December 2022
River Murray flooding support for primary producers
Support will be available soon to meet costs of relocating or re-establishing pumping/generator infrastructure for primary producers impacted by the River Murray floods. PIRSA is recommending growers keep records of costs incurred in advance of funding being open. Register your details below for more information on the application process, terms and conditions and grant timelines. Register your interest now.
Details: https://pir.sa.gov.au/funding_and_support/
Citrus SA has its say on the Modern Slavery Act 2018 review
Last month, Citrus SA made a submission to the review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018. A summary of the submission included:
Reporting entities are forcing our growers to spend more, and absorb more, to meet their self-auditing demands, and yet still they expect to purchase our growers’ product at the lowest possible price. This is simply unsustainable.
Given that the legislation is only to apply to companies with a turnover of $100 million, the cost and administrative burden needs to shift back to the reporting entities, who are the only entities which have the financial resources to fund annual compliance
Email contact@citrussa.com.au if you would like a copy of the full submission
Orchard floor management workshop
Citrus growers are invited to attend an orchard floor management workshop on Thursday, December 15 from 8-9:30am at 345 Anderson Road, Loxton North (Duxton Apples). Dr Thomas Lines and Professor Tim Cavagnaro from the University of Adelaide will present the new orchard floor trial in Loxton North. Topics covered will include soil health, soil carbon (what is a carbon stock?), ground covers and what to select, management techniques, biodiversity and water infiltration. RSVP to thomas.lines@adelaide.edu.au
Rural Business Support available
If you are having trouble servicing your debts, Rural Business Support may be able to offer some assistance. Its business financial counsellors may be able to help you get control of your business finances including managing your debt. The service is free, independent, and confidential for eligible primary producers and small rural-related businesses. The Rural Financial Counselling Service supports you to understand your financial position, navigate financial issues, develop plans to manage cash flow and creditor payments, access dispute resolution services, consider succession pathways, seek broader professional advice and support and access government and community grants, programs or schemes.
Details: Freecall 1800 836 211 or go to ruralbusinesssupport.org.au
PIRSA urges growers to participate in fruit fly self-baiting and lure program
Growers in red outbreak and yellow suspension areas are eligible to be a part of the new self-baiting and lure program. PIRSA is supplying Naturalure® to growers who register for self-baiting.
MAT cup lures (collectively known as ‘attract and kill devices’, or AKDs) are also available free of charge for commercial growers in red outbreak areas to put out on their properties. Once deployed, MAT cups can ensure large parts of each outbreak area are covered for around three months. The more growers there are using these lures the better chance there is of reducing fruit fly numbers.
Details: Call PIRSA on 1300 666 010 or go to fruitfly@sa.gov.au
EOI sought for QLD study tour April 2023
Would you be keen to tour citrus growing and packing operations in Queensland in April 2023?
Citrus SA is taking expressions of interest for a group study trip. More details will be released in the new year. Please email contact@citrussa.com.au to register
December production tips
Hedging and pruning: Either hand or machine prune.
Foliar Nutrient spray and Fertigation: Conduct leaf analysis to determine what is lacking in trace elements. Potassium foliar sprays can help boost tree reserves.
GA application: Apply at golf ball size
Calcium application: Many packing sheds are encouraging extra calcium applications to assist with rind strengthening. Consult your agronomist or packhouse or refer to material supplied earlier regarding ways to avoid albedo breakdown.
Pesticide sprays: Critical timing for Red scale, LBAM, Mealybug and Spined Citrus Bug. Start Fuller’s rose Weevil Management program.
Earwig reminder: Monitor populations, particularly near vineyards. There are options to control, consult your agronomist or packhouse for further clarifications.
Irrigation: Continue monitoring during warmer months.
Weed control: Knockdown herbicides or residual herbicides as required.
Christmas message from chair Mark Doecke
It has been a challenging year for citrus growers due to several issues and even now we have faced another cold spring and some flooding issues from the high river. On behalf of the Citrus SA committee, I would like to extend our best wishes and the blessings of Christmas to all growers who consistently go beyond to grow the best citrus in the world. We hope the challenges we face can all be managed in 2023. Our next newsletter will be published in the first week of February.