Your Levy at Work

2019 Tree Stock Roadshow coming to a capital city near you!

After all the anticipation, the Tree Stock Roadshow is on its way this March, and is set to take place at leading production nurseries in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin and Sydney.

The workshops are an extension of the ‘Evaluation of nursery tree stock parameters’ (NY15001) research project, which was funded by Hort Innovation using nursery levies and funds from the Australian Government.

It provides a great opportunity for the team from Western Sydney University to share their research findings, provide practical demonstrations of the revised AS2303:2018 Tree stock for landscape use standard, and reinforce the importance and relevance of this nationally recognised metric.

Leading towards greener futures

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Monday, 21 January 2019

Still fresh in the New Year, it’s not too late to think about how you can kickstart 2019 to put your personal and professional resolutions in action. The good news is… Applications for the 2019 Green Industry Growing Leaders Program (MT16002) are still open, and it can help you achieve both!

The Green Leaders program has been funded by Hort Innovation using nursery and turf industry levies and funds from the Australian Government. The program awards scholarships to applicants who are nursery or turf levy payers, as well as employees of these businesses.

Delivered by management consultancy firm, The Right Mind, this initiative provides an opportunity to support the growth and empowerment of our workforce, through upskilling and professional development of leadership skills.

January Pest of the Month: Bean spider mite

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Name: Bean spider mite Tetranychus ludeni

Similar to: Two-spotted mite

Description

Egg: Minute, globular, almost transparent, can have reddish tinge.

Immatures: Similar to two-spotted mite.

Adult: Approximately 0.5 mm long with 8 legs, uniformly dark red, distinguishing it from two-spotted mite which is yellowish-green with two dark spots. In cooler climates the red overwintering phase of two-spotted mite is a lighter red than that of bean spider mite.

Damage: Feeds on underside of leaf and sometimes on upper surface. Leaves become mottled and bleached. Severe infestations can cause premature leaf fall. Damaging populations develop quickly in warm, dry conditions.

For further information please refer to the industry Pest ID Tool – http://pestid.com.au/

An initiative of the Nursery Levy funded National Nursery Industry Biosecurity Program (NY15004) and ‘Building the resilience and on-farm biosecurity capacity of the Australian production nursery industry’ Project (NY15002).

Tree Stock project results in revised standard

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

A review of the nationally recognised Tree Stock standard is now complete. Assessed by Standards Australia, an updated edition of AS 2303:2018 ‘Tree stock for landscape use’ is now available for public purchase.

Through industry consultation and the strategic investment of nursery levy funds, ‘Evaluation of nursery tree stock parameters’ (NY15001) project was able to yield a productive and tangible outcome for industry.

The standard enables the assessment of above and below ground characteristics of tree stock, to be supplied for landscape use. While not mandatory, this standard is widely used by suppliers and purchasers of containerised trees across Australia to increase the likelihood of successful plantings. More

A Year in Review

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

The nursery industry’s communication program ensures growers and key value chain members are kept up to date with the latest news and information on R&D and marketing outcomes.

From advances in biosecurity legislation through BioSecure HACCP to an award winning Plant Life Balance app, industry’s levy investment portfolio has ensured a strong return on investment for its levy payers in 2018.

On the frontline of delivering this information is the nursery communications team. In collaboration with industry, the team has developed a library of resources for growers and the supply chain based on the latest R&D and marketing insights.

Grower case studies, videos, newsletters, social media and Nursery Papers are just some of the activities that fall under the communications program. You may have received these in your inbox, via social media or in a Hort Journal every month.

Pest of the Month: Xanthomonas leaf spot

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Name: Xanthomonas leaf spot – Bacterial leaf spots/blights and scalds – Xanthomonas spp.

There are many species of Xanthomonas that can infect a large number of nursery crops including plants from Brassiceae, Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae, philodendron and many other ornamental lines.

Symptoms:

The exact symptoms depend on the species infected but often involves small, angular, water-soaked spots on leaves that turn brown and may coalesce. It may also cause a leaf blight that can cause leaves to fall from the plant. On other plants the leaves may develop a V-shaped, yellow area along the leaf margin that turns brown and causes veins to turn black. More