VOLfruit 4/ISSUE NO. 11 growerwww.apal.org.au DECEMBER 2010 www.summerfruit.com.au $6m packhouse upgrade cuts costs per bin High density production pays off in Adelaide Hills Part 2: APVMA dimethoate and fenthion review update THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR APPLE, PEAR AND SUMMERFRUIT GROWERS IN AUSTRALIA Australian Fruitgrower Australian Apple and Pear Ltd Editorial (APAL) and Summerfruit Australia Ltd (SAL) are the peak industry Every year fruitgrowers learn about new approaches to growing bodies representing the interests of commercial apple, pear and orchard management (and sometimes even a revival or a new and Summerfruit growers in twist on an older theme). There is a constant quest to do things Australia in matters of national importance including regulation, better – with less effort, better returns, with lower costs or with legislation, marketing, research and development. greater surety and consistency. This quest has underpinned the success of the Future Orchards and now PIPS programs. Australian Fruitgrower will be published monthly, except for combined issues in December– January, to bring industry news However the grower must increasingly consider the orchard to orchardists in Australia. “business” and in particular the role of the packhouse, marketing, Publishers Apple and Pear Australia Ltd and other matters beyond the farm gate. In this issue two features 39 O’Connell Street highlight this perspective, both – coincidentally – from South North Melbourne VIC 3051 t: (03) 9329 3511 Australia. Adelaide Hills grower Graham Mason has decided that f: (03) 9329 3522 e: [email protected] he is a grower not a marketer - sending fruit to a number of w: www.apal.org.au different packing sheds based on what size and variety suits the Summerfruit Australia Ltd different markets each shed has. “Each shed has its own market 8/452 Swift St Aulbury NSW 2640 table of t: 02 6041 6641 and we try to match our fruit to those markets...we are not skilled m: 0419 305 901 e: [email protected] in the day to day aspects of marketing,” he comments. Against this grower position consider Lenswood Co-op’s $6 million investment Produced for APAL by KonzeptVZ contents Editor which, with the co-operation of major local packhouses, has John Fitzsimmons DipAgSci resulted in the capacity to handle 50,000 bins with a single shift m: 0418 552541 Editorial ..........................................................3 each season. This season it will pack and market 65 per cent of e: [email protected] Summerfruit Australia CEO’s report ................4 Chair, Editorial Committee the Adelaide Hills crop and delivering a 20 per cent saving in costs Stuart Gray, Communications APAL Chair’s report ........................................5 Manager, APAL per bin! Such rationalisations will contribute significantly to overall Technical Editors industry efficiency and to growers’ collective ability to respond to Dr Gordon Brown market opportunities. NEWS t: (03) 6239 6411 [email protected] APAL news........................................................6 Dr Barry McGlasson Plant health and biosecurity are also key matters in this issue with State roundup ..................................................8 University of Western Sydney t: 02 4570 1318 Part 2 of a detailed report on the dimethoate and fenthion review, Weather and Greg’s quiz ..................................30 e: [email protected] and a report on a current review Advertising of AQIS quarantine arrangements. The publishers accept no GROWER PROFILE responsibility for the contents of There’s plenty to consider advertisements. All advertisements Graham Mason represents the sixth generation of before the bulk of the 2010-11 are accepted in good faith and the Masons who have farmed at Forest Range, in SA’s liability of advertising content is harvest harvest kicks-in properly. the responsibility of the advertiser. Adelaide Hills. The last 10 years has seen a radical Until 2011, and Volume 5 of Enquiries: Hyde Media change to their orchard system with about 15 per t: (03) 9870 4161 Australian Fruitgrower, to all e: [email protected] growers and industry folk, have cent of the orchard now on V trellis at 5500 trees Annual Subscription Australia: AUD$99 a safe and happy Christmas, per hectare. Stuart Gray reports........................12 Overseas: AUD$110 and a prosperous season. Contact: John Fitzsimmons m: 0418 552541 IN THE ORCHARD Cheers e: [email protected] Brown rot update: Estimating infection risk to John Fitzsimmons Editorial John Fitzsimmons Opinions expressed are not Editor rationalise summerfruit spray timing ..................22 necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright All material in Australian Fruitgrower SPECIAL REPORTS is copyright. NO material may be reproduced in whole or in Quarantine stations under review ......................10 part without the permission of the publisher. While every effort Growing for your market ..................................15 is made to ensure the accuracy Consolidation at Lenswood reduces packing costs ..17 of contents, APAL and KonzeptVZ accept no liability Australian Pink Lady exports 2010 ....................21 for the information. Dimethoate and fenthion review update..............24 Contributions All editorial enquiries regarding contributions should be addressed to the editor. Articles, letters, SPECIAL SECTION notes, etc, from any apple and pear growers are welcome. APFIP Variety Report 2010 (12-page centre section) Contributions are preferred as Dr Barry McGlasson Dr Gordon Brown MS Word documents delivered by Technical Editor SAL Technical Editor APAL email as a separate attachment. RESEARCH NOTES Photos, maps, etc, should be submitted as separate files and International apple and pear R&D ......................28 saved as either a TIF, PDF or JPG at a resolution greater than 300 dpi. The editor reserves APPLE & PEAR AUSTRALIA LTD the right to reject, revise and Our cover: This publication was facilitated by HAL in partnership with Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) and change text editorially. Summerfruit Australia Limited (SAL), and it was funded by the apple and pear and summerfruit levies. The apple pictured playing a special role in the lead-up to the The Australian Government provides matched funding for all HAL’s R&D activities. Photographs festive season in Germany recently. Photo: John Fitzsimmons. Cover photograph submissions should preferably be digital Edition 2011 Booking deadline Editorial copy deadline Ad material dealine taken at a resolution greater than 300 dpi. Web resolution February 2011 No. 1 7th January 12th January 12th January images and colour prints (unless exceptional) are not of sufficient March 2011 No. 2 7th February 11th February 14th February quality for full colour printing. Colour transparencies are also April No. 3 8th March 15th March 5th April acceptable. May No. 4 9th April 16th April 3rd May ISSN 1447-5618 www.apal.org.au DECEMBER 2010 – AUSTRALIAN FRUITGROWER 3 fruitgrowerAUSTRALIAN As another year closes our adversity lingers As we get down to the business end of the season, the Murray Darling New upgraded website Basin (MDB) saga continues to entangle the politics of the nation and Whilst on the topic of websites we are embarking the south eastern states. Let’s hope the submissions from the custodians on a new upgrade that will be really positive of the land and commonsense takes precedence in this web of social for user friendly communication. Overall content of the website will be divided up to impact, economic and environmental sustainability. these three areas. Export content As this unravels, spare a thought for Western our place in this bountiful rich agricultural • Export market access negotiations – Australian producers who are experiencing nation if you couple this with the MDB. updates, issues and policies (if possible, or extreme drought - not a common occurrence links to where to find policies/agreements) in the south east pocket of the west. I would like to remind producers that the • Export marketing activities (including Summerfruit Australia Ltd Board has sent market visits, etc) – announcements, I wish I could inform you of some positive news membership renewal notices for 2010-11 and updates and outcomes in the dimethoate and fenthion review. Recently, half way through this year there is still the • Export programs that may allow exporter at a forum of the Plant Health Australia (PHA) opportunity to support your Board by renewing /importer participation annual general meeting, the Australian Pesticides or subscribing to Summerfruit Australia Ltd • News on export markets and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) membership. I thank those few of you who are • Export material (exporter kits, artwork, continued to remain non-committal on any committed to the workings of the peak industry export brochures etc.) decision and in fact identified another extensive body. There is a mountain of agripolitical work • Export retailer training material list of chemical reviews. It was drawn to their that is undertaken and the levy funds you pay • Current industry data • A repository for all creative artwork that may be used by industry (Summerfruit logo, artwork etc) • An industry contacts page • A links page to industry bodies etc. • Exporter list Domestic section - SAL industry • Summary of research findings – R&D reports (password required) • Domestic marketing activities – announcements, updates, outcomes, upcoming promotional activity. • Outcomes on