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Agronomy
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22/10/2024
Lockyer Valley Expo demonstrates outstanding performance of Zorvec® Enicade®
It’s a special year for Mitchell Moffatt, with his family business, Moffatt Fresh Produce, celebrating 100 years since it first began growing vegetables in South East Queensland.
“It’s pretty special,” the fourth-generation grower said.
“It’s definitely had its challenges in the last 100 years that’s for sure. The business has seen a lot of change, especially in the last 15 to 20 years.
Mitchell Moffatt
“We’ve had to get quite big or go out, so we expanded quite rapidly.”
Moffatt Fresh Produce now has operations in the Lockyer Valley, Darling Downs, Stanthorpe and Aratula, producing celery, carrots, onions and pumpkins for the domestic and international market.
“Carrots and celery are grown all year round, onions are grown for four months and pumpkins are grown for seven months of the year,” he said.
“It’s very tough going. Costs are just getting out of control and the cost of production is nearly outweighing what we’re getting for our produce unfortunately.”
Protecting the crop from disease is critical, and the Moffatts have been using Zorvec® Enicade® for several years in their onion crops.
“It’s probably been the best thing we’ve seen for the control of Downy mildew,” he said.
“We’d struggle without it, and it’s worked well at Aratula where we get high humidity.”
Zorvec® Enicade® provides growers with an unmatched consistency and long-lasting control of Downy mildew. It’s highly effective because it affects multiple stages of the disease life cycle, and acropetal movement in the plant helps to protect new growth. Rain will not wash it off, even as little as 20 minutes after the spray residue has dried on the leaves.
Muirs Sales Representative, Murray Hughes, has been working with Mr Moffatt for the last decade and says Zorvec has proven itself.
“Mitchell has had good results with it,” says Mr Hughes.
Corteva Territory Account Manager, Adam Harber, Muirs Sales Representative, Murray Hughes & Moffatt Fresh Produce Managing Director, Mitchell Moffatt.
“I do a run over to the Fassifern area once a week and Mitch and I do our rounds and monitor the crops.”
Mr Hughes says the industry has changed markedly compared to when he began 30 years ago.
“I don't think agriculture gets enough recognition with what has been achieved in terms of innovation and how they’ve adapted,” he said.
“The Mitchells and the younger growers have had to adapt just to survive.
“It means we’re left with not only the best farmers but the best marketers because if you haven’t got the market right, you’ve got nothing right.”
Mr Hughes said events such as the Lockyer Valley Growers Expo helped to connect growers and other important players in the industry.
“I think it’s a great value,” he said.
“The effort and the work that goes into it is a credit to everyone involved. It’s great for farming in general to meet and swap ideas.”
Corteva Agriscience Territory Account Manager south-east Queensland, Adam Harber, said Muirs is also playing a vital role.
“Zorvec Enicade is a premium product for Downy mildew control in onions and various crops,” Mr Harber said.
“It’s always been part of resistance management rotation for Downy mildew and Muirs do a great job stewarding this.”
