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Regional updates
The production of certified seed
potatoes commences five years
before they are ready to be sold
to the customer. The process
begins with the propagation
of tissue cultured mini-tubers
at accredited laboratories and
progresses through a maximum
of five multiplications on farm.
Strict protocols of inspection
and testing are followed, and
crops can be rejected at any
state by the certifying
authority (ViCSPA in Victoria
and South Australia) according
to a set of standards and
tolerances agreed upon by the
industry (National Standards
for Seed Certification).
Land used for certified seed
must pass soil testing for Potato
cyst nematode (PCN), leaf
samples must pass virus tests
and the crops must be grown by
registered seed growers.
At the last stage before sale,
tubers are inspected for a range
of issues and are only certified
when all conditions are met. If
we are to include the years of
production before and including
the mini- tuber stage, we are
looking at eight or more years
of dedication to plant and crop
health in order to produce
quality certified seed.
The importance of using
good quality seed in the potato
growing operation cannot be
overestimated. It is one of the
few things that growers have
control of in the final outcome
and with the tight margins
available, it makes no sense to
take the risk and economise on
an input that has such a bearing
on the end result. Buy the best
seed available, handle it well
and maximise your chances of
a good result.
Dean Bone
Seed Potatoes Victoria
Chairman
PO Box 571
Warragul, VIC 3820
Phone: 03 5622 3025
Email:
Website:
Victoria - seed
Winter in the Crookwell area has
well and truly arrived and it is
either unusually wet and cold
or just a typical highland winter,
depending on who you talk to.
Back in the 1950s, potato
production was very popular
with most farmers. It provided
a much-needed cash flow in
winter and augmented well in
rotational sowing leading into
spring. But according to the ‘old
timers’, it was also extremely
wet and proved to be almost
impossible to lift the potatoes
and get them to market.
In a time where
mechanisation was limited to
a potato fork and a steel
needle to sow the bags,
getting potatoes out and sold
was not an easy task. Doing it
in very wet conditions was even
harder. From paddock to road
proved harder still, with little or
no paddock drainage systems
and a sheep track at best to
carry or drag the 65kg plus
bags to a hard road. But if
you could get them out, it was
financially rewarding with
record prices at Flemington
Markets in that period.
Now with good access
and man-made drainage in
wet areas, lifting potatoes in
Crookwell is easier. However,
with mechanisation comes
problems with weight. Big
machinery and wet ground don’t
go well together. So at present,
Crookwell is experiencing a trip
back to the 1950s and it is very
frustrating not being able to get
the orders filled.
On the bright side, two thirds
of the crops in Crookwell have
been dug and sold. The big
wet will set us up for a great
spring, fill irrigation dams and
help immensely with the next
ploughing project.
We all hope next season will
be a fair bit easier, especially in
the harvest period, and we – the
‘old timers’ – will tell everyone in
the years to come about the big
wet in 2016.
Matthew Gay
Crookwell Potato Growers’
Association
President
169 Goulburn Street
Crookwell NSW 2583
Phone: 02 4832 1800
Website:
New South Wales
AUSVEG SA and the AUSVEG
national office remain
concerned by the potential
issues caused by Oakville
Produce Group and have
been working closely with
the administrators Deloitte
to represent trade creditor
interests. AUSVEG SA
thanks the AUSVEG National
Public Affairs team for being
proactive in working with the
administrators to ensure open
lines of communication and
that the eventual sale provides
the best possible return to
grower creditors.
As part of a broader
campaign, AUSVEG SA has
also been a strong advocate for
the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission (ACCC)
and Australian Securities and
Investments Commission (ASIC)
to provide oversight of the
eventual sale of the company,
either in part or whole, which
may see a significant reduction
in competition.
AUSVEG SA has heard
concerns from growers
throughout Australia about
the sale potentially reducing
the number of outlets for seed
and ware potato varieties and
is working with government
through the AUSVEG National
Public Affairs Team. In the
interest of the affected growers,
AUSVEG SA and AUSVEG would
like to see a result that leads to
a good return for growers
and will continue to engage
closely with Deloitte
throughout the process.
The Oakville Produce Group
issue points to larger issues in
Australian horticulture – mainly
that trade creditors such as
growers have limited protection
under the Corporations Act
when large packhouses go into
administration. Sadly, a number
of packhouses in horticulture
have faced troubles in recent
times, with growers often at
the end of the queue when
it comes to servicing creditor
debt. AUSVEG SA would like to
see a broader reform push that
provides greater protection to
growers in such instances and
will continue to advocate for this
reform with the ACCC, ASIC and
other relevant agencies.
On a happier note, AUSVEG
SA was proud to see local
legend Wayne Cornish
awarded the AUSVEG Lifetime
Achievement Award at the
recent National Awards for
Excellence on the Gold Coast.
Wayne is someone who has
given a great deal of time and
knowledge to the benefit of
the industry and he is a very
deserving winner.
Jordan Brooke-Barnett
AUSVEG SA
State Manager
Suite 205, 22 Grenfell St
Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: 08 8221 5220
South Australia
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