Tree Crop News

Flowering, thinning & PGRs

Conjurer 750 WG PGR sets up tree crops for profit

Imtrade’s proven Conjurer 750 WG Plant Growth Regulator significantly enhances the productivity and profitability of fruit tree crops.

Technology in agriculture

Driverless tractor trial on track

The future has arrived at the Almond Board of Australia’s Almond Centre of Excellence (‘ACE’) orchard, with the introduction of an autonomous tractor to assist with farm operations, increase worker safety and enhance orchard efficiency.

Tree crop insights

Early start essential to tame high-density pears

High-density planting of pear trees on seedling rootstock can match early and high yields of high-density plantings of apple trees on size-controlling rootstocks, but only when pear trees are tamed early. It is important to recognise that the growth habit of the pear is different from that of the apple.

News

WA Farm Direct wins APAL marketer award

WA Farm Direct is thrilled to announce that Jenny Mercer, managing director, has been awarded the prestigious APAL Marketer of the Year.

Technology in agriculture

Information automation – huge gains for small cost

When we hear “automation” we tend to think machinery, but it’s not all big-ticket items. “Information automation” is defined as using digital technology to automate the collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of information, says ABC Software founder Sharon Chapman.

Almonds - Nuts

Biostimulant trial boosts almond crop yields

New trial results demonstrate that Mycorrcin, a biostimulant from Biostart, has been found to increase the size of young almond trees, as well as the amount and weight of both nuts and kernels, while also improving soil biology.

Technology in agriculture

Humane, ‘smart’ rodent control with Goodnature

As the weather cools as it has now, it’s a good idea to start thinking about rodent-proofing your property.

News

Hort Connections 2023 breaks records

Amid rising cost pressures and challenges to labour availability, the Australian horticulture sector came together for Hort Connections 2023, the largest horticulture conference and trade show in the Southern Hemisphere.

News

Funding opens Thai avo trade

The Western Australian avocado industry is set to reap the benefits of more than $3.5M of investment into market access and trade initiatives following the Australian Government’s Hass market access outcome with Thailand.

Technology in agriculture

Managing tree crop picking. There’s an app for that!

An orchard management app that allows pickers to easily record their own progress and helps drivers find full bins via GPS technology is in the final stages of implementation at a Riverland citrus operation.

Tree crop insights

Lindsay Rural blueberry field trip, Coffs Harbour

Lindsay Rural’s Australian team reflected on the important role it plays in the horticultural supply chain during a one-day field trip as part of a week-long company conference held at Coffs Harbour recently.

Tree crop insights

Australian native finger lime industry overview

Finger limes, scientifically known as Citrus australasica, are endemic to the rainforest regions of South-East Queensland and Northern New South Wales in Australia.

Know your pest

Timing is everything when controlling tree pests!

This issue of Tree Crop is the last one before flowers appear on your tree crop, Ion Staunton writes.

Fruit Fly

Weather events impact Goulburn Murray Valley

Orchardists in Victoria’s Goulburn Murray Valley region have grappled with the devasting impacts of several extreme weather events throughout the growing season, as climatic conditions prove ideal for Queensland fruit fly.

Mangoes

Heat unit targets for Australian mango cultivars

Based on a multi-region, cultivar and season, an improved method of calculating heat units (HU) or Growing Degree Days is proposed. This method includes a penalty for high temperatures above 32°C as well as low temperatures below 12°C.