December 2024
Important Reminder: Fruit Movement Awareness
We urge all growers to remain vigilant with their contractors and workers regarding fruit movement. Please ensure everyone is fully aware of the zones where fruit can and cannot be moved.
To assist with communication, PIRSA has provided flyers that are particularly helpful when addressing potential language barriers. You can download them here.
If you’re unsure about any details, please don’t hesitate to reach out to PIRSA for clarification.
By working together, we can continue to suppress fruit fly and protect our industry.
Stop Fruit Fly: Clean Your Orchard
Orchard owners play a key role in breaking the fruit fly life cycle. Keep your orchard clean by picking ripe fruit and removing fallen fruit to prevent infestations.
Dispose of unwanted fruit properly: mulch onsite if outside a Red Outbreak Centre, or contact PIRSA at 1800 255 556 for disposal advice if within one. Unsure of your zone? Call the Riverland Industry Hotline.
With fruit flies most active in warmer months, now is the time to act. Support PIRSA’s efforts to protect the Riverland and help make it fruit fly free.
Indicative fruit sizing summary
Craig Swanbury from Fruit Doctors has produced an indicative average size summary for end of November. Thank you Craig for sharing and allowing us to distribute this information to the grower base.
View the summary here
Citrus Segment Podcast wraps up for 2024
The latest Citrus Segment podcast features Kerrie Robertson in conversation with Mark Doecke, Chair of Citrus South Australia, as they discuss the citrus season's final stages.
Key highlights include:
Juice Prices Soar: Global shortages have driven strong juice fruit prices, with growers seeing significant returns this year.
Weather Impacts: Rain has been beneficial for trees, while frost had minimal effect on next season’s yield.
Pest Progress: Fruit fly management is nearing success, with promising results in the Riverland.
Innovation Updates: Testing continues with citrus gall wasp traps, with progress expected in 2025.
Community Spotlight: Riverland Citrus was featured on South Aussie with Cosi, providing valuable industry promotion.
Mark reflected on a positive year for growers and extended his festive wishes to the industry, looking forward to continued success in 2025.
Listen now: Stream the full episode on your favourite podcast platform or here and stay informed about South Australia's citrus industry.
December production notes
Hedging and pruning: Either hand or machine prune.
Foliar Nutrient spray and Fertigation: Conduct sap 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. Download the fact sheet here
Irrigation: Continue monitoring during warmer months.
Weed control: Knockdown herbicides or residual herbicides as required.
*Always consult your packing shed or chemical re-seller for the most up to-date advice.
South Aussie with Cosi episode
Citrus SA brought Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello to the Riverland to promote the local industry and help share the word about the importance of keeping the region fruit fly free.
If you missed the episode which went to air recently, you can stream it here
Call for committee members
Citrus SA has openings for committee members. If you would like to join to contribute to the future of your industry, please contact chair, Mark Doecke on 0408 499 287.
Christmas Message from Chair Mark Doecke
As 2024 ends, it’s been a successful year for citrus growers overall. Demand has remained strong across our markets, and prices for quality fruit have been encouraging. Fruit quality has improved compared to recent years, and the higher juice price for overruns has been a welcome boost.
Shipping costs are returning to normal, and labour availability is improving. While input costs are easing, electricity prices remain a challenge that we’ll need to tackle moving forward.
On behalf of the Citrus SA committee, I want to extend my warmest wishes and the blessings of Christmas to all our growers who work tirelessly to produce the world’s best citrus.
We look forward to 2025 with hope and determination, tackling the challenges ahead and wishing for a profitable year for all.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!