Category: Media Releases
Media
SRA Media Release – 17/18 Performance Report outlining SRA’s Achievements
SRA Media Release – Tissue Culture Orders
Deadline approaching for sugarcane tissue culture orders
Sugarcane growers and productivity services companies have until 15 November 2018 to place their orders for sugarcane tissue culture, if they are planning to use this technology for planting new crops in spring 2019.
Tissue culture is increasing in popularity due to its potential for managing plant diseases, and for allowing growers to access new varieties more quickly. 2018 was a record year for the technology, with over 76,000 plants ordered from Sugar Research Australia (SRA).
Tissue culture is a technique that grows planting material – in this case sugarcane – in a laboratory and nursery before being transferred to growers or productivity services for planting. These plants are then typically grown in small plots to bulk them out for more widespread commercial planting.
SRA Researcher, Ms Clair Bolton, said that growers and productivity services needed to place their orders by the deadline to allow sufficient time for the material to be prepared ahead of spring planting next year.
“SRA and productivity services encourage growers who are considering tissue culture to talk to their local productivity services organisation for local advice,” Ms Bolton said. “There are also information sheets available on the SRA website, as well as an online calculator that can help you work out how many plantlets you may need.”
Tissue culture has been recognised as an effective way of controlling diseases that are spread through planting material, including ratoon stunting disease, leaf scald, and Fiji leaf gall.
Sugar Services Proserpine Manager, Mr Peter Sutherland, said the Proserpine region had moved toward greater use of tissue culture and one eye sett material as part of a move to make it easy for growers to obtain new varieties quickly and replenish clean source material for their existing varieties.
He said that sourcing clean planting material – such as through tissue culture – was valuable for creating a strong foundation for productivity in the district.
Reef Champion Awards Finalist announced – Reef Alliance
Agrifutures Rural Women Awards
Agrifutures Rural Women Awards
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SRA Media Release
SRA Media Release
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QSL MEDIA RELEASE – Pricing Deadlines in sight
SRA – Media Release
SRA Media Release – Sweet research partnership driving the future of Australian sugarcane
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Media Statement – Minister for Agricultural Industry Dev. and Fisheries – Mark Furner
Media Statements
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
The Honourable Mark Furner
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Queensland’s Drought Program to be reviewed ahead of next big dry
The Palaszczuk Government has commissioned a review of the Drought Program, to improve resilience and assistance for farmers in future droughts.
Speaking in Charleville today, (26 Aug) Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner announced that an independent expert panel would conduct the review.
“Droughts are part of life in Queensland and our producers are very experienced with the big droughts and the big floods that often end them,” Mr Furner said.
“However even the most resilient and well-prepared producer and their community can struggle in a crippling and prolonged long drought such as this one.
“Since the current drought started to impact in 2013, the Queensland Government has allocated over $670 million in assistance.
“We have always supported our farmers and I assure embattled rural families that our current Drought Assistance Package will continue for the duration of this drought.
“However, with drought foremost in people’s minds, right now is the best time to work with industry and the community to review government, industry and community actions through this drought and to consider and recommend improvements for coping in future.
“All too often reviews have been conducted well after droughts are over and lessons are forgotten.”
Mr Furner said Ruth Wade and Charles Burke were appointed to run the review to identify potential improvements for future droughts in line with national drought policy.
“Ms Wade and Mr Burke have a strong industry background and understanding of the pressures of drought visits on rural communities, being former Chief Executive Officers of the Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) and AgForce Queensland respectively,” he said.
“The panel will hold forums in six regional centres and will seek written submissions through the drought program review website throughout September and October 2018. Details on how to make submissions will be online from mid-September.
“I encourage community members to attend these forums to have their say on what’s needed in future and to submit their thoughts online for the panel to consider.”
New Sugar Cane Variety for Burdekin
NEW SUGAR CANE VARIETY FOR BURDEKIN
Please refer to SRA/Wilmar Sugar media release.
Regional Variety Committee meeting held on 21st June voted on the decision for limited release of trial variety KQ08-2180 with full disclosure on its smut history and status to growers when giving consideration to clean seed cane requirements. Information surrounding KQ08-2180 was posted to our webpage on 2nd July 2018. This variety has now been formally named and is the subject of media release.
This new variety is to be planted into mother plots this season and will become available to growers in 2020.
Les Elphinstone
Manager KCGOL
