Australian Ginger Industry Association
Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday 15th February 2017
Held at the Buderim Ginger Factory
Meeting Opened:1.00pm
Attendees:Mike Smith, Michael Shailer, Scott Kirkwood, Craig Weston, Rob Abbas, Ric Stevens, Henri Stevens, Kylie Templeton, Andrew Christodoulou, Russ Parbery, Julie Templeton, Jason Keating, Shane Templeton, Mike Frampton
Apologies:Brett Grant, Richard Meiers, Garry Chambers
Minutes of Last Quarterly Meeting:Kylie Templeton moved that the minutes from the last quarterly meeting be accepted.
Seconded:Ric StevensCARRIED
Business Arising From Minutes:Nil
Treasurer’s Report:
Russ Parbery explained that due to the industry changing to the online accounting system Xero, there was no formal treasurer’s report available but he will put up an updated report as soon as one is available.
Current bank balance:$14788.12
EPPRD & PHA Levies:
Bruce Duncan sent a letter to all growers in January.
Finalisation and voting is to take place at the field day in July.
The decision was made to postpone the marketing levy until further notice or we will move to voluntary levy.
Federal Government Grants:
Jason Keating explained about The Farm Co-operatives & Collaboration Pilot Project grant that is available from the Federal government. It is available for items such as voluntary marketing funding, quality standards etc.
A proposal would need to be put together quickly as the applications are due early March.
Jason Keating flagged maybe getting a marketing co-ordinator for the industry who could work on a Logo and promotion of our industry.
Kylie Templeton moved a motion for Jason Keating to put a proposal together and apply for a grant in The Farm Co-operatives & Collaboration Pilot Project in discussion with the marketing committee.
Seconded:Andrew ChristodoulouCARRIED
RIRDC is also looking to the Leadership in Agriculture Industries Grant Funding for us to see if we could also apply of it.
Tissue Culture:
Russ Parbery has been speaking with Sharon and all is on track to get the tissue culture plants from Wide Bay Seedlings at the end of March.
There are approximately 5000 available.
Sharon will need assessment from growers off this year’s tissue culture.
Future Projects:
A few of our projects are coming to their conclusions.
Russ Parbery has had feedback from processors who would like to see a project into variety improvements.
The association is looking for suggestions and ideas for future projects. Growers are asked to discuss their ideas with Russ or Rob.
Shane Templeton said mechanisation should be looked at as we need to decrease our labour input.
Rob Abbas asked what the key mechanisation ideas the growers wanted were. Suggestions given were:
QUT – robotic sprayer
Drones
Compost
Food Safety Update:
Russ Parbery said Alison Robb left RIRDC prior to Christmas last year. Duncan Farquah has taken over and he has just be in contract in the last week.
The proposal for the Food Safety Manual is on his desk.
As soon as the funding comes through, members will be asked for their Food Safety Accreditation certificates.
Meeting Venues:
It was discussed and the suggestion was that we have the meetings at different venues i.e. like Gourmet Gardens and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. Russ Parbery to work out and organise the venues.
Fijian Trial Update – Mike Smith:
Mike Smith gave an update regarding the Fijian Trials.
Shane Templeton had a meeting at Bio-Security Qld that involved a teleconference with Bio-Security Australia.
Rob Abbas Report:
Full report is attached.
Growers are behind in weed control this year.
Summer fallow crops are down and not as advanced due to the hot dry weather.
Growers need to realise the importance of carbon production.
We are experiencing hot/dry weather conditions at the moment with little to no rain. We need to get some rain or the next planting season will be affected.
Seed quality has been declining.
There has been some Pythium hotspots found in January. Growers have taken measures like rogueing. Losses due to Pythium are greatly reduced due to the control measures.
The soil health project has been completed and submitted. Rob suggested that every member should read this document.
Jason Keating mentioned that all the reports that are done for the industry are available to members on our website under the members sections only.
Russ Parbery moved a motion to reset the member’s section password on our website to regniG (ginger spelt backwards with a capital letter at the end)
Seconded:Julie TempletonCARRIED
Gympie Show:
Jason Keating thanked Shane for nominating him as a judge for the fruit and vegetable section of this year’s show.
Jason Keating suggested that it would be nice if our whole industry supported the show by placing entries this year i.e. national competition.
Fresh Fijian Ginger:
Mike Frampton asked if anyone had seen or heard of any Fijian fresh ginger coming into Australia. Nobody had.
Meeting closed:2.55pm