Study groups enabling industry adaption to pineapple market changes (PI13006)

What was it all about?

This three-year project, which ran from 2014 to 2017, was responsible for facilitating the communication of up-to-date information among Australian pineapple growers, primarily through grower study groups. The goal was to arm industry with new skills to produce high yields of good quality fruit, and provide information needed to make good business decisions.

Key project activities included…

• On-farm workshops and study tours, including six for each of the four grower study groups in the project (North Queensland, Central Queensland, Wide Bay and South East Queensland). Information from each meeting, including summaries and presentations, was circulated to growers in all regions via email or hard copy after each event.
• Production of The Pineapple Problem Solver Field Guide – a 224-page grower guide for identifying, preventing and managing 77 pineapple crop disorders, with additional info on 35 weed species and five high-risk exotic pests and diseases. The free guide was released during 2015.
• Updating of the growers’ Pineapple Best Practice Manual, with the revised manual distributed to growers in hard copy.
• Production of three how-to videos.
• Production of crop forecasts and production estimates, with growers surveyed six times over the life of the project and the information summarised and presented to industry.

ACT NOW

• A copy of The Pineapple Problem Solver Field Guide was sent to all pineapple growers at the time of its release. If you do not have a copy, you can request one from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23.
• You can also request a copy of the Pineapple Best Practice Manual from the Department on 13 25 23
• Watch the how-to videos on…
  Pests and diseases affecting pineapple root health
• Leaf sampling pineapples for nutrient status
  Leaf sampling pineapples for flower induction