Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland)

We're kicking off Queensland AgTech Month with a nod to the Gatton AgTech Showcase. 💡 🚜 🤖 It's been one year since the Showcase attracted around 1,000 people to the Lockyer Valley to see Australian-first AgTech in action. 💪 Since last year's Showcase — which was honoured with the VISY Industry Impact Award at the 2024 Horticulture Awards for Excellence — we've been exploring the best AgTech solutions to help Aussie veg growers. 🥦 🥬 🍠 With the support of Hort Innovation, last month we connected Australian growers with world leaders in agricultural robotics at the International Forum of Agricultural Robotics (FIRA USA 2024) to explore the next wave of AgTech options. We can't wait to showcase more AgTech solutions for Aussie growers at future events. Keen to explore the latest in agrifood innovation? Check out the evokeAG 2025 program 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wOhGJ Secure your spot 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wOhGI #AgTechMonth #AgTechinAction #QldSmartFarms Hort Innovation | AUSVEG | AgriFutures evokeAG

Join us at the GrownInNQ 2024 Agriculture Innovation Summit at our Bowen Research Facility! 🌿 Our staff will take the stage on Friday, 1 November, to present and demonstrate key advancements in sustainable farming as part of our Reef Water Quality Program. Producers and agribusinesses are invited to take advantage of this exciting event celebrating the future of agriculture. Join us at the following sessions: 🌱 Fall Armyworm field trials with Extension Officer Ramesh Puri and John Stanley, DAF Entomologist. Find them at the DAF info booth. 🌱 Advanced vegetable mechanisation to maximise labour and cost efficiency with Julie O’Halloran, DAF Senior Development Horticulturist, at 9:40am on the main stage. 🌱 Strip tillage and cover cropping with Sarah Limpus, DAF Development Horticulturist, from 11:35pm - 12:20pm. See a field demonstration of our purpose-built strip tillage machine. This machine was purchased by the Queensland Government for use in the Reef Water Quality Program on our Ayr and Bowen Research facilities. The Program aims to conserve soil resources and reduce the environmental impacts of horticultural production in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. 🌾 Watch this new tool in action to see how it can enhance sustainability by reducing fuel consumption and labour whilst improving soil health in intensive vegetable farming systems. We look forward to seeing you there! For further information and a copy of the program, visit 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wOfGU #GreatBarrierReef #OurReefOurWonder Bowen Gumlu Growers Association | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Exciting news! 🎉 Our scientists will be sharing their latest insights and research into plant health this week at the 15th Australasian Plant Virology Workshop held on the Gold Coast. 🌱 Murray Sharman will present on johnsongrass mosaic virus and resistance of maize in Australia. 🌱 Paul Campbell will provide insight into tomato spotted wilt virus resistance breaking strains in Australia. 🌱 Kathy Crew is co-chairing the biosecurity and emerging viruses session with co-chair Eyal Zeira. 🌱 Fiona Filardo will discuss what lettuce chlorosis virus, yambean mosaic virus and an unknown cogu virus have in common. 🌱 Eloise Martin will present on managing potyviruses in cucurbit crops by host resistance. 🌱Rebecca Roach is co-chairing the virus-vector interactions session as well as presenting on genome sequencing of phages infecting plant associated Enterobacter species. 🌱 Flavia Sarti Bonora (Flávia S.) will share research into enhancing DNA and RNA extraction quality for viral detection in horticultural seeds 🌱 Pathania Nandita will present on exploring phages as promising biocontrol agents for managing bacterial diseases in plants. This biennial workshop allows experts to discuss the latest research advances for plant viruses, viroids, and other obligate pathogens. Find out more 👉 www.apvw2024.com.au/ #planthealth

We’ll be at the premier event on the Australian macadamia industry calendar – AusMac2024 – this week on the Gold Coast! 🎉 Our staff will be highlighting their latest research over a range of topics: 🌰 Our Macadamia Benchmarking Project team Shane Mulo and Grant Bignell will be presenting their latest project work with NSW Agriculture colleague Jeremy Bright on Thursday morning. 🥜 Principal food technologist Kerridyn Hooker will be talking about new tools to stimulate innovation with macadamias on Wednesday afternoon. 🌰 Amnon Haberman has 2 presentations in the Research Hub on breeding/genetics and production systems: macadamia planting density effects on orchard productivity and the potential use of triazole growth retardants for canopy management. 🥜 Entomologists Stefano De Faveri and Kempsy Adams will be presenting on Improving fruit and banana spotting bug control using pheromones with R. Andrew Hayes from University of the Sunshine Coast as part of the Research Hub presentations on pest and disease. 🌰 The Queensland Government can be found at the Australian Macadamias stand in the trade and machinery expo. Thanks, Australian Macadamias for hosting us. Learn more about the event 👉 https://lnkd.in/gXp6MmXM 👈 Macadamias are a significant commodity for Queensland. We grew 71% of Australia’s macadamias in 2023 and the industry has been worth more than $240M annually, on the 5-year average, to the Australian economy.   #AusMac2024 #macadamias #hortinnovation 

Ready to show the world what Queensland has to offer in the science, tech and innovation space? 🔬   If you’re planning a sideline event at evokeAG 2025, submit your event details now. Register below 👇 👇

Safe Work Month – our reflection. 🦺🧪 At DAF, our commitment to safety extends beyond October; it’s a principle we uphold daily. As we celebrated Safe Work Month, in partnership with Safe Work Australia and WorkSafe Queensland, we were reminded of the essential role each of us plays in creating a safe and healthy work environment. 😊🎉 For more than a century, DAF has played a vital role in enabling the production and protection of food and fibre for Queenslanders and the world. From the land to the sea. From the bush to the city. From hard-working families to global trade relationships. From connected communities to prosperity for all. Every day’s different, and so is every team within DAF. 👨🌾👩🔬 This month served as an opportunity to reflect on our safety practices across all our interesting, varied and challenging work. Our people work with passion and purpose and acknowledge that safety isn’t just a one-month focus – it’s a fundamental aspect of our everyday operations. #DAFcareers #onediverseDAF #passionandpurpose

Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) – one of the world’s worst invasive species – was found and swiftly destroyed in Strathpine, north of Brisbane. 🎉🌱 This weed grows up to 5m a year, threatening crops, pastures, and native ecosystems. While it’s already established in North Queensland, much of Southeast and Central Queensland is still weed-free! 🛡️ Thanks to the eagle-eyed efforts of a local Weed Spotter using the iNaturalist app, Biosecurity officers and Moreton Bay Regional Council acted fast to stop its spread. 🤚🚫 Detect early, report quickly, and protect our future! If you see a suspected Siam weed outside of its currently known range: 📞 Contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 📩 Email photos to the Weed Spotters Network at weedspotters@daf.qld.gov.au Or report it online 👉 https://lnkd.in/grBRG5GP #WeedSpotters #Biosecurity

If you unpack or store imported goods, then you're in the business of biosecurity. 🛡️ Help keep Australia free from some of the world’s most damaging hitchhiker pests by being biosecurity aware. Look out for insects, spiders, snails, eggs, nests and dirt. 🐜🌱 If you SEE something unusual, SECURE it and REPORT it before it becomes a major problem. 🚫 Call the SEE. SECURE. REPORT. hotline on 1800 798 636. 📞 Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ghGdp8D6 #biosecurity #biosecurityaware #weareinthebiosecuritybusiness #seesecurereport Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

It’s a great turnout at the FASTA Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance Symposium today at QUT (Queensland University of Technology)! 🎉   More than 100 researchers and industry representatives are learning and discussing FASTA’s achievements over its first year. 👏 Follow FASTA Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance to keep up to date with #FASTA activities. 😊 Hort Innovation | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development | Department of Environment, Science and Innovation | Western Sydney University | James Cook University | Department of Primary Industries and Regions

Thinking of heading to AgTech Showcase 2024 in Bundaberg next week? 🤔 Make sure you’re there to hear our own Kym Coyne talk about opportunities for local industry to embrace AgTech in their farming operations to lift productivity and support profitability growth. Check out the event 👉 https://lnkd.in/gaZKPCJd