MINOR CHEMICAL USE - NEW PROGRAM PROPOSED

Gordon Berg and Peter Merriman
Institute for Horticultural Development, Knoxfield, Tel. (03) 9210 9222

A national workshop held on 23-24 March at the Institute for Horticultural Development (IHD), Knoxfield considered the problems associated with the lack of registered chemicals for the control of pests, diseases and weeds in vegetables. "Minor uses" and "off-label uses" of chemicals were raised as significant concerns of the industry. In these cases there is little financial incentive for chemical companies to obtain the safety data required to incorporate such uses on chemical labels.

Information was provided on the current system and protocols for off-label use; perspectives from the vegetable and agricultural chemical industries and descriptions of minor use programs in the United Kingdom and the United States.

More than 50 delegates representing the vegetable industry in all states, other horticultural industries, agricultural chemical manufacturers, consultants and resellers, various government agencies and research corporations gave overwhelming support to the development of a national program for the approval of minor use chemicals in horticulture. The program would allow growers improved access to safe, cost effective chemicals.

The overseas examples demonstrated the success of programs in geographically small countries like the UK and also in the United States where the wide range of crops and growing conditions are more like Australia. Information provided by the overseas speakers will be invaluable in designing an Australian program.

The workshop was funded by the Australian Vegetable Growers organisation (Ausveg), the Horticultural Research and Development Corporation (HRDC) and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

The workshop outcomes will provide a platform for launching a national minor use chemical program for horticulture and potentially other plant industries.

A meeting of the National Vegetable R&D (research and development) Committee in early April has considered a recommendation from the workshop to provide interim funds to develop a blueprint for the national scheme and has already provided additional funds to the workshop planning group to develop the blueprint. This document will be circulated nationally for endorsement by appropriate industry and government agencies. The final copy will be then used to formulate a mid 1998 submission to HRDC, RIRDC and other organisations for funds to commission a pilot program which will be in operation this year. It will initially develop proposals determined to be priorities by the vegetable industry.

CHINESE BROCCOLI (Kai Laan) TRIALS IN VICTORIA *

Rob Dimsey, Bairnsdale Catchment and Services, Tel. (03) 5152 0600

As part of the 'Access to Asia' project, a statewide series of Kai Laan varietal evaluations are being conducted. The trials commenced in April and will continue over a period of 12 months with planting intervals of around 6 weeks.

Chinese broccoli is also known as Chinese kale or kai laan and is a cruciferous (the same family as broccoli, cabbage etc) plant. It is a perennial but is usually grown commercially as an annual plant. The leaves are oval, hairless and bluish green in colour. The whole plant can be eaten but the older stems and leaves are usually stringy and discarded. Young leaves and stalks with compact florets are selected because they are sweeter and more tender.

The initial aim in the first season of the trial is to evaluate commercially available cultivars and assess their performance and seasonal times for production. Comparisons will be made where possible with other cultivars, such as growers own seed lines, to assess any difference in quality and the suitability of commercial cultivars.

Cultivars included in the trials are: OP Kai Laan, Green Lance, Dai Sum Kai Laan, Sak sum Kai Laan, Thainan, White flowered Kai Laan. The trials will be established around the state and for more information about the trials in your area. Telephone contact:

Murat Top         5833 5222 - Tatura
Stephen Moore     5226 4734 - Geelong
Mandy Chew        9210 9222 - Melbourne
Greg Hayes        5731 1222 - Myrtleford
Siva Subramaniam  5152 0600 - Gippsland

RIRDC PUBLICATIONS

The following are some recent publications on Asian Vegetables which may be of interest to our readers.

• Bamboo for Shoots and Timber: Proceedings of a workshop held in October 1997, edited by D. J. Midmore, $10 per copy
• The Chinese Waterchestnut Industry: A Situation Analysis and Industry Strategy, D. J. Midmore and G. T. Cahill, $15 per copy
• Asian Vegetable Industry in East Gippsland (a short report) - free!

PICK FROM THE BOOK SHELF

The New Rural Industries - A Handbook for Farmers and Investors
edited by K. W. Hyde, 600 pages, 500 colour plates, $40 ($8 p&h)

A comprehensive introduction to Australia's 'new rural industries' for farmers, investors, bank managers, farm advisers, students and others with an interest in rural Australia. It addresses frequently asked questions about market prospects, production and processing requirements, pest, weed and disease control, costs of production and prospective returns for nearly 100 of Australia's smaller or prospective new industries.

The book can be purchased from
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)
P O Box 4776, Kingston, ACT 2600, Phone: (02) 6272 4819, Fax: (02) 6272 5877
Webpage: http://www.rirdc.gov.au/

For more RIRDC publications see our first 'Asian Foods' Newsletter.