The latest release in the popular Ute Guide series should help new growers joining two of the Australian grains industry’s smaller but ambitious sectors – peanuts and navy beans.

“Peanut and Navy Bean Disorders” continues the virtually indestructible Ute Guide format designed to withstand conditions in the traditionally overflowing glove boxes of Australia’s farm vehicles.

Funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and produced by Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries (QDPI), the Ute Guides measure 15cm by 10cm, and use materials designed to withstand hard usage – heavy duty, waterproof, synthetic paper, with full metal spiral binding.

Earlier Ute Guides covered weeds and insects for the northern grains region, cereal diseases and nutrition, grain quality and canola.

“Winter Pulse Disorders” and “Lucerne Pests and Disorders” preceded the release of  the peanut and navy bean edition, which itself was released simultaneously with “Mungbean and Soybean Disorders”.

In all Ute Guides, lavish use of colour photographs help farmers and advisers identify crop pests and disorders, often showing these problems at different stages of development.

Peanut Company of Australia farm services manager Pat Harden said the company rated the new Ute Guide so highly that it had obtained a number of copies for on-sale to  its growers.

“The Ute Guides are a great concept,  particularly for farmers new to growing peanuts,” Mr Harden said.

“In many cases new peanut growers can be considerable distances from other farmers and sources of advice like agronomists. We have a few growers in the Northern Territory but the bulk of our new growers are in the sugar cane areas along the coast, mostly around Bundaberg but with a few in the Burdekin.

“The value of the Ute Guide is that growers will be able to take it into the paddock and compare their problem with the appropriate photographs.”

Bean Growers Australia general manager Keith Campbell, says the navy bean industry is also looking for new growers.

Mr Campbell says the domestic market for navy beans – nearly all used by the SPC company in “baked beans” – is around 3000 tonnes.

“Bean Growers is trying to fire up the industry again  after two hard seasons of drought,” Mr Campbell said.

“Traditionally our growers have been based around Rockhampton, in the Lockyer and Fassifern Valleys, parts of the Darling Downs and the north and south Burnett, but we are  moving into the sugar cane areas, notably the Burdekin and around Bundaberg, where farmers are looking for alternative crops.”

BGA Agri Services agronomist Ian Crosthwaite, a widely experienced adviser to navy bean growers, agreed on the value of the Ute Guide to growers, particularly those new to the industry.

“And it’s not only of value to farmers; there’s plenty in it that will help agronomists and the industry resellers who supply growers,” Mr Crosthwaite said.

“Peanut and Navy Bean Disorders – the Ute Guide” is available from Ground Cover Direct on Free Phone 1800 11 00 44 or email ground-cover-direct@canprint.com.au, the Peanut Company of Australia, PO Box 26, Kingaroy Q4610, Ph 07 41626311, QDPI Information Centre, PO Box 102, Toowoomba, 4350 (07 4688 1415, fax 07 4688 1416) for $27.50 (including GST) plus postage and handling.