Australian Bananas Magazine Edition #34 - December 2011

Bananas Australian

Bananas

editor Jamie O’Brien 07 3278 4786 jamie.obrien@abgc.org.au

art direction & design Pete Wilson-Jones trioGraphic (02) 8096 1500 m. 0430 963 274 triographic@iinet.net.au advertising Max Hyde max@hydemedia.com.au publisher Australian Banana Growers’ Council ABN: 60 381 740 734 chief executive officer Jim Pekin office manager Kareen Vitiello

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011/12 president Doug Phillips vice-president Paul Johnston treasurer Peter Molenaar directors Stephen Spear, Marc Darveniza, Steve Lizzio & Michael Nixon

Australian Bananas is published three times a year by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council Inc. Articles appearing in Australian Bananas do not necessarily represent the policies, opinions or views of ABGC.

ABGC is funded by a voluntary grower levy of 3c per 13kg carton all mail to: PO Box 309 BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106

An exceptionally dry season since tropical Cyclone Yasi has provided ideal conditions for mites in bananas.

Canola best weapon in the fight against nematodes The benefits of canola as a fallow crop for assisting in the management of Burrowing Nematodes (Radopholus similis) in bananas was first reported by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) to the Banana Industry in 2001.

Cover: A collage of photos following the history of Australian Banana Growers’ Council. Artwork: Jamie O’Brien & Pete Wilson-Jones.

Chairman’s Report

HOWEVER, A LONGER term issue is that of on-farm biosecurity.

Good farm biosecurity protects your crops and livelihoods from the threat of exotic pests and diseases.

Several weeks ago we had a suspected Panama (Fusarium Race 4) outbreak in the Tablelands. Fortunately and after a few worrisome weeks that suspicion was not confirmed and instead the problem was declared the False Panama Disorder.

What it highlights is that our industry needs to put in place an Emergency Plant Pest mechanism that can accessed immediately in the event of an exotic disease or pest incursion.

In 2012, ABGC plans to conduct a ballot

CEO Report

of banana growers to seek support for such a mechanism. This needs to be in place as soon as possible.

ABGC BOARD CHANGES

We also say good luck and farewell to outgoing ABGC Chairman Cameron MacKay, who has recently retired after 12 years of service, including two years as Chairman.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate fellow Board members Adrian Crema and Paul Johnston on their recent re-election at the ABGC AGM on November 29.

Congratulations also go to Steve Lizzio on his election to the Australian Banana Growers’ Council Board. I am sure Steve will demonstrate the same eagerness and passion he has shown during his involvement with the Banana Industry promotional activities.

As 2011 draws to a close, we say a final

congratulations to all those who have been involved with ABGC over the past 50 years. We now look forward to the next 50 years. And finally, I say thank you to the Australian Banana Industry and consumers alike for their patience and understanding during this post-Yasi period.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email at chairman@abgc.org.au

Doug Phillips ABGC Chairman

Heading in the right direction

IT’S BEEN A rough 12 months for banana growers, mainly due to the devastating impact of Cyclone Yasi and the floods in Bundaberg and Carnarvon. And, fortunately the recent Tablelands scare turned out not to be a Panama incursion.

But let’s focus on the future.

ABGC has been set up well by current and past Boards for one purpose: to promote the interests of Members.

Under the guidance of the Board, I will be responding reactively and proactively to the full range of developments and opportunities concerning ABGC members, including:

• ABGC Membership: We aim to improve two way communication, consultation

and services to members (and to increase the number of growers paying the ABGC membership fee!);

• Emergency Disease Incursions: Work with the whole industry, Plant Health Australia (PHA) and the Federal Government to put in place the necessary system so as to contain and eradicate incursions;

• Bang for your Bucks: Improve R&D, plant health and promotion program outcomes through Horticulture Australia’s (HAL’s) Industry Advisory Committee (IAC);

• Policy and Program Outcomes: ABGC enjoys a very high level of regard among government Minister’s, other industry organisations, HAL, PHA, various departments, and a variety of other research providers. We will build on that for the benefit of members, particularly

to influence regulatory change, red tape reduction, the imports issue and for program and strategy development.

• Relationships: We will also aim to improve relationships with other parts of the supply chain - including retailers, wholesalers and input suppliers - for the benefit of members.

Some of the matters might take a while for me to get on top of, and the Board, led by Doug Phillips will direct me on priorities. Nonetheless, I’m keen to learn and contribute, so I encourage members to email me to fill me in and raise issues via jim.pekin@ abgc.org.au

Jim Pekin ABGC CEO

The after-effects of Cyclone Yasi are still causing problems, especially with recent high volumes of fruit on the market.

By

FORMER ABGC CHAIRMAN Cameron MacKay announced the appointment on November 14, saying that Mr Pekin will fit the role well, having had much experience in agriculture across Australia.

“For the last seven years Mr Pekin has been the Director of Plant Industries with the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI),” Mr MacKay said.

“In those roles he was responsible for policy advice and strategies aimed at growing Queensland’s plant industries, in particular the horticulture, sugar, field crops and forestry industries,” he said.

Mr Pekin has also worked for the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), Ricegrowers Association of Australia, Groote Eylandt Mining Company and Rural Press.

With a degree in Agricultural Science,

Mr Pekin is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

“On behalf of the Board and staff of ABGC, I welcome Jim to the role and am confident that with his vast experience and understanding of horticulture, he will lead the industry forward,” Mr MacKay said.

As the peak industry body for the Australian Banana Industry representing more than 800 growers across Australia, ABGC represents the interests of Australian Banana growers through formulating and advocating industry policy, communicating information, investing in research and development and promotions, as well as engaging in all related activities which together will lead to the long term prosperity of the industry.

Mr Pekin said he was excited to join ABGC on November 21, 2011 and was

looking forward to making a difference for growers.

“The aim is for bananas to be the number one snack food in Australia. This would benefit the growers, the industry and have massive nutritional and health benefits to individuals and the nation.

“The Australian Banana Growers Council is held in high regard because it has been a great leader in innovation and continuous improvement on a number of research and marketing fronts,” Mr Pekin said.

With a number of challenges facing banana growers, Mr Pekin said his primary role would be to assist the ABGC Board and industry in continuing to meet those challenges head-on.

Membership application submissions

As some growers are confused about the membership application submission process, here’s a summary of the process. By Kareen Vitiello.

1. The Grower downloads a copy of the Membership Application on our website, or telephones the office to request a posted/faxed or emailed copy of it.

2. The Grower sends completed application to ABGC and they are collated for each quarter.

3. At the next quarterly Board meeting, the applications are presented to the Board for approval, as per the Constitution.

4. The Grower is accepted as a Member and shortly after that Board meeting is sent a Membership Kit containing:

• A copy of the Constitution

• A copy of the Tax Invoice for payment of fees

• A Membership Record form to fill out if the grower has a change(s) in contact details ie. email address; mobile phone; postal address

As a Member, your fees can be submitted monthly, quarterly or annually depending on what suits your own business and financial arrangements.

To be classified as an ABGC Member, two things are required – a completed and approved membership application, and proof of membership payment.

ABGC’s Constitution requires you to not just pay your membership fees but to also fill out the application form.

You can download the Membership Application from the ABGC website, in either Microsoft Word or Adobe format.

Either click on Membership from the home page or visit: www. abgc.org.au/?membership

If you don’t have access to a printer, there is a new link conveniently emailing myself making it quicker for you to request a hard copy be posted.

Alternatively, you could contact a Board Member, the President of your local Banana Grower Association or staff outside the Brisbane office who have received hard copies of the Membership Application form.

Starting from North Queensland, following is a list of those persons to assist you in locating your closest contact. For their direct contact details, please refer to the contact details opposite.

ABGC WEBSITE – LABOUR REQUESTS

The office receives many requests for employment from both international and domestic workers. The Labour page on ABGC’s website is an excellent source of information for workers, but is it under-utilised as an information source.

If your farm needs workers, please contact Kareen Vitiello to add your details to the Labour page. You can have a listing as big or little as you require, live for as long as you require.

The Labour page is under the Banana Industry tab.

MEMBERSHIP BONUS ANNOUNCED

We are very pleased to announce - applicable immediately – growers who pay ABGC directly can pay 10 per cent less and be a fully financial member, because ABGC will waive the collection fee. ABGC relies on growers to submit their Remittances, either in a self-generated Tax Invoice or their own software. The information is then reconciled with our bank account. Often, monies are deposited and no remittance or paperwork is received.

It is therefore difficult to determine who is a current financial member. This membership bonus will help ABGC to alleviate this issue – and it saves our Members 10 per cent!

Mareeba Russell Drury (President BGA) 0428 989 688 robyn.drury@hotmail.com Tully Paul Johnston (ABGC Vice-President) 0429 667 919 wolfa97@bigpond.com Adrian Crema (Board Member) 0419 735 617 cremabananas@activ8.net.au

Innisfail/South Johnstone Steve Lizzio (Board Member) 0427 654 777 liverpoolriver@bigpond.com Marc Darveniza (Board Member) 0409 051 254 michelledarveniza@bigpond.com.au

Cassowary Coast Robert Mayers (President BGA) 0427 676 287 rmayers4@bigpond.com

Bundaberg Gavin Jowett (President BGA) 0409 597 422 N/A

Tweed/Brunswick Robert Pierce (President BGA) 0408 974 310 pierce2@bigpond.com

Mullumbimby Peter Molenaar (Board Member) 0467 912 110 pamolena@bigpond.net.au

Richmond Jeff Larsson (President BGA) 0414 255 024 jefflarsson@hotmail.com

Nambucca Stephen Spear (Board Member) 0439 642 181 cvpb16@hotmail.com

Coffs Harbour Ron Gray (President BGA) 0411 214 425 N/A

Sub-tropical growers Neville Sloss (Green PR) 0414 562 010 neville@greenpr.com.au

Sweeter Co-op Carnarvon Tim Hyde 0427 425 832 timhyde@nwag.com.au

Carnarvon Michael Nixon (Board Member) 0428 294 575 michael@riverlodge.com.au

New Chairman & Board Directors ABGC announces

Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has appointed South Johnstone grower Doug Phillips as its new Chairman. By Jamie O’Brien.

MR PHILLIPS HAS taken up the position of Chairman following the retirement of Tully grower Cameron MacKay.

Mr Phillips thanked Mr MacKay for his dedication and commitment to ABGC and the Australian Banana Industry.

“After 12 years of service to the industry, we say thank you to Mr MacKay for his hard work and willingness to see the tasks that come with being Chairman done from start to finish,” Mr Phillips said.

Mr Phillips added that he is looking forward to being attentive to the needs of the banana industry, particularly following the past 12 months.

“Banana growers have a number of issues at the moment and I look forward to addressing these to the best of our ability,” Mr Phillips said.

Tully grower Paul Johnston has also been elected to the role of Vice President, with Mullumbimby grower Peter Molenaar returned to the role of Treasurer.

Innisfail grower Steve Lizzio has also been elected to fill the vacancy on the ABGC Board left by Mr MacKay.

ABOVE FROM LEFT: Newly elected Chairman Doug Phillips, from South Johnstone, Queensland, together with new CEO Jim Pekin, NSW grower Stephen Spear, Queensland growers Adrian Crema, Marc Darveniza and Paul Johnston (Vice-Chairman), WA grower Michael Nixon, NSW grower Peter Molenaar (Treasurer) and Queensland grower Steve Lizzio.

Banana communications goes e!

Australian Banana Growers’ Council will start issuing a National industry e-newsletter next month.

THE NEED FOR the e-newsletter has come about following the development of the Banana Industry Communications Project, which aims to improve distribution of the latest news and research and development information between banana growers and industry stakeholders.

Communications Manager Jamie O’Brien said he is looking forward to delivering more up-to -date news and information.

“With the age of the internet ever increasing, it is definitely in the interests of the banana industry to move in that direction of the delivery of the latest news and information,” Mr O’Brien said.

“I encourage growers and industry stakeholders to let me know if they would like to receive the newsletter, or have some information they would like to see included,” he said.

The newsletter will be distributed using the new grower database, Platform Direct.

If you would like to be included on the list of this newsletter, please send your details to Communications Manager Jamie O’Brien via email at jamie.obrien@abgc.org.au, or contact 07 3278 4786.

AUSTRALIAN BANANAS MAGAZINE SURVEY

Thank you to all those who have returned the recent Australian Bananas Magazine survey. There is still time to return your survey if you have not done so yet. For those that haven’t, there is a survey form included with this edition and we welcome your views.

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT GETS A TASTE OF FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND BANANAS

Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has last month organised delivery of bananas from Far North Queensland to Members and Senators of the Australian Parliament as a ‘Thank-You’ Christmas present.

Following the destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Yasi on February 3 this year to the Far North Queensland region, local producers sent the bananas to Federal Members and Senators in Canberra to remind them that Bananas are back on supermarket shelves.

ABGC Chairman Cameron MacKay, also a grower from the Tully region which was devastated by Cyclone Yasi, said growers and industry alike have worked hard to get supplies back on the shelves as soon as possible for the benefit of all consumers.

“We’d like to thank consumers for their patience and understanding during this time of re-growth - production levels are certainly on their way up and this is good news for everyone,” Mr MacKay said.

“The support shown by our Federal and State Government, through financial assistance, in our time of need was much appreciated,” Mr MacKay said.

Queensland Senator Jan McLucas, who organised delivery of the bananas together with ABGC, said the occasion will help remind Parliamentarians of the severity of the impact of Cyclone Yasi on local Banana growers.

Senator McLucas with the bananas before they were delivered to the Parliamentarians.

Queensland Senator Jan McLucas delivers bananas to Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Australian Bananas are back in stores, back on shopping lists, and back in the hands of Australian

consumers.

Australian Bananas get extra boost of energy from social media

BUT IT HASN’T been an easy year for the industry or the shopping public.

The return of Australian Bananas has involved hard work and careful planning – and not just on the part of growers and wholesalers.

Behind the scenes, the Australian Bananas promotions team has been cultivating its own crop – an engaged group of social media brand advocates who have played a vital part in putting bananas back on the public agenda for all the right reasons.

For a number of years now, social media has been an important part of the Australian Bananas marketing mix. But during

2011, it was used as the lead media platform to manage the difficult time following Cyclone Yasi.

Right from the early days following Yasi, the popular Australian Bananas Facebook page was used to keep people informed of the situation and what to expect in coming months.

Throughout the crisis period, videos featuring Queensland grower, Steve Lizzio kept Facebook fans up to date with the rebuilding process and generated enormous positive social media commentary.

At the same time a “social listening report” was launched to track the comments and conversations relating to bananas that

were happening in the various social media.

This listening report allowed the promotions team to gauge the attitudes and issues people had been facing without their beloved bananas. It also provided valuable information on how, when and where to approach our audience.

The report showed that, mid-way through the crisis, most consumers understood the reasons for the shortage of supply and price increases.

So instead of delivering only information in the lead up to the re-launch, the team decided to create a piece of branded video content that tapped into the plight of longsuffering banana lovers in a humorous way and thanked them for their patience.

The video was a light-hearted doc (mock) umentary featuring one couple’s valiant attempt to keep Australian Bananas in their lives during the industry downturn.

Instead of the traditional, and often costly, approach of running this content in paid online media spaces, the promotions team set about growing their own social media audience and engaging with people who were already talking about bananas online.

The strategy was to push the video content out to a warm and qualified audience in the hope that they would share it virally via their networks.

One of the innovative tactics the team

used to build this audience was a media launch event in Sydney’s Martin Place. Not only did this event create significant mass media coverage, it also allowed the team to hand out 4,500 Queensland bananas to passing commuters. Each banana had a wrapper with the hashtag #bananasareback printed on it, which encouraged interested people to connect with the brand via Twitter.

That morning, Australian Bananas was the twelfth top Twitter topic in Sydney –the brand was picking up followers and gaining traction.

As well as consumers, the brand also picked up journalists, cooking blogs and even the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, who started following the brand and sharing banana news.

By the time bananas starting coming back onto the market, the brand’s Twitter followers had grown to 4,000 and the Australian Bananas Facebook page had jumped to over 35,000 fans (up from a base of 11,000 six months earlier).

It was time to launch the branded video directly to this massive group of engaged

consumers as well as via a “promoted Tweet” which put #bananasareback at the top of Twitters trending topics for 24 hours.

The response was outstanding. The video achieved 10,000+ views over the first four days. It was also picked up by MSN Videos which added another 5,000 views and even featured on the Youtube Facebook fan page.

Online feedback was overwhelmingly positive with hundreds of consumers entering the spirit of the campaign. Positive sentiment around online banana conversations increased seven per cent in the week following the video launch.

While the over-riding issue was always the price, this approach gave the promotions team a great way to interact with fans and followers to let them know that prices were only going to get better.

But, of course, social media is just one pillar of the campaign to relaunch Australian Bananas to the market – the other is mass media.

Starting from September, Australian Bananas commenced a major sponsorship of one of the world’s highest rating TV shows,

Glee, with the aim of rebuilding positive consumer attitudes about bananas.

And that’s just the beginning.

Television commercials will continue to run nationally for 22 weeks.

And, in the new-year, radio commercials and a major outdoor billboard campaign will be aimed at shifting consumer behaviour and driving increased sales.

Bananas are back, social media numbers are up and the Australian Bananas brand will be promoted in a bigger way than ever before.

“As well

the brand also picked up

cooking blogs and even the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, who started following the brand and sharing banana news.”

Subtropical Market Development continues

Funding provided by the New South Wales Banana Industry Committee Residual Fund has enabled direct promotions for subtropical bananas to be undertaken in New South Wales in recent months. By Neville Sloss.

SUBTROPICAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Officer Geraldine O’Flynn, has been out at events with a new display and providing tastings.

Events have included the Lismore North Coast National, which attracted 30,000 people over three days, the Murwillumbah Show held over two days, and the Macksville Gift, one of Australia’s major footrace carnivals.

Ms O’Flynn reported positive comments coming from members of the public about supporting local produce and the great flavour of subtropical bananas.

“The exercises confirmed the importance of making people aware of subtropical bananas and getting them to taste the difference,” Ms O’Flynn said.

Growers from the Sweeter Coop in Carnarvon have confirmed through their tastings at the Perth Show that people love the taste of subtropical bananas and this has been the case on the east coast as well.

At the North Coast National in Lismore, which is one of the biggest regional shows in New South Wales and is in its 126th year, subtropical bananas were on display

in a special pavilion for a celebration of Northern Rivers Foods.

“We got some great feedback from the crowds and many had never thought much about the taste of bananas, so it was worthwhile to point out to them the difference in the taste of bananas from different regions,” Ms O’Flynn added.

“The attributes identified in the Subtropical Market Development Plan were also vindicated by people who visited us. They want to support locally grown and we also had many comments that people prefer smaller bananas which we thought was the case,” Ms O’Flynn added.

The stand at the Murwillumbah Show was alongside the annual banana judging and tropical fruits display featuring winning bunches cartons and hands.

At the Macksville Gift, the ‘world championship’ banana hurl attracted interest in the children’s and adult categories and provided some fun alongside the serious running. Subtropical bananas sponsored the event

popular among visitors on the day.

On November 20, Coffs Harbour celebrated its 150th birthday and a parade was held in the main streets. The Coffs Harbour and Districts Banana Growers Association in conjunction with Subtropical Market Development Officer Geraldine O’Flynn organised a subtropical bananas stand in recognition of the major role banana growing has played to the economy

Optimum tensile strength 3500 metre bale Australasian manufactured Stored Support your bananas... with the best! C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

locally in Tully, QLD UV Stabilised banana copy.pdf 1 21/06/2011 3:03:35 PM

Bene ts

cient and cost e ective

for Australian conditions

The flexibility of the pipe means that it can be lifted into the trench after it is heat welded.

By Neville Sloss.

Carnarvon growers A new pipeline of security for

WITH AN ANNUAL rainfall of less than 300mm a year, they must rely on the aquifers beneath the Gascoyne River to provide them with the vital resource.

While some of the growers’ supply comes from individual bores they have in

the riverbed, the Gascoyne Water Cooperative is responsible for supplying the bulk of the water to this intensive horticultural region, in which bananas are one of the staple crops.

The big project nearing completion at

The pipeline is made of polyethylene and is heat welded under high pressure. With a diameter of 900mm it should meet all the needs of the Carnarvon growers.

present for the Cooperative is the installation of a new pipeline to deliver a more reliable and increased supply of water for Carnarvon’s present and future growers.

Heading up the project is Ivor Gaylard, former General Manager of the Carnarvon Growers Association.

“The new pipeline will allow us to deliver a bigger volume of water for the growers, enabling them to expand the areas they farm, and will also allow us to expand the existing growing region in the future,” Mr Gaylard said.

The Carnarvon growing region is currently around 2,000 hectares of which only about 1200 hectares is currently cropped. The pipeline will also cater for a possible 400 additional hectares to be farmed.

The pipeline is made of high density polyethylene, which is joined using a thermal butt-welding process. This removes the possibility of tree roots impregnating the pipe – a problem of the old AC pipes. It comes with a 50-year guarantee, but a useful life of at least 75 years is expected.

The new pipeline will bring water from the bore fields in the Gascoyne Alluvial Aquifer upstream including the new northern field, where several bores are providing strong flows.

Water is the lifeblood for growing any crops, but in the Carnarvon region they cannot be reliant on the seasons.

“Bore depths on the new borefield are about 35 metres, and we are getting flows of between five and 30 litres per second. Currently pumps are being powered by diesel, which is very expensive, so we are working on getting connected to mains power to reduce costs”, he said.

There are nine equipped bores with a combined flow rate of around 86 litres per

second, or 310 cubic meters per hour, during the test pumping phase.

During the last 12 months extensive testing was carried out to determine the impact on groundwater levels and salinity, as well as any possible effect on the southern bore field. The Department of Water is reviewing all the data available and it is hoped that a permanent pumping

licence will now be granted.

The cost of water for Carnarvon growers is between 30 and 35 cents a kilolitre, and it trades for around $1,200 to $1,500 a megalitre for permanent sales.

“Growers achieve a return of around $8 value of produce for a kilolitre of water used which is possibly the highest return for any irrigated area in Australia,” Mr Gaylard said.

Mr Gaylard is also confident that bananas will continue to be one of the main crops of the area.

“We have higher value crops like tomatoes, but I’m confident bananas will continue to be one of the ‘bread and butter’ crops grown,” he said.

“The new pipeline will allow us to deliver a bigger volume of water for the growers, enabling them to expand the areas they farm, and will also allow us to expand the existing growing region in the future,” Mr Gaylard said.

local

In Lachie’s words

Former Australian Banana Grower’s Council President Lachlan Rick OAM, or ‘Lachie’ as he is well known, shares with Australian Bananas readers his involvement with ABGC and the Australian Banana Industry community.

BORN IN TULLY in 1940, Lachie grew up in Euramo and Tully and came from a family of cane cutters.

His father, Frank Rick Snr, cut cane with Stan MacKay. During the 1950’s, Frank Rick worked for MacKays Bananas, which Stan MacKay had started growing at Mission Beach in the mid-1940’s. By 1951, Frank Rick had decided to buy a banana farm, finally making a purchase at Mission Beach in February that year.

With his two brothers Frank Jnr. and Charles and father Frank, Lachie ended up in a partnership of two properties (each held a quarter share) and in 1969, bought another farm half way between El Arish and Mission Beach.

It was on this farm, managed by Frank Jnr., that a record bunch was grown. At a massive 107.1134 kilograms (or 236 pounds 4 ounces) the prize bunch was on display at Sydney Easter Show in 1976.

For Lachie, the Banana Industry was not just a job. It was a way of life.

“Once I got started, I just simply took a liking to it,” he said. “It was always a challenge to plant a crop and then to see a good harvest come out of it,” he said.

Among some of his best memories, Lachie recalls winning “Champion Bunch” and “Best Two Bunches” at the Tully and Innisfail Show in the mid 1970’s. He also won “Champion Cartons” and “Champion Hands”.

“I used to send bananas to the Committee of Direction (COD) Mackay branch and one day I got a letter telling me what good fruit it was,” Lachie recalls.

“That was a really great feeling,” he said.

During his time as a banana grower, cyclones and various other devastating weather events were not uncommon.

“I remember Winifred in 1986, which crossed near Innisfail,” he said. “The devastation it (and other cyclones) caused was just horrendous.

“It was in times like those that whole

communities would come together to ensure everyone recovered,” he said.

In 1970, Lachie was asked to accept a nomination to be a delegate on the Banana Sectional Group (BSG) Committee.

While his nomination was not successful, he was invited to attend a BSG Committee meeting in Brisbane in July that year. The meeting was about Japan importing bananas from Australia.

The following week Lachie recalls taking a delegation of representatives from Japan around farms inspecting the quality of bananas, together with Banana Sectional Group Committee Chairman, Jim Feamley.

Lachie went on to explain that nothing came of this venture mainly because the price was not right and also because our fruit suffers from chilling in the winter months and colours up a dull yellow.

In 1973 he was once again asked to accept a nomination for the BSG Committee and this time he was successful, attending

his first official meeting in August 1973.

It was at this meeting that Lachie was appointed to the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) Board and two weeks later he attended his first meeting in Murwillumbah.

“During that meeting we were discussing the minimum price for the National Banana Marketing Development Scheme, which aimed to clear any unwanted fruit so there wasn’t a congestion of fruit in the market, for which a levy was organised,”

“It was an interesting time,” Lachie said.

“In those days, we also didn’t have a lot to do with politicians, until the first imports application was filed in 1990 that’s when things started to become more active.”

After finishing up with the BSG in 1979, Lachie was once again asked to go back onto the BSG Committee in 1982 and was appointed to the ABGC Board and remained there until August 1992.

It was during his second term that he

LEFT: Lachie Rick, centre, together with his brother Frank (far left), Brian Keevy (former DPI) and Norm Mackney (back left) at the Innisfail Show, 1971.

FAR LEFT: Frank Rick Jnr, with the record bunch in 1976. The bunch had to be weighed by Government approved scales and in the presence of a JP.

OPPOSITE: Lachie Rick in his shed, and packing bananas.

He was the first north Queensland banana grower to take on the position of Chairman of ABGC and the Queensland Banana Sectional Group Committee.

“Prior to me, all the Chairman came from South-East Queensland - it had a lot to do with distance,” he said.

Lachie says he will never forget working with the likes of Bill Singelton, Jim Dobson, Ray Everingham (who he referred to as ‘a real gentleman’) and Ray Kratz, as well as Ross Boyle, who he said was “a very efficient secretary of the ABGC and BSGC.”

With some 16 years of service behind him, Lachie is also one of the longest serving members on the ABGC Board.

Lachie re-counts that in 1976, he was the first grower to use a bagging machine to put bunch covers on.

The A-frame banana trailer used by the Banana Industry today was first built and used by his brother Charles in 1970. Lachie says it’s a pity a patent was not taken out on it.

“There have been a number of big changes in the Banana Industry from when I first started growing,” Lachie recalls.

“Today it is all very mechanical.”

After forty years, Lachie Rick retired from banana growing in November 1995 and now lives in Mission Beach, far north Queensland. However, he continued to be involved in the banana industry for another 15 years, working for the North Queensland Banana Growers Co-op, as leaf spot monitor

for Black Sigatoka and at Mission Beach Tissue Culture, finally calling it a day in June 2010.

Today, Lachie is still heavily involved in the Lions Club, serving as President for seven out of the 32 years of his involvement.

Among numerous other activities, he is involved in the Far North Queensland Youth Assistance Fund and assisted in establishing the Stan MacKay Memorial Fund, which provides financial assistance to students in the Cardwell to Thursday Island region who are looking to further their studies.

He still loves reading Australian Bananas magazine, and other banana industry news.

“Once you get the industry in the blood you like to know what’s going on – like keeping your finger on the pulse,” he said.

“It was in times like those that whole communities would come together to ensure everyone recovered,” he said.

plant health program

Plant Health Program working towards

long term outcomes

By Neville Sloss.

THE BANANA PLANT Protection Program is now underway to deliver integrated and longer-term outcomes for the benefit of Australia’s banana industry.

The program brings together a team of 24-strong researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) and state primary industry departments in New South Wales and Queensland, together with independent specialist consultants and lead by Dr Andre Drenth from UQ.

Assisting Dr Drenth in the leadership team are David Peasley (private consultant New South Wales - subtropical) and Richard Piper (private consultant North Queensland - tropical). The program leadership team will work closely with industry to ensure resources are used in the most effective manner and outputs are being delivered to industry.

The Program will: • amalgamate and maintain the key core activities required for banana plant health in the longer term; and • streamline the various aspects of plant protection research to ensure economical delivery of effective outcomes for the industry as a whole and on a national basis.

The program is based upon a five-year funding plan, which has been welcomed by industry and researchers.

“With the implementation of a national levy system for banana research, there was widespread agreement that research should deliver outcomes for the industry as a whole,” Dr Drenth said.

“In addition to building and maintaining a skills base and capability to deal with pests and diseases, it is equally important that this expertise is shared and delivery can take place on a national basis.”

Based on the banana industry strategic plan and priority setting by industry stakeholders as part of the Horticulture Australia (HAL) project “Developing a National Banana Plant Protection Program”, four key strategic areas have been identified with their key aims, outputs and outcomes in the table below.

“By bringing the core research activities together with new and clear key research targets, there will be more integration, more efficiency and a clear focus. This program has clear targets.” Dr. Drenth said.

“Pests and diseases are caused by living

micro-organisms and their control is like dealing with a moving target. It is therefore important that the program is flexible in order to continually adjust to new circumstances and as soon as new and relevant information comes to hand. Flexibility is also needed to deal with emergency issues. The plant protection program is designed in such a way that both short and long-term disease and pests issues are addressed,” Dr Drenth added.

Over the next five years the Program will address a comprehensive range of topics from disease detection and resistance, to pesticide application and use, from soil health to new varieties’ assessment and best management practices on farms.

For more information contact Dr Drenth on 07 3255 4391.

Aims Outputs Outcomes

Evaluation of pathogen-tested planting material of consumer accepted varieties with specific disease and pest resistance for security of the Australian Banana Industry.

1. Identification of pathogen-tested planting material of existing and new varieties that incorporate sustainable resistance, as well as acceptable agronomic and consumer traits.

2. Data sets that provide detailed information on alternative varieties with regards to: (i) levels of disease resistance and (ii) agronomic characteristics.

1. Availability of stable resistance to high-risk endemic and exotic pathogens to secure options for:

the long-term future of the banana industry

scope for diversification of the product offering and

expansion into new production areas through the availability of new banana varieties.

Strategic Area 1 – Resistant Varieties and Consumer Choice (Leader, Mike Smith, DEEDI)

Peter Newley from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries inspects work on banana tissue culture being undertaken at Maroochy Research Station.

Aims Outputs Outcomes

Reduced risk from incursions of emergency and endemic plant pests through improved capacity for prevention, detection, identification and an effective, coordinated, early response.

Maintain and provide safe access to banana germplasm and facilitate safe access to new varieties into Australia for sustained production and development of new markets.

1. To provide a wide range of high health status banana germplasm for industry development, biosecurity strategies and diversification of products and production areas by providing safe access to imported banana varieties through an AQIS QC2 tissue culture facility and providing safe access to a high health banana collection within a QBAN (Quality Banana Approved Nursery) accredited research facility.

2. A diagnostic toolkit that covers targeted fungal, viral and bacterial targets and skilled diagnostic staff capable to deal with endemic and exotic diseases and able to support biosecurity activities targeting current and emerging pathogens and to ensure the provision of clean planting material through the QBAN scheme.

1. QBAN tissue cultured plantlets of new and existing varieties of bananas are the preferred planting material by the banana industry, providing a wider range of elite disease-free cultivars to help the development of new markets and new production zones.

2. Improved capacity for rapid and coordinated early response to current and emerging banana pathogens and incursions through the availability of a skilled team of diagnosticians and efficient and up-to-date diagnostic toolkit.

3. Expanded expertise in the fast and efficient diagnosis of banana disease pathogens, which is a known strength of the Australian Banana Industry.

4. Improved diagnostics which effectively underpins surveillance, eradication and containment and clean planting material activities to provide the foundation for market access negotiations.

Aims Outputs Outcomes

Improved productivity through provision of cost-effective and sustainable management options for priority pests and diseases in the banana industry.

1. An integrated disease and pest management strategy that is practical for banana growers which includes analysis and recommendations on impact of withdrawal of “old” chemistries and future developments in pesticide science for bananas and improved strategies to reduce the risk of pesticide resistance in pathogen populations for targeted pests and diseases.

2. Rigorous in field screening options for Fusarium wilt tested to evaluate resistance against Tropical race 4 and assessment of the effectiveness of defence activators for the management of Fusarium wilt.

1. Sustainable IPDM implemented by the majority of banana growers within seven years of project completion, incorporating phasing out of old chemistries, moving towards new targeted, softer pesticide options that fit with cultural practices, beneficial organisms and minimised likelihood of resistance issues developing, while maintaining effective control of endemic pests and diseases of bananas in Australia.

2. Control methods and resistance for Fusarium wilt rigorously assessed using field trials to ensure that field control methods and new varieties with resistance can be used with confidence.

Aims Outputs Outcomes

Improved productivity through provision of cost-effective and sustainable management options for priority pests and diseases in the banana industry.

1. A plant protection program which encompasses plant protection in a cooperative and effective manner, with strong national and international links and effective communication with industry, through annual workshops, the industry’s congress (including bringing international experts to speak), attendance at international research conferences and study visits and through encouraging postgraduate students to enter into research for the banana industry.

2. A strong and motivated research base which is abreast of the latest pathology developments in the world and a capacity to address short and long-term industry issues in an effective way.

The Australian banana industry sees the benefit of a coordinated longer-term plant protection program delivering agreed outputs for the industry, where there is good engagement between industry and researchers and demonstrated value in the subprograms within the larger plant protection program delivering industry security, world-class innovative research and building industry capacity for the future.

Strategic Area 2 - Safeguarding Production and Markets (Leader, Sharon Hamill, DEEDI)

Strategic Area 3 - Sustainable Production Systems ( Leader, to be appointed)

Strategic Area 4 - Building science and communications (Leader, Andre Drenth, UQ)

Bunchy Top Project

– keeping up the pace

The biggest change in the situation in New South Wales has been the decline in infection in the ‘hot spot’ plantations (Category E). All of the plantations in Category E are now on a downward trend and will be moving up to lower infection risk categories if the trend continues.

216 in the New South Wales Bunchy Top zone. With no professional inspectors to find Bunchy Top in the past and only sporadic regulatory support, growers have had to detect Bunchy Top themselves.

“Our inspection gangs have completed the inspections of commercial patches and are now concentrating on the 10 plantations with Bunchy Top. The good news is that the major production area near Wamuran is free of Bunchy Top so far,” Mr Peasley said.

NATIONAL COORDINATOR, DAVID Peasley, reports that several factors are contributing to the success of the Bunchy Top Project:

• Increased inspection frequency

• Destruction of ‘hot spot’ plantations and hot spots within plantations

• Removal of feral and neglected plants, as well as abandoned plantations

• Destruction of infected plants in areas surrounding commercial plantations

• Improved methods for plant destruction and to prevent aphids from spreading

• Increased awareness and cooperation from growers and the general public.

“The Project recognised that vital to its success was increased inspection activity in both states, particularly in South East Queensland, so our New South Wales detection inspectors have now been working across the border to assist,” Mr Peasley said.

“We are fortunate to have a dedicated and hard working team ably assisted in the important area of communications by Subtropical Communications Officer, Neville Sloss, whose understanding of our needs has contributed to the growing awareness in the community.”

NEW SOUTH WALES

Bunchy Top infections have fallen from 812 in 2009/10 to 521 in 2010/11 – a 36 per cent decrease and the situation continues to improve rapidly with only 41 infections found in commercial plantations in the four months from July – October 2011 for the whole of the Bunchy Top zone. More than 200 were found in this period in 2009/10.

“But, just when you think everything is progressing well, our worst recorded infection came along in a badly neglected plantation outside the Bunchy Top zone.

“It was north east of Lismore, but fortunately the plantation was isolated and the owners agreed to completely destroy it to prevent the spread of further infection. It did help solve one riddle though – how one other quite isolated plantation eight kilometres away was getting occasional infections,” Mr Peasley said.

The NSW Bunchy Top team of five inspectors spent two and a half days destroying more than 25,000 individual plants in the seven-hectare plantation.

The team recognises its big challenge throughout South East Queensland is the high number of ‘backyard’ and ‘semi-rural’ plantings and the lack of awareness of the requirements to obtain a permit to plant.

“Out-dated plant destruction practices have also contributed to the high infection rates in both commercial and residential situations.”

The Bunchy Top team has now established its own operations centre in Caboolture and David Peasley is full of praise for the local team.

“Barry Sullivan has wasted no time in introducing new technology to record and map inspection data, while ‘hawk-eye’ Samantha Stringer is proving to be an outstanding detector, finding symptoms in the earliest stages and her communication skills in dealing with the public and growers are of great value to the banana industry,” he said.

For more information, contact the Bunchy Top Hotline on 1800 068 371.

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

In South East Queensland there are only 30 commercial plantations compared with

The red triangles detail locations where Bunchy Top is positive and the yellow triangles detail where Bunchy Top is negative, or has been cleared. Map courtesy ABGC.

Bunchy Top detectors (l to r) Tom Maher, Grant East, Wayne Shoobridge and Joshua Chapman (trainee) during their biggest task to date – the destruction of 25,000 plants.

priority of the current National Banana Bunchy Top Project to protect commercial plantations from infection is on target with good results recorded in both New South Wales and South East Queensland.

Top biosecurity tips

PESTS AND DISEASES are ever present threats to Australia’s $400 million banana industry. Recently a property near Cairns was placed under quarantine while tests were done to determine what was causing its trees to suffer.

Tests for Panama disease Tropical Race 4, one of the most serious threats to the Cavendish banana industry, were negative. Quarantine has now been lifted but it’s a timely reminder of the constant need to survey properties for any signs of insect pests or diseases.

According to Rod Turner, General Manager, Programs with Plant Health Australia, it is important banana growers continue to think about biosecurity throughout the year.

“Biosecurity refers to the steps we take to prevent the establishment and spread of unwanted pests and diseases,” Mr Turner said.

“It focuses on basic farm hygiene practices like inspecting crops and cleaning equipment and vehicles properly. But with so much else going on around plantations there is a risk that biosecurity might take a back seat. It really needs to be part of day-to-day activities,” he said.

The Australian banana industry is at risk from many invasive pests which are present in overseas countries, including some of the more notorious pests like Panama disease, Moko and Black Sigatoka. That’s part of the reason Australians endured months of record prices for their favourite fruit in the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi - rather than importing bananas with associated pest risks, Australia waited for our industry to recover.

It’s worth being cautious—these pests could potentially devastate the Australian industry if they were to ever become established.

Prevention is the most cost-effective strategy to protect banana farms and the banana industry from biosecurity threats.

Growers can play a vital role by familiarising themselves with key pests of bananas. If a new pest becomes established on a plantation, banana growers may be affected through increased farming costs, reduced productivity and loss of market access.

Improved awareness and farm biosecurity will increase the chance of early detection of exotic banana pests in Australia. Early detection and reporting can reduce the impact to an individual farm and increase the likelihood of successful eradication.

To help growers practice good biosecurity on their plantations, Plant Health Australia developed the Farm Biosecurity Manual for the Banana Industry. The manual lists 11 high priority exotic pest threats for the Australian banana industry and describes the symptoms of diseased plants. It also highlights important information about easy yet effective biosecurity practices that can assist in day-today operations to help growers secure their farms against threats posed by pests and diseases.

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banana growers

on the bike Banana

It’s five o’clock in the afternoon of a weekday in the city. I’m riding my bike to my Spanish class, because it is quicker and more enjoyable than driving. This is peak hour on the bike paths. Twenty years ago I would have been one of three cyclists squeezed in with the traffic. Now I’m one of thousands on designated bike paths.

By Glenn Cardwell, Accredited Practising Dietitian.

THE BIKE IS back. October 12 was the day that Aussie workers were encouraged to ride their bike to work and leave the car at home. The Australian banana was behind the scenes supporting Ride to Work day around the country.

PERFECT MATCH

The banana and the bike are a perfect match. With its ease of peeling and its soft, creamy texture every cyclist appreciates how simple the banana is to manage on the bike. The natural sugars in the banana are absorbed into the blood stream and transported to the active muscles as an instant fuel source.

Whether you are working on the farm, cycling, lifting weights or going for a swim your muscles use glucose as a fuel for each muscle contraction. Some glucose can be stored in the liver and the muscles to be on standby for activity, but once these stores run out your body will slow down and feel fatigued. Taking on glucose during sport or

activity means that muscles can function effectively for longer. Commonly for athletes that glucose comes in the form of jelly beans, food bars or the brilliant banana.

RECOVERY

I’ve worked with elite footballers, basketballers and triathletes. Universally the banana is the snack food of choice to boost muscle fuel levels before an event and is prominent in the change rooms after the action has finished. Just watch the tennis – many players eat a banana part way through a game because they know they won’t finish well without the extra glucose provided by a banana.

An athletes’ preference is often for the riper banana because most of the starch has broken down to sugars, such as glucose, meaning they are quicker to digest and absorb. Glucose gets to the muscles during the event, not later in the day.

For the same reason, to help replenish muscle fuel stores for quick recovery for

the next event bananas are recommended to be eaten after sport. This is an important consideration both recreational and elite athletes.

MORE THAN JUST MUSCLE FUEL

The Ride to Work day was a perfect event for the Australian banana. Not only were bananas coming back in style with more stock and lower prices, it was reminder that the banana plays a critical role in endurance and recovery for all active people. Of course, along with the natural sugars there is the vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium and fibre, goodies you won’t get with most processed foods.

to the rescue IROs

Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Yasi, Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) worked together with Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and several other industry organisations in making a submission to government detailing how it could assist with disaster relief and recovery. By Louis Lardi.

WITH SOME 75 per cent of major production affected in a region that supplies 85 per cent of Australia’s banana crop, it was clear to growers and industry that a hands-on approach was needed.

From March 2011, Yellow Sigatoka Liaison Officer Louis Lardi and Steve Morice from La Manna worked together with growers as Industry Recovery Officers for the Australian Banana Industry and on behalf of the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) to assist facilitating access to government and other assistance measures, as well as providing feedback on what was needed.

From prior experience and knowledge of the banana industry, Mr Lardi and Mr Morice were able to work hands-on with affected growers in guiding them through the numerous difficulties in applying for assistance under the respective government schemes.

Mr Lardi says many growers looked at the paperwork and thought it was simply too hard.

“It’s been great that people like myself have been able to sit down with them (the growers) and go through the paperwork bit by bit,” Mr Lardi said.

“Growers are encouraged to ensure that all claims to Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority are lodged well before January 31,” he said.

As at June 30 2011, Mr Morice and Mr Lardi had visited more than 200 growers across the region. The project has now been extended until January 31, 2012.

ABGC commends QFF for the work it initiated in getting this project ‘on the road’, while at the same time helping growers and industry to get bananas back on the shelves as quickly as possible.

For more information, please contact Louis Lardi on 0457 734 536.

Your

IRO Louis Lardi at a farm affected by Cyclone Yasi.

Banana plants showing typical signs of plant damage to the undersides on the leaves.

BELOW: Predatory mites (orange, male and female) and an adult two spotted spider mite and egg (top) and predatory mite egg (bottom).

Managing spider mites in bananas

An exceptionally dry season since tropical Cyclone Yasi has provided ideal conditions for mites in bananas.

By David Astridge , Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation.

SPIDER MITES, ESPECIALLY the banana mite Tetranychus lambi Pritchard & Baker (Acari: Tetranychidae) have become an increasing problem to the banana industry over the past 10 to 15 years.

These mites damage leaf tissue reducing the photosynthetic capacity of the plant resulting in a loss of plant vigour and yield. Spider mites are commonly found feeding under the leaves and sometimes on the fruit during prolonged dry periods throughout the year.

Spider mites are very small (<1mm) and are best seen with a x10 and greater hand lens underneath the leaves in the field. Each female mite can lay 15-20 eggs/day with a total production of around 100-150 eggs. In dry conditions the complete lifecycle from egg to adult can be as short as 6 days in summer and 12 days in cooler winter periods.

There are a number of important predators of spider mites that make up a predator complex to naturally control spider

mites in bananas. Creating a healthy environment for these predators is very important in managing mite pests in dry conditions. One of the most important predators is the small black ladybeetle known as Stethorus which feeds on all mite stages.

There are a number of different species in Queensland but all are similar in appearance and of similar lifecycle. Other important mite predators include the blue ladybeetle (Halmus spp.) which feeds on the mite eggs. Lacewing larvae and adults feed on all mite stages. Predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) are also important predators of spider mites in bananas.

Most of these predators are very sensitive to chemical shifts in the environment and can decline rapidly if exposed to a range of various pesticides (insecticides, fungicides and herbicides). Alternatively pest mites tend to be very tolerant to the same pesticides and even if they become stressed from these chemicals they will

“ We’re proud to be working with a reputation for service, consistency & professionalism with a dedication to our growers and clients that few wholesalers dare to realise.”

“ We’re proud to be working with a reputation for service, consistency & professionalism with a dedication to our growers and clients that few wholesalers dare to realise.”

just produce more eggs to build up their populations more rapidly. This becomes a major problem due to the very quick lifecycle of spider mites especially in hot dry conditions. Many beneficial insects have a much longer lifecycle and are very slow to recover. Many problems associated with mite flare are due to the impact of pesticides on the mite’s predators providing ideal conditions for mite development.

UNDERSTANDING CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR SPIDER MITE DEVELOPMENT

Prolonged dry conditions, stressed plants and the lack of predators favour mite populations building up in bananas. If no mite predators are present during these conditions a rapid build up of mites can occur which will result in crop damage. This can be avoided by regular monitoring and the application of well timed miticides when natural predator populations are low. During periods of extended rainfall, mite populations will tend to decline rapidly and will no longer be a problem. The predator complex of spider mites is very effective in reducing pest mite populations. Unfortunately, they are very sensitive to any chemical shifts in the environment. Many pesticides are known to be toxic to predators of spider mites and broad application of these chemicals should be avoided as much as possible during extended dry periods when mites are building up. Some common pesticides known to have toxicity to mite predators should be substituted with other chemicals if possible and avoid-

ed during extended dry conditions.

Some of these pesticides known to favour mite development include; imidachloprid (residual effects of up to 4-5 months), most synthetic pyrethroides, organophosphates based insecticides. Some fungicides such as mancozeb are known to be moderately toxic to some predators.

Making sure plants are not stressed from other pests and diseases, as well as having adequate water and nutrient supplies can also help reduce the impact of spider mites during these conditions.

DAMAGE SYMPTOMS

Most mite damage is confined to the underside of the leaves. Early feeding damage starts off as scattered bronzed rusty patches. Leave can eventually take on a scorched appearance with the whole leaf turning dark rusty brown to dark grey. In extreme conditions leaves will wilt with partial or total collapse resulting in sunburnt bunches and reduced plant growth. Mites can also move onto the cushion ends of the fingers. Feeding on the fruit skin can eventually cause a red to purple – black discoloration which can dry out and crack.

MONITORING MITES IN BANANAS

The best time to monitor for spider mites is during extended dry periods. Wet conditions do not favour mite development and mite populations will tend to decline quite rapidly during these periods. The best time of the day to monitor during dry periods is between mid morning and mid

Blue ladybeetle adult (Halmus spp.) with juvenile and eggs are egg predators on spider mites.

LEFT: The small black lady beetle (Stethorus spp) is one of the most important predators of spider mites.

FAR LEFT: Typical plant damage to the underside of the banana leaves.

BELOW: Juvenile lacewing larvae are also predators of spider mites.

afternoon when morning dew has evaporated. There are many ways to monitor mite populations. Even though leaf damage is a good indicator of the presence of spider mites, it is best to check leaf damaged areas for the actual presence of mites. Sometimes the damaged symptoms are from old mite populations that are no longer present due to the impact of predators and rainfall. There is no point in applying a control method if there is nothing left to control.

As well as looking for the presence of mites, the number of predators should also be recorded. If the level of leaf damage is low and there are high numbers of predators present then control can be delayed until the next sampling period. If predator numbers are low and mites are abundant and leaf damage is increasing then a control method will need to be applied to help reduce mite populations. Frequency of monitoring should be weekly under warm dry conditions due to the very quick lifecycle of spider mites.

Chemical application, resistance management and the need for registration of new miticides

Well timed miticide applications can provide good mite control. It is best to tar-

get mite populations before they become too high and established within the crop if extended dry periods are forecasted. Good leaf coverage of miticides are required to achieve effective control. It is important to make sure your mister is correctly calibrated and old spray nozzles are regularly replaced. Using the correct miticide is also very important as some of these pesticides only target certain life-cycle stages of spi-

der mite. Unfortunately, there are limited miticides registered in bananas for the control of spider mites. New chemicals with new modes of action need to be registered and a resistance management strategy needs to be developed so that sustainable mite control can be achieved for the long term. This will hopefully be addressed in future plant protection R&D for the industry.

“Most of these predators are very sensitive to chemical shifts in the environment and can decline rapidly if exposed to a range of various pesticides.”

Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) was first reported from the Canary Islands in Dwarf Cavendish in 1926. It is probable that this represented the first description of Subtropical Race 4 (SR4), which was much later determined as VCG 0120. By Jeff Daniells, Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and Fernando Mendez del Hoyo, Horticultural Consultant, Tenerife.

Fusarium Wilt of Bananas in the Canary Islands

THIS IS THE same form of the disease which has caused serious problems for New South Wales and southern Queensland Cavendish growers for the past 30 years.

The biggest outbreak of the disease in the Canaries was at the end of the 1920s and the 1930s, mainly in the Orotava valley in Tenerife.

During that original outbreak it was observed that the affected farms were mainly those with saturated soil conditions and

soils of low pH. Heavy use of ammonium sulphate fertiliser leading up to the outbreak had caused a significant decline in soil pH as well as associated lower levels of available soil calcium.

The disease outbreak was largely overcome by applying calcium hydroxide [CaO, slaked lime].

Growers at the time were also advised to avoid excessive irrigation mainly in the winter months and to use disease-free planting material.

Fusarium wilt has occurred in all banana growing areas in the Canaries. At the end of the 1970s the disease was still estimated to be present on about seven per cent of the farms but it has further diminished since then and is now not very common. The further decline in incidence is thought to be due to the change during that period from flood irrigation to drip irrigation which eliminated regular cycles of stress due to waterlogging.

Waterlogging has also been implicated

A local grower from the Canary Islands stands next to an example of Fusarium wilt diseased Dwarf Cavendish.

In the Canary Islands calcium hydroxide is usually applied to reduce or eliminate Fusarium wilt.

in localised Fusarium wilt of Cavendish in Carnarvon, Western Australia (VCG 01220) and in the Philippines (VCG 0122; long before Tropical Race 4 was detected). During periods of waterlogging banana roots suffer a severe deficiency of oxygen in the root stele (central part containing the vascular tissue) which is where the banana host and pathogen interaction is critical in disease development. Without oxygen the host defence mechanisms [which require energy] in infected roots may be slowed or stopped altogether. Additionally with flood irrigation there is more likelihood of disease dispersal with lateral spread of inoculum in the surface water moving over a block.

In the Canary Islands calcium hydroxide is usually applied to reduce or eliminate Fusarium wilt where it has occurred. It is applied to increase the soil pH which reduces chlamydospore germination and disease severity. Additionally the calcium ions improve the soil structure, thus increasing its permeability and aeration,

further reducing the risk of infection. The calcium hydroxide is usually spread over the soil around the infected plant (to cover at least 1.5 m from the pseudostem) and over the pseudostem base, and is dissolved by rains or irrigation to enter in the soil and start its action.

IMPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA

It seems that stress leads to breakdown in resistance of Cavendish, at least for some forms of Fusarium wilt including SR4. Implications for north Queensland are that we need to remain vigilant in preventing entry of exotic forms of Fusarium wilt including SR4, and not just Tropical Race 4, especially since waterlogging of plantations is a common feature of the wet season.

But why is SR4 in the Canaries not the problem it is in southern Queensland and/ or New South Wales?

Both are regarded as subtropical industries and are much the same distance from the equator. The most important reason for this appears to be that temper-

atures in the winter months are much milder in the Canaries with average minimums in the coldest months at least 3 degrees warmer. Also because of the surrounding ocean there is only minor variation in the minimum temperatures in winter so cold stress is much less severe.

Because of the more favourable environment in the Canary Islands banana plants are better able to resist the Fusarium wilt pathogen.

Would adjusting soil pH have any application for managing Fusarium wilt in Australia? If it does have any benefit it would most likely be applicable in situations where disease severity is already low, such as with Lady Finger production on the Atherton Tablelands.

This seems worthy of further investigation. But in situations where cold stress is severe or a variety is extremely susceptible then disease control may not just be a simple matter of increasing soil pH.

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“At the end of the 1970s the disease was still estimated to be present on about seven per cent of the farms but it has further diminished since then and is now not very common.”

Canola best weapon in the fight against nematodes

The benefits of canola as a fallow crop for assisting in the management of Burrowing Nematodes (Radopholus similis) in bananas was first reported by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) to the Banana Industry in 2001. By Naomi King, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

SINCE THEN THERE has been some adoption of this practice however recent canvassing of growers has demonstrated that many growers have either forgotten, or were not aware of the benefits canola provides in terms of managing nematodes.

Tully grower Cameron MacKay of Mackay Estates has been using Canola as a fallow crop for the last eight years. This has allowed him to plant bananas back into old banana ground without the need for a cane crop rotation. It has also significantly reduced his need for nematicides.

“Nematodes were a major problem for us at this farm,” Mr MacKay said.

“Previously we would spray nematicides

and have a cane rotation in between banana crops” he said.

“This was a significant expense to our business in terms of chemicals and meant we would miss an entire banana cycle.”

In trials carried out by Tony Pattison of DEEDI in early 2000, canola proved to be a successful non-host crop for Burrowing Nematodes.

“To try and meet the need for a shortterm fallow option, the DEEDI nematology project team at South Johnstone focused on developing the use of brassica field crops” Mr Pattison said.

“The brassica family of plants includes well known vegetable crops like cabbage,

cauliflower and broccoli, as well as field crops like canola, rapeseed and mustards”

“Most of these plants are suited to cooler drier climates therefore the best results are achieved when they are grown in the months between April and August. Moist soil is also important to getting a fast germination allowing the brassicas to outcompete any weeds.”

Controlling all volunteer banana plants during the fallow is essential as they will provide a food source for the nematodes and allow them to continue feeding and reproducing, subsequently infecting the next banana crop.

In order to remove the banana crop in preparation for a fallow, Cameron knocks the plants down, discs over them and then controls volunteers with glyphosate. This allows him to have a fallow crop of Canola planted within six weeks. A Vicon spreader is used to spread the seed and the block is then given a light disc to cover the seed.

The plants start coming up within one week of planting, and then begin to flower from 8 to 12 weeks depending on the variety, which provides a visual indicator that they are ready to be disced in.

“One heavy disc is enough to incorporate the canola, then I usually leave it for a couple of weeks before starting normal ground preparation for planting” Mr MacKay said.

A canola field in Far North Queensland. Photo courtesy AgForce Queensland.

Something GOOD is happening in the plantation

The Changing of the Guard