Newsletter of the Apple and Pear Growers Association of South Australia Inc. in conjunction with the Cherry Growers Association of South Australia Inc Around the Orchard5 Plummers Road, Lenswood, S.A. 5240 Newsletter of the Apple and Pear Growers Association of South Australia Inc. 1655 Lobethal Road, Lenswood,Ph: 08 8389 S.A. 84535240 Vol.11 No 1. January/February 2019 Ph: 08 8389 8300 [ExtWebsite 105] Fax: www.apgasa.com 08 8389 8570 Vol.4 No.5 July 2012 Email: [email protected]: Susie Green Editor: Susie Green Latest Industry News Page 2 Cherry Promotions, Fruit Fly Outbreak in Loxton Page 3 Hort Innovations seeking input into new strategic direction, Family and Business Support Program Page 4 South Australian Cherry industry - where to from here? Page 5 Soil Carbon Pages 6 & 7 A hive of activity in the Adelaide Hills Page 8 Churchill Fellowships Now Open, Grey-headed Flying-foxes Key Dates Wed 6 March 2019, 1pm - 5.30 pm - next Future Orchards walk. Venue TBC Thur 7th March 2019, Cherry Postharvest Meeting Tues 12th March 2019, Apple & Pear Growers ladies dinner 24 - 26 June, 2019 - Hort Connections, Melbourne - F model: (narrow orchard) ideal for work Rainfall in small-sized, narrow-lane orchards. (Rainfall for the month - 31 Jan 2018, source BOM) - GE model: (low orchard) ideal for work Ashton - 0.4 mm (avg 42.8 mm) under low orchards and overhead trellis Cudlee Creek, Milbrook Reservoir - 0.3 mm (avg 27.4 mm) systems. Kalangadoo - 1.4 mm (avg 28.2 mm) - GT model: (large orchard) for use in Lenswood - 0.0 mm (avg 30.2 mm) standard-size orchards and in open-field Loxton - 5.0 mm (avg 18.8 mm) cultivation. Prospect Hill - 1.2 mm (avg 28.0 mm) Summertown Ph: 08 8390 3017 Email: [email protected] Uraidla - 0.0 mm (avg 34.3 mm) Gepps Cross Ph: 08 8139 7200 www.landinicentral.com.au Woodside - 0.0 mm (avg 24.6 mm) Around the Orchard is published by the Apple & Pear Growers Association of South Australia and the Cherry Growers Association of South Australia Publication of any information contained in this Newsletter either wholly or in part is not permitted without approval. Cherry Promotions Cherry Growers SA’s state promotions this season were largely focused on media, with a number of articles and stories of interest in mainstream media in the lead up to Christmas and a strong social media push after Christmas. With Hort Innovation funding, Cherry Growers SA commissioned some high quality photos and short videos showcasing cherries as a summer fruit, with consumers enjoying sharing cherries at the beach, on a picnic and after exercise. These were shared through the Cherries SA facebook page and also had high profile on the South Aussie with Cosi facebook page. The targeted social media promotions reached more than 75,000 people. These images and videos will be made available to all Cherry Growers SA members for [email protected] your own use. Fruit Fly Outbreak Declared in Loxton This season, new updates to the Fresh Cherries App were avaiable to map participants, to enable them to update their own details An outbreak of Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) has been declared for the App online, and importantly show when they were open in Loxton following a detection of seven flies in the area on 6 and closed. There were a few teething problems, with some December 2018. There has since been a 400m extension to the glitches in the Android version of the App, but they are now southern boundary of the outbreak area due to a larvae being resolved and the updates are proving to be a valuable feature of detected inside the original outbreak area. the App. It is up to each orchard to keep their own details up to date. It is noted that a few orchards were not making updates to An outbreak area has been established around the outbreak their opening and closing times through the season. If you need centre. Host fruit cannot be removed from properties inside assistance with how to update your own details or have lost your the outbreak area. A 15 km susepnsion area has also been login details, please contact Susie Green. established beyond the outbreak area. Commercial growers within the suspension area can apply treatments under accreditation to move fruit. Key fruit fly treatments available for apples, pears and cherries within a Suspension Area include: • Pre-harvest Baiting and Inspection (ICA-56). Only accepted by NT, VIC, NSW and SA markets outside of the Riverland. • Cold Storage (ICA-07). • Fumigation with Methyl Bromide (ICA-04). New ICA arrangements require an application being made to Biosecurity SA with up to 10 days processing time. For further information on treatment options see http://www.pir.sa.gov. au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/336818/FAQs_for_Commercial_ Growers_-_Loxton_Fruit_Fly_Outbreak_December_2018.pdf To view a map of the 1.5 km outbreak area see http://www. pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/336497/Loxton_ outbreak_area_web_map_extension_18_Jan_19.pdf To view a map of the 15 km suspension area see http://www.pir. sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/336495/Market_access_ map_extension_1.pdf For further information on the outbreak see http://www.pir. sa.gov.au/biosecurity/fruit_fly/outbreaks_detections/loxton 2 Hort Innovation seek your say on new strategic direction Hort Innovation are asking industry stakeholders to provide their ORCHARD UPDATE input on the direction of the new corporate strategy. February 2019 Under the leadership of CEO Matt Brand, a national roadshow of consultation workshops will kick off in New South Wales at the end ATTENTION CHERRY GROWERS! of this month, visiting all states and territories, concluding in April. This is your livelihood for next year and these buds Matt said these workshops will offer the opportunity to learn more need your attention NOW! Next season starts right about how Hort Innovation currently works to invest levy funds, now. If you want to maximise your yield and your and to freely discuss views and ideas on how it can be done better fruit size, you must look after these potential fruit in the future to meet the needs and priorities of the sector. buds now. Post Harvest Nutrition is a small and simple management input that makes a huge “We are inviting our members, levy payers, industry bodies and dierence to your crop potential next year. horticultural growers nationwide to take part in consultation workshops that will help to determine our new strategic direction,” he said. “The new strategic plan will strengthen the way our organisation works from the top down – and we want to ensure that our growers are at the forefront of the new strategy.” An online ideas portal has also been set up to allow contributions from those who cannot physically attend. The new corporate strategy will come into effect around mid-year informed by ideas from growers, industry bodies, and online feedback. For a tailored program to suit your individual crop please contact: The workshops are free to attend but registration is required. An additional workshop is being scheduled for South Australia in the Adelaide Hills in March, with date and venue to be advised shortly. For information go to https://www.horticulture.com.au/hort- 2 Cold Store Road Lenswood SA innovation/the-company/corporate-governance/hort-innovation- new-strategic-plan/ www.eem.com.au Family and Business Support Program South Australia’s Family and Business (FaB) Support Program supports the health and wellbeing of communities in South Australia affected by severe weather events. Need financial help to FaB support mentors are based in or near the drought affected areas of upper Eyre Peninsula, Murray-Mallee, Upper North, buy vital Equipment & Eudunda- Worlds End district and the pastoral areas and this program has now been extended to the Adelaide Hills to support Bins? growers affected by hail storm damage. The FaB support mentor appointed to the Adelaide Hills is Colleen White, who is experienced in discussing and addressing the wide array of difficult issues that come about as a result of severe We can finance the following: weather and other adverse events. • Plastic bins up to 5 year rental term Colleen is available to respond to direct requests for help from people or from others concerned about the wellbeing of a family • Wooden bins up to 2 year rental term member, friend, neighbour or client. This service is provided at • Equipment up to 5 year rental term no cost to producers. Colleen will also attend industry events to get to know the community and will be available to assist in other ways. If you are looking for someone to talk to in a confidential manner or are concerned about someone, please contact Colleen on the details below. Let’s get started, how can we help? FaB Support mentor – Hail storms Region: Adelaide Hills 08 8323 6700 | bflfinance.com.au Mentor: Colleen White Phone: 0409 388 649 3 The South Australian Cherry Industry…… where to from here? Article by Nick Noske, President Cherry Growers SA With the 2018/19 cherry season behind us, it’s time to look back on what went well and what didn’t go so well. The following paragraphs reflect both my own experiences and those of other growers who I exchanged information with over the course of the season. The season started off looking promising with a nice crop set on just about every main variety. This “promising” start was dealt a savage blow with yet another year of hail damage. Some blocks had only minor damage while others were severely impacted.