Ulf Kerer explains the importance of measuring branch length when pruning in order to maximise productivity, by considering the balance between harvest labour and fruit-set. Photos: Andy Wilson
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Andy Wilson
Apple growers came together at Shepparton East last week to learn specific strategies in maximising fruit production with a focus on establishing new replacement orchards.
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Two key speakers addressed the audience of 60 at Benipal Orchards to inspire growers to recognise and act on the financial consequences of insufficient practices and older trees.
The day was organised by Apple and Pear Australia Limited and Fruit Growers Victoria as part of the APAL 2023 Futures Walk.
Nic Finger reported on the work of Noel Mason from South Australia, who has been active in removing low-profiting sections within his orchard and prioritising early rapid growth of replacement varieties.
Mr Finger said growers needed to be robust in choosing which trees to remove.
“In some orchards, some of your varieties may be bulldozer-ready,” he said.
“If they have a low yield, or are not labour- or platform-friendly, they should be replaced.”
Mr Finger said replacement trees needed to be the best quality trees, and if not available, farmers needed to graft and grow their own.
“However, the cost of being out of production is very high.
“It’s a killer, but it’s a short-term cost for a long-term benefit.”
The cost of removing a less profitable orchard pays a heavy financial toll on farmers. Growers at the APAL event were told that the short-term cost of replacing inefficient trees was worth the long-term gain, provided that young trees had maximum attention to get a rapid-growth head start.
Growers were also told that consistency in orchard design and layout was ‘critical’ for profitability.
Problems in the Goulburn Valley industry have involved slower starts with new trees and a lack of recognition of the economics of individual blocks, with growers applying the same methods to entire farms.
Attention was also given to the fiscal side of apple growing, with growers needing courage to stand up in front of peers and seek help with finance management.
Despite severe losses during last summer’s hail events, the Goulburn Valley typically yields an excess of apples such that it struggles with exporting profitably, due to land value and labour costs.
APAL head of industry services Justin Smith agreed with that sentiment.
“We have the second highest cost of production, just behind Japan,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s a challenge, we have lost the art of exporting.”
Growers were then shown some of the property’s plantings where New Zealand-based Agfirst consultant Ulf Kerer explained the value in measuring the harvest length of a tree.
Mr Kerer demonstrated the concept of measuring the length of all fruiting branches at pruning to find a balance between labour and branch-carrying capacity to maximise yield.
“You need to measure all the branches to get a certain metre (length) per tree,” Mr Kerer said.
“Then you look at how much space you’ve got.
“Look at the tree rather than looking at what you want for harvest — is it realistic?”
AgVic scientist Lexie McClymont from the Tatura Smart Farm attended the June 22 event to keep updated with orchard practices.
“It’s always good to hear things from the growers’ perspective,” Dr McClymont said.
“It’s about getting the practical side from them.”
Research scientist Lexie McClymont attended the APAL 2023 Futures Walk to get updated on growing strategies. Dr McClymont said it was important to hear things from the growers' perspective.
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