Horticulture

Australia is experiencing a dip in avocado production with the 2024/25 crop estimated to be down 15 per cent on last year, Rabobank says in a newly-released report ... And Australian production is forecast to rebound to record volumes – of around 170,000 metric tons – in 2025/26.

Members of the Greer family, a familiar sight at the Cambooya Rural Fire Station, had a stall at the recent Pittsworth Women’s Shed open day. Nathan and Emma Greer of Felton’s Coral Tree Lavender and Cattle Farm were selling lavender products.

Climate change has such a large negative impact on Ukrainian agriculture that it affects the country's macroeconomic indicators ... Farmers from all regions of Ukraine have sown 5.5 million hectares of spring grain and leguminous crops ... However, this spring cannot be called ordinary.

BeeHero, the global leader of data-driven precision pollination ... announced the launch of its Beekeeping Task Manager tool to provide beekeepers with more effective and larger-scale apiary management, in honor of World Bee Day. BeeHero also released new data about its growing impact on pollinator health, effective pollination...

Bendigo Bank Agribusiness’ Monthly Commodity Update, released today, reports even higher beef export volumes in early May, and heralds the possible breaking of the previous monthly export record for cattle, set in October 2024.

A non-toxic, environmentally friendly method of controlling weeds and pests in horticultural crops that has already proved successful in the United States and Europe will now be tested in Australia through a $4.74 million project led by La Trobe University. 

Potential declines in bee populations due to varroa mite infestation could jeopardise Australian horticultural production, Rabobank says in a newly-released report ... In the report, How varroa mites might impact Australian pollinators, the bank’s RaboResearch division says this threat comes at a time when demand growth for pollination is outpacing growth in beehive numbers.

Almond growers are set to benefit from the current financial instability between the United States and China, allowing regional industry to enjoy better advantages ... Looking to improve its global branding, Australian Almonds has announced swimmer Kyle Chalmers will join the global team of ambassadors.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Assurance Riverland irrigators will receive 100 per cent water allocations will provide business certainty amid pressure from low rainfall across the state, says a senior local industry figure ... "It's very positive news for the Riverland that SA Murray Class 3 irrigation allocation is 100 per cent for the coming water year": Renmark Irrigation Trust CEO Rosalie Auricht.

...Bendigo Bank Agribusiness’ Monthly Commodity Update finds that US tariffs should have less impact than initially expected, however dry conditions across key cropping regions still have grain producers on edge. Lamb markets are stable with wool a bright spot, while supply chain issues for fruit and vegetables have seen a lift in wholesale prices on the east coast...

Christine Webster. David Arnold, director of the long-established family fruit business that has been operating since 1915, said due to the long spell of hot weather, the harvest came early in the second week of February, and was over by the end of the month.

You’d be nuts not to get excited about the Highland cows at Peta Maloney’s property Nuts End at Hogarth Range ... Peta has the cattle as an addition to her main farm business of macadamias.

Mentoring to transform ideas into real solutions is one of the key offerings of a new program launched today by Hort Frontiers. The new program – Australian-Grown Innovation, developed in partnership with Startupbootcamp and Cluster Connect - is designed to drive innovation that will tackle the most pressing challenges in horticulture.  

Tucked in the picturesque and fertile Harcourt Valley is a hub of apple production and its annual festival is this weekend on Saturday 8 March from 10am to 3pm at Harcourt Leisure Centre. Harcourt Applefest 2025 features activities to please every member of the family and it has grown so much that it has now spread to a larger location.

The latest Monthly Commodity Insights report from Bendigo Bank Agribusiness flags a strong start for Australian agricultural markets in 2025.

Christine Webster. Riverland West certified organic horticulturist Bruce Armstrong is creating a niche market for his produce supplying wholesalers and customers in Adelaide, Melbourne, and the region ... "It usually took about 12 to 18 months to make an income from the organic wine, and this is why we started growing the organic vegetables," Mr Armstrong said.

Lockyer Valley Fruit & Vegetable Processing Company Limited (‘Lockyer Valley Foods’), the circular economy fruit and vegetable processing facility, has launched a $50M Series A funding round to begin construction ... Founder and CEO Colin Dorber said the Lockyer Valley – known as ‘Australia’s salad bowl’ – is vital to Australia’s food security ... ARR.News interviewed Chair Murray Chatfield to find out more about the facility, the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

In this interview with ARR.News, Churchill Fellow Kelly Lees shares insights from her experience with the intitial attempt to eradicate Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of honeybees, and a little of her passion and vision for their successful management in Australia by our beekeepers who, as described by Kelly, are hard working, resilient and resourceful.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Riverland stone fruit growers have seen "large amounts" of certain crops wiped out at a critical time, following last week’s heavy rainfall ... "We all appreciate a good rain, and we all need it of course – especially the farmers – but the reality is that it does do a lot of damage, in terms of stone fruit, depending on timing'; Summerfruit SA executive officer Tim Grieger.