SEDA news and events
SEDA have now received an Executive Brief from them which provides more information about who they are and the services they provide.
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR VICTORIAN GROWERS
Agriculture Victoria has today rolled out on-farm energy tier 1 grants as part of the Victorian Government's $30 million Agriculture Energy Investment Plan.
The grants will provide support to farmers to replace energy inefficient equipment, install more energy efficient systems and enable own-generation capacity.
Farmers are encouraged to apply early, as grants are available to eligible primary producers until March 2020 or until available funding is exhausted (whichever comes first).
The Agenda for the Summerfruit Australia Ltd Annual General Meeting to be held Thursday 13th September from12.00 noon - 3.30pm
The Conference Room, DEDJTR Tatura Research Station
Address: 255 Ferguson Road, Tatura , Vic Phone: (03) 5833 5222
Annual General Meeting Agenda A light snack Lunch will be provided prior to starting
1. -12.45 pm Welcome by Chairperson
2.-12.50 pm Commencement of AGM - Apologies
3 -1.0pm Minutes of Previous AGM Meeting- Renmark 21st Sept 2017
Motion: That the Minutes are a true reflection of the meeting held at Renmark 21st Sept 2017
4-1.10 pm Business Arising
5-1.20pm Chairs Report
6-1.30pm Treasure’s Report and presentation of audited financial statement
a) Motion: That the Financial Report be accepted as read
8- 2.00 pm Presentation by Mr. David Ironside, Assistant Secretary, Plant Exports Operations, Biosecurity Plant Division, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
9. 2.30pm Presentations by Dr Penny Measham, Hort Innovation Australia, - Current Fruit Fly situation/update: Market Access update; Biosecurity update
10. 3.00pm Presentation by Dr Mark O’Connell , DEDJTR Field work projects, Sun Dial Orchard and inspection of portable fumigation chambers
11. 3.30pm Close of meeting
THERE’S a 17th century English proverb that Goulburn Valley fruit grower Rocky Varapodio is all too familiar with.
“Walnuts and pears you plant for your heirs” speaks to the length of time it takes for these ancient crops to grow. But Mr Varapodio, who farms on 200ha in Ardmona, is hoping his newest pear trees will bear fruit in just four years.
The pear, apple and stone fruit grower is in the process of planting Australia’s first honey belle pear trees, a new smaller, robust, early pear variety also known as belle de jumet.
About 20,000 trees are going in the ground across 15ha, with fruit expected within three years.
Mr Varapodio is the only Australian grower with a licence to grow pan-Pacific fresh produce marketer Freshmax’s trademarked pear that’s already proved a hit in Asia and the US.
The third-generation farmer first came across the variety on a research trip to New Zealand four years ago.
“It’s a sweet pear with a nice crunch,” he said. “So I really like its characteristics in terms of its flavour profile, its texture and its sweetness and I think it’s well suited to our region.”
The honey nelle will be the first new pear variety to hit Australian shelves in years. Mr Varapodio is pinning his hopes on the variety to lift sales across the entire pear category.
The pears will be sold at Coles supermarkets from 2022.
Source: The Weekly Times
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