EEEE----MAGMAGMAGMAG

The Northern Territory vegeta-ble industry has struggled to establish an identity in the na-tional arena, due to its compara-tively low gross value of produc-tion and its lack of prominence

in Australia’s agricultural history.

Commercial vegetable produc-tion did not commence until mid 1980’s when evaluation of a number of crops was undertaken in Central and Top End North-

ern Territory. Cont page 3

National vegetable peak indus-

try body AUSVEG has taken the important and welcoming step of proposing changes to its consti-tution to include a board repre-sentative from the Northern

Territory.

AUSVEG and the Northern Ter-ritory Horticultural Association have also formalised their com-mitment to working together by signing a historic Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU).

AUSVEG Chairman Michael Badcock and the NTHA’s Tracey Leo conducted the sign-ing ceremony in front of the AUSVEG Board in Sydney last

month.

“The Northern Territory is a new frontier for horticulture: an area of vast, still-to-be-seen po-tential that is witnessing a

growth in vegetable production.

“Our growers supply product to the Southern states during the winter months (NT’s peak sea-son) and are carving a reputation

for reliability”, Tracey said.

The partnership between AUS-VEG and the NTHA will enable both organisations to work more closely together to deliver

improved benefits for growers.

December 2007 Edition 6

“This is a major step forward for the industry in improving col-laboration and increasing the positive profile for the vegetable industry and the business envi-ronment for growers”, Michael

said.

Working together is one of the key objectives of the vegetable industry strategic plan Vegvision 2020, which encourages the Australian vegetable industry to

work as a whole.

NT Vegetables get national recognition NT Vegetables get national recognition NT Vegetables get national recognition NT Vegetables get national recognition

NTHA CONTACTS

15 Coolalinga Village Shopping Centre Stuart Highway Coolalinga 0835

PO Box 2207

Palmerston NT 0831

Phone 08 89 83 3233 Fax 08 89 83 3244

E ntha@ntha.com.au Www.ntha.com.au

Inside this issue

More field days , less politics

2

NT vegies get national recogni-tion

3

National mango breeding program

4

Power of en-gagement

6

NT better man-goes in the mar-kets

7

New land man-agement project

8

Exciting oppor-tunities for growers

8

Beating panama 9

Future of family farms

10

Residue limits for ethephon to change in Europe

11

Clockwise: AUSVEG directors Jim Trandos WA, Steven Page SA and Michael Badcock TAS and NTHA;s Tracey Leo in Sydney

NTHA COUNCIL

Tom Harris President Citrus

Jan Hinzte

Vice President Cut Flower

Geoff Selems Public Officer

Mango

Fergus Higson Treasurer Nursery

Haig Arthur Director

Emerging Industries

David Boehme Director

Emerging Industries

Peter Marks Director Mango

David Higgins Director

Katherine Region

John Etty Director Organics

Alan Pedersen

Director Organics

Ben Hoffmann

Director Cut Flowers

Charmaine Carter

Director Tropical Exotics

Daniel Herrick

Director Tropical Exotics

Jane Dellow Director Nursery

The views expressed by contributors to this magazine may not reflect the views of the Northern Territory Horticultural Association and the NTHA gives no warranties to the products and services advertised herein. To contribute editorial or purchase advertising space please contact the NTHA.

All editorial and advertising is published at the discretion of the NTHA.

Although ’ sustainability ’ has become a bit of a buzz word that is driving growers batty , without a true focus on good environmental management , and the ability to prove good management practices ,our industry will be doomed un-der the scrutiny of influential ( and well resourced ) envi-

ronmental groups

There will be more opportu-nities for growers to gain funding assistance for sustain-able production projects un-der the National Landcare

Program in 2008.

Growers will also have the opportunity to get an environ-mental management plan de-veloped for their enterprise under the ‘ Implementing Best Practice Land Management in NT Horticulture project ‘ , funded by the Natural Re-source Management Board , NT. ( Numbers for 2008 are

limited and filling fast ) .

A catchment focussed strate-gic plan will be developed with growers to target specific environmental issues within regions . i.e weeds

Another year over Another year is almost over , and although our industry is plagued with many challenges , it is important to remember that it is also blessed with many new and exciting oppor-tunities.

As we move into the future , it is my aim, that our organisa-tion can proactively work to assist minimise the challenges that lay ahead and more im-portantly assist you grasp the opportunities that increase the bottom line.

While most of us are eagerly looking forward to a break over the festive season , citrus , rambutan , dragon fruit , and other tropical fruit growers are gearing up for , harvest .

What ever your festive season activities are , I trust that they are safe , and like Santa above , I hope you all have the opportunity to kick back , in a serene place and reflect on how truly lucky we are to live in such a wonderful place as the Northern Territory.

Tracey Leo Dec 07 Tracey Leo Dec 07 Tracey Leo Dec 07 Tracey Leo Dec 07

What’s happening in 2008 … more field days and less politics What’s happening in 2008 … more field days and less politics What’s happening in 2008 … more field days and less politics What’s happening in 2008 … more field days and less politics

Page 2

NTHA COUNCIL

Tom Harris President Citrus

Jan Hinzte

Vice President Cut Flower

Ian Baker

Public Officer Mango

Fergus Higson Treasurer Nursery

Haig Arthur Director

Emerging Industries

Fred Karlsson Director

Emerging Industries

Peter Marks Director Mango

David Higgins Director

Katherine Region

Bill Davey Director

Katherine Region

John Etty Director Organics

Alan Petersen Director Organics

Ben Hoffmann Director

Cut Flowers

Charmaine Carter Director

Tropical Exotics

Daniel Herrick Director

Tropical Exotics

Jane Dellow Director Nursery

I ndustry represen tati ves brought a very clear mes-

sage to the planning session held recently .We have be-come so bogged down in the politics of horticulture that we have neglected to attend to our members fundamental desire for technical knowledge and information sharing op-portunities. The kind that can only be found from other growers. More field days and

less politics!

We need to know what you think and what you want from your organisation. In 2008 we will be conducting a member survey to establish the wants

and needs of our members.

We also need to know who are our members going to be as we move into the future. With so many people exiting and new people entering the industry , we need to ensure that our business is prepared to meet the needs of your business now and in the fu-

ture.

I urge growers to participate in the survey; identifying the needs of such a diverse mem-bership base is challenging , and it can only be achieved if

members provide input.

The strong overtone from the meeting was that all mem-bers agree the need to have an association , we just all need to prioritise what it

does!

What’s in store for

2008 ?

We will continue to focus on raising the profile of the NT horticulture industry within the community and govern-ment .

Good environmental manage-ment is the key to community

support for our industry .

I hope you all have the opportunity to kick back , in a serene place and reflect on how truly lucky we are to live in such a wonderful place as the Northern Territory.

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA GROWER

NTHA CONTACT

Phone 08 898 83 3233 Facsimile 08 89 83 3244

PO Box 2207 Palmerston NT 0832

Email ntha@ntha.com.au

www.ntha.com.au

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA GROWER Page 3

B y the late 1990s public investment into traditional vegetable varieties

and agronomic practices in the wet dry tropics and the arid zones had all but

ceased.

Since the 1800’s , the national industry has historically been dominated by pota-toes and other traditional vegetables, however climate change, water availabil-ity and an increase in multicultural diver-sity is likely to propel the Northern Territory to the forefront of domestic

vegetable production in the future.

The value of the NT vegetable industry has increased from $ 7 million per an-num in 1997 to almost $ 27 million per

annum in 2007.

There are less than 100 vegetable pro-ducers in the NT with 63 of these being Asian vegetable growers. Compared to other agriculture regions, the Northern Territory is very immature. Notwith-standing its current size, AUSVEG has taken the important and welcome step of recognising the potential for growth

in the Northern Territory.

While there are so many uncertainties for agricultural production in Australia, there is one thing that is certain. With pressure on water availability, the vege-table industry in the Northern Territory will experience rapid growth and will become more of a significant contributor to the national vegetable industry and

the Australian economy.

NT Vegetables get national recognition NT Vegetables get national recognition NT Vegetables get national recognition NT Vegetables get national recognition

Water availability and an increase in multicultural diversity is likely to propel the Northern

Territory to the forefront of domestic vegetable production in the future. Photo courtesy DPIFM.

Inside Story Headline

Page 4 Northe rn Australi a Grower

T he Queensland Department of Pri-mary Industries will be holding a field

day at South Edge Research Station in January , to showcase the next generation of mango varieties which have emerged from the Australian National Mango

Breeding Program. ( NMBP) .

The NMBP has been developing hybrid

mangoes since 1994.

On display at the field day will be six of

the elite NMBP hybrids.

The new varieties display excellent ‘ Ken-sington Pride ‘ style flavours, enhanced red blush colour and good yields in trials

over three years.

They were first unveiled in Kununurra last

month.

The field day will commence at 1.00 pm at Southedge Research Station, Macmillan Road, Mareeba on Tuesday January 15,

2008.

The afternoon will start with a an outline of DPI&F mango breeding program with brief talks on the various mango breeding and genetic improvement research activi-ties, followed by a viewing and tasting of the hybrid fruit and a tour of the orchard

to see the cropping of the hybrids.

If you wish to attend the field day please register your intention by phoning 07

40484600.

QDPI Data sheets on each of the three hybrids are available from the NTHA email ntha@ntha.com.au . ( see extracts

over page )

Three of these hybrids will be the subject of a "Request for Proposals" to commer-cialise and manage the new varieties , and it is anticipated that commercialization will

take place in 2008.

The early maturing hybrid (NMBP-1243) is slightly earlier this season and it is ex-pected that expect some fruit will be ready for harvest as early as the 17 Dec 2007. This early hybrid will be stored and ripened for tasting and inspection at the

field day.

The mid season (NMBP-1202) and late season (NMBP-4069) hybrids will be close to maturity at the time of the field day allowing productivity and crop loads to viewed as well a s a few early maturing

fruit to be tasted.

NATIONAL MANGO

BREEDING PROGRAM

FIELD DAY

TUESDAY 15TH JANUARY

2008 - 1 PM

SOUTH EDGE RESEARCH

STATION

MARREEBA QLD

Please register your

attendance

By phoning

07 40484600.

Hybrid A3 - ( 1243)

Page 5 Edition 6

Hybrid 1201

Hybrid A6- ( 4069)

“To catch the reader's attention, place

an interesting sentence or quote from

the story here.”

Page 6

Caption describing picture or graphic.

Northern Australi a Grower

You will learn: To build lasting relationships - Under-stand the importance of maintaining rela-tionships while managing content and process. You will learn to maintain pro-ductive relationships based on mutual needs and enhance success and ensure ongoing and long-term alliances. To really engage when communicat-ing - Learn the tools that will increase your effectiveness as a communicator. You will be able to establish and maintain rapport, maintain a positive state throughout a challenging engagement, listen, respond and question, and utilise a range of agreement generating skills. To think like a negotiator - Explore how your thinking impacts upon the nego-tiation process. Learn the effect of the ‘adversarial or coopera-tive mindset’ - beliefs which frequently limit the options to winning, losing or ‘splitting the difference’. To strategise your negotiation - Iden-tify and understand the impact of different strategies within a negotiation. Understand the diversity of styles available in negotiations and the impact they have. The course is supported by FARMBI$ and will be held in Darwin set for 7-8 February

2008. Course costs $1650.00 GST inclu-sive however cost to growers with Farmbis subsidy is $ 330.00. Please contact the NTHA if you are interested in attending .

Communication is essential to every aspect of our lives, yet so many of us do not do it well: we do not engage, we do not listen and frequently we do not un-derstand. The other factor is that we are negotiat-ing 24 hours a day seven days a week with someone: frequently ourselves and again we often do not do this well. Learn the secrets of successful communication and negotiating to get what you want. The Right Mind Group are conducting a training program in communications for sales, negotiations and team leadership. This program will equip you to maximise your ability to effectively engage with others.

On May 14th 2007 the federal govern-ment introduced the Horticulture Business Code, a mandatory code of conduct under the trade practices act. Under the code, growers and traders must enter into horticulture produce agreements before trading can com-mence. However , the historical culture of horticulture trading , where growers are “ price takers “ and often subject to market manipulation means that many growers lack the skills and confi-dence to negotiate fair and reasonable trading terms in their produce agree-ments . Some also lack the necessary commu-nication skills to develop productive relationships with traders.

Key skills that you will take away from this program

Struggling to communicate and negotiate .. Start the new year off with ..the Power of Engagement

- Training in communication and negotiation

DPIFM crops forestry and horticulture officers visited southern fruit markets recently , where they inspected the quality of NT fruit arriving and looked for areas of improvement related to transportation

and handling.

Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (DPIFM) senior extension offi-cer Greg Owens said the visit was part of the ‘Top End Better Mangoes Project’ project which is aimed at improving the

quality of fruit presented to the consumer.

“NT fruit production is worth $101.2 million, with mangoes being the largest component valued at $53 million in 2006,”

Mr Owens said.

“It is vital that Top End fruit growers are able to make informed decisions on the handling of their fruit through the supply chains with confidence in the outcome at

the markets.

“This is the second year of the project and involves the monitoring of fruit from Kununurra, Darwin and Katherine packing sheds for temperature conditions during

the trip south.

“We visited Brisbane, Melbourne & Syd-ney markets to handle and look at the mango crop as it reached the retail

shelves.

“It is important that we can be hands-on with the produce to evaluate the current distribution and transport pro-cedures in place, such as temperature

profiles and disease control measures.

Mr Owens said that this information along with the annual mango forecast will help the mango industry predict and prepare for the annual mango har-

vests.

“This year we saw a fair bit of disease on the markets, due to a late wet sea-son and hot and wet conditions in Dar-

win,” Mr Owens said.

“We are currently looking at ways to reduce the disease load in future wet/hot years and to pinpoint practises

which can be improved.

“Our crop forecast systems allow us to predict with a fair amount of certainty

when the season will occur each year.

“So far we have used the forecast as a strategic tool to co-ordinate industry in terms of preparing labour and trans-

port.”

The supply chain project will continue until 2009 and is a joint collaborative between Western Australia, Northern

Territory and market company,

NT Better Mangoes in the markets NT Better Mangoes in the markets NT Better Mangoes in the markets NT Better Mangoes in the markets

Page 7 Northe rn Australi a Grower

NT DPIFM’s Senior Extension

Officer , and mango crop

forecasting guru, Greg Owens ,

inspects Better Mangoes in the

markets recently .

The NTHA has recently been successful in securing funds from the Natural Resource Management Board (NRMB) of the NT to undertake a 6 month project. The project title is ‘Implementing Best Practice Land Management in NT Agri-culture’ and will fund 12 grow-ers to undertake the sustain-able land use guidelines devel-oped by our previous Land-care project. The project will assist growers to undertake the checklists contained within our guide-lines and identify any environ-mental issues they may have.

The project will then assist growers in transferring those issues to an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for their enterprise. This plan (EMP) will not only be a valuable tool for fixing any issues you may identify on your property but it will vali-date the sustainable manage-ment of your natural re-sources. This will ultimately assist you in planning for the future and capitalising on any market advantages for sustain-ably grown produce or sus-tainably managed land that may arise.

With community expectations of good environmental prac-tices at an all time high , con-sumer demand for sustainably produced fresh food will come sooner than later. It is our aim to prepare NT growers for this predictable trend . The NTHA will be calling for expressions of interest to participate in this project in early (Feb) 2008. If you wish to take advantage of this great offer and partici-pate in the project then please contact the on 8983 3233. Places are limited and are filling up fast .

The New Land Management Project underway in 2008The New Land Management Project underway in 2008The New Land Management Project underway in 2008The New Land Management Project underway in 2008

Exciting resource opportunities for growers in 2008Exciting resource opportunities for growers in 2008Exciting resource opportunities for growers in 2008Exciting resource opportunities for growers in 2008

Want to reduce the amount

of chemicals you use?

Or maybe wish to learn more about soil health and nutrient management and have research undertaken on your

farm.

If you have answered yes to any of these questions then you might be interested in projects that can be funded under the National Landcare Programmes Sustainable Prac-

tice Funding Round .

NTHA’s Primary Industry Landcare Coordinator ,Guy Roberston is available to assist growers who wish to learn more about sustainable production practices. Guy is a trained agronomist and comes from a farming background and is available to come out and visit and discuss potential projects to support growers

with sustainable production.

Growers are urged to contact Guy at the NTHA offices on (08) 89833233 in the New

year.

A re you tired of feeling like your profit outputs are

being eaten by production

inputs?

Are you interested in develop-ing more productive, profitable and sustain-

able farming methods?

Would you like assistance to understand the amount of water your

crop requires?

Would you like access to new

irrigation technology?

A re you tired of

feeling like

your profit

outputs are

being eaten

by production

inputs?

Page 8 Edition 6

FOR SALE—

MAKE AN OFFER

Silvan Stiletto 2000 litre sprayer.

No longer needed.

Has been stored in shed.

For further information please phone

0429 677 545

NTHA Environmental Development Officer , Tim West

Page 9 Edition 6

Beating Panama , a strategic investment for the Beating Panama , a strategic investment for the Beating Panama , a strategic investment for the Beating Panama , a strategic investment for the Australian banana industry Australian banana industry Australian banana industry Australian banana industry

“ Walking through the infected areas , comprehending the bloody hard work that growers are putting into plantations that are ultimately dying , had a big impact on both Tom and myself” says NTHA’s Tracey Leo. “ I can’ t even pretend to imagine what it is like to watch your hard

work and livelihood wither away “.

DPIFM are seeking to undertake research that aims to control banana Fusarium wilt, not only to protect the Australian banana industry, but to allow the industry in the Northern Territory (NT) to expand, un-

hindered by the constraints of this disease.

A ustralian Banana Growers Council ( ABGC ) director, Tom Day was in

Darwin recently to meet with the Depart-ment of Primary Industry Fisheries and Mines, Diagnostics team and local banana growers to identify the best way to move forward with research to beat Panama

disease.

Panama disease i s caused by a variable fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC). A variant of FOC, tropical race 4 (TR4), threatens subsistence production

worldwide.

The NT banana industry has been devas-tated by Fusarium wilt of banana, since it was first discovered in the Northern Territory in 1997. It has since spread to

most banana growing properties.

However, the disease is localised in a geographic area and contained in rural Darwin. Foc TR4 can kill all major com-mercial varieties of banana grown in Aus-tralia including Cavendish, Lady Finger and

Ducasse.

The disease continues to spread within the banana growing areas of rural Darwin and is a major threat to the rest of the

banana industry in Australia.

In recognising this threat , and the threat posed to the industry by having most of its production centralised , the national body is considering its investment into

research in the NT.

During a visit to Lambells Lagoon banana farm , NT grower Mark Smith provided a heartfelt account of the devastation

caused by Panama.

NTHA’s Tracey Leo and ABGC director Tom Day , visited NT banana growers recently to discuss the future of panama research in the NT .

The strategies will be to identify banana varieties resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense ‘Tropical’ race 4 (Foc TR4), and to identify factors that contribute to its spread and evaluate biological and cul-

tural control in the field.

Also of particular interest to the Austra-lian Banana Growers Council is the Coastal Plains research facility , its locality

and quarantine capability .

Tom cited that “ It is the only facility like it in Australia and we would be very pro-active to ensure access to the facility i s

maintained”.

T here are many debates about the fu-

ture of farming in Australia. One of

the most considered topics in the Northern

Territory is the new wave of corporate

farms and the impacts that they will have on

the future of small farms and family farms.

There is broad ( unsubstantiated ) public

opinion that corporate farms will result in

the demise of small farms and family farms.

However there is not a lot of consideration

given to the fact that farming enterprises,

like all businesses, have different client

bases and like other business owners, farm-

ers have opportunities to develop competi-

tive advantages and capture their share of

the market.

The majority of horticulture crops in the

Northern Territory are not main stream

products. Many of our crops are early sea-

son and / or capture niche domestic market

opportunities.

There are opportunities for small and family

owned and managed farms to capture these

market opportunities.

There are a large and growing number of

farms in the Northern Territory that are

run on corporate lines.

This generation of farmers is dynamic, pro-

active in social, ethical and environmental

considerations and responsive to consumer

and market demands.

Family farms that embrace the best of cor-

porate governance and management have

the best of both worlds: corporate disci-

pline and family values.

This generation of farmers measure and

monitor water use efficiency, think of crop

yield in terms of tonnes per hectare and can

put a dollar figure on every function that is

performed in the production and along the

supply chain. They are in the knowledge

business.

Successful farming is not about size it’s

about being dynamic and disciplined and

continually seeking improvement.

It’s about forward thinking and accepting

the fact that change is perpetual and being

open and adaptive to change is critical to

remain viable.

As futurist Eric Hoffer explains “In times of

change, it is the learners who inherit the

future. Those who have finished learning find

themselves equipped to live in a world that

no longer exists”

The future of family farms in the NT The future of family farms in the NT The future of family farms in the NT The future of family farms in the NT

Page 10

The Northern Territory

Horticultural Association gratefully acknowledges funding support from:

• Industry membership subscribers

• Northern Territory Govern-ment, Department of Primary Industry Fisheries and Mines

• Australian Government, Na-tional Landcare Program

• Australian Government, Natu-ral Heritage Trust , Natural Resource Management Board

• Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries , AAA Program

• Horticulture Australia Limited Sustainable Industries Initiative

• Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

Sponsor and advertisers

Air power

AMCOR Packaging

Barnyard Trading

BASF

Business Enterprise Centre

Chandler McLeod

Elders

Farmworld

Grunt Labour Services

H20

HD Enterprises

Kubota

Label Press

Landmark

LMPA

MADEC

MOECO

NEXUS

Prolan

Southern Cross

Syngenta

Tropigro

Water Dynamics

Western Diesel

Page 11 Edition 6

E threl ( active ingredient ethephon ) is a plant growth regulator registered on a

range of crops including, Sugarcane, Barley,

Citrus, Tomatoes, Apples, Grapes, Macada-

mia, Pineapples, Peaches and Cherries.

Ethrel is used as a management tool, to aid

maturity and colour development (Apples,

grapes, Tomatoes, Pineapples, Peaches and

Cherries), or, to aid fruit thinning for re-

ducing crop load (Citrus, Apples).

In Macadamias it is used as a harvest aid by

promoting even nut fall. In Pineapples it is

also used for flower initiation.

The Australian mango industry is currently

seeking to have the product registered or

permitted for use in mangoes after its bene-

fits were widely promoted by researchers

in 2005 .

However , the EU-Commission has recently

confirmed that revised Maximum Residue

Limits (MRLs) will be required for ethephon

in fruits and vegetables.

These changes are a result of the ongoing

MRL revision process in Europe. Bayer

CropScience expects that the new MRLs,

which are likely to be set at the Limit of

Quantitation (LoQ), will be published early

in the new year (approx. February 2008)

and be enforced within 6 months of this

date (approx. August 2008).

What does this mean for farmers grow-

ing crops for sale in the European Un-

ion? Keeping in mind that the above

dates are best estimate only, farmers

growing produce destined for the EU

should not use telephone as a growth

regulator in fruit or vegetable crops

beyond the flowering stage of the crop,

according to the respective label instruc-

tions for each crop.

This means that ethephon should no

longer be used in fruit or vegetable

crops that do not have label instructions

for flowering uses (fruit thinning), if the

crop is destined for the EU markets –

unless the crop will be marketed and

consumed prior to the enforcement of

new EU MRLs for ethephon.

Growers should seek further informa-

tion and updates on this matter through

their European contacts to ensure they

have the latest information on this devel-

opment.

What does this mean for farmers grow-

ing crops for markets outside the Euro-

pean Union? These changes do not

affect markets in any other regions or

countries at this time, and farmers

should continue to ensure that their

produce complies with the respective

MRL for each market.

On behalf of the NTHA

Council and Staff ,

we wish all our members,

partners and stakeholders a

Merry Christmas and a

prosperous New Year

Maximum residue limits for

ethephon to change in Europe

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Acknowledgements NORTHERN AUSTRALIA GROWER Page 12