Macadamias
If you're interested in farm sustainability and how to get the best bang for your buck from fertilisers and orchard amendments, join us for the Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) Macadamia Research Update:
Clean Coastal Catchments
Macadamia Research Update
Friday 14 June, 2024: 8:30 am - 11:30 am
DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture (CTH), 494 Bruxner Highway, Alstonville 2477
A CCC Integrated Orchard Management research site at the Centre for Tropical Horticulture, Alstonville (Image: J Bright)
We're inviting growers, agronomists and others working in the NSW macadamia industry to take a tour of our macadamia research site at the Department of Primary Industries Centre for Tropical Horticulture (CTH) in Alstonville.
The CCC Macadamia Research Update will include:
- A tour of our sustainability research block which showcases the benefits of Integrated Orchard Management (IOM) next to a pre-IOM orchard where no IOM techniques have been applied. Mitchell Call from Southern Cross University and DPI Macadamia Development Officer, Jeremy Bright, will discuss how the research is demonstrating savings in soil, nutrients and dollars.
- An onsite review of CCC nutrition trials comparing an organic matter amendment treatment with both a standard chemical fertiliser treatment, and a combination treatment applying a mix of organic matter and chemical fertiliser. DPI Research Physiologist, Suzy Rogiers, and Horticultural Consultant, Scott Hill, will explain the results so far regarding the benefits of organic amendments for orchard production, environmental sustainability, and reduced fertiliser costs.
- A demonstration of the latest macadamia yield monitoring equipment with Tom Flanagan from the DPI Farms of the Future project. Attendees will see this new technology installed and operating in a macadamia harvestor, and find out how soil moisture and weather monitoring tech is helping to reveal what’s happening in the soil and inside the trees.
Water that runs off the macadamia orchards at the Centre for Tropical Horticulture is captured by a drainage collection system. Samples from the orchard where Integrated Orchrad Management (IOM) techniques have been applied, can then be analysed for nutrient content and the results compared with samples from the research orchard where IOM has not been implemented. (Image supplied by J Bright)
The CCC Macadamia Research Update will start at 8:30 am with breakfast in the CTH car park, and will finish at 11:30 am with cake and coffee.
Attendees are asked to wear covered shoes and clothing suitable for an outdoor event, including sunscreen and a hat. We also suggest bringing a water bottle if it's warm, and wet weather gear if rain is forecast.
GETTING THERE:
From Lismore: follow the Bruxner Highway past the Alstonville turn-off. The next left turn will be the CTH site at 494 Bruxner Highway (opposite the cemetery).
From Ballina: If you’re driving from Ballina, the CTH site will be on your right. However there is no turn-off lane into the CTH site on the right hand side of the highway.
Drive past the CTH site and take the Alstonville turnoff until you reach a small roundabout on the intersection of the Ballina and Teven roads.
Using the roundabout, take the third exit to drive back on to the Bruxner Highway heading towards Ballina. The CTH site will be on the first left turn at 494 Bruxner Highway (opposite the cemetery).
When you arrive at the CTH site, meet the Macadamia Research Update team at the coffee van in the front car park.
Please RSVP to assist with catering by registering online.
We will provide updates and further information on this event via the CCC website
For more information phone Jeremy Bright on 0427 213 059, or email the CCC team at: ccc.info@dpi.nsw.gov.au
