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Marginal melon season for QLD growers

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Split Melon

A southern Queensland watermelon grower says significantly lower fruit quality and a very low price has combined to make a disastrous season for queensland farms. Ian and Sharon Beard grow 11 hectares of seedless melons near Chinchilla and this year they’ll probably have to throw out 70 per cent of their crop because of quality defects, which means less harvest jobs. Ian Beard says despite growing the fruit the same way they have for years they’ve had serious melon imperfections. “I think the combination of the cold and we had a bit of heat in November, lack of pollination has Read more

Making a buck from bananas

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Bananas

Making a buck is suddenly very hard again for banana growers, a challenging period for Australian Farms. The shortage caused by Cyclone Yasi last year pushed prices in the supermarket to $17/kilo, but there’s a massive oversupply now and they are as cheap as chips. Growers on the north coast of NSW are struggling with other problems as well. They blame the supermarkets for preferring big bananas and those grown in QLD which have less skin blemishes. Ron Gray, president of the of the Coffs Harbour banana growers, says prices have plummeted in the supermarket and he’s struggling to make Read more

Farmers clean up after Christmas floods

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Farms in western Victoria are cleaning up after flash flooding damaged properties during the week before Christmas. Stock and fences were washed away at Joel Joel, east of Stawell and some areas received more than 100 millimetres of rain in an hour. Farmer, Larry McLean from Joel South didn’t lose any stock but says the clean-up has kept him busy during the summer break, there’s still many jobs out there though, especially those looking for the 2nd Working Holiday Visa. For the full story please visit ABC Rural

Batlow

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Batow, New South Wales

Located approximately 450km south west of Sydney and 725 metres above sea level, Batlow is surrounded by numerous orchards and in recent years has earnt the reputation as one of Australia’s premier producers of apples, pears, cherries, berries and stonefruits. Most famously Batlow is known for the Big Apple. It’s so big that it rises above the trees of the orchard.   Fruit Picking Work in Batlow March to May – Apples June to November – Tree pruning October to April – Stonefruit December to January – Cherries Fruit Picking Jobs in Batlow Fruit Picking Jobs in New South Wales Read more

Bourke

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Bourke, New South Wales

Bourke is situated in Western New South Wales at the crossroads of the Mitchell Highway, Kamilaroi Highway and the Kidman Way. A thriving country town known for it’s large wool, cotton and citrus production. There’s also many things to see of historical interest including the Afghan Mosque/Cemetary, The Bourke Weir and the Cobb & Co heritage trail to name a few.   Fruit Picking Work in Bourke January to May – Melons April to May – Cotton picking, cotton ginning May to June – Vine pruning May to September – Citrus November to January – Grapes December to February – Read more

Caboolture

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Caboolture, Queensland

A 30 minute drive north of Brisbane, Caboolture is strawberry picking country. Known as one of Australia’s largest strawberry picking regions you will find planting and picking work from March – November. There is an airfield so in town, so make sure you go gliding or sky diving, which is always good fun!   Fruit Picking Work in Caboolture February to November – Pineapples March to April – Strawberry planting June to November – Strawberry picking Fruit Picking Jobs in Caboolture Fruit Picking Jobs in Queensland Where’s Caboolture Getting There The story of Queensland driving is the Bruce Highway and Read more

Chinchilla

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Chinchilla, Queensland

Chinchilla is known as the “Melon Capital” of Australia , with approximately 25% of Australia’s watermelon crop produced here. There’s no beaches in Chinchilla but don’t worry there’s water-skiing, canoeing and many other great activities to get stuck into during your spare time.   Fruit Picking Work in Chinchilla December to April – Watermelons and Rockmelons November – Onions Fruit Picking Jobs in Chinchilla Fruit Picking Jobs in Queensland Where’s Chinchilla Getting There The Warrego Highway will get you in from Brissy in about 3.5hours, while the D’Aguilar Highway will sort you out in 4hours if coming from the Sunny Read more

Dimbulah

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Dimbulah, Queensland

Originally settled in 1880 when gold and minerals were discovered in the region, Dimbulah is located in Northern Queensland about 100km west of Cairns. The main fruits and vegetables in the region are Paw Paws, Longans, Avocados, Lychees and mMngoes, during summer and autumn their’s work on offer!   Fruit Picking Work in Dimbulah February to March – Longans February to April – Avocados November to January – Lychees, mangoes Fruit Picking Jobs in Dimbulah Fruit Picking Jobs in Queensland Where’s Dimbulhah Getting There Some Highway different Place, the Bruce will get you there. Dimbulah is 1,800km north of Brisbane, Read more

Dirranbandi

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Dirranbandi, Queensland

Now your really going inland, Dirranbandi is 600km west of Brisbane and the nearest major town is St George 1.5 hr half drive away. Your not going to get fruit picking work here instead you will find cotton picking and ginning jobs. Dirranbandi is also known for its wool production, fancy a shearing job? Did you know Dirranbandi is said to be an Aboriginal word meaning “swamp abounding in frogs and waterfowl”   Fruit Picking Work in Dirranbandi March to May – Cotton picking & Cotton Ginning Fruit Picking Jobs in Dirranbandi Fruit Picking Jobs in Queensland Where’s Dirranbandi Getting Read more