2020 MEMBER UPDATE Orange you glad you were a member in 2020? - Citrus Australia
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2020 MEMBER UPDATE Orange you glad you were a member in 2020?
“This is going straight DEC 2019
Record breaking citrus exports
to the pool room...” reach 272,000 tonnes
Let’s raise a glass to some of industry’s wins and
highlights over the past 12 months.
APR 2020 After consultation and planning with industry and government we
NOV 2019 7,000 plant traces are investigated across Australia for Citrus
drive a process which sees the KCT list approved and published
canker, and WA is officially declared canker free.
six months earlier than last season.
After consultation with industry an emergency plant pest levy
Citrus Australia launches the Guide to COVID-19 in the Orchard
to repay the citrus canker response is set at $1.05/tonne from 1
and Packing Shed to all members and growers.
January 2020.
Our advocacy results in the extension of visas for SWP, PLS and
We continue to represent industry in the Citrus canker response,
WHM workers already in the country.
with the last known detection in the NT in June 2019.
Citrus Australia successfully advocates for remote KCT audits
DEC 2019 Record breaking citrus exports reach 272,000 tonnes, breaking and assists growers and packers with KCT queries and issues
half a million-dollars in exports, driven by increased mandarin throughout the season.
volume. orange diet soft
juice drink
JUL 2020 Citrus Australia’s lobbying and work with NSW DPI sees the
JAN 2020 Citrus Australia works with industry to push through the border between Vic and NSW reopen to seasonal workers.
Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement to allow easier access to
skilled overseas workers in horticulture. We lobby state and federal government to address flaws in the
Health Star Rating.
FEB 2020 Citrus Australia campaigns for fairer pricing of juice oranges,
raising awareness of decreasing production base and increasing SEP 2020 Citrus Australia’s lobbying gets the Agriculture Code across the
costs; prices climb to over $400/tonne. line for NSW, Vic, SA and NT.
MAR 2020 The Citrus Market Outlook Forum sells out in Melbourne and is OCT 2020 Citrus Australia successfully advocates for all states to opt in to
our biggest yet with over 220 attendees. the SWP restart. Work continues in NSW and Vic to replicate Qld
model for SWP quarantine.
Citrus Australia announces a $200,000 traceability pilot project
with the Victorian government. Traceability pilot project concludes, 400,000 units are sent to
China with the Laava thumbprint, scans by consumers are
Queensland citrus season kicks off as COVID-19 is declared detected in China from over 50 cities.
a global pandemic and Australia’s borders close to Seasonal
Workers on their way from the Pacific. Surveillance for citrus psyllids in urban environments added to
ongoing on farm trapping.
We become part of COVID-19 working groups with state
governments and the horticulture industry across Australia, and DEC 2020 NT on track to be declared Citrus canker free by December 2020.
join the NFF Horticulture Council to collaborate on advocacy
matters.
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A note from Although industry successfully
completed the 2020 harvest, Citrus
Crushing COVID-19
Nathan Australia continues to lobby government
to recognise the shortage of labour
for the 2021 harvest, and to work with
Citrus Australia has dedicated considerable resources to the
industry to create meaningful solutions.
COVID-19 response to ensure industry stays ahead of the
Thank you for supporting curve, and continues to be able to operate in a COVID-19 safe
Alongside labour, we will continue to
Citrus Australia. advocate for, and work with government environment into the future.
on, other issues, including water,
Grower levies fund our team to lead infrastructure, energy and minimisation
The pandemic kicked off at the start of
industry in areas of market access, of red tape.
the mandarin harvest for Queensland
biosecurity, agrichemicals and more, Congratulations on rising to the where we worked with local and state
but it is membership support from you challenge and continuing to operate government in the Burnett region to
Our borders were shut a fortnight later
that enables us to advocate for grower
and since then, we have had to navigate despite constant barriers. We look ensure that: Our lobbying has
requirements now and into the future.
national and state-wide lockdowns, forward to working with you again in • orchards and packing sheds resulted in the reopening
This work has never been more government-issued COVID-19 business 2021. could continue to operate in a safe of the Vic/NSW border
important than in our COVID-affected requirements and a diminished labour Stay safe, and keep washing your hands. environment to seasonal workers, and
world. field. • growers could isolate staff if there the restart of the Seasonal
was an outbreak Worker Programme by all
It’s surreal to think back to March, when Your support has enabled us to
several speakers at our Market Outlook represent you at government department • growers increased hygiene and social citrus growing states and
Forum tried to forecast how COVID-19, meetings, to ensure your requirements distancing to avoid being closed
down
territories in Australia.
which was then most prominent in China, are acknowledged and met, and to
would affect Australian exports. influence government policy. • enough workers were able to travel to
NATHAN HANCOCK, CEO
regions
• freight could still travel between
states and ports and trade remained
open
• PPE, supplies, and accommodation
options remained available to
industry.
As harvest commenced in other regions
across Australia, we pushed for these
We created the Citrus Australia Guide via phone calls, emails, online updates
allowances in all states.
to COVID-19 in the Orchard and and a new section on our website.
We continue be active on federal, state Packing Shed, a 60-page document to
assist growers and packers to manage Our forward planning and continued
and local government working groups
COVID-19 in the workplace. support for COVID-19 recovery will be
where necessary, and to liaise with
available to Citrus Australia members.
members to hear challenges being faced
We also provided crisis management
in each region.
support to all of industry for six months,
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FROM SEED TO TABLE: Where does Citrus Australia fit in?
Biosecurity Variety & Rootstock Committee R&D Market access & development National & regional forums Advisory Committees
• Signatory to the Deed, representing • Linking breeding and evaluation • Shaping industry growth via R&D • Developing and diversifying market • Education and networking • Regional and Issue based; local
industry in an exotic pest incursion projects to commercial outcomes based on grower consultation access opportunities locally and growers, packers and industry
• Advocating for nursery regulation, • Sourcing publicly available genetics • Collaborating with international • Tree census – collecting and reporting internationally experts
increased border surveillance, for assessment in Australia; focus networks to identify R&D priorities data to inform planting decisions • Discuss grower member concerns
tougher penalties on HLB resistance in each region and take action
IMPORT & QUARANTINE PLAN & PLANT Water
• Advocating for deliverability
and availability of water to
citrus growing regions
Market information & quality Market development
• Pre-season maturity testing • Training growers and packers in Agrichemicals
• Weekly reports on domestic market Freshcare • Identifying new processes
Market access & development Labour maturity testing throughout harvest • Export protocols - KCT registration and new chemistry to bring
• Responding to issues in market • Advocating for access to seasonal and • Crop forecasting and government consultation to Australia
throughout the season, engaging with skilled workers, and for changes to • KCT pest monitor training • Assisting growers to move
growers and government visas and sponsorship of workers Pest & Disease Committee towards ultra-low residue
• Engaging with retail sector as required • COVID-19 support Energy & Infrastructure • Identifying biosecurity threats to levels while maintaining
• Advocating for efficiency, access industry protection from pests and
• Communicating with industry on issues • Guidance and support in managing
and investment in infrastructure and • Preparing strategies and diseases
and advocating for solutions workforce
affordable, reliable energy operational responses
HARVEST, PACK & PROCESS GROW
Market information, Domestic & Export Committees Juice Committee Industry engagement R&D
access & development • Staying up to date with current events, • Identifying challenges in the • Sharing updates with growers • R&D on understanding
• Collating and distributing industry data; sharing real-time information Australian fresh juice industry through e-news and magazine consumer preferences
market reports, export reports • Identifying opportunities and challenges • Advocating for policy change to • Managing media
encourage consumer consumption • Consumer marketing content,
Food safety
• Ensuring access to markets remains open
• Developing and diversifying market access Agrichemicals • Impacting the juice sector to increase images, and social media • Ensuring consumers receive
profitability and ensure the continuity fresh, safe, healthy citrus
• Liaising with international governments
regarding residues in fresh produce of fresh juice in Australia
DISTRIBUTION CONSUMPTION
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Regional Advisory Committees
Our regional advisory committees have been working hard behind the scenes this
year, supporting Citrus Australia by speaking with members, and providing evidence
of regional challenges, so we could ensure that the agriculture industry was deemed
an essential service during COVID-19.
Far North Queensland Regional Murray Valley Regional Advisory Queensland Regional Advisory Riverina Regional Advisory WA Citrus Sub-Committee of the
Advisory Committee (FNQRAC) Committee (MVRAC) Committee (QRAC) Committee (RRAC) Agricultural Produce Commission Reach out to your
regional RAC chair
DEBBIE CAAMANO DAVID STEVENS CRIS BRYANT JOSEPH LING
any time to have
ANDREW CREEK
Caamano Farms Ellerslie North Citrus Blue Cow Citrus NSW DPI AGRIFresh your concerns
E. chairfnqrac@ E. chairmvrac@ E. chairqrac@ E. chairwarac@
discussed at
E. chairrrac@
citrusaustralia.com.au citrusaustralia.com.au citrusaustralia.com.au citrusaustralia.com.au citrusaustralia.com.au committee level.
2021 PRIORITIES 2021 PRIORITIES 2021 PRIORITIES 2021 PRIORITIES 2021 PRIORITIES
Eradicating mites and spotting Water availability and deliverability Increasing export market Continued water deliverability and Improving packouts by conducting on the
bug, classifying new pest species, intelligence, and improving export access ground research in WA, for example addressing
and determining suitability of Labour, sourcing skilled workers, and legal protocols for lemons and limes wind blemish, albedo
agrichemicals to combat this workers Combating declining Valencia prices
Investigating new agrichemical Expanding access to premium export markets for
Sourcing unskilled and skilled Exotic pest and disease prevention, fast products to replace deregistered Eradication of Gall wasp WA fruit by improving protocols and accessing
workers to meet demands under the action to clean budwood formulas skills in WA
Horticulture Award Labour, and how to find suitable
Agrichemicals, find new products to Continued focus and investment workers for skilled vacancies Reducing risks to WA citrus businesses through
Reviewing export protocols for replace deregistered products into biosecurity for Queensland improving preparedness, particularly surveillance
lemon and limes, and standardising Seeking innovative and sustainable and urban community engagement
specifications Increasing export market opportunities for Exploring innovative and evolving agrichemical solutions that meet
overrun fruit farming practices and technologies, required standards Accessing and sharing information on best
Managing biosecurity risks for far such as tree mapping drones practices for business, production & markets
north Queensland, particularly for plantings and tree health
Citrus canker and fruit fly and robotic machinery, and Proactive engagement with supply chain
communicating this with growers members and politicians on impacts to revenue
Advocating for legislation and such as ethical workforce standards, databars,
infrastructure that ensures adequate Government advocacy, particularly food safety auditing, labour, water, biosecurity,
water allocations for irrigators regarding the Horticulture Award and exports
and water security
8 | CITRUS AUSTRALIA
We’re in your corner So, why should I renew?
Your support gives Citrus Australia the ability Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has thrown at us, we’ve been working hard at
to stand up and make change; to ensure strengthening what we can offer our members.
that government policy settings, laws and
regulations are in your favour. Behind the scenes we’ve been:
Some of our recent work:
Updating our grower data and contact information to ensure we are sending you the most relevant
• Our response to COVID-19 on a state and national level information for your region, and so that we can accurately represent industry with statistics to government.
• Citrus canker eradication in the NT and WA
• Better transparency in the Victorian water markets
• Better regulation, compliance, enforcement and transparency
in the Murray Darling Basin water markets Expanding our networks to get you more tailored and useful information from industry specialists in a
• Lobbying against the reduction of the Paradise Dam in the range of fields: from water trading to juice processing to protecting your assets through agrichem retention
Burnett Region and the continuation of water infrastructure and biosecurity preparedness.
projects to ensure the same level of water availability
• Lobbying against increased export fees by the Federal
Department of Agriculture Changing the way we communicate with you by introducing a new member exclusive newsletter,
• Getting the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement across the introducing a ‘member home page’ online, creating a Facebook citrus growers’ group, and sharing more
line, to allow specialist workers to be sponsored from overseas regular information on grants, courses, podcasts and events of interest to you.
• Support to keep 88 days of horticulture work as a requirement
for the Working Holiday Maker visa
• Support for the National Agriculture Workforce Strategy, and
escalation of the challenges industry faces nationwide Acting on your feedback from surveys and from our chats with you by writing stories and sharing more
• Contribution to the AgVet chemical regulatory reform targeted information based on what you’ve asked for.
• Support for towers in mobile black spots in growing regions
nationwide
• Lobbying against plant export cost recovery
• Planning for on-farm accommodation in Victoria Boosting our benefits (check them out on our website under ‘Why Join?’), engaging with industry minded
• Property Identification reform supporters who offer opportunities for growth, and should our borders permit it, planning to see a lot more
• Highlighting challenges that must be overcome for government of you next year.
to reach their goal of $100B agriculture industry by 2030
• Lobbying for fresh Australian orange juice to keep its 5-star
health star rating You can find out more about our government
• Giving evidence to support an Agriculture Code of Conduct advocacy, and view our submissions, on the We invite you to renew your membership in 2021, and we wish you a successful,
between states Citrus Australia website under ‘Policy’. profitable and sustainable season.
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Citrus Australia Ltd
94 Lemon Avenue, Mildura Victoria 3500
P: 03 5023 6333 | F: 03 5023 3877
E: office@citrusaustralia.com.au
www.citrusaustralia.com.au
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