News on Potato Cultivation from Australia

June 27, 2018

AUSVEG published a Potato Growers’ Biosecurity Manual

The Australian Industry Association AUSVEG has published a Potato Growers’ Biosecurity Manual, a guide to farm biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of weeds, pests, and diseases impacting production.

June 19, 2017

IPM approach seed potato growers Kangaroo Island hops to mainland Australia

Seed potato growers on Kangaroo Island - an island off the mainland of South Australia - are successfully adopting a new strategy to manage the aphids and thrips pestering their crops, taking on expert advice from agronomists and entomologists to adopt integrated pest management for these insect pests.

May 09, 2017

Is there a future for potato farming in the traditional potato patch of Victoria?

For almost 50 years, Bernie White has grown potatoes in the rich, red, volcanic soil of Trentham, the traditional potato patch in Victoria, Australia. Now he doesn't know if his farm has a future.

February 14, 2017

Discovery of Potato Psyllids in Western Australia a serious blow to the industry

Potato producers in south-west Western Australia say the detection of the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) is a "serious blow" to their industry. The detection of the psyllid may put national and international exports in jeopardy.

October 30, 2016

As Australia is facing a potato shortage, prices rise.

Australia is experiencing a potato shortage because of flood-effected potato crops in the southern states.

AUSVEG: Wasp warfare with avid aphid-eating parasites can help prevent resistence

July 06, 2016

AUSVEG: Wasp warfare with avid aphid-eating parasites can help prevent pesticide resistance

With pesticide resistance rising in species of aphids which feed on potatoes and spread viruses, one of the best control options for growers battling these pests may be found in nature, free of charge: parasitic wasps.

June 12, 2016

Kangaroo Island (South Australia) potato producer wins industry award

Kangaroo Island (South Australia) potato producer Peter Cooper has been named the 2016 Rabobank Potatoes South Australia and Ruralco Industry Award winner.

February 03, 2016

Research in Australia to help potato growers and industry

The impact of drought and water quality on Australian potatoes could be significantly reduced by a new research project from Potatoes South Australia and Landmark Australia.

PreDicta Pt senior research officer Mike Rettke and Dr Kathy Ophel Keller at SARDI’s Molecular Diagnostics offices at the Plant Research Centre, Waite Campus.

May 21, 2015

Workshop to help South Australian growers prepare for potato pests

South Australian potato growers will have the opportunity to be updated on the latest research and development (R&D) including managing soil pathogens, pests and diseases at a special workshop to be held by AUSVEG in Murray Bridge next week.

Tony Galati at his new Innaloo store (Courtesy: Simon Santi/The West Australian).

April 09, 2015

West Australian Potato Grower Galati digs in for export-quota fight

Tony Galati, owner of the West Australian Produce Chain 'Spud Shed', wants to add up to four extra stores to his existing Spud Shed network over the next few years and is working on opening up export markets for Western Australia potatoes.

September 02, 2014

South Australian potato growers fighting government on water allocations

Two of South Australia's biggest potato growers are fighting the State Government in court over changes to their water allocations.

Jordan Brooke-Barnett, president of AUSVEG SA, left, hands the award to SARDI Executive Director Prof Pauline Mooney, with senior research officer Mike Rettke and SARDI Soil Biology and Diagnostics research leader Dr Alan McKay, right.

July 30, 2014

Potato Soil testing service Predicta Pt Awarded by AUSVEG

Predicta Pt, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) soil testing service for the potato industry, has received the John Deere Productivity Partner Award at the 2014 AUSVEG Awards for Excellence in June.