July 2022
Upcoming fruit fly control workshops
Interstate experts on fruit fly control and management will be the guest speakers at two workshops to be held in the Riverland in August.
Speakers will include entomologist Dan Papacek from Bugs for Bugs in Queensland - one of the leading suppliers of biological control agents and Andrew Creek from NSW Department of Primary Industries. Representatives from Cortiva and Agnova will be on hand to answer questions about their baiting products. The sessions will also include equipment demonstrations and chemical recommendations. PIRSA will distribute bait products and traps. There will be four traps available, predominantly Cera traps and Mat blocks but also Fruition and Bio traps. Information about which trap suits different situations will be explained.
More information will be emailed to growers in coming weeks. Sessions are likely to be held in Loxton and Waikerie.
Importance of the job ahead
It is vitally important that we all do our best to get on board with the Spring program. All growers must be involved if we are to regain our PFA. Currently PIRSA is funding the inputs - but if we think about life with fruit fly, these expenses, along with labour costs and the ongoing cold treatment costs will be with us permanently. This fight is winnable, but we all need to be proactive.
Pt Augusta Sterile Facility.
Last week Citrus SA chair Mark Doecke, Tim Grieger from Summerfruits SA, Minetech Engineering’s Jeff Millar, SITplus facility manager Terril Marais and PIRSA's Fruit Fly Response General Manager Nick Secomb met in Pt Augusta to discuss expanding production to double the volume of sterile fruit flies produced to 40 million per week. This expansion is seen as vital in the fight against fruit fly. Citrus SA has offered some financial help to the project escalate the expansion. Mr Doecke said the facility is very well run by a dedicated team.
Fruit Fly current outbreaks
The following outbreak restriction end dates apply:
Loxton – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Loxton North A – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Loxton North B – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Loxton North C – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Murtho – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Paringa – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Pike River – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Pike River West – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Renmark – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Renmark North – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Renmark South – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Renmark West – Queensland fruit fly – 23 December 2022
Waikerie – Queensland fruit fly – 20 December 2022.
Riverland Agriculture Workforce Program - Employer Expression of Interest
The Riverland Agriculture Workforce Program (RAW) has been designed to support businesses in the Agriculture and Horticulture sector by providing you work ready staff throughout the year when you need them.
Their employer Murraylands Training and Employment SA (MteSA) will take care of the ongoing recruitment and HR processes.
Employees will have completed pre-employment elements of the RAW program prior to any placement so they come to you ready to work.
Businesses in the Agriculture and Horticulture sector are encouraged to register to be a host business if they have positions available. Wage incentives may be available. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information about the RAW program, please contact Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland.
Email: info@rdamr.com.au
Fruit and vegetable prices
You’ve probably noticed the price of fruit and vegetables has sky-rocketed in recent weeks. It’s worth noting that in the case of citrus, this has not affected the price being paid to the grower. Recently growers have been receiving as little as 35 cents per kilogram for lemons which retail for $8-10. In the Riverland, we also have the challenging scenario of fruit fly restrictions making it difficult for many consumers to buy straight from the source. Our only advice now is to buy local, seasonal produce to help keep your weekly shop at a manageable level.
News in brief
Fruit Fly
Planning for the spring program well underway. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is expected to start on August 1 with intensity in the red centres. More details when finalised.
Fact sheets
Fruit fly control fact sheets are expected to be developed to help growers control and manage fruit fly.
Modern Slavery
Citrus SA is working on a submission on behalf of growers as part of the planned review of the legislation impacting SEDEX.
Varieties Day
Dareton (20 June) - this event was held with international delegates talking on new and upcoming research on varieties. This was recorded by Steve Falivene and will be available for growers soon.
Albedo – we are aware this is an issue this season. We are working on organising workshops for next month.
Production hints for July
Later winter GA spray: The main objective for this spray is to regulate flowering.
Winter foliar Urea Spray: This spray can assist in producing healthy bud initiation, especially following heavy crop set.
Frost Control Measures: It is important to identify frost prone areas and implement measures to prevent, detect and reduce frost risks (see above).
Irrigation Maintenance: This is an ideal time to do irrigation maintenance and flush irrigation lines.
Crop estimates and size: It is important to regularly update your fruit size and yield estimates and communicate this with your packer. This will assist with marketing strategies in particularly the export markets.
Pruning of early maturing varieties: Your pruning program should commence once harvest on early maturing varieties has been completed.
Snail baiting: Areas to be controlled are centre sods/rows, under skirts, headlands and bin storage areas. Snails are a quarantinable pest for the USA markets.