NGI Updates

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

Four of Australia’s leading nursery industry professionals have been awarded a Hort Masterclass Scholarship for 2019.

Luke Vanderstaay from Westland Nurseries (TAS), Richard Ramsden from Tasmanian Plant Growers (TAS), Kristian Spink from Marlborough Nursery (QLD) and David Russell from Wallum Nurseries (QLD) will each receive a $10,000 scholarship to go towards their Hort Masterclass tuition fees.

Described as a mini-MBA, the course equips the future leaders of Australia’s horticultural sector, with the skills and knowledge to advance and accelerate their careers.

The scholarships are funded as part of the Hort Frontiers Leadership Fund using nursery industry levies and contributions from the Australian Government.

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Monday, 11 February 2019

A research project led by leading Australian universities is testing which horticultural species in our future urban landscapes will thrive or struggle in the face of a changing climate.

Climate change is an issue that can affect the entire horticultural sector, especially the nursery industry, where the commercial objective is to sell healthy plants that have a long and productive life.

Known as “Which Plant Where” the research project is being conducted by Macquarie University and Western Sydney University, with funding from Hort Innovation’s Green Cities Fund.

The project involves testing a range of plants under various climatic conditions in a controlled environment, as well as conducting “Living Labs” to monitor plant growth and survival rates in a real life setting.

A living lab is now underway at the Underwood Reserve in Summer Hill, Sydney. Provided by the Inner West Council, researchers will monitor the performance and associated benefits of recently planted trees and shrubs in the reserve over time.

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Monday, 11 February 2019

Looking at the ‘return on investment’ for production nurseries that implement a structured and effective pest management and monitoring program is the key focus of a new levy funded project.

Known as ‘Improving Pest Management’ (NY17009) the project is funded by Hort Innovation using nursery industry levies and funds from the Australian Government.

It is being led by Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) with assistance from independent agricultural economists and pest scouts. The project intends to run for three years and cover two key areas, including:

• A literature review on neonicotinoids and alternative chemicals for grower use with a report due in March 2019; and
• A two-year (2019/2020) economic analysis on integrated pest management (IPM), with on farm trials and a cost-benefit analysis of the IPM principles of crop monitoring and site surveillance.

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Name: Brown mulberry longhorn beetle, Apriona germari

Brown mulberry longhorn beetle is not present in Australia but is widespread in the Asian region. It only feeds on living trees (but these may be healthy or stressed) and its potential effect on Australian native plants is not known.

The beetle is most likely to arrive in imported timber and wood used for pallets, or other packing materials from Asia. Look out for larval tunnels in the wood up to 15 mm wide, sawdust-like frass falling from damaged timber, and oval-shaped exit holes. Diligence is particularly essential with imported material from India and China where it has been reported as a major pest of mulberry and poplar plantations.

In Australia, many woody species within the Moraceae, Salicaceae and Ulmaceae families may be affected, including elm, fig, mulberry, poplar, pear, citrus, rosewood, hawthorn, lagerstroemia, mulberry, walnut, and willow, as well as other tree species. More

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.

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