18 March 2025. Paul McIntosh, from Pulse Australia and WeedSmart.
As you can see by the photo below, these are a great crop of Mungbeans in central NSW and I have no doubt that this crop will be first class for quality. Especially if it can soak up some more positive heat units and dodge those cooler or less than 20 degree C mornings.
Now quality is a multi level component for our Aussie Mungbean crop and it is not just the outside part or skin of our large green shiny beans that we judge for export to our overseas countries.
It also goes beneath that outer seed layer into what we, as in the royal we, have applied in pesticides or alternatively to the point of what specific trucks have transported the beans to the grading sheds.
I know many of you have heard this crusade of mine about MRLs or Maximum Residue Levels (or Limits) and this refers to the array of registered herbicide’s, insecticides and fungicides that may have been applied to this growing crop.
Now, I can assure you that over my 40 odd years of Agronomy there has been many crops of mungs that did not need any incrop applications of pesticides.
Other agronomists have reported the same results in their endeavours over the years.
However, thankfully our industry is mostly compliant in these potential applications of various registered pesticides.
With plenty of testing by grading sheds, federal government labs and Independent organisations, confidence is high for quality Aussie Mungbeans being exported.
There is always a But or a However in statements like the above, and no difference here with my continuous concerns about compliance by agronomists, farmers, spray contractors and even for truck drivers delivering this human food quality high protein grain to the various sheds or grading establishments.
Straight from paddock to plate is a favourite TV phrase, however with mungs it is very much true, as apart for the aforementioned grading and bagging, our mungs do go straight to an overseas plate from our harvested paddocks.
The Australian Mungbean Assc recently held a general meeting and the group reiterated about the importance of all sectors of the Mungbean chain complying and having a common sense approach with this quality food product. With the current tracking system and grower declaration forms, our system is not bad, however constant quality and system reviewing is a great for our Mungbean industry .
There was some discussion on our farm grain trucks and particularly farm to grading shed transport. We all know how difficult it is to grade sorghum seed out a truckload of green Mungbeans, however it really is just as important to have your delivery trucks total clean of other grains, bulk fertiliser, manure or even compost products.
We have a good sized crop this year and hopefully regular rain events in the vegetative stages will give all sectors of our industry, good yields and that all important quality for what I call a Yee Haa crops.
That’s all folks.