The positive effects of office plantsNew UTS research has found strong evidence supporting the benefits of office plants for reducing stress and negative mood states in office workers. Plants were found to promote wellbeing, and therefore, potentially performance. |
Plant labelling – the first point of contact in knowing about the plantIn June Nursery Papers: Plant labelling – the first point of contact in knowing about the plant
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The Basics of Plant Tissue CultureMicro propagation or plant tissue culture (TC) has become more common in the nursery industry and its use is becoming more widespread as new plant varieties are brought onto the market in large numbers. Plant tissue culture can be a complicated and technical process that should be, generally speaking, left to the experts. The de-flasking of tissue cultured plantlets for propagating is a much simpler procedure that you can do in your production nursery. As with any process, there is a right and wrong way and there are many things that can impede success. In this Nursery Paper, Industry Development Officer for Victoria, Robert Chin, will introduce you to the basics of the plant tissue culture process, focusing on de-flasking, and the do's and don'ts to ensure that you maximise your returns and produce a saleable crop. |
Mitigating Frost Damage in Nursery ProductionFrost damage to nursery crops across Australia is a continuing issue with recent frosting events occurring in previously believed ‘frost free’ areas. In 2007 coastal areas of southern Queensland experienced severe frosts, some less than 500m from the ocean, which resulted in tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. In this Nursery Paper Queensland Industry Development Manager John McDonald explains how to anticipate a frosting event and mitigate the damage to your crop. |
In-field rapid, portable & cost-effective plant disease diagnosticsThe Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) had identified a plant disease diagnostic product developed by United kingdom based company Forsite Diagnostics, that is portable, cost effective, accurate, rapid and reliable (96% correlation to laboratory based diagnosis). |
The 2010 Nursery & Garden Industry State Young LeadersThe Nursery & Garden Industry Young Leader Award acknowledges an individual, younger than 35, who demonstrates a contribution to industry businesses, particularly in participation to industry activities and strong leadership skills. In this Nursery Paper we acknowledge and celebrate our 2010 State Young Leaders who will be interviewed by a panel of esteemed industry personnel and vie for the national title. The National Young Leader will be announced at the 2010 NGI Awards Gala Dinner held in conjunction with the National Conference at Darwin in April. |
Plant Patents - An alternative for the Nursery IndustryThere are a range of intellectual property laws associated with plants, trademarks and associated contracts. Recently, patent law has become more widely utilised providing an additional tool for the Nursery & Garden Industry to assist with the protection of intellectual property involved with the breeding, selection and selling of new plant varieties. In this Nursery Paper Robert Chin, Nursery Industry Development Officer for Victoria will introduce you to the process of plant patents and how the may affect the way your protect your plants into the future. |
Supply Chain Management holds the key to the viability of nusery enterprisesIn this Nursery Paper Gerard McEvilly, Horticulture Supply Chain Services and Tom Rafferty, Supply Chain STO, highlight the hidden costs along the horticulture supply chain that are within our control or influence. The industry has plenty of information and tools to help build effective business practices. Putting these to work will enable enterprises to seize the many opportunities offered. |
Electronic Pest, Disease, Beneficial & Weed Identification ToolThe Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) has completed an innovative project transferring a popular pest and disease identification handbook to an electronic format. The resource has all the data stored on a memory card that can be inserted into portable platforms such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and some Smartphones. The identification tool has almost 200 factsheets with 782 images and uses touch screen menu navigation. |
Plant health in AustraliaHistorically, interstate biosecurity risks within Australian
horticulture have been focused on the produce from food based
crops and the likely impact on state based primary industries.
In recent years state biosecurity agencies have identified the
increased pest risks associated with interstate greenlife trade
and are acting to minimise these risks through plant movement
regulations. The nursery industry must adapt to this increased
attention and enhanced regulatory pressure through professional
on-farm monitoring, record keeping and pest management.
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Training, Careers & Employment in HorticultureAccording to recent research, Amenity Horticulture is one of Australia's fastest growing industries, closely linked to urban development and lifestyle. Nursery and garden enterprises employ approximately 30 per cent of all workers in the 'agriculture' industry. Does a 'fast-growing industry' require special attention by government to assist it in the skilling and employment of personnel into the industry? Or, does the responsibility of this role lie on the shoulders of industry bodies and/or individual employers? The answer is both. In this Nursery Paper we look at training, career and employment in the 'fast-growing' Amenity Horticulture Industry, how government is helping us in these areas and what we as industry are doing to help ourselves. |
Insurance in the nursery & garden industryRelying on Mother Nature to earn a living can be unpredictable and risky, regardless of the size or location of your business. Businesses in the Nursery Industry require robust risk management plants, tailored insurance products and services and the support of their Industry Association to guide them through the myriad of issues. In this Nursery Paper, we take a closer look at the insurance and risk management advice and benefits to your business.
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Grow Me Instead - How the nursery industry is addressing the spread of invasive plantsAs environmental awareness among the Australian community escalates, the need for Nursery & Garden Industry (NGIA) to promote its environmental credentials has never been more vital. In recent years, NGIA has taken significant steps to address key environmental issues. |
Supporting and Advancing Australian Plant Breeding
Australian plant breeders have developed many improved native trees and shrubs that are widely sold in Australia and planted in gardens. A small number of companies are exporting the intellectual property of innovative native plants suitable for seasonal potted colour and bedding to overseas markets and reversing the traditional flow of royalties. A few have had international success with exotics such as proteas, petunias and Madeira daisies. Other organisations are hoping for international sales. While there are some great success stories, the breeders and marketers we surveyed signposted numerous difficulties in breeding and marketing new plants. In this Nursery Paper, the second of a two-part series on plant breeding, horticultural writer Helen Moody examines a number of issues that could be addressed to give greater support to Australian plant breeding.
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Ornamental Plant Breeding in Australia
Many of the plants on the market are new, improved varieties. But does the industry, let alone consumers recognise the time, effort, expertise and cost involved in developing these plants? We pay a premium for a superior vintage wine or to eat at a first class restaurant, but are we prepared to pay more for better quality plants? The industry and gardeners should support our plant breeders and celebrate the fact that Australians are now developing and exporting our own flora rather than letting other countries reap the benefits. Australia has a greater gene pool of flowering plants than any country in the world, but in the past we have been slow to recognise the value and commercial potential of our native plants. In this Nursery Paper, freelance horticultural writer Helen Moody discusses and applauds plant breeding in Australia.
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Working towards greener cities
Nursery & Garden Industry Australia NGIA hosted the inaugural urban GreenScapes Symposium on 17 February 2009 to unveil the benefits of plants and green-life in the urban landscape and to encourage collaboration between all stakeholder groups to drive unity of message and develop awareness to create greener Australian cities. This Nursery Paper discusses the aims of the Symposium and the resulting outcomes.
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Assessment of hand watering in production and retail nurseries
During 2008, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia NGIA commissioned the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Queensland DPI&F, Qld to evaluate and quantify the efficiency of hand watering against other irrigation methodologies. In this month''s Nursery Paper, Dr. Rachel Pouler, DPI&F, Qld presents the results from this study.
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A generic economic decision model for the nursery industry to assess proposed changes to a business
Many production nurseries are faced with making business decisions on a daily basis such as production planning, irrigation management, human resource issues and other operational matters. In recent times the issue of water use efficiency and managing water resources has been of increasing concern to many nurseries. A change in managing water use efficiency usually comes at a cost to the business but if nothing is done this could be of greater detriment.
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Upgrading an irrigation system can improve water uniformity and reduce your operating expenses
Irrigation is a critical aspect to the success of any business growing and/or maintaining plants. With increased scrutiny of water usage, typically increasing charges in water and a reduced availability, all businesses should consider assessing the efficiency of their irrigation system to improve their triple bottom line. For many production nurseries the question is how to optimise production while reducing water use and doing this in an economic manner. This is the second part of a series of Nursery Papers on this topic. In this Nursery Paper Michael Danelon, Nursery & Garden Industry New South Wales & ACT NGINA Industry Development Officer IDO will identify the benefits of retrofitting an irrigation system in terms of the efficiencies gained to assist in justifying the return on investment to the business.
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Do soil moisture sensors have a role in containerised nursery production?
The focus on water use efficiencies has become more stringent recently and there is a call for all industries to be accountable for their water use, however the finger has definitely been pointed to the irrigation industries and outdoor water use. In response to a need to offer improved water use efficiency techniques and encourage adoption, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia NGIA has commissioned the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to undertake work in assisting adoption of innovative irrigation technologies. In this Nursery Paper Michael Danelon, Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT NGINA Industry Development Officer IDO, explores the use of soil moisture sensors and the ability of these devices to be applied to soilless based containerised nursery production to appropriately monitor and schedule irrigation and hence optimise crop production whilst achieving water use efficiency.
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Smart Approved WaterMark: Helping consumers make water-wise choicesOur latest research shows that consumers want to have sustainable gardens and are keen to use water-saving products to achieve them. This Nursery Paper gives you all the information you need on Smart Approved WaterMark, Australia?s labeling scheme for products and services that help save water in the garden and around the home, from how it works and the types of products that are included, to how to apply for the Smart Approved WaterMark and promoting the label to consumers. |
A taster of innovative technologies for the nursery & garden industry
Using innovative computer technologies creatively can provide a leading edge to your business, but currently how many in our industry can put their on hand on their heart and say they have exploited it to its full potential? These days the technology is more often than not being designed with the desire to keep it simple, user-friendly and often very cost effective. With society using these technologies as a ubiquitous part of their lives, why are we not exploiting these benefits and opportunties more for our industry? In this Nursery Paper, Marcus Ragus of the Natural Resources Department, TAFE Tasmania and Peter Bobbi, NGIT Industry Development Officer, provide examples of innovative technologies that are readily available and detail on what these can do for our industry.
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Changing perceptions for a stronger future
How does the industry change its unjustified image of ''unskilled'' and in turn, endeavour to increase salaries, business success, keep up with current trends and practices, make the industry attractive as a career choice and retain valuable personnel? In this Nursery Paper, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia NGIA National Training & Recognition Manager, Fiona Kelly, talks about the value of changing perceptions and the role all industry members must play to move the industry forward.
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Promoting the green credentials of the nursery & garden industry to the consumer through World Environment Day
World Environment Day is on June 5, and Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) is providing a unique opportunity to participate in the industry World Environment Day promotion throughout the month of June. The aim of the campaign, which falls under the Life is a Garden brand, ?Our Environment, Your Backyard?, is to get people out into their gardens to make a difference in their own backyards, in turn encouraging the purchase of more green-life.
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What is NIASA and how can it benefit you?
Just like many businesses in Australia, the nursery and garden industry has to deal with uncertain times. You only need to open a newspaper to read of rising interest rates and a global credit crunch, not to mention water shortages, global warming and carbon emissions. It can all get pretty gloomy, very quickly. Fortunately, our industry has schemes in place that can not only fortify your business but also help position you as an expert in your community when it comes to dealing with issues such as water conservation, resource management and biosecurity. This Nursery Paper will look at three production nurseries who have gained NIASA Accreditation and the positive impact that applying NIASA Best Management Practice has had on their business.
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