Australian Fruitgrower Winter 2020 • Vol 14 • Issue 2 Global knowledge at your fingertips SWP redefines ‘unskilled’ Pruning for vigour Ardrossan sets sights on new growth CONFIDENCE GROWS HERE Introducing a new level of confi dence in DMIs New Belanty fungicide gives you a new level of confi dence in the control of black spot in apples. Setting a new global standard for DMI’s, Belanty provides up to 100 times stronger enzyme binding than other DMI’s and is able to control resistant target disease populations. After years of research, Belanty is the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. Find out more at crop-solutions.basf.com.au ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. © Copyright BASF 2020 ® Registered trademark of BASF. W244376 05.2020 CONTENTS A P A L NEWS LABOUR CEO Report . .04 Advocacy update . .05 Global knowledge at your fingertips . .12 21 FEA TURE 06 Seasonal workers redefine ‘unskilled’ Emerging BIOSECURITY stronger Biosecurity – what’s in it for me? . .26 Ardrossan sets sights on new growth . 06 RAISING T H E BAR : Tree returns must justify water cost . .08 R&D - LED INSIGH T S I N T O S M A R TER GROW T H Protect market access . .09 Focus on output . .09 Water security must come first . .10 Identify the opportunities . .11 28 EXPORT Online export training from July . .14 Pruning for vigour S T A T E R O UNDUP management State roundups . .16 MARKETING Campaign adds ‘feel good’ factor . .23 Pears that will arrive well before the heirs . 34 Sundial Orchard: Illuminating the future . .37 FUTURE BUSINESS Keeping our wild pollinators buzzing . .41 Insurance data supports more affordable optionsr . .24 Maximising pollination . .44 International apple and pear research update . .46 Quiz and crossword . .47 PUBLISHER M A N A GING EDI T OR GRAPHIC DESIGN C OPYRIGH T Apple and Pear Australia Alison Barber Vale Graphics All material in Australian Fruitgrower is copyright. NO material can be reproduced Limited (APAL) is a not- E [email protected] E [email protected] in whole or in part without the permission for-profit organisation that of the publisher. While every effort is made A D VER TISING FRON T C O VER to ensure the accuracy of contents, APAL supports and provides services accepts no liability for the information. to Australia’s commercial apple The publisher accepts no Ian Cathels, Ardrossan Orchard, and pear growers. responsibility for the contents Batlow, NSW (see page 6). Photo: DISC L AIMER Australian Fruitgrower Suite G01, 128 Jolimont Road, of advertisements. 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A U AFG WINTER 2020 | 3 C E O REPOR T 15 webinars and virtual orchard walks that have already attracted more than 226 growers, researchers, Responding to and industry members. The uptake by members and the wider industry adversity has been incredible. There’s more detail about the program in this edition and I encourage everyone $31m PHILIP TURNBULL – APAL CEO to give the online delivery a try. Federal Govt matching grant funding announced 23 June Netting, bushfire recovery and for bushfire-impacted growers drought stay on the agenda Virtual meetings have opened doors to government. $120k With support from impacted growers APAL capitalised on the virtual forums and access to policy NSW Govt matching grant funding per ha available to makers to present APAL’s ‘Build Back Better: Apple bushfire-impacted growers Industry Bushfire Recovery Plan’ to both Federal and State Governments. The five-year recovery plan has been well received and we are very pleased to see it $342k supported with recent funding announcements from both tiers of government. Five-year cost per ha to In May the NSW Government began accepting rebuild identified in the applications for matching-grants of up to $120,000 Apple Industry Bushfire 2020 is a year like no other. COVID-19 has changed Recovery Plan a hectare and APAL hosted a virtual meeting to assist lives, lifestyles, and livelihoods around the globe. We Batlow and Bilpin growers navigate the application continue to witness significant challenges for so many process. On 23 June the Federal Government families and communities, and we are beginning to announced $31 million of bushfire recovery funding, understand the economic impact. also on a matching basis, for fire-impacted growers In amongst this turmoil, our industry has in both NSW and South Australia. responded in many positive ways: We are optimistic the guidelines for the – When the community questioned whether fresh Federal Government’s $24 million national netting 15 produce could transfer COVID-19 our industry program will be released soon. We have also met responded swiftly to dispel these myths and with Stanthorpe industry members to confirm the Number of virtual orchard reassure consumers. Hort Innovation has gone immediate and longer-term needs for a region walks and webinars scheduled further launching an all-of-hort campaign that that is severely impacted by ongoing drought and reinforces the health benefits of fruit and vegetables. incurring unsustainable water carting costs to keep – More than 500 orchards across Australia permanent tree plantings alive. 226 adapted their operations and picked, packed, and distributed fresh produce to domestic and Make apples and pears count! The number of attendees at international markets and processors. webinars to date APAL has embarked on a program to build a more – The Federal and State Governments prioritised detailed, data-driven understanding of our industry. national and international food supply chains. As This process will take time and will involve APAL a member of the National Farmers Federation’s seeking orchard and business data from all growers. Horticultural Council and with the assistance of Why? So we can generate services and insights that growers and state organisations, APAL has been will help you build a stronger business, a stronger at the virtual table for weekly meetings with key industry and strengthen our advocacy and market government stakeholders. In this forum we access messages. continue to represent members and inform the Our Bushfire Recovery Plan is a fantastic design of protocols – from transport and logistics example of the importance of data to building a to extending visas for seasonal workers. compelling case to present to policy makers. This Not everything has gone to plan but Australia’s month’s Advocacy Update (page 5) explores this response has shown solid, pragmatic thinking further and the Plan is available from our website. and cooperation across businesses, industries, Grower data is also building a powerful picture communities, and government. of how, as an industry, we can achieve more affordable insurance premiums. Our Future Business team has Keeping industry informed provided an update in this edition and I encourage you to be a part of this project. As I write this column, I am also reflecting on how Our data collection project will progressively our delivery of member services has changed. This build a more detailed understanding of the challenges, time last year we were hosting our annual APAL needs and operations of Australia’s apple and pear Forum in Melbourne. This year we are delivering industry. AFG 4 | AFG WINTER 2020 A P A L.ORG . A U ADVOCACY UPDATE – Have effective bushfire buffer zones, reduce flammable on-farm material and have access Challenges create to firefighting equipment, such as mobile water tanks and refilling sites. ‘future proofing’ – Install best practice netting that fully protects against hail, birds, flying foxes and excessive heat, while minimising water use and biosecurity opportunity threats such as brown marmorated stink bugs. These lessons learnt in Batlow, apply equally to the JEREMY GRIFFITH – APAL Jeremy Griffith whole apple and pear industry. Head of Government Relations & Advocacy, APAL In just under two years, the Role of government Australian apple and pear Achieving these outcomes can only be done in Two-year snapshot close partnership with government. Access to industry has seen some of the capital, ensuring fair and predictable water rights, – Nearly $100m damage to most challenging events and orchards by bushfires efficient planning laws to encourage on-farm water – Adelaide Hills hit twice with storage, access to new overseas markets, effective disasters thrown at them.