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

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

In the coming months, the results from the 2019-20 nursery production and sales statistics will be released. Among other data, this research will give us an accurate estimation of the total farmgate sales of the industry. In 2018-19, the industry’s value was estimated at $2.44 billion and with all reports suggesting 2019-20 was a bumper year for the industry, it’s very likely that we see our value reach new heights. Stay tuned for updates in the coming months.

As we launch into the new year, growers can expect to see fresh updates surrounding new and existing levy funded projects, as well as resources that support continued sales growth and help drive practice change to secure a stronger and more sustainable nursery industry.

A variety of mediums are used through the ‘Nursery industry communications program’ (NY18001) to help ensure the nursery levy payers and community are in the know when it comes to how the R&D and marketing levies are spent. This includes the development of grower case studies, videos, newsletters, blogs, Nursery Papers, podcasts and media releases. More

Wednesday, 9 December 2020

A recent workshop on nursery industry career pathways has identified opportunities for industry to address gaps in certified training programs and provide industry with a learning framework that better supports early entrants into the greenlife industry and industry employers.

The workshop which was held on 11 November brought together educators, industry representatives, and production nursery operators facilitating discussion around prototype courses to further enhance professional pathways for the nursery sector.

Hosted by RMCG in partnership with Greenlife Industry Australia under the Hort Innovation funded project ‘Developing Nursery Career Pathways’ (NY17002), the workshop also aimed to provide participants with an overview of the project, insights into the early research on skills gaps, and information on the new Skills Impact training packages.

Identifying an opportunity to develop a learning framework for career candidates in the industry, the project team are now urgently seeking additional feedback on the specific topic areas and subjects which growers and garden retailers find most beneficial for new entrants.

More

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

Fungus gnat larva. Note the distinctive black head capsule.

Name: Fungus gnats – Bradysia spp.

Larvae feed on organic matter and roots, stripping root hairs especially of seedlings and young plants. Tunnel into stems at and below the soil line causing collapse of tissue. Larvae can ingest fungal spores such as Pythium and Fusarium and spread them in both the larval and adult stages. Adults can spread foliar diseases like Botrytis.

Egg: Very small, laid in cracks and crevices of soil surface. Immatures: White, semi-transparent and maggot-like, with distinctive black head. Pupates in soil or potting media. Adult: Small, slender black or dark brown fly with long dangling legs and long antennae. Often found running over soil surface or leaves, weak fliers. Y-shaped vein at tip of wing.

For further information, please refer to the Pest ID Tool at: https://pestid.com.au/pest-insect/fungus-gnats  More