SEDA news and events
A biosecurity levy would add further financial strain for Australia’s horticulture producers feeling the pressure of retail prices and rising input costs, according to industry experts. The Biosecurity Protection Levy, which will come into effect from July this year, will collect 6 per cent or $50 million a year from domestic agricultural, fisheries and forestry producers to help cover biosecurity costs. - Read full The Weekly Times article here
The Frutas de Chile Stone Fruit Committee has released a new estimate for this season, including nectarines, Japanese plums, European plums, and peaches. Forty-four companies, representing 84 percent of Chile’s global stone fruit exports last season, contributed to the estimate. Read the full Fresh Plaza article here.
South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia are updating their import conditions to no longer accept methyl bromide fumigation as an end-point treatment for mangoes and plums for produce originating in Queensland fruit fly (QFF) established areas (NSW, NT, QLD, VIC). As a result, domestic trade of these commodities from Victoria will no longer be certified under ICA-04. The changes to the import conditions does not impact other commodities. The changes to the import conditions are driven by recent interceptions of QFF in mangoes. Research has determined that there is no suitable methyl bromide disinfestation schedule for adequate control of QFF in plums and mangoes.
Disaster Ready Fund Round Two Guidelines 2024-25
The Australian Government is providing up to one billion dollars over five years through the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF), from 1 July 2023.
Round Two of the DRF will deliver up to $200 million of Australian Government funding for disaster risk reduction and resilience initiatives, with funding matched by state, territory, local government and other applicants, where possible.
DRF Round Two Guidelines (PDF 1.08MB) were released on 15 December 2023.
Applications for Round Two are now open.
Please visit the National Emergency Management Agency website for more information.
Hort Connections was successful in obtaining funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to support grower attendance at the 2023 and 2024 events. In 2024, we are happy to offer the same structure of Grower Funding, to once again make Hort Connections more accessible to Australian growers. Visit the Hort Connections website for more information.
Australia, and specifically Tatura in Victoria, will be hosting the 2nd International Symposium on Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards, from 3rd to 8th December 2023.
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