July 2023

European earwig brochure
Are you constantly battling European earwigs on your block? Did you know they only started appearing in the Riverland in the 1980s? Citrus SA, supported by the Rex Andrew Trust and with work undertaken by Biological Services has produced a brochure which outlines the history of introduction, biology, damage they cause to citrus and monitoring and control methods. You can view and download the brochure on our website or contact a committee member for a hard copy. There are also plans to convert the brochure to Punjab. 
 
Dareton Trip
Citrus SA will visit Dave Monks at the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries on Friday, July 14. The trip will look at new navel and mandarins in the evaluation program. This project has recently been re-funded for a further five years. Other topics will include trellising, managing high density citrus plantings and the future of robots in the orchard. If you would like to attend, please register with Kerrie
 
Save the date – Citrus SA AGM Friday, October 13
Please be advised the Annual General Meeting of Citrus SA Inc. will be held on Friday, October 13 at the Riverland Events Centre. More details to be advised.  
 
Royal Adelaide Show entries closing soon
You have until July 14 to enter fruit in the Royal Adelaide Show. The show will be held on September 2-10. Classes include citrus cartons (commercial packers only) of oranges, mandarins and lemons. There will also be plate classes with six pieces of fruit to be presented in the categories of navels, red flesh navels, valencias, lemons and mandarins. Fruit will be judged on appearance and quality, trueness to type, size and shape appropriate to each variety and presentation.  Prizes for champion plate of citrus of any variety, novelty citrus, largest orange (current season) will also be awarded. For the younger exhibitors (under 17), the novice section classes include a plate of six navels/valencias/mandarins and best decorated citrus display. Fruit will need to be delivered by Friday, September 1 for judging on Friday, September 11. More details here.
 
Fruit fly management in the Riverina Q&A 
New South Wales DPI’s Andrew Creek answered some questions about how fruit fly is managed in the Riverina.
How important is it to stay on top of bait spraying?
AC: Whilst the orchard has susceptible fruit you apply baits. If you have pressure from neighbouring property, bait the boundaries regularly. Once an QFF infestation gets to reactive approach cover sprays, the damage is done. I have seen this many times in Valencia oranges hung late. If growers choose to go proactive with cover sprays be prepared to manage secondary pest flares throughout the season. 
How much does it cost to bait spray per hectare?
AC: Not much it is just done. 
Do you need to employ more people to get this done?
AC: Up 40 Ha orchards, growers generally do it themselves 
How often do you spray?
AC: Monitor trap data. 
How much extra work is it servicing your own traps?
AC: Three traps on a 20ha orchard. Nothing. (two in field, one at the shed or house garden).
Are there market access issues?
AC: Yes, Riverina sourced citrus fruits are subject to in transit cold sterilisation to sensitive markets. 
How does the NSW government contribute to the management of Qfly?
AC: They do not. NSW DPI walked away in 2012 and declared QFF endemic to the region.
What did the NSW government do previously to help control Qfly?
AC: Two decades ago, there was a lot and it reduced over time. There was signage and fruit disposal bins, fines, roadblocks, intensive trap monitoring of towns and orchards, NSW Agriculture provided personnel (from research scientists, program managers, biosecurity staff for roadblocks, people on ground baiting urban areas. Government also bred and released sterile male QFF. 
Do you think you could return to a pest free area?
AC: Never. The investment is too costly with the current science and strategies available to eradicate QFF in the Riverina. 
What are the consequences if you miss a week spraying and how does this impact you?
AC: Depends upon individual orchard circumstances. If there is no susceptible blocks and trap activity has been low to zero, people go months without baiting. Ensure trap lures are current and keep monitoring.
How involved is industry in the management of Qfly?
AC: It is a mixed bag. You have better managed orchards and of course those for differing reasons that experience a problem in wet, warm high-pressure seasons. Some packers and processors are active in supporting their growers. Both grower associations are actively involved in promoting and encouraging awareness of QFF management.
What tools to you have in NSW to combat Queensland fruit fly?
AC: Cultural controls (remove host trees), QFF monitoring traps, protein bait spray, male annihilation technique (MAT or killer pads) and cover sprays. There were some research trials with SIT at Hillston last season. Of course, urban home gardens have exclusion netting and canopy management of fruit trees.  
Do you see Mediterranean fruit fly as a possible problem if SA stop the fruit fly fight?
AC: What does Med Fly do? I realise it is a pest of concern for export countries.  Most people are unaware of the insect pest. There are no local experiences of Mediterranean fruit fly.
What are the best measures for the fight against fruit fly Bait sprays AKDs a combination of both?
AC: cultural control, monitoring + protein bait spray
 
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.
 
The Citrus Segment Podcast
Interested to know what happens behind the scenes at Citrus SA. After each committee meeting (held on the fourth Tuesday of each month), join chair Mark Doecke and Kerrie Robertson as they discuss the issues and activities of the committee over the past month. The latest episode discusses the European earwig project, a season update and much more. Search for The Citrus Segment on your favourite podcasting platform. 
 
Citrus SA in the news
Did you hear us on ABC Country Hour talking about our initiative to help the local Punjabi citrus growing community stay informed. You can read the article here