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Nursery
Technical Data
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Capacity:
Bandicoot
Nursery is a partnership
business owned and managed by Bill and Liz Hollingworth.
We have
been growing plants commercially
since 1985. Seed propagation into cell trays has been our main method
although
we have developed the clonal propagation capacity in large numbers
since
1998.
The
nursery is located on the
Albany Highway 7kms
south of Mt
Barker in the Great
Southern Region.
Infrastructure &
Resources:
- NIASA
accreditation since
1997
- Capacity
of 6,500 000 cell
plants
- Water
supply from on-farm dams
(TSS 20ms) as
well
as mains supply (TSS 100ms)
- One
frost day per annum with
sensor activated frost
protection system.
- Overhead
automatic sprinkler
system with
fertilizer
injection
- Raised
steel bench system.
- Seedlings
supplied in 50mm
x 125mm Forestry tubes,
with root-trainers and airpruned.
- Soil
mix is composted pinebark
from Depiazzi of Dardenup.
- KW
Engineering 100EM pneumatic
seeder,
prefer to seed end Nov, early Dec.
- Seed
treated is requested
- Trays
are shrink-wrapped and
stacked post
seeding.
- Coolroom
available for germination
as
required.
- Stack
time depends on ambient
temperature
monitoring, checked twice daily.
- Trays
laid out under shade
mesh to germinate.
- Fertilising
begins twice weekly
once
germination complete.
- Germinating
will be into Colmax-type
trays
initially, tube-out into final container on a
continuing basis finishing by the end of March.
- Daily
inspection to check
for weeds, pathogens and
overall status.
- Final
grade begins mid-May
or earlier
depending on
anticipated
dispatch dates.
- Plants
checked prior to dispatch.
Personnel:
- Owner/managers
with 20 years
experience in
cell
production techniques. Member of Nursery and
Garden Industry WA
– constant update
skills and
information.
- Full
time Production Manager
Tania Bishop was appointed
in January 2005
- Trainee
staff are encouraged
and fully
supported to build
the future knowledge base in the industry.
- NIASA
accredited since June
1997.Current
Certificate
available for inspection.
- Follow
Nursery Industry ‘ Best Practice’ with updates as
required.
- Several
permanent staff with
flexible working hours
to cover all contingencies.
- Casual
staff employed seasonally
when
required.
- Long
term employees providing
continuity
of skill levels
and providing industry knowledge for Trainees
- Staff
undertake certification
courses. E.g
Chemical
handlers Certificate where
required.
- Most
nursery functions mechanized
where
possible.
- Last
minute and urgent dispatch
orders are
covered easily as a matter or routine.
- We
always have excess numbers
of most
common species to cater for last minute and
adjusted orders.
Control
Systems : Trace
back
- Seedlots
numbered on each
tray and recorded in Daily
Log book.
- System
based on NIA best Practices.
- Seedlots
kept together in cool
room for
germination.
- Location
of each seedlot noted
on main nursery
plan and documented
in daily log book.
- Performance
monitoring carried
out regularly and
information
spreadsheet sent to seedlot owner
on a regular basis by email.
- Plants
graded by seedlot before
dispatch to
ensure only
plants meeting specification are delivered.
- Numbers
recorded on dispatch
book and cross
referenced
to actual received numbers.
Bandicoot
Nursery is truly growing
for your future.
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