Latest Posts

New glasshouse tomato operation planned for Western Sydney

March 1, 2012
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NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell and Minister for the Environment Robyn Parker have announced a new commercial glasshouse project that will create jobs and food crops at Eastern Creek.Mr O’Farrell said the lease granted to Bennelong Holdings Pty Ltd on 16 hectares of Western Sydney Parklands land on the Great Western Highway will see 6.5 million kgs of truss tomatoes produced on the site each year.
“This is good news for the people of Western Sydney with the creation of 110 full-time jobs and it’s great for local food production with plans to supply the fresh fruit to Sydney supermarkets,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“It’s another step towards transforming this land into a thriving, sustainable commercial farming site and further securing Sydney’s food supply.

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Climate and financial studies

March 1, 2012

Victorian-based Graeme Smith Consulting is offering studies for new or existing protected cropping or hydroponic projects. The proposal is essentially a case-study to determine the production potential and capital costs that could be presented to a financial institution (or others) as a full business plan, and includes the following: Read More »

Good nutrition linked to a larger healthier brain

March 1, 2012

A recent study conducted by the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, USA, has found a direct link between healthy eating and heightened brain function.

“This research suggests that eating healthier foods rich in vitamins B, C, D and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, can significantly help to improve brain function and reduce brain shrinkage in older age,” said AUSVEG Senior Communications Officer, Courtney Burger.

AUSVEG is the National Peak Industry Body representing the interests of around 9,000 of Australia’s vegetable and potato growers.

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CubeCaps reduce water and fertiliser usage

March 1, 2012
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CubeCap is a patented water conservation tool and grow medium protector. CubeCap and DripCap are new developments, which aim to prevent or eliminate the algae that forms on rockwool growing blocks. Covering the top surface of a growing block should block and/or reflect incoming light needed by algae to grow and keeps the root zone temperature lower. Covering the grow block, water and nutrients can be saved by minimising unnecessarily uptake by non-adding value biomass and lowering evaporation from the growing block. DripCap will distribute the water and nutrients much more equal when compared with commonly used drippers. Read More »

Cygnus greenhouse control

March 1, 2012

For more than 30 years Hotraco has been manufacturing and supplying control systems, which provide both reliability and excellent value to their products. The experience gained in combination with the latest technology, provides a guarantee for state-of-the-art Hotraco products.

The CYGNUS-CO2 is a computer, which is suitable for greenhouses to control on/off heating and guard temperature, relative air humidity and CO2 level. The computer can be set with day/night time option in case different settings are required. Read More »

Australia’s largest tomato grower in voluntary administration

February 23, 2012

Australia’s largest tomato grower, SP Exports, has gone into voluntary administration. The Childers-based operation, near Bundaberg in southern Queensland, and in Victoria, is now in the hands of administrators.

Contributing to the company’s failure has been two chemical oversprays from nearby properties, last year’s floods, and low prices since 2001.  The company put more than 1160 hectares of farm land and four homes at Childers on the market last December as the company’s owners battled to keep the business running. Read More »

2012 Short Course

February 23, 2012

Dr James Rakocy, an aquaponics specialist, will  be special guest speaker at the Greenhouse Crop Production & Engineering Design Short Course to be held at the Westward Look Resort, Tucson, Arizona, USA, from 9-13 April 2012. The 2012 Short Course is organised by the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC). Special guest speakers also include Jennifer Nelkin, Greenhouse Director, Gotham Greens, New York City.

 For further information and registration go to: http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/