populations to track their movement between hosts and regions. The team will also investigate the chemical compounds that attract and deter the thrips.

Dr Xu and Dr Sarkar have other tricks up their sleeve that may prove beneficial in developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for chilli thrips. They were both involved in recent work on the invasive tomato potato psyllid (TPP), where they successfully trained ladybirds to recognise the psyllid as preferred prey. They found that when ladybirds were introduced to the psyllid early on in their life cycle, they would grow to recognise them as a good food source.

Murdoch University project team (L-R): Miyuki Taniguchi, Basman Al-Jalely, Wei Xu, and Shovon Sarkar with Olivia Bell at Costa Photo credit: Helen Newman

The project will identify field-collected chilli thrips and candidate natural enemies using both morphological traits and DNA barcoding to ensure accurate species identification. A comprehensive series of laboratory, glasshouse, and field trials will be conducted to investigate chilli thrip behaviours under Western Australian conditions, including reproductive and feeding behaviour, host plant preferences, and population dynamics. We will also explore candidate attractants for improved thrips monitoring, assess potential natural enemies for biological control, and undertake chemical analyses of thrips and host plant volatiles, incorporating electrophysiological screening and behavioural assays.

By advancing knowledge of chilli thrips biology, ecology, and monitoring tools, this project will develop integrated management strategies that combine biological control with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches. These outcomes will provide growers with practical, environmentally friendly tools to protect their crops, reduce reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides, and support sustainable production systems.

Dr Wei Xu

The project will run from 2025 until 2028 and regular updates will be provided in this journal.

Protected Cropping

Distinguishing features of Chilli thrips

Bronze Leaf Beetle

The bronze leaf beetle (Diachus auratus) is an emerging pest of berry crops in polytunnels, having recently caused significant economic loss. It reduces fruit quality and marketability and has contaminated punnets, resulting in supermarket rejection. The beetle is difficult to control as there are no registered sprays and no effective biocontrol options. Learning to identify and monitor for it is important to reduce its impact.

Identification

At 2 mm long, the bronze leaf beetle is little larger than a strawberry seed (Figure 1). Its antennae are paler near the head and the elytra (hard wing covers) have dotted lines. Just above the elytra is a row of ‘beads’ (Figure 2) which are not present in similar native species.

Figure 1. The bronze leaf beetle is not much larger than a strawberry seed

Photo credit: Lynne Forster

Lifecycle

Like many pests, the bronze leaf beetle has a number of clever strategies during its lifecycle that avoid control methods. Firstly, the female protects her eggs by coating each one in frass (waste). Eggs can be recognised by their distinctive spirals (Figures 3) and look like specks of caterpillar frass. They hatch within 2 weeks.

Secondly, hatched larvae enhance their survival strategy by living in the egg case provided by their mother. They extend their upper body to walk about and feed, carrying their case with them. As they grow, they enlarge their case with their own frass (Dickason, 1952) and smooth it (Figure 4). The case deters some predators and parasitoids and probably protects them from contactbased insecticides.

Bronze leaf beetle larvae feed for 4-5 weeks before pupating for 3 weeks inside their case (Figure 4). Empty cases indicate the emergence of a new generation of adults.

The lifecycle from egg to adult lasts around 10 weeks, and adults live for several months. All adults seem to be females which emerge from unfertilised eggs. This strategy enables populations to build from one or two individuals to pest proportions very quickly, since adults of this species lay approximately 250 eggs each in their lifetime.

Figure 2. Note the paler antennae near the head, dotted lines on the wing covers (elytra), and a distinctive row of ‘beads’ just above the elytrae Photo credit: Dan Mendelowitz

Figure 3. (Top) Beetle laying an egg and coating it with frass spirals by rotating it with her hind legs

Photo credits: Lynne Forster

Figure 4. (Left) 1st instar (Middle) later instar; larval stage, 4-5 weeks (Right) Pupal stage, 3 weeks

History and host plants

The bronze leaf beetle is originally from Central America. In Australia it was first recorded in 1986 from Queensland on an introduced legume (Reid, 1988). There are very few Australian records since then, but it has recently turned up in Victoria and Tasmania. It is possible that warmer conditions in polytunnels are contributing to outbreaks.

The beetle’s feeding strategy enables it to colonise a long list of species including strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, avocado, elderberry, rose, willows, red clover, alfalfa, Acacia, Leucaenea (fodder legume) and wild carrot (Clark et al. 2004, Agrain et al. 2024). While strawberries and raspberries have been hit the hardest in Tasmania, the beetle has been observed feeding on adjacent blueberries and there is concern that it may move on to other crops.

Symptoms

Although such a small beetle may not be easily noticed, its damage is more obvious.

Leaves:

Clues include chewing and skeletonising of leaves by larvae and adults. On strawberries, holes in leaves can be irregular. On young raspberry leaves rows of chewed holes enlarge and merge as the leaf expands, resembling caterpillar damage (Figure 5).

Buds:

On woody plants such as blueberries, they have been observed chewing buds (Figure 6).

Flowers and early forming fruit:

In strawberries look for chewed and shredded petals and deformed fruit. In strawberry flowers, beetles, eggs and larvae may be found around the base of the forming fruit, feeding on the nectaries. On developed fruit beetles can be hidden under the calyx (Figure 7).

Mature fruit:

Look for superficial scarring, pits and tunnelling (Figure 8). Old damage turns brown. Even welldeveloped, undamaged fruit may suffer superficial grazing and tunnelling just before harvest.

Photo credits: Lynne Forster

Figure 5. Grazed strawberry leaf (L) and chewed raspberry leaf (R)

Figure 6 (L). Chewed blueberry bud Figure 7 (R). Chewed petals and deformed fruit

Figure 8. Grazing (L) & tunnelling (R) in strawberries

Management

Biological and Chemical control

There are no registered biological or chemical control agents for the bronze leaf beetle. This means that growers must rely on preventative action such as monitoring and cultural control to prevent outbreaks.

Monitoring and Cultural control

• Add the bronze leaf beetle to the list of species monitored by crop scouts

• Regularly check flowers, fruit and young leaves on growing tips of plants

• Act immediately, using an informal action threshold of 1 beetle/5m

• Enhance monitoring by setting up yellow sticky traps early in the season at entrances to selected tunnels and in the middle of tunnels (Figure 9)

• Minimise and monitor weeds and other plants inside tunnels and the boundary to reduce sources of re-colonisation

• The beetle can be found in low numbers on boundary plants ranging from poplars and willows to native vegetation

• Inside tunnels they are found on weeds including mallow, dock, sow thistle and flat weeds

Figure 9. Monitoring should include sticky traps Photo credit: Catherine Eckert and Ravingka Kannangara

Future management

Research is ongoing to understand the seasonal movement and over-wintering biology of the bronze leaf beetle and discover potential native parasitoids.

Mapping the distribution of the beetle is underway and growers from anywhere in Australia are urged to report sightings on any crop.

Successful management strategies to control the bronze leaf beetle are being developed through collaboration between growers and researchers.

Growers are encouraged to share their observations and provide feedback about their experiences and management of this pest.

Acknowledgements

The RB21000 project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Raspberry and Blackberry research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

References

Agrain, F. A., Vento, B., Flinte, V., Reid, C. A., & Chaboo, C. S. (2024). Global macroecological patterns in host plant associations of Cryptocephalinae case-bearer leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 143(4), 1-20; SUPP FILE S2, p238-240.

Clark, S., LeDoux, D., Seeno, T., Riley, E., Gilbert, A. and Sullivan, J. (2004) Host plants of leaf beetle species occurring in the United States and Canada: (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae, Chrysomelidae, excluding Bruchinae), No. 2, Coleopterists Society, p81.

Dickason, E. A. (1952). A case-bearing coleopteron, Diachus auratus (F.). Journal of Economic Entomology, 45(4), 751. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/45.4.751a

Reid, C.A.M. 1988. Diachus auratus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a recent immigrant to the south-west Pacific Region, on legumes. General and Applied Entomology 20: 5-8.

This Pest Spotlight has been prepared by Dr Lynne Forster who is a research fellow in entomology at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA). She is employed on Integrated pest management approaches to address pest challenges in raspberry and blackberry (RB21000).

Understanding Ants in Berry Fields: Practical Advice for Growers

Abby Davis, Lena Alice Schmidt, Pia Malm, Jelena Preradovic

and Romina Rader, School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England; Jessie Moyses & Ayesha Tulloch, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology; Cameron Spurr & Raylea Rowbottom, seedPurity; Marie-France Courtois, Brad Hocking & Bar Shermeister, Costa Group Exchange

MT22007: Expansion of flies as berry crop pollinators

• Ants can provide unexpected benefits, including aiding pollination when other pollinators are limited, removing excess nectar from flowers, and deterring certain pests

• Ants can also cause problems by protecting damaging sap-sucking insects and disrupting irrigation systems or crop covers through their nesting behaviours

Ants are among the most common and abundant insects found around the world. With more than 13,000 known species, ants thrive in a wide range of environments including agricultural landscapes. Ants are very diverse functionally and can be predators, scavengers, seed dispersers, and nutrient cyclers. Although ants are often seen as pests – nesting in plant rows, scavenging fallen berries, or biting unprotected hands – they also play important roles in berry farms, particularly when they interact with flowers.

Ants are closely related to bees, as both belong to the insect order Hymenoptera. This means that ants and bees share similar traits, like a strong attraction to sugary flower nectar. While ants lack wings in their worker stage and do not fly like bees, they regularly

visit flowers in search of food. Typical foods sought by ants include nectar, pollen, seeds, insects, fungi, and fruit. However, their diet varies between species, and because most ants cannot be reliably identified by sight alone, it can be difficult to determine what different ants are feeding on in the field.

When ants are visiting flowers in search of food, they can transfer pollen and influence pollination outcomes depending on the berry crop, flower structure, and number and types of other pollinators visiting flowers. During peak bloom, ants may provide unexpected benefits for fruit set and quality, challenging the common perception that their presence is mostly harmful.

Acknowledging ants as part-time pollinators

Ants can support pollination under the right conditions, especially in crops with flowers that produce both pollen and seed in the same flower. A recent study on a commercial red raspberry farm near Coffs Harbour, NSW, investigated whether ants contribute to pollination. Visitation surveys showed that when ants were seen on raspberry plants, they were the most frequent visitors to raspberry flowers, outnumbering European honey bees, native stingless bees, and flies. Seven different ant species were observed visiting raspberry flowers. Of these, the three most common species were tested and found to carry raspberry pollen on their bodies. While the remaining four

species were not assessed, they may also contribute to pollen movement. Flowers visited by ants produced heavier, higher-quality fruit compared to flowers where all insects were excluded, suggesting ants can positively impact fruit development.

Although the heaviest fruits still came from openpollinated flowers visited by a mix of insect pollinators, these findings show that ants can be effective supplementary pollinators. Their activity may also help extend the pollination window of berry crops, as ants can visit flowers when weather is unfavourable for flying insects. More research is underway to understand possible drawbacks – like whether ants interfere with other pollinators – but these early results suggest ants could play a helpful role in pollination and farm productivity if managed as part of a broader, inclusive approach to supporting pollinators in berry systems.

When Ants Help on the Farm

Ants may not be traditional pollinators like bees or flies, but they can act as supplementary pollinators in cropping systems where other insects are scarce, flowers are less attractive to bees, and when flying insects are less active due to weather conditions. In these cases, ants visiting flowers – even while simply foraging – can help transfer pollen within or between flowers, supplementing pollination when other options are limited.

Ants may also act as floral bouncers, influencing which pollinators stay on flowers and which leave. Studies from raspberry and blackberry farms on the NSW Mid North Coast found that when honey bees or native stingless bees landed on flowers already occupied by ants, the bees often left quickly, while flies tended to stay longer. Interestingly, the ants rarely left. These interactions suggest that ants may affect how long other pollinators spend on flowers. While this study did not directly test how ants affect pollination, other research has found that when ants are present on flowers, flying pollinators like bees tend to move between flowers more often, potentially increasing overall flower visits and improving pollination.

Ants also function as nectar cleaners (Figure 1). Crops like red raspberry produce abundant nectar – often more than pollinators consume. If this excess nectar builds up, it can attract pests or create ideal conditions for fungal pathogens. Ants are attracted to sugar and will frequently forage on flower nectar, clearing excess nectar and consequently improving flower health and reducing disease pressure during bloom.

Finally, ants can be natural enemies of pests

Many ant species are territorial and will patrol the area around their nests, protecting nearby plants from pests like caterpillars, aphids, beetle larvae, and fruit fly maggots. Some ants actively attack and remove pests, while others simply disrupt pest activity through their constant movement. On berry farms, ants have even been seen guarding developing fruit, reducing insect damage and potentially lowering the need for chemical sprays.

Together, these roles of ants as supplementary pollinators, nectar cleaners and natural enemies highlight how they can be valuable allies to have around the farm in supporting pollination, reducing disease risks, and protecting crops.

The Dark Side of Ant Activity

While ants can provide benefits to farms, they can also cause a few headaches, especially when their behaviour starts interfering with pest management or farm infrastructure. In some cases, ants can be troublemakers by “farming” pests. Certain ant species form mutualistic relationships with sap-sucking bugs like aphids, mealybugs, and scale. These pests produce honeydew, a sugary substance that ants love. In return for this sweet reward, ants protect the pests from predators, allowing infestations to persist longer.

Not all ants protect pests like aphids, and we still do not know how many ant species do this kind of “farming”. However, if you spot both ants and sap-sucking bugs on your plants, try disturbing the bugs and if ants quickly rush in, it is a good sign they are “farming” the pests. Not all ant species do this, but those that do can make pest control more difficult.

Finally, ants can act like tiny construction workers, sometimes in ways that cause infrastructure damage. In search of water, they may nest near or inside irrigation systems, bringing in soil and debris that can clog drip lines or emitters. These clogs often go unnoticed until plants begin to show water stress. Ants also build nests under plastic mulch, weed matting, or crop covers, which can lift or tear these materials and could create ongoing maintenance issues in polytunnels or field rows.

Understanding both the pros and cons of ants on farms is essential for deciding how to manage them as part of your broader crop management strategy.

Weighing Insecticide Use for Ant Management

If you are considering using insecticides to control ants, it is important to remember that ants are closely related to bees and many of the chemicals that kill ants can also harm bee pollinators. Some pesticides are systemic, meaning they are absorbed by the plant and can affect any insect that feeds on it, including beneficial pollinators foraging for pollen and nectar on flowers.

Given the potential risks to beneficial pollinators, it is important to approach ant control with care. While insecticides can be effective, their unintended effects on non-target insects may outweigh the benefits.

Safer alternatives for managing ants in fields include:

1. Monitoring ant behaviour first: There are many different species of ants that have different behaviours. Observe whether they are farming pests or simply foraging harmlessly.

2. Target sap-sucking pests: Reduce aphid, mealybug, or scale populations with gentle, bee-safe methods like horticultural oils, soaps, or targeted biological control. Without these pests to farm, ants are likely to leave on their own or simply revert to feeding on sugary flower nectar.

3. Disrupt ant trails: Regularly disturb ant trails or nests with water or a mild soap solution, discouraging the ants from nesting in the problem location.

4. Use bait with caution: If bait is needed, make sure they are located far away from honey bee hives.

Practical Implications of Ants In Your Fields

Ants are a natural part of farm ecosystems and, for better or worse, they are here to stay. While it is nearly impossible to eliminate ants entirely from berry orchards or other crop systems, understanding their behaviour can help growers make more informed management decisions.

Ants can offer surprising benefits, such as helping with pollination when other pollinators are scarce, cleaning excess nectar from flowers, and even deterring some pest insects. However, ants can also cause issues if they protect harmful sap-sucking pests and damage irrigation systems or crop covers through their nesting activity.

Since different ant species can be both helpful and harmful, it is important to consider both the pros and cons of having them in your fields. When possible, aim to reduce the impact of problematic ants while making room for the helpful ones. With a balanced strategy, ants can become one more tool in your integrated farm system rather than just another pest to control.

Ants feeding on raspberry nectar in a commercial berry farm in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales

Photo credit: Abby E. Davis

Acknowledgements

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation (MT22007), using the raspberry, blackberry, blueberry and vegetable research and development levies, and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the growerowned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

Further funding was awarded as part of Australian Research Council Future Fellowships to Romina Rader (FT210100851) and Ayesha Tulloch (FT210100655). The research is additionally supported by Future Food Systems CRC, Holsworth Research Endowment, Jill Landsberg Applied Ecology Award and the Conservation and Wildlife Research Trust.

We thank the berry growers who allowed us to use their crops for this research. We acknowledge the Gumbaynggirr people as the traditional owners of the land this research was conducted on and pay respect to Gumbaynggirr Elders past, present and future.

2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

SCAN QR CODE FOR EVENT DETAILS bit.ly/BA-Event-List

All meetings are being held online this year.

Please check the latest event details at the industry Event portal bit.ly/BA-Event-List

Strawberries Australia Inc

Wednesday 15 October

2pm-4pm AEST (Queensland)

3pm-5pm AEDT (NSW, Vic, ACT, Tas)

2.30pm-4.30pm ACDT (Adelaide) 12pm-2pm AWST (Perth)

This meeting is only open to members of Strawberries Australia Inc and is not a public meeting.

Please confirm your attendance to receive the meeting link and forward any questions to admin@berries.net.au

Raspberries and Blackberries Australia

Tuesday 21 October

2pm-4pm AEST (Queensland)

3pm-5pm AEDT (NSW, Vic, ACT, Tas)

2.30pm-4.30pm ACDT (Adelaide)

12pm-2pm AWST (Perth)

All RABA Members are invited to join the meeting, but must RSVP by Monday 20 October 2025. Meeting link details will be provided once RSVP has been submitted.

Email any questions and RSVP to admin@berries.net.au

Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association

At the time of publication, the date and time for this meeting have not been finalised

Berries Australia

At the time of publication, the date and time for this meeting have not been finalised

We believe it is important to really listen to our customers. We like to create the right long-term growth for both the customer and its crops. At Legro, we like to do together. Want to know more about our substrates? Feel free to contact me or one of my colleagues.

Sales Manager Australia & New Zealand +61 (0) 3 95555267 info.aus@legrogroup.com your

www.legrogroup.com Phil Badgery

Integrating Bioreactors into Substrate-Based Berry Production

Melinda Simpson, Blueberry Development Officer NSW DPIRD

Nutrient runoff is a significant challenge for berry growers using substrate systems. As part of the NSW Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program, NSW DPIRD, in collaboration with Berries Australia, is trialling bioreactors as a practical mitigation strategy for nitrate runoff in raspberry production systems.

Substrate berry farming provides many agronomic benefits, however there are concentrated nutrients in the drainage water which if left unmanaged can cause environmental issues such as algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and fish kills in nearby waterways.

Bioreactors

Bioreactors use the natural process of denitrification to remove nitrate from drainage water; the most used material is woodchip. In this process, microbes consume the carbon in woodchips and convert nitrate (NO3-) into nitrogen gas (N2), which is safely released into the atmosphere (Figure 1).

How Bioreactors Work

• Drainage water is directed into a trench or tank filled with carbon-rich media (typically woodchips)

• Under low-oxygen (anaerobic) conditions, denitrifying bacteria thrive

• As water flows through the bioreactor, bacteria use the carbon as an energy source and convert nitrate into nitrogen gas

Trial Implementation in Corindi, NSW

Over the last two years, trial work looking at the nitrogen removal of bioreactors compared to reed-beds has been running at Wollongbar Agriculture Institute. This work has shown that that under the right conditions, the bioreactors can remove around 95% of nitrates in runoff water.

To evaluate the effectiveness of bioreactors in a commercial farm setting, a unit was installed on a largescale raspberry farm on the NSW Mid North Coast. Raspberry pots were drained into a gutter capture system, which directed runoff into the bioreactor.

There are limited options for collecting run-off in field for such a large area. In this situation the corflute channel system was chosen but there are also other options for blueberries such as the Garden City Plastics (GCP) new capture system for their 28L round pots.

Figure 1. Schematic of a Denitrifying Bioreactor

2. Raspberry pots were drained into a gutter capture system (A) to direct runoff into the bioreactor (B) Piping installation transferring runoff to the bioreactor

Photo credits: Gaius Leong, Melinda Simpson

Bioreactor installation

The installation of the bioreactor took 1.5 days to complete and was built to handle run-off from 4,200 raspberry pots. The bioreactor is 25m long x 4m wide x 0.6m deep and holds 60m3 of hard wood chip (Figure 3, 4). A phosphate filter was also installed; this is 0.7m deep, 2.4m long and 1.25m wide, and contains 2m3 of dolomite (Figure 5).

3. Construction of the bioreactor involved digging a pit 25m long x 4m wide x 0.6m deep (A) and lining it with thick black plastic (B) to prevent seepage of the runoff

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Figure

Figure

Figure 4. The pit was filled with hard wood chip (A) and enclosed with the thick black plastic (B)

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Measurements

To measure the performance of the system, water samples will be collected from three locations across the system; the common inlet, the outlet of the bioreactor and the phosphorus filter. The water samples will be tested for total nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate + nitrite, total phosphorus and phosphate.

Temperature, pH, redox potential* and dissolved oxygen measurements will be completed in the field, such that the result is reflective of the conditions within the treatment system.

*Redox potential (also known as oxidation or reduction potential) is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons from or lose electrons to an electrode and thereby be reduced or oxidised respectively. Redox potential is expressed in volts (V). In this context, it helps assess the oxidising or reducing agents present in water, such as chlorine or oxygen.

Next steps

The successful implementation of a nitrate-removal bioreactor for raspberries highlights the viability of using denitrification as a practical farm solution. With the support of industry and the continued development of extension tools and demonstration sites, bioreactors can become a key part of nutrient management in Australian berry production.

Acknowledgements

This project was funded under the Storm and Flood Industry Recovery program, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement. It is a collaboration between the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Berries Australia.

Figure 5. A second pit 0.7m deep, 2.4 m long and 1.5m wide was dug and filled with dolomite to create a phosphate filter (A). Both the bioreactor and phosphate filter were covered up with top soil to allow the grass to regrow (B)

Photo credit: Melinda Simpson

Rethink Your Rubbish: Stewardship Scheme Updates

Jane Richter, Communications Manager, Berries Australia

Australia’s agricultural sector is embracing smarter, more sustainable solutions for managing waste. From bulk bags to chemical drums, a growing number of accredited product stewardship schemes are helping producers recycle responsibly and meet environmental obligations. This article outlines four key programs making a difference on farms today: Big Bag Recovery, which targets bulk plastic bags and sacks; bagMUSTER, a new industry-led initiative for single-use polypropylene bags; drumMUSTER, the national scheme for recycling chemical containers; and ChemClear, which provides a safe disposal pathway for unwanted agvet chemicals. Together, these programs support cleaner farms and a stronger circular economy.

Big Bag Recovery

Big Bag Recovery is an Australian Government Accredited Product Stewardship Scheme for plastic bulk bags and sacks over 15kg/l of contents.

Big Bag Recovery began with honest and humble roots. Founder and Director, Stephen Richards originally worked in the agricultural industry and noticed a growing issue; bulk bags were being burned or buried on farms. Stephen saw an opportunity to support farmers and reduce our environmental impact by encouraging them to segregate their bulk bags on farms. A few times per year, he and his kids would take road trips to collect the bags and deliver them to recyclers.

Fast forward 10 years, Big Bag Recovery is now a nationwide initiative, helping brand owners take responsibility for the end-of-life impact of their bulk bag packaging.

Why is stewardship important?

Under the mandatory national co-regulatory framework for packaging, National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM) and the Australian Packaging Covenant there are environmental obligations for brand owners that must be met.

These obligations include brand owners taking responsibility for their packaging waste and ensuring that it can be recycled – this is where Big Bag Recovery steps in! They support brand owners to ensure the material is collected, pelletised and processed into new products.

How does it work for farmers?

If you’re a consumer and are purchasing bulk bags or sacks from suppliers, Big Bag Recovery can recycle the material at no cost to you.

Why should I recycle my bulk bags?

Unfortunately, most bulk bags are single-use and after their use, end up either landfilled, burned, or buried all of which contribute to:

• Climate Change

• Carbon Emissions

• Contamination of Soil & Water

• Human Health Issues

• Loss of Valuable Resources

Rather than disposal, Big Bag Recovery offers the only Australian Government Accredited Stewardship Scheme for recycling these large bulk bags.

What happens to the bulk bags?

All recovered bags are recycled via Circular Communities Australia who have just opened a dedicated facility in Toowoomba, Queensland.

Collection

Used bulk bags are gathered from businesses in various conditions, beginning their transformation journey

Sorting

Bags are sorted and inspected for contamination

Pelletising

Once received, materials are processed through shredding and granulating to create clean plastic pellets

New Products

Clean pellets are then manufactured into new valued products

(L) Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer Stewart Ford and (R) Director & Founder Stephen Richards Photo credit: Big Bag Recovery

What are bulk bags transformed into?

The recycled plastic pellets are transformed into water evaporation disks, new school chairs and other sustainable products.

Return locations in berry growing areas:

Bundaberg Council-Bundaberg Qunaba Landfill, Potters Road Mon Repos, Bundaberg

Coffs Harbour Bellingen Shire Council, 33-39 Hyde St, Bellingen

Adelaide Hackham Recyclers, 16 Cottage Lane, Hackham

Longford

Incitec Pivot, 4 Carins Street, Longford Incitec Pivot Bags Only Impact Fertiliser, Woolmers Lane, Longford Impact Fertilisers Bags Only

Lismore Richmond Waste Depot, 15 Skyline Road, Lismore

Contact

– FREE NO

bagMUSTER: A sustainable solution for agricultural plastic waste

What is bagMUSTER?

bagMUSTER is an industry-led, not-for-profit program designed to provide producers with an environmentally responsible way to recycle single-use polypropylene (PP) bags. These smaller bags, commonly used for fertilisers, seeds, grain, stock feed, and pet food, are collected through a streamlined process to reduce plastic waste on farms and support sustainable agricultural practices.

How does it work?

Eligible bags: Only single-use PP bags purchased from participating retailers after 1 October 2024 are eligible for the program

Preparation: Bags must be clean, empty, and free of non-PP liners. Neatly rolling or folding them ensures efficient transportation

Find a site: Customers visit bagMUSTER.org.au to find their nearest collection site

Drop-off: Bags can be delivered to designated collection sites, where they will be responsibly recycled into new products

Program rollout

bagMUSTER launched in early 2025, starting with phase 1 in Western Victoria. Collection sites are now operational from Mildura to Geelong, providing producers with convenient locations to drop off eligible bags for recycling. As infrastructure expands, more sites will be added across Western Victoria. Planning for Phases 2 and 3 has begun, with future expansion set to extend the program into other states.

Why participate?

Environmental benefits: Reduce plastic waste and prevent pollution of waterways, farmland, and ecosystems

Local recycling: 100% of collected bags are recycled in Australia, supporting the circular economy

Convenient recycling: Participating in bagMUSTER is straightforward, with an easy preparation and drop-off process

Support for QA programs: Participants receive compliance certificates, assisting with food safety and Best Management Practice requirements

Free disposal: Dropping off bags at collection sites comes at no additional cost

For producers, bagMUSTER is an opportunity to contribute to a circular economy and promote sustainable practices in agriculture.

Visit bagMUSTER.org.au to learn more, find participating retailers, and sign up for updates as the program grows.

Other Accredited Product Stewardship Schemes

drumMUSTER

drumMUSTER is Australia’s national recycling program for eligible, empty, triple-rinsed agvet chemical containers. Farmers and chemical users can return cleaned drums to designated collection sites, where they’re inspected and safely recycled into new products like fence posts and wheel stops. The service is free, funded by a levy on participating chemical products.

Visit www.agsafe.org.au/dm-program-overview to find your nearest collection site, learn how to prepare drums correctly, and see which products are eligible. You can also contact your local council or ag supplier for collection dates.

ChemClear

ChemClear is a national program that helps farmers and agricultural businesses safely dispose of unwanted or obsolete agvet chemicals. Managed by Agsafe, the program offers an easy online registration process for listing chemicals no longer in use. Once registered, eligible chemicals can be dropped off at local collection events or picked up by arrangement. Since 2003, ChemClear has collected over 1 million litres of chemicals, supporting safer farms and environmental sustainability.

Visit www.agsafe.org.au/cc-program-overview to register chemicals, check upcoming collections, or learn about accepted products.

Understanding the Average Quantity System: -weights

Helen Newman, WA Berry Industry Development Officer, Agricultural Produce Commission

This article summarises a presentation given by Julian Horsley at BerryQuest International 2025. Watch the recording at bit.ly/BQI25-e-weights

• The Average Quantity System (AQS) or e-weights, allows punnets to be filled with an average amount across a batch, rather than having to ensure every single punnet meets a minimum weight target

• Permitted in Australia since 2010, e-weights allow growers to reduce overpack (giveaways) and improve efficiency and profitability

e-weights compared to minimum weights

Average Quantity System (e-weights)

 Punnets are filled to a measured average

 Normally used for larger batches

 Reduces overpack (giveaways)

Minimum Weight System

 Each punnet meets a declared minimum weight

 Suitable for low-volume products

 Ensures each punnet meets a minimum standard

VEGEMITE

a registered trademark of

Bega Cheese Limited

Every packing process (manual or automated) has +/- variations. When using e-weights, it’s all about the ‘batch’, not the ‘individual punnet’.

When packing under the minimum weight system, the most underfilled punnet is still above the weight printed on the label. In the example shown in Figure 1, if the punnet says 500g, it may contain anything from 501 to 511g, with an average punnet weight of 506g.

When packing under the AQS (e-weight) system, the most underfilled punnet may be less than the weight printed on the label, but the average of the batch going to the customer is above the stated weight printed on the label. The average punnet weight in the e-weight example is 501g, 5 grams less than the average punnet weight of the minimum weight example. This saving quickly adds up over a season!

e-weight measurement rules:

1. The average amount in a batch or consignment must be equal to or greater than the amount stated on the label. This is called the ‘nominal quantity’.

2. A small number of punnets can have slightly less than the labelled amount, but not more than a certain limit. This is called the ‘tolerable deficiency’.

3. No punnet can have less than twice the prescribed tolerable deficiency.

The National Measurement Institute (NMI) has set a scale of tolerable deficiency according to nominal quantity. According to this scale, if the nominal quantity of a punnet is 250g, the tolerable deficiency is 9g; if the nominal quantity is 500g the tolerable deficiency is 3% or 15g (Table 1). Figure 2 shows a simplified example of how this looks for a 500g punnet.

Figure 1. Example of how weight variations are managed under AQS (e-weights) (L) compared to the traditional minimum weight system (R)

Table 1. Scale of tolerable deficiency for products up to 10 kg

Tolerable Deficiency

Average Weight (AQS) 'e-weights'

Figure 2. Simplified summary of the AQS (e-weight) method showing how the three measurement rules are applied for a 500g punnet. Rejected punnets <Qn NG and T1 NG may be added to a batch later in the packing process when the statistics support them (when the average weight is higher than the nominal weight and the quantity of T1 items is below 2.5%) or be re-worked.

What defines a ‘batch’?

The size of a batch is not determined by the NMI; it is defined by you as a business. It could be the size of a sales order, or a job lot. The aim with AQS (e-weights) is to monitor the statistics as each product is weighed, adjusting as you go, so at the end of your batch you end up as close to the set average as possible. This is how you achieve the best possible yield from your product and the lowest level of giveaway.

Keys to Success and Compliance

• Discuss with your customers when you plan to implement e-weights. If it’s your own brand it’s ultimately up to you, but if the brand is owned by others, you will need their approval.

• Implement the ‘e’ symbol on your packaging. Visit bit.ly/ABJ-NMI for more information and to download the ‘e’ symbol.

• Make sure your inline weighing systems can run the Average Quantity System (e-weights).

• Ensure robust record keeping & data capture – this is important in managing complaints and compliance.

• Educate your staff and stakeholders so they are aware and understand e-weights.

• Prepare for customer complaints and education on e-weights.

Be prepared for complaints

When using e-weights you are allowed to have a certain number of underweight packs. That doesn't mean that the consumer is going to be happy when they buy it. It just means their next-door neighbour might have got their extra berry!

Steps for migrating to AQS (e-weights) packaging in Australia

Understanding the Regulations: Familiarise yourself with the specific AQS regulations set by the National Measurement Institute. You can find all the details details at bit.ly/ABJ-NMI

Equipment and Process Review: Evaluate your current packaging equipment and processes. AQS requires accurate filling and reliable measurement systems. You might need to invest in upgrades or new equipment to ensure consistent average weight across packages.

Sampling and Testing Procedures: Develop a sampling and testing plan to monitor your AQS compliance. This involves regularly taking samples of filled packages and statistically analysing the average weight against the declared amount. The most efficient way to do this is to get an AQS compatible inline checkweigher.

Labelling Updates: Update your packaging labels to reflect the AQS system. Labels should clearly state the average amount of the product, following the NMI guidelines. This involves adding the ‘e’ (‘estimated’) symbol next to the net weight value.

Record Keeping: Use checkweigher systems to monitor the average net content of all packs inspected. Maintain detailed records of your AQS compliance checks and sampling data. This demonstrates your adherence to regulations during potential audits by NMI inspectors. Most modern inline checkweighers can collect and report on 100% of your weight data and create the required batch reports.

Average Quantity System

The Average Quantity System (AQS) works in compliance with the National Measurement Institute’s (NMI) Weights and Measures program to ensure accuracy in pre-packaged goods. AQS is designed to be fair for both consumers and manufacturers. Detailed guidance on how to use this system is available on the NMI website at bit.ly/ABJ-NMI

Berries Australia thanks Julian Horsley from A&D Weighing for his assistance on this topic. You can find out more about the equipment available from A&D Weighing to assist you with AQS implementation at www.andweighing.com.au

Digitising State Cross-Border Inspections:

A Collaborative Pathway to Efficiency, Compliance, and Enhanced Inter-State Trade

Greg Calvert, Freshchain Systems

Cross-border inspections are a cornerstone of biosecurity protection, safeguarding our ecosystems and agricultural industries. However, the traditional processes are often characterised by inefficiencies that impact both private sector operators and government regulators. Issues such as missing or inaccurate documentation, inconsistent protocol interpretation, and cumbersome manual processes lead to delays, increased costs, and potential risks. This article explores how digitising the crossborder inspection process offers a transformative pathway towards greater efficiency, stronger compliance, and enhanced trade facilitation, benefiting all stakeholders.

Challenges and the Imperative for Digital Solutions

For the Private Sector:

Businesses involved in cross-border trade frequently encounter obstacles that hinder their operations and profitability. These include:

• Delays and Spoilage: Missing paperwork or discrepancies often result in shipment delays, which can be particularly detrimental for perishable goods like berries, leading to spoilage and financial losses.

• Increased Costs: Inefficiencies in the inspection process translate to higher operational costs for businesses due to delays, storage fees, and potential rejection of goods.

• Uncertainty and Planning Difficulties: Inconsistent application of regulations and lack of real-time visibility into the inspection process create uncertainty, making it difficult for businesses to plan their logistics and supply chains effectively.

For Government Regulators:

Government agencies responsible for border control and biosecurity face their own set of challenges which include:

• Resource Constraints: Manual inspections take a lot of time and people power. Digital tools can lighten the load, helping teams work more efficiently and make better use of their resources.

• Enforcement Challenges: Keeping up with complex regulations can be tough when relying on paperbased systems. Digital platforms make life easier by improving traceability, accuracy, and recordkeeping, making compliance and audits more straightforward.

• Maintaining Biosecurity Standards: Striking the right balance between smooth trade and strong biosecurity standards is always a challenge. Digital tools can help by supporting better risk assessment and more targeted responses, making biosecurity efforts more effective and more efficient.

A Collaborative Approach:

Digital Tools and Real-Time Data Exchange

A recent multi-party initiative demonstrated the transformative potential of digitising the cross-border inspection process through collaboration between private sector entities, government bodies and Australian traceability provider, FreshChain Systems.

The traceability pilot project used a collaborative, iterative approach to develop and validate digital tools integrated into an existing web-based platform. It aimed to resolve many of the issues with traditional paper-based inspections for cross border trade (e.g., missing documents, errors, split consignments).

This project focused on:

Developing and Deploying Digital Tools

FreshChain Systems created digital tools to streamline pre-shipment processes, facilitate real-time data exchange, and automate documentation.

Tools included:

• Pre-shipment checklist for private sector

• Remedial tools at the inspection stage

• Automated SMS messaging to all involved supply chain partners

• Digital paper trails accessible to all supply chain partners

Enhancing Traceability and Data Accuracy

Technologies such as 2D barcodes and serialisation were used to link data across the supply chain, from production to inspection, improving traceability and reducing errors. The industry partner printed and applied serialised 2D GS1 Digital Link QR codes at the punnet, tray, and pallet level, which provided full traceability and allowed plant health and consignment notes to be traced back to the punnet level. They digitised all food safety certifications, pre-shipment treatment notes, and consignment notes.

Testing and Validation

The effectiveness of these digital tools was rigorously tested in real-world scenarios, with a focus on addressing common pain points in the inspection process. A pilot shipment of raspberries was sent from Corindi, NSW, to Perth/Canning Vale, WA, for inspection

by WA Biosecurity (DPIRD). Transport was via road and inspection conducted at the WA Farm Direct depot. Once the shipment reached the inspection point, DPIRD was able to log into the FreshChain RegTech platform and access all the shipment information uploaded by the industry partner. Once DPIRD completed the inspection process, they uploaded the results to the RegTech portal, automatically notifying all supply chain partners via SMS.

Key Outcomes and Benefits

The trial highlighted significant benefits for both the private sector and government regulatory sectors:

For the Private Sector

• Reduced Delays and Costs: By addressing issues like missing paperwork and documentation errors, digital tools can significantly reduce delays and the associated costs, improving the efficiency of crossborder trade.

• Improved Predictability and Planning: Real-time data exchange and increased transparency in the inspection process provide businesses with greater predictability, enabling better planning and the optimisation of supply chains.

• Streamlined Operations: Digital solutions can automate many manual tasks, reducing the administrative burden and streamlining overall operations for businesses involved in cross-border trade.

For Government Regulators:

• Enhanced Efficiency and Resource Optimisation: Digital tools can automate processes, reduce paperwork, and enable risk-based assessments, allowing regulatory agencies to optimise their own resource allocation and improve the efficiency of inspections.

• Strengthened Compliance and Enforcement: Improved traceability, data accuracy, and auditability enhance the ability of regulatory agencies to monitor and enforce compliance with biosecurity and other regulations.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Digital platforms provide valuable data and insights into trade flows and potential risks, enabling regulatory agencies to make more informed and effective decisions regarding border control and biosecurity.

The system can be access via any internet-connected device and is optimised for use on tablets as well as desktop systems Photo credit: FreshChain Systems

A Collaborative Path Forward

Realising the full potential of digital transformation in cross-border inspections requires a collaborative effort between the private sector and government regulatory sectors.

This includes:

• Data Sharing and Collaboration: Establishing agreements and mechanisms for secure data sharing between supply chain partners and regulatory agencies is crucial for enabling real-time visibility and efficient information flow.

• Standardisation and Interoperability: Adopting global data standards and ensuring interoperability between different systems is essential for seamless data exchange and effective communication across borders.

• Regulatory Adaptation: Government regulatory sectors may need to adapt existing regulations and processes to fully leverage the benefits of digital technologies while maintaining necessary oversight and control.

• Investment and Implementation: Continued investment in the development and implementation of digital solutions, along with training and capacity building, is essential for driving widespread adoption and maximising impact.

The ultimate goal is to create a kind of national “green pass” for fresh produce, so trusted growers and packers can move their products more easily based on their low-risk track record. By using smart digital tools in packhouses before products are shipped, we can help catch issues early and reduce inspection failures. If something does go wrong, those same tools can quickly share information in real time so action can be taken fast.

It also means inspectors can focus more on higher-risk shipments, while still keeping strong biosecurity in place to protect the whole industry.

By embracing digital transformation and fostering collaboration, both the private sector and government regulatory departments can work together to create a more efficient, secure, and prosperous future for cross-border trade.

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of the National Agriculture Traceability Grants Program –Regulatory Technology Research and Insights grant round. Many thanks to the Department and all other public and private collaborators.

To learn more about this work or to participate in Phase 2 please contact Greg Calvert: gcalvert@freshchain.com.au | 0433 192 855

Hear more about this subject from Greg by listening to his BerryQuest 2025 talk “Unpacking the Findings of Two Recent Berry Trials to Improve Traceability, Consumer Engagement, and the Cross-Border Inspection Process” at bit.ly/BQI25-GC

Mealybugs

As more of the berry industry shifts towards substrate and protected production, the challenges associated with these systems are becoming more apparent. One such challenge is the increased presence of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), a type of slow-moving scale insect that feeds on plant sap. They are particularly common in protected cropping environments, especially in blueberry production.

Habitat

Mealybugs are highly polyphagous pests that can attack a wide variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, indoor plants, and outdoor ornamentals such as annuals, perennials, shrubs, palms, grasses, and trees. Common host fruit crops include but are not limited to citrus, grapes, blueberries, Rubus, stone fruits, passionfruit, avocado, macadamia, and mango.

Identification

Mealybugs are small, oval, soft-bodied insects that are covered in a white powdery wax which sometimes gives them a ‘fluffy’ appearance. They are commonly white, off-white or light grey in colour. The first instar nymphs are very small (<1mm) and are generally more mobile than the adults. They tend to aggregate on the underside of leaves, on stems around petioles and other tight, concealed areas of the plant.

Mealybugs at various life stages

Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Mealybugs are often found on the underside of leaves

Photo credit: Sally Tucker Bugwood.org

Lifecycle

Mealybugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis, meaning their life cycle has 3 main stages:

Eggs:

Laid in cottony sacs, often tucked into hidden plant crevices. A single female can lay 300–600 eggs and these hatch within 1–2 weeks (faster in warm, humid conditions).

Nymphs (Crawlers):

Newly hatched and mobile, these are yellowish or pinkish with no wax coating at first. These are the most mobile stage and spread infestation as they develop through 2–3 instars. They gradually develop the waxy coating as they mature.

Adults

Females are about 3mm long and wingless, continue feeding and producing wax, and often remain in one place. Males are rarely seen, small aphid-like winged insects which do not feed and live only a few days. Their only role is for reproduction.

Damage

High populations of mealybugs can cause stunting, premature leaf or fruit drop, and twig dieback. Yellowing, a lack of vigour and distortion are also common damage observed at growing points. Similarly to most sap-sucking pests, they produce ‘honeydew’, which encourages the growth of black sooty mould. In addition, this attracts ants to form a mutualistic symbiotic relationship similar to those found with aphids. This often increases the severity and scale of the infestation as it reduces predation and parasitism from natural enemies.

Monitoring

Monitoring for mealybugs can be performed through careful visual inspection of plants, including turning over leaves and checking for signs such as black sooty mould, honeydew, or the presence of ants, which often indicates mealybug activity.

Particular attention should be paid to branch junctions, leaf axils, and crevices areas where mealybugs tend to hide. Gently beating foliage over a light-coloured tray can help dislodge mealybugs for easier detection, though this method may not be effective for all species.

Plants showing signs of stress or damage should be examined more closely, using a 10x hand lens if necessary. When mealybugs are detected, it's important to look for egg masses and crawlers, as their presence indicates a growing population.

Management Options

Nymphs have the least amount of wax present on their bodies and as such are the most susceptible to pesticides and environmental conditions compared to other stages of their lifecycle. They become increasingly difficult to control once established as they tend to shelter under tight, hard to reach areas of the plant.

Cultural and physical

Temperatures of 25°C and high relative humidity are optimal for mealybugs while cooler temperatures slow down the time required for them to complete their life cycles. Manage the canopy to increase air flow, spray coverage and ease of detection. Where possible, ventilate protected cropping systems at appropriate times to reduce the favourable conditions that allow pests to establish.

Biological

Release predatory arthropods and create inviting habitats for beneficial insects. The main aphid predators include parasitoid wasps, green lacewings, and lady beetles. Parasitic wasps such as Aphidius colemani, Aphidius ervi and Aphelinus abdominalis are commercially available for release. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri is an Australian native ladybird beetle that has been recognised worldwide as an effective and efficient predator of many mealybug species. Both larvae and adults are known to feed on mealybug.

Chemical

Currently there are no synthetic insecticides that are registered for use on mealybugs in all berry categories.

The Pest Spotlight has been prepared by Dr Saleh Adnan, Research Horticulturist Entomologist, and Gaius Leong, Berry Industry Development Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Mealybug destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) feeding on mealybugs Photo credit: BioBee Images

Lacewing larvae (circled in red) eating aphids Photo credit: HHelene, Getty Images

The Abga is Funding Major Investment in Marketing, Exports and Protecting Your Right to Farm!

VOLUNTARY LEVIES SUPPORT YOUR INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS

Why should I pay the voluntary levy?

The voluntary levies fund all of the essential activities that contribute to the growth of our blueberry industry. Activities include, but are not limited to: Research & development into registered chemicals + IPM + Integrated Disease Management programs

Achieving export protocols into Vietnam and China and developing the export registration portal

Progressing applications for market access to China and other countries

• Funding our Industry Development Officers

• Funding our contribution to the Berry Basket marketing campaign

• Funding legal action to support growers’ right to farm

• Funding our CEO and support staff

• Communication and engagement with members –industry journal, e-news, website, conference

• Providing 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 prioritisation panel

How do I pay the levy?

Follow the steps below:

1. Prepare a statement with the following information

• Grower Name

• Quarter + Dates (e.g. Q2 1st Oct - 31st Dec)

• Number of kg fruit sold in that quarter

• Amount of levy being paid

• Indicate if your agent deducts your levies (if so, include agent name)

2. Email the statement to the Membership Officer

Email statement to: wendymorris@berries.net.au and rachelmackenzie@berries.net.au

The Membership Officer will send you an Invoice for

3. Pay your levy to the ABGA account

Account :

Bank:

BSB:

Account:

Reference: Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association Westpac 033 107 181 471

GROWER NAME + Financial Quarter (e.g. “Joe Bloggs Q2 levy”)

When do I pay the voluntary levy? Levies are payable once every financial quarter:

My agent deducts levies — what do I need to do?

Send the Membership Officer a statement as per Step 1 above. They will then check that the agent has paid the levy.

What about confidentiality of the information provided?

Any information provided will be kept confidential.

Dear Australian Blueberry Grower

Voluntary Levy Rate for 2025-26

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the blueberry industry through the payment of your voluntary levy. As you may recall, the ABGA committee, which is made up of growers like you, reduced the levy from 7c/kg to 3c/kg for two financial years commencing 1 August 2023. As we reach the end of this period, and in recognition of the challenging weather conditions of late, the ABGA has opted to set the levy at 5c/kg rather than revert to the previous 7c/kg rate.

The committee has elected to maintain a voluntary rather than compulsory levy to ensure levy payers have full control over how their funds are spent, which means we can continue to amend the levy rate according to the needs of the industry. The committee takes its financial responsibilities seriously and as such needs to set the levy to ensure priorities such as export and marketing can be maintained for the sustainable benefit of all growers.

In addition to our ongoing commitments, the ABGA is paying legal fees to contest the determination that nets and tunnels are farm buildings. This has significant implications for all growers. The ABGA was also able to demonstrate to the NSW government, through a comprehensive submission, that the proposal to require development approvals for nets and tunnels in the Nambucca Shire would have an overly detrimental impact on the right to farm. Funding for these types of activities could not be funded through a statutory levy.

Please contact Rachel Mackenzie or James Kellaway if you would like more information regarding these issues.

The APVMA has also significantly increased the data requirements to maintain minor use permits and the trials needed to be funded through the levy. In this instance we have been able to leverage matched funding through our collective agreement with Hort Innovation. However, there is still a requirement for the ABGA levy to commit to more than $200,000 to support this vital activity.

In the last five years ABGA has made significant investments in export development as well as marketing and industry development. The blueberry levy also enables us to fund our blueberry Industry Development Officer. If you receive the Australian Berry Journal and The Burst or access chemicals on minor use permits, then you are benefiting directly from your levy contribution.

The ABGA reviews the levy amount regularly and we strongly encourage any grower who wants to be more involved to consider nominating for the ABGA committee.

Yours Sincerely

Andrew Bell

Andrew Bell ABGA President

BLUPACA

Engineering with small businesses in mind

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Industry Profile: George Mittasch

Gaius Leong, Berry Industry Development Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development

According to the Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2023/24, approximately 86% of Australia’s blueberries are produced in NSW, with a significant portion of that grown on the mid north coast. The last decade or so has seen tremendous growth in the region, which has provided exceptional benefits for the local regional economy.

For berry growers, horticulturalists, farming operators, and allied industry professionals based on the Coffs Coast (and beyond), I am sure many of you are familiar with a passionate horticulturalist and expert blueberry agronomist: George Mittasch.

Recently, on a frosty and overcast winter’s day, I travelled south on a business trip to the scenic Nambucca Valley and had the opportunity to catch up with George - a friend, avid bushwalker, occasional mountain biker, and former colleague of mine - to uncover the chronicles of his horticultural and berry industry journey and garner some insights about the fresh new venture he wishes to embark upon.

George was raised on a small beef farm and mixed-fruit orchard in NSW’s Bellingen Shire, surrounded by his father, two older sisters, and younger brother. From a young age, all the kids were hands-on with farm life, but it was George who truly fell in love with it. While his siblings gradually moved on to other interests, George’s curiosity only grew. He wanted to understand not just how to run a farm, but why things worked the way they did. That drive led him to study rural sciences, opening the door to a career in agriculture and horticulture.

In early 2017, George seized the opportunity to join OzGroup Co-op, one of Australia’s largest producers of blueberries, as a trainee agronomist based at the Woolgoolga office. With many of the technical and practical aspects of blueberry cultivation, production, and agronomy to learn and the demonstrated importance of building client rapport, George soon armed himself with the necessary tools and developed a unique skill set to become a trusted field adviser for the Co-op’s members.

After nearly five years with OzGroup, George was presented with an opportunity in mid-2021 to move into the commercial agri-reseller sector. There, he supported customers with their agronomy needs and helped source essential horticultural inputs for a range of subtropical crops - including blueberries, macadamias, avocados, finger limes, and morethroughout the mostly sunny Coffs Coast.

Based in the Macksville district and surrounds, George worked with a market-leading agri-reseller where he played a key role in unlocking new commercial opportunities. Over just 18 months, his efforts sparked a noticeable shift in how local horticultural producers approached their purchasing decisions. Thanks to George’s drive and relationshipbuilding, the agri-reseller saw a major boost in its share of the regional horticultural market.

With over ten years of combined experience in professional field advisory and sales development roles, George decided to take a sabbatical to reflect on his journey in horticulture. During this time, he realised a common theme among the farmers and growers he had worked with; they were seeking expert agronomic advice from a truly independent source.

In early 2025, George launched an exciting new venture by founding ‘Agronomical’, an independent agricultural consulting practice based in the Nambucca Valley (NSW). The business was created to offer expert agronomic advice to progressive growers and farm leaders looking to improve and optimise their commercial horticultural production systems.

Just before our meeting ended, George shared with me a key insight about his new consultancy business: his main mission is ...

to deliver strategic transformations for growing horticultural enterprises

As the berry industry continues to grow and evolve, attracting and retaining independent, highly skilled, practical, and trusted consultants is more important than ever. These experts play a vital role in sharing best management practices across the sector ensuring no grower is left behind. In doing so, they help lift the standard of production industry-wide, driving progress and resilience for the future.

As we say our goodbyes, I wish George all the best in his new venture and look forward to hearing more of his on-going contribution to the berry industry.

George built his blueberry expertise across five years spent in Australia’s largest blueberry production area

Photo credit: George Mittasch

Flowering and Fruiting Patterns of the Three Common Strawberry Classifications

Helen Newman (WA) & Sandy Shaw (VIC/SA), Berry Industry Development Officers

This article provides an overview of the genetic factors that control flower induction in short-day, day-neutral and everbearer cultivars in strawberry.

Floral initiation is the foundation of strawberry cultivation. After all, if there are no flowers, there is no fruit! Floral initiation is controlled by several factors, influenced by genetic and environmental interactions.

Distinctions between short-day, dayneutral and everbearer classifications are general. There is a high level of variability within these classifications based on the genetics of the specific cultivar and how the cultivar interacts with the growing environment. Australian growing environments are diverse, and hard and fast rules are almost impossible to apply. The genetics are just one factor to consider in the wider tapestry.

The distinction between short-day, day-neutral, and everbearer cultivars is based on the day length conditions required to stimulate their initial floral initiation response. Once flowering, all strawberry cultivars can continue to produce flowers, regardless of day length, provided they are not subject to stress. Once subjected to enough stress plants will stop flowering. To initiate flowering again, plants must be exposed to the required initiation (generative) conditions to recommence flowering.

Examples of conditions that can slow or stop the flowering response include heat stress, transpiration stress, disease stress, excess plant vigour, nutritional excess or deficiency, and other common stress factors.

Excess plant vigour (excess vegetative growth) is an often-overlooked factor in flowering stress. For an overview of how climatic and agronomic factors can encourage a strawberry plant towards vegetative or generative growth see pages 67-68 of the article entitled ‘What yield pattern are you aiming for?’ published in the Winter 2024 Australian Berry Journal. You can find the article in the industry Resource Library at bit.ly/BA-RL by searching ‘Klaas Plas’.

Short-days

Also referred to as ‘June bearers’, short-day cultivars are the original production berries, and they have remained the dominant strawberry type planted worldwide. Definitions of all other berry types are in comparison to this original category.

Examples of short-day cultivars:

Camarosa, Festival, Fortuna, Fronteras, Grenada, UCD Victor, Adelanto, Belvedere and Medallion.

Short-day cultivars start to initiate flower buds when daylight hours are short, generally between 12-13 hours, depending on the variety. Based on this factor, they are predominantly grown in the winter months, leading into spring.

Once flower initiation has commenced, short-day cultivars can continue to flower well into the Australian summer (regardless of day length), if they are carefully protected from stress factors. Longer days can be a stressor for short-day cultivars that can reduce flowering, however, under Australian conditions long days alone do not generally bring an end to flowering.

The most common triggers that remove short-day cultivars from production are excess fertiliser or excess heat. If the stressors are removed and shorter day-lengths return, the plants will initiate flowering again.

Day-neutrals

As the name suggests, day-neutral cultivars are not sensitive to day length. They can initiate flowers under all day lengths and may be used in year-round production.

Examples of day-neutral cultivars:

Albion, Cabrillo, Monterey, San Andreas, and Alturas.

Day-neutrals contain a single partial-dominant gene that controls their response to day length (to an extent).

Partial-dominant means that the gene doesn’t completely control the physiological response. Up to 30% of the genetic variation of a day-neutral is attributable to other genes.

Day-neutrals are often classed into weak, intermediate, strong, and extreme types based on the strength and consistency of their flowering response. The original classification, which included two categories, was designated by the original breeder of day-neutral strawberries, Royce Bringhurst. He classified cultivars as weak or strong day-neutrals depending on the proportion of daughter plants of a clone that flowered during the summer in high-elevation California strawberry nurseries.

Day-neutrals can fall victim to all the same stressors that befall the other categories. For example, like short-day cultivars and everbearers, day-neutral cultivars can suffer physiological stress during the hottest months of the year and can cease flowering due to extreme heat stress.

However, their return to floral initiation and production once the heat stress is gone is independent of any daylength requirements. All they require to resume floral initiation is the removal of stress factors.

Everbearers

Also referred to as long-days, remontants, perpetual flowering, and recurrent flowering, everbearers are temperature-sensitive day-neutrals. There is scant published research detailing the genetics of the everbearing trait in strawberry. It suffers from being a catch-all term, distinguished mostly as being not short-day but also not possessing the partiallydominant day-neutral gene.

Everbearers can initiate flowers under all day lengths when temperatures are low, but once a certain temperature is reached, they become sensitive to day length. If low temperatures are maintained, everbearers will continue to flower. If they are kicked out of their fruiting cycle, they need to return to cooler temperatures to re-initiate flowering.

In fruit production systems where the 24-hour average temperature rarely exceeds 18°C and all other factors are favourable to production, everbearers and day-neutrals can be difficult to distinguish. It’s because of this that there is a great deal of confusion within the strawberry industry with some people using “everbearer” and “day-neutral” interchangeably. However, in systems with more extreme temperature conditions, growers will see a distinct difference between everbearer and day-neutral cultivars.

24-hour average temperature under

1. Average annual day lengths of four major growing regions in Australia

Figure 2. Average annual 24-hour temperatures of four major growing regions in Australia

Reproduced by permission of the Bureau of Meteorology, © 2025 Commonwealth of Australia

Figure

Why does all this matter?

Depending on the environment you grow in and the yield pattern you are aiming for, some cultivar types will be more suitable or offer more advantages than others. Key points to consider:

• Assess the environment you are operating in to determine the best type of varieties to grow, paying attention to your day lengths and average temperatures, and the production windows you are targeting

• If deciding between a day-neutral or an everbearing variety, look closely at the historical temperature patterns and at other potential stress factors at the site to see if there are conditions that could reduce flowering in dayneutrals or kick everbearing varieties out of their flowering response before conditions return to a window where flowering can re-initiate

• Know that the terms “everbearer” and “dayneutral” are sometimes used interchangeably in science and marketing. If you’re in a growing system where the difference between the two is important, always check with the breeding program to verify the underpinning genetics

• If you’re testing a new cultivar, remember that cessation of flowering doesn’t necessarily mean that the plant is in a different classification than claimed. Consider other environmental factors first and observe how the plant responds when the stress is removed

Scientists have been debating strawberry classifications and their associated definitions for over 60 years. There’s still not complete consensus, so if you’re confused, don’t worry – it is confusing!

Technical Terms Explained:

Vegetative State: This is the phase where the plant focuses on establishing its structure, developing leaves, stems, and roots

Generative State: The phase where a plant shifts from vegetative growth (producing leaves and stems) to reproductive growth, focusing on flowering, fruit development, and seed production. It describes the period when the plant is actively producing reproductive structures and allocating resources to them

Queensland 2025 Strawberry Field Day

Wendy Morris, Queensland Berry Industry Development Officer, Berries Australia

We were blessed with beautiful weather for this year’s Queensland Strawberry Field Day. On the Go Espresso kicked us into gear with as many hot beverages as we could consume, before the DPI team welcomed us to the Maroochy Research Facility near Nambour on the Sunshine Coast.

Principal Plant Breeder Dr Jodi Neal provided us with an update presentation on the Australian Strawberry Breeding Program (ASBP) before leading the growers out into the trial patch to sample and provide feedback on some of the new plants currently in the program. Whether or not these plants will proceed to the next stage is based on a number of factors, including our growers’ opinions. The plant breeding team has provided a full update of their ASBP activities, and you can read more about this at PAGE 92.

Biggest Strawberry Winner

To add a bit of friendly competition, we introduced a ‘Biggest Strawberry Competition’ this year. AgBiTech were quick to come on board as a sponsor, allowing us to offer a trophy and $250 EFTPOS gift card as first prize. AgBiTech also donated a bottle of ViVUS Armigen (a biological insecticide for the control of Helicoverpa) as a second prize.

There are good years to run this type of competition, and then there are years like 2025, when Queensland fruit production is slow, and the size of strawberries is below average. Unfortunately, we received just two entries on the day, with Piñata Farms and SunSweet Berries putting their fruit up for measurement.

Jimmy Lai from SunSweet Berries won the day, with a 75g Red Rhapsody, easily beating out Piñata Farms by a solid 10 grams.

A number of growers have subsequently informed me they believe they can grow bigger strawberries on their farm so we hope to see you and your whopping strawberries in 2026!

Strawberry Workshop

In keeping with our desire to switch things up a bit, instead of formal presentations we elected to hold a strawberry workshop with an expert panel. Dr Jodi Neal from QDPI, Angus Durham from Smartbug Horti and Adrian Schultz from the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association formed our panel and opened themselves up to ‘whatever the growers wanted to talk about’ – a tough ask!

We were very lucky to have a good selection of growers, propagators and industry representatives in the room, and it wasn’t long before we were discussing some of the key issues growers were facing on-farm.

Managing plant nutrition and growth formed the basis of most of the discussion. Ian Mungall from Red Jewel advised Queensland winter growers that planting before 22 March will lead to more vegetative growth, which growers need to manage. Planting after 22 March will help mitigate excess runner production from plants but may impact early yields.

Temperamental weather has led to delayed flowering and fruiting. Fruit that does come through has in many cases been softer than desired. Calcium can improve firmness and quality and is generally more effective when delivered via fertigation than foliar application. Calcium uptake improves when plants are transpiring, so checking the weather conditions before adding calcium to your solution will ensure you are adding it at a point when plants will utilise it. Also, be aware that a plant that is very bushy can redirect calcium from its fruit to its leaves.

Nitrogen, nitrogen, nitrogen… determining how much a new variety needs has been a constant source of frustration for our growers. At the QDPI trial patch, all Australian Strawberry Breeding Program (ASBP) plants are fed the same nutritional mix. For non-ASPB varieties, growers may be given nutritional information that isn’t adjusted to local conditions and must be adjusted to the local growing environment (including water EC, soil types, weather patterns).

For those who were unable to attend the Field Day in person, a video version is now available to watch through the Resource Library which includes Dr Jodi Neal’s update presentation, a look at two of the most promising new potential varieties and some reflections from one of the growers attending the day.

View the video at bit.ly/Q-STR-160725 or search ‘Strawberry Field Day’ in the Resource Library at bit.ly/BA-RL

Dr Jodi Neal provided an update presentation at the start of the Field Day

Fergus Tweedy from AgBiTech awarding Jimmy Lai from SunSweet Berries with his well-earned trophy and $250 gift voucher for his 75g ‘Red Rhapsody’ winning berry

Samples of trial variety fruit grown at Taste n'See were also available for attendees to inspect and taste

Growers questioned what broad statements like ‘high nitrogen variety’ or ‘low nitrogen variety’ actually mean, given we have so many farms growing in different conditions (different soil types, tables, protected cropping).

Leaf and sap analyses can be a useful addition to current soil tests as they show what nutrients the plant is taking up. Kerran from Zadco attended the workshop and recommended growers test at 8-10 weeks and 15 weeks post-planting to see what nutrients their plants are holding.

On a different note, workforce challenges remain a major pressure point for growers. The absence of a national labour hire licensing system is a continuing source of frustration, while finding and keeping skilled staff is an ongoing struggle for many farmers.

There was also a wide range of tips and insights shared, some practical, some surprising. Noticed white noses on your strawberries? Check your boron levels. Seeing red leaf? Researchers think they’re getting closer to understanding the cause. Planning a new irrigation trench? Lay an extra pipe while you’re at it. You might not need it now, but pipe is cheap and digging a second trench later is not!

Overall, the workshop was a great success thanks to the involvement of our panel and attendees, who openly shared and discussed their experiences.

Thank you to our growers, QDPI, AgBiTech, and industry stakeholders for making the day possible!

All photos credit: Jane Richter

Attendees were asked to use red flags to signal the varieties in the trial patch that they felt had promise based on the plant health, the radar chart displaying their characteristics and the taste of the fruit samples available

Trusted by leading strawberry growers worldwide, Rivulis solutions deliver outstanding performance and adaptability. But it quickly grows beyond just a micro irrigation solution—it’s about achieving greater yields, improved fruit quality, and building a lasting partnership founded on trust and loyalty. You and Rivulis. Stronger together.

Trusted by leading strawberry growers worldwide, Rivulis solutions deliver outstanding performance and adaptability. But it quickly grows beyond just a micro irrigation solution—it’s about achieving greater yields, improved fruit quality, and building a lasting partnership founded on trust and loyalty. You and Rivulis. Stronger together.

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Working hand in hand with growers and advisors to build lasting relationships in industries we care about.

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Striving to protect our natural resources and adapting to build resilience for future generations.

“Celebrating 20 years of hard work and excellence, I thank everyone who’s been part of our journey. Here’s to many more years of shared success and progress!”

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Learn more about our 20 year journey

Australian Strawberry Breeding Program Update

Jodi Neal – Principal Plant Breeder & Katie O’Connor – Plant Breeder, Australian Strawberry Breeding Program Team, Queensland Department of Primary Industries

This article provides a Temperate season wrap-up and activity update for the project BS22000: Australian Strawberry Breeding Program

The Australian Strawberry Breeding Program (ASBP) has been hard at work over the past six months, wrapping up the temperate season and diving into the start of the subtropical and Mediterranean seasons. With a focus on developing strawberry varieties specially adapted to Australia’s temperate, subtropical, and Mediterranean climatic regions, the program is committed to improving grower profitability and consumer satisfaction. By prioritising traits such as higher yields, larger fruit sizes, disease resilience, and improved taste and appearance, the ASBP is working to help deliver a stronger, more sustainable strawberry industry.

Over the last six months the ASBP team has continued to actively engage with growers and the broader industry. Our annual Temperate Reference Group Meeting was held on 26 March 2025, where we formally engaged with representatives from industry to help guide our temperate breeding program. Subtropical and Mediterranean Reference Group Meetings will be held later this year.

On 16 July, we also worked with Berries Australia to host a strawberry field day at the Maroochy Research Facility. Over 45 growers and industry representatives attended, exploring promising new accessions in the subtropical pipeline (Figure 1). Three accessions in partıcular received strong interest from attendees, reinforcing the program’s progress in meeting grower needs.

Lastly, in June this year, breeders Jodi Neal and Katie O’Connor, along with biometrician Ky Mathews, attended the 17th Australasian Plant Breeding Conference in Perth. They presented key findings from the program and gained valuable insights from global experts, which will be applied to accelerate gains from future breeding efforts.

Following is a detailed look at what we’ve achieved since the last breeding program update.

For those who were unable to attend the Field Day in person, a video version is now available to watch through the Resource Library which includes Dr Jodi Neal’s update presentation, a look at two of the most promising new potential varieties and some reflections from one of the growers attending the day.

View the video at bit.ly/QLD-STR-160725 or search ‘Strawberry Field Day’ in the Resource Library at bit.ly/BA-RL

Temperate Breeding Trials

The temperate clonal trial was planned to continue until the end of May 2025, however weather conditions and extensive damage from birdlife led to a slightly early season wrap-up in mid-May. Twenty-seven temperate accessions with strong performance across key traits have been selected for re-trialling in 2025/26. An additional 101 stage 1 seedlings have been selected from a total of 14,000 for early-stage clonal trialling, ensuring a strong pipeline of promising accessions for future evaluation.

Promising advanced temperate accession ‘2017-025-130’ has also been multiplied by the Toolangi Certified Strawberry Runner Growers' Co-Op and distributed to seven growers across four states for large-scale trialing in the 2025/26 season (100–1,000 plants each). Feedback from these trials will inform a commercialisation decision for this accession at the end of the season. ASBP is very grateful for all growers involved in trialling our promising selections.

Subtropical Breeding Trials

In the subtropical regions, we planted around 9,000 stage 1 seedlings between late February and March 2025. This included 2,500 seedlings at the Maroochy Research Facility (MRF) in Nambour and 6,500 at the Bundaberg Research Facility.

At MRF, 82 early-stage (stage 2) and 41 advanced-stage (stage 3+) accessions were planted in March. Similar to commercial farms in the region, subtropical trials started very slowly this season, with low yields continuing into July. Early performance of breeding accessions has also been atypical due to abnormal weather, which has similarly been seen in commercial production of many varieties including Stella-ASBP.

Excitingly, the accessions first to start fruiting in the subtropical trials this season were members of the most recent cohort. This means that the ASBP’s push for earlyyielding subtropical accessions has been successful and improvements will continue into the future.

Figure 1. Growers and industry members assessing advanced ASBP breeding accessions at the Berries Australia strawberry field day, held at the Maroochy Research Facility on 16 July 2025 Photo credit: Jane Richter

Seven of the most advanced subtropical accessions are also currently being trialled across four farms this season, including tabletop trials in southeast Queensland and Bundaberg. Larger-scale on-farm trials have also commenced, with three growers testing over 100 plants of multiple advanced-stage accessions prior to potential commercial release.

Among these are two promising red-fruited accessions ‘2019-077’ and ‘2021-090’, as well as a new white-fruited accession ‘2021-232’ that has generated significant interest from growers.

Mediterranean Breeding Trials

In the Mediterranean region, around 4,000 seedlings were planted at MRF in March, as well as 14 advancedstage and 82 early-stage accessions at Bullsbrook, WA, in April. Six advanced-stage accessions are being trialled across three farms, with two new growers joining the program this year. These growers have shown particular enthusiasm for the novelty white and blush varieties, and ASBP is very much looking forward to feedback regarding these varieties as the season progresses.

Disease Resistance and Genetic Advancements

Disease resistance remains a key focus of the ASBP, with advanced accessions annually tested for resistance to five diseases/disorders, and tolerant accessions used as parents for the next generation.

Recent highlights include:

• Charcoal Rot Resistance: Trials for 21 accessions have been completed, with statistical analysis underway.

• Anthracnose Rot Resistance: Screening trials for 15 accessions have concluded in recent weeks, and statistical analysis will commence soon.

• Powdery Mildew Resistance: The 2025 powdery mildew screening trial was planted in April and includes 14 early-stage and 10 advanced-stage accessions. Also included are seedlings from each of the three regions, from crosses between tolerant parents and parents with good agronomic traits (Figure 3).

Figure 2. A section of the 2025/25 temperate breeding trial at Wandin North, Victoria

Photo credit: Jodi Neal

• Fusarium Wilt Resistance: Annual screening is set to begin in August 2025.

• Red Leaf Disorder: Annual surveying of Red Leaf Disorder (RLD) susceptibility has commenced in the 2025 subtropical breeding trial and will begin soon in the Mediterranean trial. Preliminary genetic analysis suggests that susceptibility is strongly controlled by only a few genes, which may provide insight into the cause of RLD. Breeding for RLD tolerance over recent years has been highly successful, with significantly increased tolerances in the breeding population.

To ensure the health of foundation plants, virus testing has been completed for 161 temperate selections, with testing for 88 subtropical and Mediterranean selections still in progress.

On the genetic front, DNA analyses of recent accessions have allowed us to predict performance for various traits in stage 1 seedling selections prior to any field data being collected. Approximately five elite stage 1 accessions from each region have been selected this year for use as parents in crosses to produce the next generation of seedlings, in addition to our regular crosses. This is expected to accelerate gain in traits such as yield, fruit size, and sweetness across the breeding population.

International Collaboration

The ASBP continues to collaborate with international partners to enhance genetic diversity. Each year, we exchange seed with the University of Florida breeding program for subtropical genetics, and with Vissers Plant Innovators in the Netherlands for temperate. Not only does this allow the exchange of genetic diversity, which ensures that our breeding programs do not become too inbred, but it also allows the introduction of genes for important traits such as disease resistance and exciting new flavours.

Looking Ahead

The ASBP remains committed to delivering superior strawberry varieties suited to Australia’s three climatic growing conditions. Our work is guided by the invaluable feedback and support of growers, whose input helps shape the future of the program.

If you’d like more information or have feedback to share, please contact Jodi Neal at jodi.neal@dpi.qld.gov.au or on 07 5381 1352. Your insights are crucial to the success of the program, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

Figure 3. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) pathologist Eloise Martin assessing the 2025 powdery mildew resistance trial Photo credit: Denis Persley

Acknowledgements

The Australian Strawberry Breeding Program has been funded by Hort Innovation using the strawberry research and development levy and matched funds from the Australian Government, with co-contributions from the Queensland Government through its Department of Primary Industries.

We thank the contributions by the Temperate, Subtropical and Mediterranean Reference Groups who have helped guide the program, the Industry Development Officers, and all other industry members who provide feedback, advice, and support.

We are also extremely grateful to all the fruit producers in all states who have trialled, collected data on, and given feedback on our on-farm accessions. This has helped us make more informed and better commercial judgments.

The Australian Strawberry Breeding Program team members include Jodi Neal (project lead), Michaela Antoine (Perth field assistant), Freya Brinkley (Nambour lab assistant), Mitchell Gates (Nambour lab assistant), Joanna Gillespie (genetics and virus indexing), Dilmini Hettiarachchi (PhD student), Lilian Kass (Nambour field assistant), Dale McKenna (Nambour field technical officer and hydroponics), Alan Noon (Wandin field assistant), Katie O’Connor (breeding and genomics), Michelle Paynter (virus indexing, tissue culture, and pathology), Melanie Ritter (Wandin field assistant), Karen Spencer (Wandin operations manager), and Louella Woolcock (Nambour field and glasshouse operations manager).

• Effective control of grey mould in berries

• Flexible use pattern

• Strong protectant action

FOR THE BEST BERRIES

• Highly effective on powdery mildew in strawberries

• Nil withholding period

• Translaminar and vapour action

• Excellent and reliable grey mould control in strawberries

• One day withholding period

• Group 52 – New mode of action

Harvesting the Sun Twice: Agrivoltaic Farming

Dr. Sabine Tausz-Posch, The University of Melbourne

Dr. Scott Mattner, VSICA Research/La Trobe University

Opportunities for Berry Growers from Australia’s energy transformation

Australia is currently undertaking a radical transformation to run its electricity supply mainly on renewables. Australia has abundant renewable resources, and in particular the solar energy potential is vast with approximately 58 million petajoules (PJ) of solar radiation falling on the country annually. This equals approximately 10,000 times Australia’s annual energy consumption, making it a logical and easily harvestable renewable source.

Ground-mounted solar panel arrays offer several benefits related to clean power provision. However, they are land intensive, and there are concerns that arable land could be diverted from food to energy production.

Unlike traditional systems that compete for land, agrivoltaic energy systems integrate solar electricity generation and food production on the same plot, using the land for both purposes simultaneously. For growers, agrivoltaic systems offer the potential for greater returns from harvesting the sun twice, for both berry and energy production.

What exactly is agrivoltaic farming?

In agrivoltaic farming, solar panels are integrated into plant production systems at several metres in height with gaps between the arrays, enabling crops to be grown underneath (Figure 1). These are called ‘overhead’ or ‘stilted’ systems and differ from traditional solar farms where arrays are mounted close together and at ground level to maximise energy capture.

New designs termed ‘interspace’ or ‘vertical’ agrivoltaic systems are also emerging with vertical solar panels integrated parallel to agricultural areas.

The co-location of renewable energy and crop

production on the same area of land may reduce the efficiency of either power generation, agricultural production, or both. However, studies such as the one led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, have demonstrated that the dual use of land is resource efficient and increases the land use efficiency as demonstrated in Figure 1. In addition, there are many situations where agrivoltaic systems benefit crop growth.

Are there more benefits to agrivoltaic farming?

Increased land use efficiency is not the only benefit associated with agrivoltaic energy systems. Most importantly, the panels mounted at height can also create a more favourable microclimate for the crops grown underneath. A simplified representation of microclimate changes beneath the solar panels is summarised in Figure 2.

In detail, research has proven that average daytime air temperature underneath the panels is lower than average daytime air temperature in open fields and this difference is more pronounced during hotter periods. The temperature difference is caused by the shade created by the panels as well as by the transpiring crops. From a crop production perspective, the cooling effect of the panels can offer benefits to the crops grown underneath by reducing thermal stress, particularly during hotter periods and heat stress events.

Conversely, nighttime temperature is generally slightly higher underneath the panels compared to open fields, and this warming is linked to the sheltering effect of the panels preventing radiative cooling and reducing conductive heat loss. The slightly warmer temperatures can protect crops during cold snaps from ice crystal formation which otherwise can significantly affect crop performance, for example, flowering.

Figure 1. A comparison of the efficiency of (A) traditional farming versus (B) agrivoltaic energy systems. Currently land is mostly allocated to either photosynthesis or photovoltaics - to either grow crops or to generate electricity. As demonstrated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, co-location of both systems is compatible, more resource efficient, reduces competition for land and unlocks new sources of income for farmers. (Diagram redrawn from Fraunhofer ISE.)

Figure 2. Simplified representation of microclimate beneath solar panels during the day. During the night, temperatures remain higher under agrivoltaic systems with the potential benefit of reducing the incidence of frost.

Water dynamics are also altered by the panels with evaporation losses being lower underneath the panels compared to the open field because of the shade created by the panels. This means that soil moisture persists for longer in agrivoltaic farming thereby benefiting crop production. For example, crop water use efficiency, defined as biomass produced per unit of water used, is often greater underneath the panels. The reduced soil evaporation also affects soil temperature, which is generally lower underneath the panels compared to the open field.

The most obvious change in microclimate underneath the panels relates to changes in amounts of solar radiation. Sunlight absorbed by solar panels decreases the quantity of solar radiation available to the crops underneath.

The decrease in sunlight does not necessarily result in a loss of yield but can affect crop performance in several ways. Depending on the extent of shade created by the panels combined with the shade tolerance of the crop type grown underneath the panels, the climate and seasonal effects, the reduction in light may either have little or no impact, negative impact, or may even have positive impact on crop yield.

For example, it has been shown that many crops, including berries, can benefit from a decrease in solar irradiation with up to 30% more yield compared to open field paddocks. Any negative effects on yield caused by the structure can be mitigated through redesign, e.g., by changing the panel density, tilt, height, etc It is also noteworthy that integrating solar panels into crop production systems does not only affect the crops

growing underneath but also can improve the efficiency of the panels by lowering their operating temperature due to the cooling effect of the crops underneath. Another benefit of agrivoltaic farming is improved working conditions for farm staff, as the solar panels provide shade and cooler temperatures.

The current situation in Australia

Many crop production areas in Australia experience stressful environmental conditions including high light intensities combined with water limitations, heat stress and extreme events such as severe hailstorms resulting in crop yield and quality fluctuations and leaving farms exposed to economic challenges.

Consequently, crop protection measures are significantly increasing across Australia to address climate challenges, use water more efficiently and to achieve stable crop yields and better quality.

Agrivoltaic farming has the potential to create an advantageous crop growing environment particularly in challenging environments while at the same time helping with the transition to renewable energy. Yet, knowledge about the suitability of different crop types for agrivoltaic farming in Australia is still in its early stages. The exceptions are research on pears (‘panels over pears’) conducted at Agriculture Victoria’s Tatura SmartFarm and a research collaboration on grapevines under panels (‘vitivoltaics’) recently launched across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, funded by AgriFutures (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Grapevines under panels (vitivoltaics) at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus. Vitivoltaics suggests a significant co-benefit potential for agrivoltaic farming Photo credit: Greenwood Solutions

Are strawberries a promising crop for agrivoltaic farming?

The leaves, flowers and fruit of strawberry are highly vulnerable to physical damage from hail and to sun damage (colour bleaching, sunburn) from direct exposure to radiation but at the same time need adequate sunlight for red colour development and leaf photosynthesis.

The use of solar panels may provide a solution by reducing sun exposure and canopy temperatures during critical developmental stages and physically protecting the crop against hail.

Strawberry is also sensitive to water stress and needs frequent irrigation to maintain productivity. As shown in previous studies, solar panels could reduce transpiration and avoid periods of high evaporative demand that inevitably results in water stress.

Additionally, since 2017 the strawberry crop in southern Australia is suffering plant deaths averaging 20% from an epidemic of charcoal rot caused by the soil-borne fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. This pathogen

infects and causes disease to strawberry crops under hot (>35°C), water-stressed conditions.

Consequently, agrivoltaics may provide a management solution to growers for this disease by reducing temperature and water stress, thereby minimising their current reliance on soil fumigant chemicals.

In 2024, a field day and workshop were held in Victoria for growers on the potential of agrivoltaic farming for berry production. Growers were questioned on their perceptions of the innovation and were mostly attracted to the prospect of reducing their power costs (Figure 4).

They also saw the potential commercial benefits of reducing sunburn in fruit, improving conditions for workers, hail protection and improving overall sustainability of their operations. At the same time, growers identified the need for more specific information on return-on-investment and the impact on berry production before being able to properly assess the appropriateness of the technology for their farms.

Figure 4. Perceptions of industry on the potential benefits of agrivoltaic farming for berry production at a field day and workshop held in Victoria in 2024

These objectives will be tested over the next year in a pilot study within a commercial strawberry production system in the Yarra Valley where an AgriFutures-funded agrivoltaics structure will be installed in one of the fields over the next couple of months. First results are expected within a year, but much more research will be needed to develop agrivoltaics towards commercialisation for the berry industries.

Agrivoltaics is one way the berry industries can contribute towards Australia’s commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change and restricting the increase in global average temperatures to well below 2°C of warming.

Acknowledgements

Dr Sabine Tausz-Posch gratefully acknowledges AgriFutures for crucial funding supporting agrivoltaics research at The University of Melbourne and the Drought Hubs across Southern Australia via projects ‘Agrivoltaics: A Win-Win for Farmers?’ (Grant number: 108500) and ‘Plant Production Agrivoltaics Across Southern Australia’ (Grant number: 110186).

References

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (2017) Harvesting the sun for power and produce –Agrophotovoltaics increases the Land Use Efficiency by over 60 Percent. Press Release. file:///C:/Users/ sposch/Downloads/2017_ISE_e_PR_1yearAPV.pdf

Laub M, Pataczek L, Feuerbacher A, Zikeli S, Högy P (2022) Contrasting yield responses at varying levels of shade suggest different suitability of crops for dual landuse systems: a meta-analysis. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 42, article number 51

Pandey G, Lyden S, Franklin E, Millar B, Harrison MT (2025) A systematic review of agrivoltaics: productivity, profitability, and environmental co-benefits. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 56, 13-36

Want to learn more about the Strawberry varieties on offer from international breeding programs?

Missed the recent Strawberry Variety Overview webinars and want to catch up?

Visit the Berries Australia Resource Library at berries.net.au/resource-library and search ‘Strawberry Variety’

The recent webinar on UC Davis Cultivars (8 August 2025) provided an introduction to UC Davis varieties with UC Davis’s Strawberry Breeding Program Director, Mitchell Feldmann, and UC Davis Strawberry Breeder Glenn Cole

Recorded on 6 June 2025, we showcased an introduction to CBC varieties with CBC’s Head Breeder and R&D director, Kyle VandenLangenberg where Kyle walks growers through CBC’s breeding operations in California

Update on Best Practice Pollinator Management for the Rubus Industry (RB23002)

Julian Brown, Nicole Rafferty and Margaret Mayfield, University of Melbourne

Raspberry and blackberry growers have invested their research and development levy through Hort Innovation into the ‘Best Practice Pollinator Management for the Rubus Industry’ project being delivered by the University of Melbourne. The main aim of this project is to provide Rubus growers around the country with information about which insects, other than Honeybees, are likely pollinating Rubus and what can be done to support different wild insect pollinators on-farm. We are one year into the project, so it is time for an update.

Our team’s first task was to bring together existing knowledge about Rubus pollinators in Australia, their known effectiveness as Rubus pollinators, and information about where they are commonly found pollinating Rubus crops. This literature review is available from the Berries Australia Resource Library –visit bit.ly/BA-RL and search ‘RB23002’.

European Honeybees are currently the most common Rubus flower visitor in Australia, though there are a range of native insect species that also visit and pollinate Rubus. These insects supplement honeybee pollination and may be more important in the future if Varroa mite continues to spread and negatively impact honeybees.

In Northern growing regions, native stingless bees are a promising alternative to honeybees, but in the southern growing regions where stingless bees are not found, there is a wide diversity of mainly solitary bee species that visit Rubus, along with flies. Given that no one wild insect species is evidently dominating Rubus pollination in the south, an important conclusion of our review is that there is a need for new management techniques that target the success of a diverse suite of pollinating insects to support Rubus pollination even when honeybees are absent.

Two southern species of pollinating insects, drone flies (Eristalis tenax) Figure 1 and reed bees (Exoneura spp.) Figure 2 are excellent candidates for Rubus farmers to support in-field. This is because these less well-known species are known to effectively pollinate Rubus flowers and have life history and nesting practices that are compatible with farm management.

Field surveys to-date

In the spring of 2024, we focused our field efforts on Tasmanian Rubus farms. We collected insects from the flowers of raspberries, blackberries, other berry crops, native plants, and weeds on berry farms and nature reserves in the northern and southern growing regions of Tasmania. Across the field season we surveyed Rubus floral visitors on four farms, with each farm’s flowers surveyed on three-four days.

The most commonly observed visitors of raspberry and blackberry flowers across farms was the European honeybee, which was the only managed pollinator. Exotic bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) Figure 3, which are only found in Tasmania, were infrequent Rubus visitors across sites, despite this species being a known Rubus pollinator in the northern hemisphere.

Figure 3. Exotic bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Figure 1. Drone fly (Eristalis tenax) on a blueberry flower

Photo credit: Abby Davis

Figure 2. Native reed bee (Exoneura spp) on a Rubus flower

Photo credit: Alison Hoelzer

Native insect species observed visiting raspberry and blackberry flowers varied among farms, but overall, the most common native pollinators were furrow bees (Lasioglossum spp.) and hoverflies (Syrphidae). Reed bees (Exoneura spp.) were recorded at two farms, and plasterer bees (Leioproctus spp.) at one farm. Lasioglossum and Leioproctus are solitary bee species that would need to be attracted in large numbers to extensively impact Rubus production. That said, all of these insect taxa observed visiting flowers, apart from plasterer bees, are known to pollinate raspberries and/or blackberries.

The diversity of bee species visiting raspberry and blackberry flowers varied between Tasmanian farms, being highest at Westerway Raspberry Farm. This farm is managed with minimal insecticide use, which may be why the number of insect pollinators was higher here than at the other farms, though we did not test this directly.

Other factors that likely promote native pollinators on this farm are high abundances of on-farm bee nesting resources such as untilled bare ground and pithystemmed vegetation This farm was also situated near a patch of native forest (~5km away), which is known to

support higher diversity and abundances of native bees in other farming systems around the world.

In addition to having the highest Rubus visiting bee diversity, Westerway Farm was also the only Tasmanian farm we surveyed that was actively supporting native reed bees. We observed these key species visiting raspberry, blackberry, and silvanberry flowers on this farm, as well as nesting within raspberry rows inside the long cane stubs that are left in place for several years (Figure 4), giving Reed bees the opportunity to complete their life-cycle.

To further investigate why this group of bees was present on this farm, we looked for and found Reed bees nesting in dead branches of native Olearia lirata in the native forest near the farm. We also observed Reed bees visiting flowers of native Hakeas and Acacias in the nearby native forest. All of these observations suggest that the planting of native plants around Tasmanian Rubus fields may be useful for increasing the number of native bee pollinators on-farm. That said, the benefits of planting these species around Rubus farms should be tested more thoroughly to be sure of how

Native reed bee nests entrance in cultivated raspberry canes Photo credit: Julian Brown

reliably effective this approach would be. With data coming from a single farm, care should be taken in progressing with such plantings.

We also collected insects from raspberry and other flowers on two farms in Western Australia. Here we found only Honeybees and hoverflies (Eristalis sp.) visiting raspberry flowers.

IPM and pollination

We also started collaborating with the Hort Innovation IPM project ‘Integrated pest management approaches to address pest challenges in raspberry and blackberry’ (RB21000) research team to facilitate integration of Rubus pollinator and pest management. RB21000 is also based in Tasmania. As part of this collaboration, we surveyed one Tasmanian raspberry farm where the IPM team has planted Calendulas and other plants which they hypothesise will attract natural enemies of Rubus pests between polytunnels.

We found that native furrow bees (Lasioglossum spp.) visited Calendula and Rubus flowers in this farm. Though more studies are needed to see if the presence of Calendula between polytunnels increases the number of native bees visiting Rubus flowers, our initial observations indicate that the same bees are attracted to both types of flowers on farm. It is thus worth further studies to assess optimal planting densities and floral diversity for dual IPM and pollination goals.

Next steps

The next steps for this project are conducting pollinator surveys in Victoria, NSW, and Queensland. We are also running a few supplemental studies to complement survey data. Notably, in Victoria, we have placed different native bee nesting substrates on four farms and will be assessing which type of nesting boxes attract the most native bees to Victorian Rubus farms. In Queensland, we will also be using commercial stingless bee hives during winter to see if these northern species can improve pollination during the winter bloom. All of these data and analyses will be compiled into a best practice guide for supporting Rubus pollinators by the end of our study period in 2027.

Fruit Growers Tasmania Young Grower of the Year: Uchitha Bhashini Godahenage

Ella Roper, Berry Industry Development Officer, Fruit Growers Tasmania

Costa Blackberry Farm Manager Uchitha (Bhashi) Godahenage was recently awarded the ‘Young Grower of the Year’ at the Fruit Growers Tasmania Industry Awards dinner in June. The award is presented to young individuals who show exceptional leadership skills within their business and have a keen interest in developing skills and knowledge in all areas of production.

Bhashi manages the Costa blackberry farm in northwest Tasmania, overseeing approximately 40 hectares of substrate and soil plantings under polytunnel systems. With a university background and experience in harvest management, technical horticulture and farm business management, Bhashi took on the role of Blackberry Farm Manager in June last year.

Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Bhashi comes from a family farming background, with her family running a cinnamon cultivation. She says farming is a common practice in Sri Lanka and seeing her family’s commitment and passion in growing and harvesting crops inspired her to pursue a career in agriculture.

Bhashi completed a Bachelor of Agriculture in Sri Lanka, providing her with a strong foundation in agricultural production and growing systems. With a dream of exploring more of the world, she applied for a Master of Agriculture course in Australia and was accepted on a scholarship to the University of Tasmania, which she commenced in 2017. Bhashi says completing her master’s degree broadened her understanding of the diverse growing systems and production techniques used in Australia, which contrasted with those commonly practised in Sri Lanka. While moving to Australia was a big life change, she says the support of her peers and

lecturers at UTAS helped her to continue pursuing her degree. As part of her final master’s coursework, Bhashi undertook her core project in post-harvest quality in strawberries which looked at ways to maintain fruit quality and shelf-life in the highly perishable berry fruits, from harvest through the cool-chain and to market.

After graduating, Bhashi applied for a harvest supervisor role at Costa and was instead offered the role as Blackberry Harvest Lead, managing harvest teams through the busy blackberry season from December to June.

“I was new to berries, and it was a challenging role at first so it was all about learning, but I was lucky to have great mentorship and developed good experience in that first year.”

After a further two years of harvest management in both blackberries and raspberries, Bhashi moved into a horticultural role to put her academic and technical learnings from university into practice in the blackberry crop.

“I had a really great horticultural team who were good at helping and supporting each other and I was able to learn and develop my own practical skills to improve the crop.”

After two years as Blackberry Horticulturalist, a vacancy came up in the role of Farm Manager on the Blackberry Farm. Through her roles as Harvest Lead and Horticulturalist, Bhashi gained extensive experience and a deep understanding of many aspects of farm operations, including business management, crop technical management, harvest supervision, financial budgeting, and of course leadership. “I thought I would just give it a go and was lucky enough to get the role. I have now just wrapped up one year as Farm Manager.”

While she is responsible for many aspects of the farm from harvest to horticulture to financial business management, Bhashi says the main focus for her is people. “The role for me is all about managing people and having good communication through the team.” Bhashi oversees the farm’s core leadership team and a maintenance crew of around 20 to 30 people. During peak harvest season, she also manages an additional workforce of up to 400 pickers.

Bhashi said the role and managing large teams of people has been challenging at times but that she has always felt very well supported in her role.

“The leadership and mentoring have been great all the way through, and while it’s not always an easy role, I think these have made me stronger as a person and has made me more ready to overcome future challenges.”

Another important part of her role is to make sure crop management practices are done on time, for which she relies on her horticultural team for input and to assist planning for the season. As of late June, Bhashi and the blackberry team are in the midst of pruning the crop and making sure the plants are prepared and presented for harvest. Harvest is the major activity in berries and Bhashi says significant efforts go into looking at maximising harvest efficiencies and fruit quality. She says innovations in technology are likely to play a more significant role in improving harvest and other farm efficiencies going forward.

“There are increasing technical advancements and automation coming through, however we need to make sure we get the maximum out of them by building skills and understanding in our people.”

Bhashi took on the role of Blackberry Farm Manager in June 2024 Photo credit: Costa

Farming can be unpredictable and inevitably things don’t always go to plan. Bhashi says a major part of being able to overcome challenges is having good planning systems in place to prevent or deal with issues efficiently. “Setting up strategies with the team is really important and making sure everyone is aware of what we need to do, including having input and respecting each other’s ideas.” Bhashi says the blackberry team is a relatively young team and she has found proactive collaboration a good way of troubleshooting issues. “I really enjoy working with the team for solutions to problems; everyone brings a different perspective and there is respect throughout.”

As the recent awardee of the Fruit Growers Tasmania ‘Young Grower of the Year’, Bhashi joins a respected list of young growers and leaders in the fruit industry. “It was a very humbling experience and a big honour.” she says of the award. “As someone growing in their career it means so much to be recognised.” She says that the recognition is also a testament to her team and the work they put in. “I’m really fortunate to have a leadership team that recognises our efforts, and I feel so lucky to have this great team of people who motivate and support me.”

Bhashi hopes that young people being recognised in awards such as this helps inspire other young people to get into the industry.

“Whether your passion is technical science and innovation, sustainability or business leadership, there is a place in agriculture for everyone. The industry needs young people coming through to build knowledge and skills and to be the next leaders.”

L-R: Carl Hansen of Hansen Orchards, Andrew Smith of R&R Smith and Uchitha (Bhashi) Godahenage from Costa with their respective industry awards Photo credit: Fruit Growers Tasmania

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