06-2012 - Industry Engagement and Biosecurity




Who does this notice affect?

Everyone involved with importing goods and shipping.

What is changing?

DAFF Biosecurity (formerly known as AQIS) is continuing to improve the way we engage with you, to gain a better understanding of your needs across the import cargo and shipping industry sectors.

A network of key DAFF Biosecurity managers has been established to coordinate and improve the level and type of engagement with stakeholders in each Region.
A Regional Stakeholder Engagement calendar has been established to initiate and manage regular contact with clients and stakeholders.
You should see more of DAFF Biosecurity staff - at industry meetings, at your premises, out and about preventing avoidable biosecurity and administrative problems.
The issues you raise will be prioritised according to their impact and relevance.  Routine local operational issues will continue to be managed at the local (regional office) level with more regular monitoring.  Regulatory issues of broader concern and/or national impact will be referred to the national office and/or the national industry consultative committee (now known as the DAFF Cargo Consultative Committee).

These new arrangements will replace the longstanding service provided by Mr Hart Krtschil under contract with the CBFCA which ceased on
31 December 2011.

We trust these new arrangements will help industry and government build on the partnership as we continue to improve Australia's approach to biosecurity, together.

John Deere green in demand Down UnderPosted: December 9, 2011 - 12:15am  |  Updated: December 12, 2011 - 11:10am Back | Next Photos by Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Workers prepare John Deere Cotton Harvetsters for shipping to Australia Thursday at Port City Logistics. Australasian Trade South is shipping the 2011 harvesters in preperation of the upcoming cotton harvest.

Advertisement By Mary Carr Mayle Mention cotton crops and most of us think Deep South — as in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi. But if you’re looking for a bumper crop of the fluffy white stuff this year, you need to look even farther south.

Abundant rains in Australia this fall — their spring — are expected to produce a bountiful summer crop. According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, the above average spring rainfall in northern New South Wales and Queensland is expected to benefit summer crops of sorghum, rice and cotton with production increasing by 18 percent.

And that’s what brings Australian entrepreneur Anthony Debreceny of Melbourne to Savannah.

“We’re expecting to harvest more than five million bales of cotton in Australia, beginning in March,” he said. “The problem is, we don’t have enough harvesting equipment.”

So Debreceny, whose logistics company is Australasian Trade South, has come to the states, where he has been visiting John Deere dealers and buying as many of the manufacturer’s “gently used” 2011 harvesters as he can to resell to farmers Down Under.

Most of the machines he has purchased have only 200-300 hours on them. They sell for about $550,000 to $600,000 used.

“This is a fairly revolutionary machine in that it both bales and wraps the cotton,” he said.

Debreceny has set up shop at Port City Logistics, where he’s hired 40 local workers to help prep the machines for shipping, taking them apart, cleaning and re-assembling them.

“When we’re done, they are as clean as they were when they left the factory floor,” he said.

They have to be to pass muster when they reach Australia. So Debreceny has flown in Australian quarantine officials to inspect and clear each machine before it leaves the yard.

The harvesters — he has purchased 30 to date — are being shipped out through the ports of Savannah and Jacksonville as space becomes available, Debreceny said. In Savannah, they are moving through Ocean Terminal.

You might see some of the big machines on the docks awaiting shipment if you cross the Talmadge Bridge.

“There’s a huge market for this model,” Debreceny said. “It’s my understanding that John Deere was only able to supply Australia with 90 of them.”

Although the company doesn’t quote specific numbers, John Deere spokesman Barry Nelson said the unique baler/wrapper has been extremely well-received in agricultural circles.

“It’s a global machine, and we’ve seen interest from a number of areas, including Brazil,” he said, adding that the company is building as many as it can to try to keep up with demand.

According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, cotton supports more than 50 regional communities in New South Wales and Queensland, employs 10,000 Australians and supports 4,000 businesses.

Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.