newsletter-August 2024

Melons Australia's CEO Update

Melons Australia Website Mobile App Now Available

Melons Australia US Study Tour

Cucurbit Pest and Disease Field Identification Guide

Grower Sampling and Measurement Feedback Invited for Melon Quality Project

Capturing the Real and Potential Benefits and Costs of On-Farm Biosecurity Measures

Upcoming Update to the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology

Invitation to Participate in the National Fall Armyworm Survey

National Pollination Industry Coordinator Appointed

Celebrating National Biosecurity Week 2024

You May Be Eligible to Join a New Tracing Technology Pilot Program

Final Melons Australia Roadshow For 2024

Negotiation Tactics Masterclass

Soil Wealth ICP Webinar

DPIRD Carnarvon Research Station Melon and Watermelon Field Day ‘24

ACCESS ALL PAST MELON NEWS MAGAZINES AND MELON ENEWS HERE

Melons Australia's CEO Update

The past month has flown by, but our team has stayed incredibly active, representing and working tirelessly for our fantastic industry.

We successfully conducted a study tour with 10 participants exploring the Californian San Joaquin Valley production region. A big thank you to everyone involved and those we met along the way. We’re excited to continue building and strengthening these relationships. You can find more information about the study tour later in this newsletter.

Our efforts leading up to the AGM, including financial reporting and audit preparations, are ongoing. We’re finalising the details and will share them with the industry as soon as possible. Additionally, we'll be communicating the specifics of our AGM to the industry shortly.

Over this past week, I had the honour of representing the melon industry at the National Biosecurity Symposium, where I chaired an industry panel discussing the future of shared biosecurity responsibility. Biosecurity is a huge priority for us, and we are constantly looking at new research, and ways to improve how we work in this space.

Another priority for us is identifying research and development gaps to support future market access opportunities, and last Friday, I participated in the melon industry roundtable alongside export focused industry members for the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA). The discussions focused on this, and we thank everyone who participated.

And lastly, we’re gearing up for our upcoming cross-industry field trial and roadshow in Bundaberg. Registration for the event is now open. For more details, check out the events section below or visit our website. We hope to see you there for a great afternoon.

Please reach out to me, Johnathon Davey, Chief Executive Officer, Melons Australia, should you need to discuss anything. Please contact me by email HERE or call me at +61 407 032 023.

Melons Australia Website Mobile App Now Available

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new mobile app, designed for your convenience and ease of use. The app will allow you to find important resources while you're out in the field, receive immediate notifications of biosecurity or other important alerts, and so much more. Whether you're using an Android or Apple device, our app is now available for download.

Why Download the App?

Our mobile app is crafted with a user-friendly interface, making it easy to use. With just a few taps, you can log in using your existing website username and password, giving you instant access.

Stay in the Loop

Don't miss out on any updates! Make sure to enable push notifications after logging in. This way, you'll be the first to know about the latest news, and important alerts.

Ready to

Simply click the links below to download the app from your preferred store:

For help downloading or using the app, please contact our Comms Officer, Courtney, via email HERE or at +61 475 270 285.

Melons Australia US Study Tour

The recent Melons Australia USA Study Tour was strategically timed to coincide with Seed Week in Davis, California in August, where leading seed companies showcase their variety trials. The group, including growers, researchers, and industry representatives, toured major companies like Syngenta, BASF/Nunhems, and Bayer/Seminis. These visits offered participants the chance to sample new melon varieties, discuss Australian growers' needs, and gain insights into advanced breeding techniques focused on yield, flavour, and disease resistance.

The tour also featured meetings with plant pathologists from UC Davis and the USDA, providing valuable knowledge on managing cucurbit diseases. Additionally, participants met with the Western Growers Association to discuss food safety and visited Van Groningen and Sons, a large U.S. watermelon grower, to explore innovative farming practices.

The tour concluded with a visit to Hazel Technologies, where participants learned about cutting-edge shelf-life extension technology. Funded by Melon Levy funds from Hort Innovation and the Australian Government, this tour was a valuable experience for all involved.

Cucurbit Pest and Disease Field Identification Guide

Have you signed up to receive your new Cucurbit Pest and Disease Field Identification Guide yet?

This compact field companion is designed to aid in the identification of beneficial insects, along with pests, diseases, and disorders that impact melons and other cucurbits including both established and high priority exotic pests and diseases. If you would like to

receive a hard copy please fill out this form HERE
download the Ute guide click HERE

Grower Sampling and Measurement Feedback Invited for Melon Quality Project

The preliminary draft of the on-farm sampling and measurement protocols for the melon quality project are currently being developed. The project team is inviting all growers to have a direct input into these protocols by telling them what they want, what questions they have, and what information or support they will need to do it on their farms. Once that feedback is received, the project team is planning to create a video for growers to help answer their questions and walk them through the process.

The project team is continuing to test the proposed sampling and measurement techniques on-farm to ensure the proposed protocols are fit for purpose and easy for growers to use. Project Manager Mark Loeffen will be visiting the Northern Territory again in early September to carry out a week’s testing in Mataranka with the support of local growers.

An update on the project will be presented at a roadshow in Bundaberg, QLD on the 17th of September.

Growers interested in having an input into the sampling and measurement protocols are invited to contact the project manager: Mark Loeffen at: mark.loeffen@delytics.com.

Capturing the Real and Potential Benefits and Costs of On-Farm Biosecurity Measures

Australia's biosecurity system is essential for protecting agriculture and the environment from invasive pests and diseases. On-farm biosecurity plays a critical role, but challenges remain in adopting effective practices.

To address these issues, La Trobe University, in collaboration with RM Consulting Group, has launched a project to evaluate the costs and benefits of on-farm biosecurity in vegetable and melon production. Joseph Sithole, a PhD student with extensive experience in agricultural pest management, is leading the project. He will work with industry stakeholders to analyse the economic impact of biosecurity practices and support their adoption. The project aims to provide the industry with tools to improve compliance with quality standards, reduce the need for pesticides, and enhance profitability for growers.

Find out more here

Upcoming Update to the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology

An Industry Advice Notice (IAN) has been released to notify treatment providers, exporters, and authorised officers of a planned update to the methyl bromide fumigation methodology in relation to the fumigation of horticulture products for export.

Summary of changes and key points:

The methyl bromide methodology (version 3.0) will come into force from 1 May 2025.
The current methodology (version 2.0) will remain in force until April 30 2025.
The updated methodology aims to clarify requirements for treatment providers, with minor changes made to requirements and processes.

The methodology sets the standards and processes for fumigation, however, country specific requirements will still take precedence and must be applied to meet import conditions.

Invitation to Participate in the National Fall Armyworm Survey

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries invites growers and agronomists from across Australia to participate in a survey as part of the Hort Innovation funded project “National fall armyworm innovation system for the Australian vegetable industry (VG22006)”.

This survey aims to gather insights on how you are currently managing Fall Armyworm (FAW) in your crops or preparing for its potential arrival in future seasons.

Your participation will provide valuable information to help guide extension and research efforts to develop sustainable FAW management strategies for the Australian vegetable industry.

Complete the survey here

National Pollination Industry Coordinator Appointed

Welcome Beck Sloan!

Beck has recently been appointed as National Pollination Industry Coordinator with the National Varroa Mite Management Program.

The role will see Beck liaise with pollination-dependent industries across the country gathering data to assist growers and pollinators manage resources moving forward.

Information and data collected over the next year will also help develop long-term strategies to support business continuity to be maintained and pollination industries to continue to grow post Varroa spread.

If you would like to discuss how the National Varroa Mite Management Program can work with you, contact Beck at rebecca.sloan@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Celebrating National Biosecurity Week 2024

National Biosecurity Week ran from 26-30 August 2024.

The National Biosecurity Week highlights the crucial role biosecurity plays in safeguarding our environment, agricultural industries, food supply, communities, and economy. We’re proud to play a role in the biosecurity sector.

Our CEO, Johnathon attended the 3rd Australian Biosecurity Symposium on the Gold Coast, where experts explored the future of Australian biosecurity in depth. We'll be sharing some key insights from the symposium over the coming weeks.

We have a variety of melon specific biosecurity resources on our website. To view these resources head here > Biosecurity and Pest & Disease Mgt | Biosecurity and Pest & Disease Mgt (melonsaustralia.org.au)

Find out more about Biosecurity Week here

You May Be Eligible to Join a New Tracing Technology Pilot Program

AUSVEG has partnered with Onside to evaluate potential for digital traceability data. By using Onside daily on their properties, growers will share an anonymised view of check-in movement data on and off farm.

If you grow vegetables as well as melons you can sign up to Onside for free through the Vegetable Industry Biosecurity and Business Continuity Strategy Program and:

Digitally map your farm boundaries and blocks
Monitor movements of people, plant material, equipment as they check- in on site, no matter where you are
Streamline your farm biosecurity

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

For more information go to:

Be part of a new tracing technology pilot with AUSVEG and Onside | AUSVEG

Final Melons Australia Roadshow For 2024

Melons Australia, in partnership with Berries Australia, Bundaberg Fruit and Veg Growers, QFVG, Ausveg, Hort Innovation, and the NFF Hort Council, are excited to invite you to participate in our upcoming Grower Roadshow and Field Trial.

The cucurbit field walks will include field trials demonstrating how to reduce the risk of transferring gummy stem blight and other fungal diseases to new crops through management of blocks preplant.

The Roadshow will bring together fruit and vegetable growers from the area to discuss topics that impact us all.

The day will begin with a field trial/discussion to Agreco Research farm from 2pm, including disease management trials relevant to melon, cucurbit vegetable growers, followed by expert presentations on the below topics and will be followed by networking opportunities with food and refreshments.

Hear from researchers, experts and industry leaders on topics, including:

• Research Updates • Quality improvement program • Food Safety, including new regulations • Biosecurity • Pest and Disease Management

The National Horticulture Roadshow is being delivered by the NFF Horticulture Council with funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) through the Showcasing Australian Horticulture grant.

Negotiation Tactics Masterclass

Free Negotiation Tactics masterclasses are being held throughout Australia.

QFVG is holding a series of masterclasses focused on boosting your business skills. Gain confidence to speak up and negotiate effectively with customers and suppliers, maximizing your bottom line.

Perfect for growers, sales teams, or anyone wanting to sharpen their negotiation prowess. Learn from industry experts, network with peers, and gain invaluable insights to thrive in retail.

Click here for more information and to register

Soil Wealth ICP Webinar: Fusarium Wilt of Melons

Join the Soil Wealth ICP team for a webinar with Dr Len Tesoriero (Crop Doc Consulting) to explore Fusarium wilts in melons and their management options.

Fusarium is one of the most damaging pathogens in melons. This webinar will delve into various aspects of the disease, from its life cycle, to how it spreads, its pathogenicity, and management options.

Dr Tesoriero’s 30-minute webinar will be followed by an extensive Q&A session.

Date: Wednesday 4 September 2024

Time: 12:30 – 1:30 pm AEST

Click here to register

DPIRD Carnarvon Research Station Melon and Watermelon Field Day ‘24

Join Bayer Vegetable Seeds, Clause Pacific, Lefroy Valley Seeds, Nunhems Vegetable Seeds, Rijk Zwaan, South Pacific Seeds, Terranova Seeds, and Enza Zadenat Carnarvon Research Station for a grower field day. More information to come over the following weeks.

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 (afternoon)

Venue: Carnarvon Research Station

More information to come!

ACCESS ALL PAST MELON NEWS MAGAZINES AND MELON ENEWS HERE

Langauge