Melons Australia's CEO Update


Welcome everyone to the latest update from Melons Australia on the happenings of the past month and some future activities that we need your attention to, and engagement in.

Our Melons Australia team, supported by the deliberations of our Board, have been busy squaring away what is designed to be a challenging and future focussed agenda for our upcoming Melon Conference, being held at Rydges Southbank, Brisbane on Wednesday 4th June 2025 (9.30am-3.30pm). Registration and to attend the conference is free of charge to all within the melon industry, however we do need people to register ASAP so we can ensure we have sufficient room to fit everyone in. To register for the conference, click HERE. Don't miss this opportunity to shape the future of the melon industry and gain actionable insights to grow your business.

Following our first conference in over 6 years, we will also be hosting on the evening of Wednesday 4th June 2025 our Australian Melon Association Inc, 30th anniversary celebration. This cocktail event is a ticketed occasion at $50 per head, and will provide an opportunity to reflect on where the organisation and industry have come in 30 years while enjoying delicious food and refreshments with plenty of time for reconnecting and networking. Numbers for this event are strictly limited and tickets are available here on a first come first served basis.

To support our industry members who are tossing up what to do with their children – don’t worry as we also have secured child-minding and babysitting services alongside our events, so you can bring the kids with you and just let us know their names and age so we can secure spots for them too – to use this service please contact Courtney at comms@melonsaustralia.org.au

And while we have been preparing for these fantastic opportunities for engagement with our industry, we have also been on the ground at the Foodex Tradeshow in Japan representing our industry's interests. Our team have also been busy engaging with decision makers to support industry adoption and implementation of the new Food Safety Standards and we have worked with other peak bodies and the NFF Hort Council to seek a 12 month delay of the implementation across those jurisdictions where they were not prepared for implementation in February 2025. We will provide a broader update on these developments in the near future – stay tuned.

I am currently preparing to attend the upcoming Northern Australia Food Futures Conference in Darwin from 7-9 April 2025 and our team is also gearing up for a Melon RD&E Update webinar to provide insights on developments within the Food Safety, Pest and Disease Management, Quality Improvement and Sustainability projects that are underway (see more details later in E-news).

As always, if there is anything that the Melons Australia team can support or assist you with please feel free to reach out.

Johnathon Davey CEO

E: ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au

P: +61 407 032 023

www.melonsaustralia.org.au

Opportunities Available - Moshie Lean Leaders, Online Program


The online program has been postponed and is now set to kick off on 7 May and there are funded places available for melon levy paying growers.

The Lean Leaders Program is perfect for anyone leading a team—whether small or large—this program equips you with tools to improve operations, drive team performance, and create a culture of continuous improvement.

For more information click here > Melon Moshie Lean Leaders

Support for Training Opportunities open to all levy payers

If you are a melon levy payer and there is a business development and/or leadership training opportunity that you believe will help your business and the industry improve you may be eligible for support from the industry to help you achieve your training goals.

Similarly if you have an idea of the type of training you would like to do or outcomes you would like to achieve but don’t know how to find a suitable course we can help you.

For mor information please contact Joanna Embry at Melons Australia (biosecurity@melonsaustralia.org.au) ph: 0439 627 845

Brix Variations within Melons Being Tested - Melon Quality Project


Work is underway to gain a better understanding of how Brix develops and varies within melons. The aim is to identify the best place to take a sample from to get the most accurate representation of the Brix level of the entire fruit, and therefore its overall maturity.

This work will enable the project team to validate and potentially improve the sampling and measurement protocols that were developed by the project team and distributed to growers at the end of 2024.

The protocols distributed to growers at the end of 2024 were based on the protocols developed in 2007 by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, which are the accepted industry standard.

Project Lead, Mark Loeffen says, “A key part of this project is providing a robust sampling and measurement protocol to help the Australian melon industry consistently meet the new minimum maturity standards for watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew. The research we are doing now involves testing Brix levels throughout the fruit to determine how the Brix levels vary, and ultimately where in the fruit we should be selecting samples from to measure Brix.

Mark says the research results to date are already indicating that the current protocols for rockmelons and honeydew are fit for purpose as they are. The watermelon testing is still ongoing.

In the upcoming Melons Australia RD&E WEBINAR – 2pm 29th April 2025, Mark Loeffen from Delytics will be providing more insight into how this work is progressing.

VM22001 Project Update: Gummy stem blight and anthracnose in melons - what are your risk factors?


Melon crops can be very susceptible to the diseases gummy stem blight and anthracnose but when is this likely and why?

The high-risk windows for development of these diseases are weather patterns that promote free water. High humidity accompanying rainfall, heavy dews or fog will result in long periods of vine wetness. Infection by both gummy stem blight and anthracnose are favoured by these conditions. This is largely temperature independent but more likely with warmer conditions. Free water for about an hour is enough for infection to occur with gummy stem blight and disease severity increases with continued vine wetness. For anthracnose, maximum disease development occurs after 16 h of wetness. It is therefore useful to manage both diseases together.

Old melon crop debris is a high-risk source of these diseases for younger plantings. Both diseases are spread in aerosols and with water. Young seedlings are at high risk from these diseases if planting into or next to old melon crop debris. Agreco Australia field trial work has shown very high mortality of seedlings to these diseases when planted into old plastic, especially with crop debris on the surface. By contrast, seedlings planted into new plastic with no debris had very high survival rates.

In the upcoming Melons Australia WEBINAR – 2pm 29th April 2025, Cherie Gambley from Agreco will be providing more insight into this research and the work the project has been doing.

A factsheet developed by Agreco on gummy stem blight is also available HERE.

Rockmelon seedlings about two weeks after planting into new plastic with no old crop debris (left photo) and old plastic with high amounts of old crop debris (right).



Growers Guide to Pest Reporting and Responses – a quick and easy way to keep up to date!


Online training can be an effective way to stay up-to-date and informed on a range of topics including on-farm biosecurity. To support easier access to our online training, Plant Health Australia has recently updated its Growers Guide to Pest Reporting and Responses course to provide a better user experience on mobile devices and for those who have English as a second language.

The Growers Guide to Pest Reporting and Responses course is a free resource for growers, farm managers and farm workers to learn more about plant biosecurity. The course provides valuable insights into:
  • the benefits of biosecurity for protecting crops, production systems and livelihoods
  • possible impacts of pests
  • biosecurity practices that can protect crops
  • steps to take if you spot anything unusual
  • joint response from government and industry to a pest.
 

This free resource is an effective way for farm managers and staff to help make biosecurity an everyday practice.

To complete Growers Guide to Pest Reporting and Responses course, log into Biosecurity Online Training (BOLT). While you're there explore the other free e-learning courses related to biosecurity and emergency plant pest and disease preparedness.

For any questions or feedback on the courses, please email the Plant Health Australia training team at training@phau.com.au.

Industry Liason Officer Training Program - Sign up now!


Plant Health Australia (PHA) is offering a comprehensive and free Industry Liaison Officers (ILO) training program to ensure our industry is well-prepared for plant pest responses.

ILOs are essential during emergency plant pest responses, serving as the link between the Incident Management Team and the affected industry party.

Why you should attend

We need ILO’s so that in the case of an exotic pest incursion we have industry members at the ready who have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively respond to biosecurity emergencies and support the melon industry. By attending the training, you will:
  • learn about the incident management structure and the critical function of an ILO during a response.
  • learn practical skills and knowledge to how an ILO can contribute to biosecurity response
  • connect with government stakeholders and plant industries.
  • develop skills and knowledge required to contribute to response planning.
  • recognise workplace health and safetythreats and steps to reduce risks.
  • build relationships and networks with industry stakeholders and jurisdictional staff.
 

A number of courses have already been confirmed for 2025 (see below with links to registration forms).
 

We would strongly encourage anyone within industry who is interested in assisting to strengthen our biosecurity system and help our growers manage the risk of an exotic incursion to sign up for this important and rewarding role.

If you have any questions or concerns or need assistance with the registration process, please contact the PHA training team at training@phau.com.au or contact biosecurity@melonsaustralia.org.au

Export of Fresh Cucurbit Species to NZ under the Winter Window Pathway


An Industry Advice Notice (IAN) has recently been released, by the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to advise industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses for fresh cucurbit species (including honeydew, rockmelon, and watermelon) under the winter window pathway listed in the New Zealand Export Plan. Please click on the link below for more information and links to the necessary application forms.

2025-11: Horticulture – Applications for the export of cucurbit species to New Zealand under the winter window pathway - DAFF

Important Dates to note are:
  • Farms and packhouses intending to export under the winter window pathway (1 May to 1 September 2025) must apply for accreditation to the Audit and Assurance Branch by COB Friday 11 April 2025, to be an accredited property under the NZEP.
  • Crop monitors must register to conduct crop monitor training by completing and submitting the Crop Monitor Training Request Form, including those who have completed training in previous seasons.
  • Crop monitors must complete the training and pass the assessments by COB Friday 18 April 2025.
 

Important notes about CGMMV PFPP requirements – Farms
  • Currently, only Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory have systems approved to manage CGMMV PFPPs. Therefore, only farms in these states or territories can export cucurbit species to NZ.
  • Farms are required to provide their certificate of accreditation as a PFPP and endorsed property plan at the time of applying to the department or during the department audit.
 

If you need assistance with your application for accreditation please contact Joanna Embry, Melons Australia Biosecurity Officer by email HERE.

2026 Nuffield Scholarships


Applications for the 2026 Nuffield Scholarships are now open. A Nuffield Scholarship is 15 weeks of unique learning, with business friendships formed with our global network – over 500 scholars in Australia and 2,000 worldwide,

The scholarships aim is to:
🌏 Help you step away from your business, explore the world, and gain fresh insights with a prestigious Nuffield Scholarship.
🤝 Connect with a global network of industry leaders and innovative agribusinesses.
🔬 Research a topic that will drive real change for your farm, community, or the future of Australian agriculture.

Support for Primary Producers Affected by North Queensland Floods


Primary producers in northern Queensland affected by the recent high rainfall and flooding now have access to various support measures to aid in their recovery.


Assessing Damage: To help evaluate the full extent of the damage, primary producers are encouraged to report losses via the Disaster Impact Survey. These reports assist in determining additional recovery needs, and including date-stamped photos is essential.


Financial Assistance: A range of financial recovery assistance options are available, including:
  • Disaster Assistance Loans:Low-interest loans of up to $250,000 are available for primary producers to repair or replace damaged plant and equipment, repair premises, replace stock, and maintain liquidity.
  • Essential Working Capital Loans: Concessional loans up to $100,000 are available for primary producers to maintain operations, including paying wages, rents or rates, purchasing items like fuel, fodder, and water, or for the transportation of livestock and produce. 
  • Freight Subsidies: Assistance is available to help with moving livestock, fodder, and building equipment.
  • Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants: Grants of up to $75,000 are available for affected primary producers to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing, and other costs associated with the recovery process.
  • Support for Replanting: In a joint announcement, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister and Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett MP have confirmed that disaster recovery grants can now be used for replanting crops destroyed in the recent floods. This amendment allows farmers to access grants of up to $75,000 to assist with replanting, purchasing fertilizer, and other activities necessary to re-establish destroyed crops. 
 

Check if your local government area is eligible for support under the North and Far North Tropical Low assistance. For loan applications and eligibility, visit QRIDA or call 1800 623 946.

Geared Up Workforce


📢 Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers are coming to Northern QLD next month with their Geared up Workforce workshop. Introducing targeted HR & IR training. This practical training combines compliance essentials with the core people management skills needed in today’s workplaces.

Details are below, just copy the links in to your browser for more information and to register:
📍 Mareeba Fri, 4 April - REGISTER HERE
📍 Innisfail Sat, 5 April - REGISTER HERE

💡 Topics covered include:
✅ Horticulture Award interpretation
✅ Contracts of employment
✅ Delivering feedback & performance management
✅ HR & Fair Farms Q&A

Plus, participating businesses receive:
✔️ Horticulture Award salary calculator
✔️ Performance Improvement to Management Kit
✔️ Casual Contract of Employment Templates
✔️ Access to workbooks, checklists & templates
✔️ HR Traffic Light Audit + personalised recommendations

RD&E Project Update Webinar


Melons Australia would like to invite you to a one hour webinar on Tuesday 29th April at 2pm (AEST) to provide an update on a number of melon levy funded projects including:
  • Identification and Management of a Fungal Disease Complex in Melons (VM22001) – Gummy stem blight and anthracnose in melons: What are your risk factors?
  • Melon Food Safety Monitoring and Support – Phase II (VM24001)
  • Strengthening the Sustainability of Melon Production (VM23001)
  • Melon Quality Improvement Program (VM23002)
 

Brief 10 minute presentations from each of the project leads will be followed by an opportunity for questions.

This is a great opportunity for you to see where your levy funds are being spent!

For any questions, please contact Jo at: biosecurity@melonsaustralia.org.au

Mataranka Regional Roadshow


The Northern Territory Farmers Association (NT Farmers), in collaboration with Melons Australia, are excited to invite you to participate in the upcoming Mataranka Regional Roadshow on the 27 & 28 May 2025. The theme of this roadshow is focused on 'Planning for the Future,' emphasising drought preparedness and community resilience.

As the trusted representative and advocate for the plant-based industries in the Northern Territory, NT Farmers is committed to promoting agricultural development and supporting growers through various services. We believe in fostering agriculture that prioritises environmental stewardship, innovation, market research, technology, and infrastructure.

The Mataranka roadshow will feature engaging speakers from industry (including Melons Australia), research, government, and the local community, as well as networking opportunities showcasing local products. We invite passionate supporters of agriculture to enhance our event by hosting a farm or business visit during the roadshow. This will highlight innovative farming practices, diversification opportunities, and sustainable agricultural solutions for the future.

Highlights include:
  • Interactive forum exploring regional challenges and opportunities
  • Half-day field trip showcasing local growers
  • Discussions on sustainable development, and industry updates.
  • Networking with industry leaders, researchers, local growers, and community members
 

Australian Melon Conference 2025


The Melon Conference 2025 is set to deliver a bold, future-focused agenda designed to challenge, inform, and inspire. Join us at Rydges Southbank, Brisbane, on Wednesday 4th June 2025 (9:30 AM – 3:30 PM) for a day packed with insightful discussions, industry updates, and networking opportunities.

💡 Registration is FREE for all within the melon industry, but spaces are limited. Register now to secure your spot!
Bringing the kids? We’ve got you covered!

To make attending easier for families, on-site child-minding and babysitting services will be available. Just let us know your child’s name and age, and we’ll take care of the rest! To book this service, contact Courtney at 📧 comms@melonsaustralia.org.au

Melons Australia's 30th Anniversary


After the conference, join us for the Australian Melon Association Inc. 30th Anniversary Celebration! 🎊 This exclusive cocktail event on Wednesday evening is the perfect opportunity to reflect on 30 years of industry growth, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and connect with fellow industry professionals.

🎟️ Tickets are just $50 per person, but numbers are strictly limited. Don’t miss out – grab yours today!
Bringing the kids? We’ve got you covered!

To make attending easier for families, on-site child-minding and babysitting services will be available. Just let us know your child’s name and age, and we’ll take care of the rest! To book this service, contact Courtney at 📧 comms@melonsaustralia.org.auBringing the kids? We’ve got you covered!

Hort Connections 2025


Early Bird passes for Hort Connections 2025 are officially on sale!

Hort Connections 2025 promises to deliver even more opportunities to:
  • Grow your network, knowledge, and business with access to world-class educational content and networking events,
  • Connect with industry professionals, including growers, packers, processors, retailers, researchers, and industry leaders,
  • Thrive through innovative horticulture practices, new sustainability solutions, agtech advances, emerging horticulture trends or alternative opportunities.
 

Date: Wednesday 4th – Friday 6th June 2025

Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre


Contact:

Melons Australia

E: ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au

Copyright © 2023 Melons Australia

All rights reserved.

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