Australian Fruitgrower Summer 2019 • Vol 13 • Issue 4 BMSB: Global spread calls for extra vigilance this season Water budgeting and scheduling Variety performance is key to profitability Surging secondary market spurs on organics Maaking farms smaarter. Tie Up Farming is an end-to-end software solution designed for the horticultural industry. UsingUi a full fll suite i of f modules, dl ourr--cloudldbdf based farm management softwaref can he help with planning, management, forecasting and budgeting of harvests, from planting to packing. > Horticulture focused > Costing + ROI > Chemical fertiliser management > Packing shed managemennt (Spray Diaryy)) > Smart dashboard - 360 ananalytics > Labour management (including harvestt)) Call us on 1300 944 318 or email us at [email protected] www.tieupfarming.com CONTENTS A P A L NEWS BIOSECURITY CEO Report ...............................................04 News – $18.6m for Vic/SA netting funding . .05 FEA TURE 12 06 BMSB: Global spread of exotic stink bug calls for extra vigilance Surging secondary this season market spurs on organics Learning from the US BMSB experience . .16 S T A T E R O UNDUP RAISING T H E BAR : R&D - LED INSIGH T S I N T O S M A R TER GROW T H State roundups . .19 FUTURE BUSINE S S Minimising the cost of doing business . .24 33 EXPORT Codling moth biocontrol with Mastrus ridens 26 Integrated pest management – steps forward . 37 Sentinel a step towards national pest surveillance . .38 Agtech drives pesticide use efficiencies . .40 Australian pears Water budget the basis for irrigation scheduling plan . .41 show promise in Finding the triggers of biennial bearing in apple . .44 Indonesia SwarmFarm builds data into decision-making . .46 APFIP trials to help solve 'what to plant?’ dilemma . .48 MARKETING Protecting our pollinators . .50 Apples climb into ‘Top 5’ snacks list . .29 Variety performance is key to profitability . .51 Regular mowing reaps yield rewards . .56 International apple and pear research update . .58 PRODUCTIVITY Higher yields and returns forecast for 2019 . .32 Quiz and crossword . .59 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 Organic grower Robin Dance and pear growers. responsibility for the contents (see page 6) DISC L AIMER Australian Fruitgrower Suite G01, 128 Jolimont Road, of advertisements. All Photo: Fred and Hannah East Melbourne VIC 3002 advertisements are accepted Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited in good faith and the liability BOOKING DEADLINES (Hort Innovation) and APAL make no T (03) 9329 3511 representations and expressly disclaim F (03) 9329 3522 of advertising content is the Autumn 2020 all warranties (to the extent permitted by apal.org.au responsibility of the advertiser. law) about the accuracy, completeness, Ad bookings – 17 Jan 2020 or currency of information in Australian Marc Wilson – Gypsy Media Editorial copy – 17 Jan 2020 Fruitgrower. Reliance on any information provided by Hort Innovation and APAL is M 0419 107 143 Winter 2020 entirely at your own risk. Hort Innovation E [email protected] and APAL are not responsible for, and will Ad bookings– 17 Apr 2020 not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim, Editorial copy – 17 Apr 2020 expense, cost (including legal costs) or other liability arising in any way, including from any Hort Innovation, APAL or other Wherever you see this logo, the initiative is part of the Hort Innovation person’s negligence or otherwise from your use or non-use of Australian Fruitgrower, or Apple and Pear Fund. Like this publication itself, it has been funded from reliance on information contained in by Hort Innovation using the apple and pear levy and, in the case the material or that Hort Innovation or APAL provide to you by any other means. of R&D, with contributions from the Australian Government. Some projects also involve funding from additional sources. ISSN 1447-5618 A P A L . ORG . A U AFG SUMMER 2019 | 3 C E O REPOR T Profit based Determining our Based on reports of growers and packhouse managers suddenly finding themselves ‘uninsurable’, an early priority for Future Business has been to own transformation conduct a feasibility study into self-insurance $18.6m PHILIP TURNBULL – APAL CEO structures, such as a Discretionary Mutual Fund, Federal netting funding to help control and manage burgeoning insurance announced for SA/Vic growers costs. Work will continue into 2020 as we consider (Federal Government announcement the appropriateness of this model. 27 Nov 2019) Growers at the centre Once an area of under-investment for APAL, industry $300k advocacy shifted up the proverbial gear this year, Amount of matching funding funded by the proceeds of our commercial business. available to eligible growers (Federal Government announcement Access to water, a National Netting Program 27 Nov 2019) (netting funding for SA and Vic was announced in late Nov – see page 5), reforms to visas, biosecurity and extensive work to improve market access, have all received positive engagement from growers and government alike, and APAL will keep pressure on A new year – and a new decade these schemes well into the new year. – bring with them a sense of Future-focused 90% Class 1 packout of best Pink energy and opportunity as we In addition to the new Young Leaders’ Network and Lady blocks (Orchard Business Analysis Report 2018 refreshed Industry Forum and Grower R&D Update and 2019 Forecast) plan for how we will build on events, APAL has been working steadily to secure what we have achieved in the growers a higher return for Australia’s most-produced apple. The premium, pre-pack concept aims to 68% past year in the year to come. differentiate ‘export quality’ Pink Lady® apples from everyday Pink Lady in the domestic market. Class 1 packout of model orchard Sub-branded “John’s Pick”, the pre-pack debuted (Orchard Business Analysis Report 2018 2019 has seen the first phase of APAL’s five-year and 2019 Forecast) Industry Strategy to rebuild export excellence, build for a six week pilot this spring. industry intelligence and data, lift industry capability, On the brink of a new decade, I am certain and bolster sustainability. There’s undoubtedly a of one thing: 10 years from now, the apple and pear long way to go, but it’s important to recognise and industry will operate completely differently. Climate celebrate some of the milestones that indicate change, artificial intelligence, robotics, big data and we’re headed in the right direction: genomics will have completely transformed the way we work today. Whether this is good or bad, Industry driven profitable or not, will be up to all of us – growers, packhouses, researchers, exporters and us here Backed by grower demands for an industry- at APAL – to determine. inclusive marketing strategy and structure, the 2019 A tour of the MCG rounded My warmest wishes for a safe and happy off events at the Grower R&D establishment of a Strategic Marketing Panel (SMP) Christmas and productive start to harvest 2020! Update in mid November. represents a fundamental shift in the way your marketing levy will be invested in the future. Meeting for the first time in October, the SMP now comprises APAL, Hort Innovation, as well as industry and FMCG marketing expertise. Selected through a competitive process, Cameron Carter – Seeka Australia, Mitchell McNab – HV McNab & Sons Orchards and Nardia Stacy – Executive Manager, PomeWest, will provide that much needed, next- generational industry input to the SMP. It was abundantly clear to all at our first meeting that the disconnect between favourable marketing and media metrics, and real behavioural change at the cash register, cannot continue. By the time of publication, the SMP will have met again to commence the planning work on a genuine marketing reset. 4 | AFG SUMMER 2019 A P A L.ORG . A U APAL NEWS $18.6m for Vic/SA Australian pears netting funding head to Thailand Apple and pear growers in Victoria and SA will soon Australia’s pear resurgence took another step be able to access funds to install new or replace forward in October with the departure of the first damaged netting, as part of a broader federal mixed container of Goulburn River Gold® and Rico® government injection to support agriculture. branded pears bound for Thailand. Cameron Carter on the ® Minister for Agriculture, Bridget McKenzie Seeka stand at Asia Fruit “Rico are one of the premium-branded committed $14.6m to the trial in South Australia, Logistica in September. Australian pears launching in Asia as part of our and $4m in Victoria in late November. renewed focus on export,” says APAL Industry APAL CEO Phil Turnbull welcomed the news: Services and Export Manager, Justin Smith. “This is the kind of positive and practical assistance Accompanied by a quirky marketing from government that will meaningfully assist campaign and featuring the tagline “Finally a pear growers to protect their crop – and their livelihood. with personality”, it is hoped that Rico® will appeal “Netting is the only real solution for providing to a whole new generation of pear eaters, with its shade and protection against hail or frost. Netting appealing bright red blush helping it to stand also serves as a humane deterrent against flying out on-shelf.