Your Levy at Work

Pest of the month: Western flower thrips

Thrips damage on chrysanthemum leaves.

Month: August

Pest of the month: Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)

Importance: Major. Most flowers and on leaves, also attacks all vegetable crops.

Similar to: Onion thrips, plague thrips, tomato thrips.

Description: Egg: Yellowish, kidney-shaped, laid into flowers, fruit or leaves.Immatures: Pale yellow to orange-yellow, with distinctly bright red eyes, wingless and similar in shape to adults. Pupa with wing buds. Pupates in soil and leaf litter, rarely on plant. Adult: Female generally yellow to orange, cigar-shaped with darker abdomen, antennae dark tipped, pair of long hairs at each corner of upper thorax. They have tiny, narrow wings carried over the back. The male is smaller and generally pale yellow. More

Part 2 of the SIP Series: Understanding the market through better insights

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

For demand for green life products and services to grow, it is imperative that nurseries have a strong understanding of what customer want.

But how can we gain those important consumer and market insights in order to actively drive sales volumes?

This is the key question being addressed in outcome two of the nursery industry’s latest Strategic Investment Plan (SIP).

The SIP outlines the R&D and marketing priorities for the next five years and is designed to promote innovation, increase demand for nursery stock and ensure a strong, sustainable nursery industry.

Importantly, the outcomes, which have been identified in consultation with growers, are aimed at providing real returns on grower investment. More

Your Nursery Levy @ Work

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

The Nursery Industry Strategic Investment Plan 2017–2021 (SIP) has been completed and outlines the priorities for research and development (R&D) and marketing.

These priorities will help to drive innovation, increase demand for nursery stock and ensure a strong, sustainable industry.

To download the snapshot, click here.

NEW marketing resource for nurseries to grow interest in green space

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Bringing community greening to life can be a complex and daunting prospect for the everyday gardener, but a new marketing resource for Australian nurseries is targeted at changing this.

A new marketing tool will help Australian nurseries to more clearly explain the concept of community greening to everyday gardeners so as to boost urban green space and help drive plant sales.

Biosecurity Alert – Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CaLsol)

by Chris OConnor • Biosecurity

An exotic bacterial plant pathogen has been detected in a variety of imported parsley seed. The bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, (CaLsol) is commonly known as ‘vegetative disorder’ or ‘yellow decline’. In most cases, the bacterium does not damage parsley plants but it does have the potential to cause serious damage to some other Apiaceae crops which include carrot, celery, chervil, fennel, and parsnip

This is the first time this bacterium has been detected in Australia.

Further details can be found on the attached alert. If you suspect an issue of biosecurity concern you should report it through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

Biosecurity Advice -CaLsol

Nursery growers encouraged to help address data gaps

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Calls are underway for a first of its kind survey of Australian nurseries, with growers being encouraged to participate to help benchmark the performance of nursery businesses and effectively position the industry for the future.

The survey is being managed by independent research agency, Down to Earth Research, in partnership with ACIL Allen Consulting, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) and Hort Innovation.

Strategic oversight of the project is provided by a steering committee made up of key project partners and nursery industry levy payers.