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AUSVEG Weekly Update
31-Aug-2010Potato IAC meetings held in Tasmania
The Processed Potato IAC meeting was held yesterday in Hobart, Tasmania to discuss industry priorities going forward and current issues. The Fresh Potato IAC meeting was held today.Ag Minister meets with Processed Potato IAC
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, The Hon Tony Burke, briefly met with members of the Processed Potato IAC during a lunch adjournment of their meeting in Hobart on Monday 30 August.AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy raised the issue of threatened New Zealand potato imports. Further talks are planned when the Federal Government has been finalised.
Ag Minister, The Hon Tony Burke with AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy and the Processed Potato IAC in Hobart.
Cucurbits winter window access period to New Zealand closes today
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service has advised that the winter window access period for cucurbits to New Zealand will close today.Rockmelons, scallopini, honeydew melons, zucchini and cucumbers can be exported to New Zealand under Appendix 11 (winter window) of the Australia - New Zealand Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement, until 31 August 2010. All consignments exported under this pathway must arrive in New Zealand on or before this date.
For more information contact your local AQIS office or visit http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/about/contact/plants-grains-hort.
AUSVEG office opening
The official opening of the AUSVEG offices will take place on 14 September 2010 at their new premises in Glen Iris.Minister for Agriculture Joe Helper MP will officially open the building. Attendance will include members from key political parties, IAC members and other key industry stakeholders.
The event is officially sponsored by E.E. Muir & Sons.
Korea finalises irradiation of certain imported foods
The Korean Food and Drug Administration has finalised regulations that will mandate the testing of specific food items. The new regulations took effect on 15 August 2010. Measures may include the testing of non-irradiated imported food items to verify that imported foods have not been irradiated.Australia is contacting the Korean government to seek clarification of these new measures.
Further information about the Korean Food and Drug Administration is available at http://eng.kfda.go.kr/index.php or by clicking here.
Launch of Horticulture Service Provider Network
The Horticulture Service Provider Network is providing free professional development meetings across Victoria. The network is free to join and open to all horticulture service providers.The network is a DPI initiative which complements existing workshops. It will allow service providers across Victoria with access to the latest tools, resources, research and development.
The next meeting will be held in Gippsland on Thursday 2 September at 7.30am. View more information by clicking here.
Australian Plague Locust - Grower Feedback Required
As many of you are aware, the Australian Plague Locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) is of considerable concern to Australian horticulture over the next few months and possibly beyond.There are a range of insecticides available for use in vegetables in various states using currently registered or permitted insecticides, however, in order to make sure that our industry has the necessary permits in place to deal with the threat, we are asking all growers to please assist in preparations by completing the Australian Plague Locust - Grower Feedback Chart. To complete the chart please click here.
Please send the Grower Feedback Chart to AUSVEG Communications Officer Elizabeth Cox, by fax on (03) 9822 0688 or by email to elizabeth.cox@ausveg.com.au.
Media relating to New Zealand potato import concerns
AUSVEG responded to several more media enquiries this week including the Tasmanian Country Hour and the Border ABC in regards to last week's media release concerning the threat to the Australian potato industry from the proposal to import potatoes from New Zealand for processing.Concerns have been raised at the proposal due to prevalence of the 'Zebra Chip' disease in New Zealand and the possibility that importing New Zealand potatoes may bring the disease complex into Australia.
New Zealand still has not been able to identify how the 'Zebra Chip' disease entered into New Zealand, with the disease causing widespread destruction to the industry.
To view the full AUSVEG media release click here.
Growers prepare for the USA Grower Study Tour
The USA Grower Study Tour has been filled for 2010, with growers participating from across Australia.Tour participants will travel through Florida, Delaware and California visiting vegetable farms, PMA Convention, farmers markets and the DuPont World headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
The Study Tour will travel from Wednesday 13 to Sunday 24 October 2010.
Economic Brief: Ian James - Economic Sub Program, National Vegetable Industry Development Program
US stands ready to stimulate economy.World economic news has shifted from Europe to the US with economic data indicating that the recovery in the US is less robust than earlier in the year. Over the weekend the Chairman of the US central bank in a major speech flagged that if the economy weakened the central bank was willing to take drastic action to stimulate the economy. With interest rates already low the options for stimulating the economy are restricted. However the Chairman said that the bank was willing to stimulate the economy by purchasing Government issued securities. This is known as quantitative easing, although some claim it is a euphemism for printing money. Whether this will be needed is open to debate. Most economists, including Government officials, do not believe that the US will sink back into recession. Unlike in the depths of the Global Financial Crisis the US economy is still growing albeit at a slower rate than is necessary to reduce the unemployment rate. While the speech will provide some comfort to markets that maintaining economic growth is the priority it also underlies that the recovery in the US economy is likely to be a long drawn out process.
Australian business about to launch an investment boom.
While data out of the US cast a gloom over world financial markets Australian data released last week was much more gung ho. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Business Investment Intentions showed that businesses intended to expand investment by 24% this financial year compared to the equivalent survey last year. The mining sector is expected to account for close to half of this investment with intentions to raise investment by 48%. Typically actual investment expenditure for the year exceeds expectations gathered in the survey at this time of year as business raises its estimates as the year progresses. Economists are forecasting that based on past history of the relationship between expectations and actual investment that the mining sector will expand investment by close to 75% this financial year. Investment growth is also expected in other sectors of the economy although not as strong as for the mining sector with implied growth in investment in the services sector at 9% and manufacturing at 19%.
Impact on the economy and vegetable industry.
The anticipated investment boom in the private sector of the economy dovetails nicely with the easing back of government stimulus measures and provides an underpinning for employment growth. There are some concerns that the investment intentions will accelerate the gap between mining and related industries and the rest of the economy. However with consumer confidence rebounding in recent months, following the Reserve Bank's decision to keep interest rates on hold, the brighter investment and employment outlook will provide an underpinning for consumer demand that should benefit vegetable growers.
