Page 79 | Australian Tree Crop Magazine

Avocado

Avocado season set for a 95,000t record

Australian avocado growers are expected to produce a record harvest of the Hass variety this year.

Flowering, thinning & PGRs

Bee pollination a race between native and European honey bees while researchers watch on

Which bee is the best pollinator — native or European? It is a question researchers are keen to answer. With the use of stopwatches, individually-coloured beehives and the most important factor of all — time — they are hoping to learn more. Researchers from the University of New England (UNE) are working alongside row after row of blueberry bushes at a major plantation on the NSW mid north coast in their search for better data.

Pome fruit - Establishment & maintenance

Trees take off on pre-planting treatment

A decision to treat his soil with chloropicrin prior to replanting to prevent apple replant disease (ARD) is amply rewarding Kirup grower Rob Tassone with vigorous, healthy trees off to a flying start.

Flowering, thinning & PGRs - Insect & mite control

Varroa mites detected again at Townsville Port

Varroa mites have been detected on an Asian honey bee nest that was recently found and destroyed at the Port of Townsville.

Macadamias - Disease & weed control - Insect & mite control

New guide to protect macadamia production

The latest edition of the ‘Macadamia Plant Protection Guide’ has been released.

Mangoes

Strong demand for early season Northern Territory green mangoes

While there is still a few months to wait before juicy Kensington Pride mangoes start hitting supermarket shelves again — markets and restaurants are already being supplied with green mangoes from the Northern Territory.

Packaging & labelling

Compostable branding for fresh produce

High-speed, automated fresh produce labelling has taken a significant step forward.

Almonds

Corporate: Almonds have made Select Harvests a $20 million HY profit

Select Harvests (ASX: SHV) announced its six-month results (for 1 October to 31 March) this morning and it seems almonds are money-makers. The company announced earnings pre-tax of $38.5 million and a net profit after tax of $20.0 million.

Mangoes

Central Queensland producer wins Honey Gold Grower of the Year

Groves Grown Tropical Fruit has been named Piñata Farms' Honey Gold Grower of the Year.

Macadamias

World's largest macadamia processor switches to solar power, boosting return for growers

The world's largest macadamia processor has turned to solar power in a bid to lower energy costs, lift profitability, and reduce its environmental footprint.

Citrus

Costa Group share price on watch after downgrading its profit guidance

The Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC) share price could come under pressure on Thursday following the release of its annual general meeting presentation which included updated guidance for calendar year 2019.

Pome fruit - Technology in agriculture

Robot apple pickers getting closer

Labor shortages in agriculture could eventually be overcome by robots.

Fruit Fly

Funding for development of new fruit fly control technology

Macquarie University has recently been awarded $4.7 million funding from Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd to identify the genetic code that enables elimination of females in overseas fruit flies so that these characteristics can be reproduced in Australia’s Queensland fruit fly.