Hydrorock subsurface water saving technology

Developed by a Dutch company, Hydrorock is an innovative subsurface water saving technology composed of blocks of mineral wool - a rock-based mineral material made into a matted fibre buried in the ground and designed to deliver an optimum and constant supply of water to tree crops.

Future is cherry ripe for very happy family orchard

Kyabram orchardists Anthony Rullo and Alexandra Milosevich see embracing innovative water saving technologies as the key to their future after establishing a 5ha cherry orchard on a property just outside of Kyabram in July 2022.

There’s no rest against fruit fly pest

It’s a seasonal pest, but the fight against fruit fly is a year-round battle that never ends.

Vayego all the go for South West WA orchards with weevils

Limited chemical control options and high reliance on the Group 22a insecticide, indoxacarb, for control of weevils in pome and stone fruit orchards throughout South West WA, has always meant a new option was going to be enthusiastically welcomed.

Sterile insect technology controls codling moth

A pilot sterile insect release program for controlling codling moths is being evaluated in three Tasmanian apple orchards.

Beneficial bacteria activate avocado enterprise in WA

Health is the key to the future for WA avocado grower Nigel Love, who says it is a chain reaction starting with healthy roots.

Thinning strategies for European pears

Many European pear cultivars crop heavily and require thinning to ensure regular yields and optimise fruit quality. However, compared with apple, there is limited information available on how to best manage crop loads, particularly the newer cultivars.

Bringing home the Bacon at Barham Avocados

When it comes to avocado trees, Tim and Katrina Myers have been blazing a trail along the Murray at Barham, NSW, through droughts, floods, pandemics, global financial crises, good crops and, well, some not so good.

Yara restructures frontline sales agronomy team

Nitrogen fertiliser manufacturer Yara Australia has given its agronomy team a 2023 overhaul and relaunched its customer-facing sales strategy as three semi-autonomous commercial zones.

APVMA shuts down dimethoate for some fruits

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has suspended, effective immediately, the registration and labels of chemical products containing dimethoate used as a post-harvest dip for fruit with inedible peel.

Data coup as almond industry goes spatial

For the first time spatial mapping has been used to identify every almond orchard in Australia.

SEGURIS Flexi – a flexible option for almonds

Century Orchards grows 700ha of almonds at Loxton in South Australia’s Riverland, with about half their trees Nonpareil, with the balance mostly a mix of Carmel, Peerless, Price and Monterey.

Minimal impact of phytosanitary irradiation

Global trade enables the movement of seasonally fresh produce between countries.

Program beating fruit spotting bugs

Fruit spotting bug has cost a Queensland macadamia and avocado enterprise millions of dollars during the past 16 years, however broader use of insecticides and other techniques is helping to win the very expensive battle against the pest.

Stomatal health is crucial to tree health

Water, like all plants is vital for tree health and yet only a small fraction of water taken up by the roots is used for metabolism, plant growth, and ultimately yield.