Melon E-News April 2023


In this issue:

Melons Australia's Executive Officer Update


Welcome to the April edition of the E-News for Melons Australia. In this edition we are pleased to share with you some of the latest news and developments from within our industry. We are also excited to share the launch of the new and improved Melons Australia website - same familiar address but freshly packed full of new functionality for our members!

I encourage you to visit and register your personal login to the new website - melonsaustralia.org.au - and check out the new members portal complete with 'members only' resources, information, discussion forum portal and tools. This includes the live melon quality assessment data found as a drop down menu item under the 'Growers' tab.

Rolling out soon is also a new ‘Member Benefits’ portal that will include an issues register to voice advocacy needs and Melons Australia exclusive member deals. More information is provided in the article below, but can I encourage you to visit the new website and let us know what you think by filling out our new website feedback survey to ensure this new tool is as helpful as possible to all of our members.

Successful Melons Australia Roadshow comes to a close in Griffith

At the publishing of our e-news this month, the Melons Australia team is wrapping up our final two roadshows for 2022/23, with Mildura held last night (Monday 1st May) and Griffith being held tomorrow (Wednesday 3rd May). Within the May Melons E-News we will provide you with a summary of the roadshow series, and of course, we wish to thank all of our attendees, speakers and sponsors (notably the Hort Innovation Melon Fund, Bayer/Seminis, UPL and Nutrien Ag) for their valued attendance, input and involvement.

Melons Annual Industry Survey 2023 - Coming soon

Melons Australia is in the process of finalising the annual industry survey that seeks input from all sectors of the industry on the delivery of Melons Australia's:
  • roadshows (to help provide evidence and support to our valued sponsors for repeated Roadshow activity delivery in late 2023),
  • biosecurity activities and priorities for 2023/24,
  • new communications platform and future delivery, and
  • 2024 National Melon Conference interest and insights to be delivered.

Communications will come out soon about the survey and I would appreciate you sparing us your important time to complete this survey and provide us with your valued input to ensure we continue serving your interests in a way that you think is best.

Upcoming events

I am thrilled to announce that I will be delivering a presentation on the promising prospects for our industry in the North of Australia at the upcoming Northern Australia Food Futures Conference in Darwin. The conference scheduled from May 22-25, 2023 is an excellent opportunity for our industry to demonstrate the possibilities that lie ahead as well as connect face to face with those of you who will also be in attendance.

Leadership and Development program 

I am also delighted to be able to promote our new Melon Leadership Program that will fund up to 22 training and development opportunities for the Australian melon industry over the coming three years. These opportunities are targeted at entry level leadership right through to established leaders and range from fully online courses to face-to-face intensive courses and everything in between. More information is given in the article below, or please get in contact with Joanna Embry.

Thank you all for your ongoing support and engagement, and please feel free to reach out if there is anything you wish to know more about. Contact me - Melons Australia Executive Officer, Johnathon Davey via email here or give me a call on 0407 032 023.

Best regards, Johnathon Davey

New Melons Australia Website Launched!


Did you hear our new website and tailored member platform are now live?

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to REGISTER and login to access your own personal portal where you can view:

We also have a number of exciting projects in development to add to the member platform, including:
  • A place to raise any issues you are having as well as your advocacy needs
  • Exclusive Member deals with suppliers that we are currently in conversation with.

For any questions email Courtney Archer, Melons Australia Communications Officer.

Register Now for the Moshie Lean Leaders Program


Melon Growers are invited and encouraged to apply for the upcoming Moshie Lead Leaders Program. The course is being subsidised by the Hort Innovation Melon Levy to the affect that of the full $4000 course fee growers will only have to pay $400. This is a fantastic opportunity for current and emerging leaders.

This course provides training and insight into how to lead and sustain continuous improvement in your workplace. It is an online program run over a period of 5 months. The program covers a range of topics to drive your business improvements, including:
  • Combining LEAN & Continuous Improvement with modern Leadership principles to drive efficiency
  • Using simple but effective tools to reduce waste with measurable Return on Investment
  • How to improve process control, quality, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction
  • Reducing the impacts of labour shortages by boosting productivity in individuals and teams
  • Improving your organisational supply chain, across all departments, from suppliers to customers
  • The importance of utilising simple performance data to drive better business decision making.

We have spots open for application immediately, with the next course beginning in May 2023 – so please reach out straight away if you would like to start Moshie training.

For information on our leadership program and other courses on offer please go to:
  • Moshie Lean Leaders (online) - click HERE.
  • Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program (residential) - click HERE.
  • Melbourne Business School Leadership Program (MBSLP) (online) - click HERE.
  • AICD Foundations of Directorship Courses (online) - click HERE.
  • AICD Company Directors Course (online/residential) - click HERE. 
  • Australian Rural Leadership Foundation – TRAIL Emerging Leaders (residential) - click HERE.

FURTHER INFORMATION - CONTACT US:

For information on how to register or create a nomination, contact Joanna Embry at Melons Australia. 

Melon Quality Project Update


The levy investment project Quality Improvements in the Melon Supply Chain (VM21001) is funded by the Hort Innovation Melon Fund and is being led by Delytics. The project is on track and progressing well having completed two consumer taste panels carried out six months apart in October/November 2022 and March 2023.

Melon quality monitoring is still ongoing for this project, with the monitoring of retail and wholesale fruit quality in Brisbane and Melbourne since August 2022 to benchmark the quality of melons that are currently available to consumers.

Once monitoring is completed and all the results are processed, the project team will present the findings to an industry working party to enable all supply chain stakeholders to collectively agree on new maturity standards.

An overview of the at retail and wholesale monitoring data is now available to growers on the the Melons Australia website here. This overview is updated every day that samples are collected.

Apply now for the AUSVEG Fresh Produce Showcase


The AUSVEG Fresh Produce Showcase event held the day prior to Hort Connections 2023, provides growers from across the country the opportunity to display their produce to leading international buyers.

The event will be held as part of the 2023 Reverse Trade Mission, which sees AUSVEG bring over 40 fresh produce buyers from across 9 markets to Australia to showcase local horticultural production.

When: Monday 5 June 2023, 12-3pm

Where: Hall C-E Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide

This event is open to melon growers through Melons Australia's Export Development partnership with AUSVEG. Any interested melon participants are to contact Johnathon Davey, Melons Australia Executive Officer via email by COB Friday 5 May 2023 to register their interest.

Tools to help you manage risks of harmful pests and diseases on farm


Welcome to the last of the six main pathways by which harmful plant pests, viruses, diseases and weeds spread onto farms. In October we focused on staff and farm visitors, November on vehicles and equipment, January on farm inputs, February on packaging, bins and pallets, March waste and weeds and now this month we will focus on:




Pathway 6: Wind

Risks

Pests and diseases can spread much further when assisted by wind.

Tips
  • Regularly monitor and survey crops
    o Carry out regular pest and disease monitoring in crops and surrounding vegetation. Record all observations, including
         - Date
          - Pests identified
          - Growing area affected
          - Level of infestation
          - Proposed treatment plan, and
          - Absence of sensitive or exotic pests 
  • Use traps to aid pest surveillance
    o Use sticky traps or other suitable traps to aid pest monitoring for beneficial insects and pests. Record the details listed above. Where possible, record the absence of any exotic pests of concern for your region (e. serpentine leafminer, if it is not yet present in your production area).
  • Train staff to be aware of common and exotic plant pests
    o Ensure all staff and other regular farm visitors are aware of, and are trained in how to identify, any common pests and diseases as well as any exotic pests and diseases of specific concern. This increases the likelihood of early detections in cases of new pest or disease occurrences on farm. 

Information sourced from: AUSVEG, Pest and disease preparedness: How to protect your farm, November 2021

Import Industry Advice Notice 84/2023 - Launch of Hitchhiker Pests Website


The launch of new website to raise awareness of hitchhiker pests has been published on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website and can be accessed via clicking here.

Import industry Advice Notices are available from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website here.

Bee confident Queensland is free of varroa mite


Now is the time for all beekeepers in Queensland to check your hives for varroa mite and other exotic pests. Help us reach our goal of 15,000 hive checks to confirm Queensland is free from varroa mite.

Report all hive checks, even if you do not find any suspect mites, using the Bee 123 online form, or by calling our Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.

You should continue monitoring your hives and report unexpected hive deaths, deformed bees, parasites, poor brood patterns and dead brood.

Check your biosecurity entity registration details

Keep your biosecurity entity registration contact details and apiary sites up-to-date and renew your registration when needed. This will help us quickly inform you of biosecurity risks relevant to you.

More information - For more information on varroa mite, visit our website. 

Melons Australia Roadshow 2023 – Griffith


The Melons Australia team have hit the road again in May and will be bringing the final roadshow of the 2022/23 series to Griffith NSW tomorrow, Wednesday 3 May 2023. The team will bring with them leading industry representatives to discuss various themes and topics as highlighted as interest by Melon growers and stakeholders from across the region.

Not too late to register:
  • Griffith - Wednesday 3 May, 4pm kickoff

For more information click here. Registrations are open HERE or email Courtney Archer, Communications Manager HERE.

Register for Hort Connections 2023!


2023 is shaping up to be the biggest conference ever with our sold out Trade Show presenting more exhibitors than ever before. Do not miss the opportunity to network and come together with thousands of fresh produce growers and supply chain members.

Conference rates available for accommodation!

With a number of Hort Connections affiliated hotels offering conference rates, take advantage of these savings and secure accommodation now! Availability in Adelaide's finest accommodation won't last.

Find out who is speaking in 2023!

We are proud to once again present a diverse line up of local and international speakers at Hort Connections 2023. Familiarise yourself with the fantastic array of confirmed speakers and a unique program prior to commencement in June.

NEWS FLASH: Melons Australia is excited to announce that we are supporting melon grower attendance at Hort Connections 2023 in Adelaide. If anyone wishes to discuss levels of support, please contact Johnathon Davey, EO of Melons Australia ASAP by email HERE or phone 0407 032 023.

Learn more about Hort Connections 2023 HERE.

Fall armyworm R&D and extension webinar


Autumn insect Webinar - Join NSW DPI and QDAF experts in this online webinar, providing updates on key summer pests (Fall armyworm, Corn earworm, Rutherglen bug) and prospects for the upcoming season on aphids, establishment pests, and other things to be aware of.

When: Thursday 4 May 2023 2.00pm AEST

Register today!


Contact:

Melons Australia

E: execofficer@melonsaustralia.org.au

Copyright © 2023 Melons Australia

All rights reserved.

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