Ngi Updates | Your Levy at Work

February Pest of the Month: Pythium

Name: Pythium

Pythium infects roots via motile zoospores and is favoured by wet, poorly drained soils and is closely related to Phytophthora. Pythium tends to nibble root tips but can cause serious losses in production nurseries and hydroponic systems as a root rot and damping off pathogen.

Plants can often appear as though they have a nutrient deficiency and fail to thrive. Roots may have necrotic tip dieback, appear ‘glassy’ or sometimes may not have any noticeable symptoms. More

NEW PROJECT to invest $5 million in plant protection and biosecurity

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Friday, 12 February 2021

Plant protection, biosecurity and sustainable plant production are key areas of levy RD&E investment for Australia’s nursery industry, and growers are set to benefit from a new levy funded project aimed at further enhancing Australia’s defence against endemic and exotic pests and diseases as well as maintaining and enhancing sustainable plant production through systems and support.

The ‘National biosecurity and sustainable plant production program’ (NY20001) is set to invest $5 million over five years into equipping industry with the knowledge and skills to improve industry preparedness, production sustainability and plant protection outcomes. With a national extension network of Plant Protection Officers, the project will take relevant information to growers and assist in adoption and implementation through advice and support.

Have your say: 2021 levy communications program

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Monday, 8 February 2021

Nursery levy payers are urged to complete a short online survey to help evaluate and provide insights on the ‘Nursery industry communications program’ (NY18001).

Facing several challenges around climate variability, pest incursions and market pressures, levy funded projects are critical to supporting the growth and sustainability of Australia’s nursery industry.

Preparedness key to building nursery industry capacity in biosecurity incursions

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Friday, 5 February 2021

For growers and nursery businesses, the threat of biosecurity incursions can have a knock-on effect of social and economic instability, impacting business continuity.

The levy-funded ‘Ensuring business continuity during biosecurity incursions – social and economic research learnings for the production nursery industry’ (NY18010) project, is working toward establishing management practices that recognise the social and economic impact biosecurity incursions can have on individual nursery owners and businesses.

Multi-active minor use permits renewed for nursery industry

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Friday, 5 February 2021

Through the recently completed, ‘National Nursery Industry Biosecurity Program’ (NY15004), levy funds and additional contributions from the Australian Government were used to apply for and renew minor use permits. This function is to be carried over in the new ‘National Biosecurity and Sustainable Plant Production Program’ (NY20001) recently contracted to Greenlife Industry Australia.

Greenlife Industry Australia is consistently working to ensure industry has access to new pesticide chemistry through the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) minor use permit (MUP) program.

A particular focus has been on addressing the ongoing issue of multi-active MUPs that were previously approved by the APVMA, but in 2020 were no longer considered for renewal or approval. This position meant that two multi-active MUPs (PER81707 Insecticides and PER81491 Fungicides) were no longer available to industry.

Marketing Update: 2021 Plant Life Balance Trend Report

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

The 2021 Plant Life Balance Trend Report is here!

Following the success of the 2020 Trend Report which reached over 9 million plant buying Australians, the 2021 Plant Life Balance Trend Report has been developed in partnership with a panel of Australia’s leading nursery industry experts, academics, and interior stylists.

To inspire Australian plant-lovers – both new and experienced – to continue to fill their homes and outdoor spaces with plants in 2021, the Plant Life Balance team is currently executing a broad scale media relations campaign, supported by social media and further blog content to ‘amplify’ the report, keep greenlife top of mind, and promote the health and well-being benefits of plants.

Funded by Hort Innovation using nursery industry marketing levies, the report was developed through the ‘Industry extension and development of Plant Life Balance’ (NY18005) project, working to promote the value of greenlife in Australian homes, businesses and broader communities.

The Plant Life Balance team will soon be hosting an industry-facing webinar to ‘unpack’ the trends and provide guidance on how you can get the most out of the report in your nursery business marketing efforts, as we look to further build the demand for greenlife. Stay tuned for details on joining this webinar. More