THE Australian melon industry will once again try to establish a research and marketing levy- the third attempt in a decade.
After a rough few years for the melon industry, the Australian Melon Association is proposing a levy package for all produce sold to give the industry a fresh start.
The move comes after devastating losses for the growers affected by the exotic cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) in both the NT and Queensland and Melon Necrotic Spot Virus in NSW and Victoria.
Charters Towers melon grower and AMA executive member Jon Caleo welcomed the proposal.
“The incursion of CGMMV has been a big wake-up call for melon growers in Australia,” he said.
“The CGMMV virus, transported through seed, was found on my property in Queensland and I can’t tell you how difficult it’s been for us all.”
Mr Caleo said that the situation was made that much more difficult because the melon industry is not signed up to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD).
“The industry hasn’t had a say in the response to the incursion because we’re not signatories to the agreement.
"Only EPPRD signatories are involved in any formal decision making, and we need to make sure that we are in future.
“I don’t want to go through this upheaval again and I wouldn’t want anyone else to either. We need to learn from this and be better prepared.”
In 2005, growers voted down a proposed marketing and research levy, while a watermelon levy also failed to gain support in 2011.
According to the AMA, the new proposal aims to improve the future biosecurity of the melon industry, as well as ensure that R&D is secured.
Melon growers around the country will be asked to consider the levy package in coming months.
Growers will be asked to pay a 0.5c/kg levy on all produce sold. This includes a 0.2c/kg PHA levy to pay for membership to Plant Health Australia and to fund biosecurity initiatives such as pest and disease monitoring, surveillance and education and extension services for growers.
An Emergency Plant Pest Response levy will be set at zero, only becoming positive in the future if the industry has to cost share an agreed emergency response.
This zero rated levy allows the industry to sign the EPPRD and be involved from the start for any future incursions.
The third component is an R&D levy of 0.3c/kg to conduct critical industry research to improve the productivity and profitability of the melon industry into the future.
The AMA says this is particularly needed since the change from HAL to the new grower owned organisation Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA), caused a shake-up for R&D for plant industries around the country.
The melon industry is one of the last to establish any statutory levies and, according to Mr Caleo, it will be a good investment.
“In the past we have relied on voluntary contributions from the committed few, but this levy system will mean that everyone will contribute to the betterment of our industry," he said.
"It’ll mean that we can make sure the right R&D is done and that we’ll be better prepared and empowered in the event of another exotic pest incursion.”
The AMA is coordinating the levy project. Grower information sessions will be conducted in September, information will be on the industry website and information packs sent to registered growers.
Voting on the proposed levies will begin in October.
