Managing Horticulture Crop Diseases

Today on Ground Cover, we're joined by Dr Jay Anderson, a plant pathologist with more than 20 years of industry experience.

She's also a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University, and her research to date has focused on integrated disease management using techniques such as plant breeding, plant selection for resistance, and optimised plant nutrition.

Jay is also working to better understand infection processes of pathogens to help target, control, and reduce losses due to disease.

In this episode, Jay talks about:

• How weather and climate change has a huge impact on diseases within horticulture crops
• Some of the work she's been doing in the Northern Rivers since the 2022 floods, particularly in the avocado and macadamia industries
• What farmers can do on their own properties to manage disease and what they should look for
• The best way to plan your farm and the importance of connecting with other farmers and grower groups to share information and ideas.

Find more resources on the Farming Together website: https://farmingtogether.com.au/