Pyrethrum growers visit China

By Eliza Wood

A land of contrasts and contradictions - that's China.A group of pyrethrum growers and field staff have returned from a two-week agricultural tour of the country.And while checking out China's pyrethrum industry turned out to be a minor part of the trip, there was still lots to see.Tim Groom from Botanical Resources Australia says he was struck by poverty and wealth living side by side."China is people on pushbikes with huge loads, that you can't conceive that anyone could actually cycle with. Dad's riding the bike and Mum's behind pushing for extra speed and they're being passed by Audis and Mercedes," he said.Field officer Pip Loane said the pollution was overwhelming."It was absolutely everywhere depending where the coal power stations and the chemical factories were positioned. In some places you could basically taste the metals in the air," she said.But the ingenuity of the glasshouses used for growing everything from flowers to fruit trees was impressive, according to field officer Jess Eglitis."They have the ability to grow things during their winter time, especially where snow falls, because of specially designed, insulated greenhouses," she said.
In this report: Tim Groom, manager agricultural businesses, Botanical Resources Australia; Pip Loane and Jess Eglitis, field officers, Botanical Resources Australia.

Apple crop well up on last year

By Cameron Wilson

Tasmania's apple crop is up about 20 per cent on last year.With the last fruit being picked this week, almost all growers are reporting an increase in yields. Australian Fruit Marketers managing director David Adams says its a return to a normal year after frost cut volumes last season."Obviously there are a few issues out there with lack of water and that hot, dry spell that we did have certainly does have some affect on the crop of fruit that you end up with."But it's not looking so bad and I think generally speaking growers are reasonably happy with the way the season's panned out so far."
In this report: David Adams, managing director Australian Fruit Marketers

Organic farming's compost woes

Report: Eliza Wood
Organic farming is coming under the spotlight because of some startling new information.It appears environmentally-conscious organic farmers might be contributing to environmental problems.Fresh research shows some farmers are being too heavy-handed with their compost, and this can lead to nutrients leaching into waterways, and more carbon being released into the atmosphere.Agricultural scientist Graeme Stevenson has been working on behalf of the Organic Coalition of Tasmania to bring together information he's gathered from organic farms over the past couple of decades.He says while the findings are shocking, he's hoping they'll lead to more professionalism in the industry."We pride ourselves as an industry in looking after the environment. This is a bit of an embarrassment. Well great, let's face it, we've found it, let's warn our growers and even build in in our certification a system of watching this a bit more. We've always been aware of over-application of compost as a general rule, but this is getting much more specific," he said.
In this report: Graeme Stevenson, agricultural scientist.

TPI Enterprises reveals its process

Report: Rosemary Grant
Tasmania's poppy processors are seeking increased quantities of poppies, and are offering farmers better contracts to grow at least 20,000 hectares of the specialist medicinal crop this year.All three companies operating in Tasmania have raised prices payed to farmers in a bid to increase production. The newest processor, TPI Enterprises, is also trying to extract more alkaloids using a unique patented process.TPI director, Jarrod Ritchie took reporter, Rosemary Grant inside the wire perimeter of TPI Enterprises' poppy processing facility near Cressy, to see the technology that extracts 98 per cent of the opiates from poppy straw and gives the company its competitive advantage."You can imagine essentially a large coffee percolator, or coffee plunder," Jarrod Ritchie said."We take that finely ground poppy straw, we don't use organic solvents in here, so we have a water based process. What we do is add a few little chemicals that are plant acids and that enables us to extract out from the poppy straw into a liquid, which we separate from the poppy straw using that large blue sort of plunger."
In this report: Jarrod Ritchie, director of TPI Enterprises

Michael Aird, MLC Treasurer

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
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TCCI Survey of Business Expectations
The Treasurer, Michael Aird, today said the latest TCCI Survey of Business Expectations showed Tasmanian businesses continued to have positive growth prospects.
Mr Aird said the TCCI’s business barometer indicator showed Tasmanian businesses believe growth will continue.
“While softer than the previous quarter’s result, it remains above the 50 threshold, which indicates the majority of survey respondents believe there are growth prospects for their businesses,” he said.
“Similarly, the general business conditions index declined in the March quarter but also remains in overall positive territory.”
Mr Aird said it was pleasing that Tasmanian businesses expected to increase their capital expenditure on building and structures and plant and equipment in the June quarter.
“Capital expenditure expectations for the June quarter remain above the 50 threshold, so businesses expect increased expenditure going forward.
“This is supported by recent data which show record levels of engineering construction work completed over the past year.”
Mr Aird said that that it was not unexpected that some indicators had softened from the March quarter survey results.
“It is not surprising to see an easing in some indicators and that confidence in both the Tasmanian and the national economies is lower than previous highs,” he said.
“This is entirely consistent with what is happening nationally and the Reserve Bank’s deliberate intent to slow domestic demand through interest rate rises.
“Tasmania is not shielded from the RBA’s actions.
“Survey respondents reported that the cost of finance/interest rates had become an increasing constraint on business growth in the March quarter.
“Inflationary pressures, with higher petrol prices and energy costs, will be having an effect on Tasmanian businesses.
“However, despite these headwinds, the survey clearly shows general business conditions remain in positive territory which shows the overall robustness of the business sector and the Tasmanian economy.”
Mr Aird said the survey showed the availability of suitably qualified employees continued to be the main constraint on business.
“Improving educational outcomes is a major focus for the Government.
“We are addressing the skills shortage through the Demographic Change Advisory Council and the Government’s Tasmania Tomorrow initiative, which is focused on improving post-school education and training opportunities.”

Michael Aird, MLC Treasurer

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Exports Still Buoyant
Exports from Tasmania remained at near record levels in the year to March 2008.
The Treasurer, Michael Aird, said Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released today show exports were valued at $369 million in March 2008.
“This is the second highest monthly total since the data series began 20 years ago,” Mr Aird said.
“Despite easing by 2.4 per cent, the value of exports reached $3.52 billion in the year to March 2008.
“This strong export result is in line with the findings of the TCCI Survey of Business Expectations released today, which found that Tasmanian businesses reported growth in export sales in the March quarter.”
Mr Aird said Asia remained the most important export destination for Tasmania, with Japan being the single largest importer of Tasmanian goods in the year to March 2008, accounting for 19.4 per cent of the State's total exports.
Hong Kong was the second largest importer, accounting for 12.5 per cent of total exports in the year to March 2008.
Mr Aird said China and Hong Kong combined now accounted for almost 21 per cent of all Tasmanian exports.

Beware the spell check.

Oops - Correction from Newsletter.

One should not hurry when writing a newsletter and emailing it to many people. For those whom read my newsletter, I am sure you managed a grin where the word cranage was subsituted by spell check with carnage (although for those whom know the job I am talking about, I am sure they would agree it was a freudian slip).

Sorry.