The February/March edition of Potatoes Australia magazine is now available online and features a huge range of research and development updates, as well as all the latest industry news.

As Western Australia continues to grapple with the tomato potato psyllid (TPP) and the eastern states of Australia take steps to be ready if TPP arrives in their jurisdictions, this edition of Potatoes Australia includes an in-depth report from AUSVEG National TPP Coordinator Alan Nankivell about the findings of his six-day study trip to examine growers’ psyllid management practices in New Zealand. (If you haven’t read it already, you can also read Alan’s latest update on the progress of the transition to management plan for TPP online.)

Other TPP content in this edition includes a report from AUSVEG Biosecurity Advisor Dr Kevin Clayton-Greene on a TPP debrief from December 2017 and an update on research trials of the performance of registered insecticides and biological agents on psyllid-affected crops.

This edition also profiles exciting international research – one highlight is the report on early identification of soft rots in potato stores, with the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom recently developing an electronic ‘nose’ that can smell the odours released by rots in store air.

As always, the magazine also shines a light on local growers, with this edition profiling Christopher Gay from Valleyview in Crookwell NSW and Tony Cummaudo from Cummaudo Farms in Mirboo North VIC (pictured above with his brother Sam).

Click here to read the magazine online!

If you’re interested in receiving hard copies of Potatoes Australia, you can let us know by e-mailing communications@ausveg.com.au or filling out a subscription form here.

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 20 February 2018.